Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

PERCEPTIONS

SURYA (SUN - THE SOURCE OF LIFE)

The solar energy is life and the food. It is all that has a form and also is formless. Therefore, form means its energy. The sun pours life into his rays and whatever they light. The sun is the universal fire (energy) in its original and all forms.

Surya,

usually

represented

in

a

chariot by seven horses — (also by a seven-headed horse, surrounded with rays). drawn

The Sixteen Rays of Knowledge The sun has thousands of rays but in popular belief it emits rays in multiples of 4, i.e 8, 12, 16, 32. The sixteen rays of knowledge are :

The Sun is teaching us that when one is oneself, there will be no exhaustion or elation, no disgust or pride. The task of Surya is not something imposed from outside and taken up under compulsion. That is why it is performed systematically, and smoothly. He is also exhorting mankind to use the time that He creates and allots, fully and fruitfully; not merely for living comfortably and safely, but for living a moral and elevating life, worthy of the destiny that is man’s. Now you can realise why the Gita was first taught by the Lord to the Sun. He is the great Karma Yogi, the great Nishkaama Karma Yogi. Has there ever been a day in your life when the Sun HAS NOT RISEN?? The rising and setting of the Sun is something which we have taken for granted. How many of us have ever thanked the Sun for providing us with His Divine Light and Radiant Heat? How many of us have ever thanked the Sun for keeping us alive and for sus- taining the world? Does He not work ceaselessly, without any threat of a strike or lockout?? Has He ever threat- ened to take leave?? Has He ever come too near to us or gone too far away?? technique of drawing in the solar energy. He circumambulates around the offerings, chanting the hymns glorifying the twelve names of the sun and prostrates, more than a hundred times everyday. May that Sun ever prosper at whose appear- ance the meritorious and Lakshmi (presiding deity of all graces); begin to prosper. - (H.M.S) — “The Eternal Ocean of Brahma”

Kripa (Mercy)

Ekaagratha (Concentration)

Mrudutha (Gentleness)

Audaarya (Magnanimity)

Dhairya (Courage)

Akshobha (Emotionless) 14 Udyama (Enterprise)

Vairaagya (Dispassion)

Gaambheerya (Gravity of 12 demeanour)

Dhruti (Constancy)

Swasthirat 11 (Restfulness)

6 Sampath

(Prosperity)

Haasya (Cheerfulness)

Dhyaana

10

(Meditation)

Vinaya (Humility)

Romancha (Thrill)

There are sun temples where the sun is

The sun has always been considered the source of all energy. The Sanskrit verse quoted above testifies to the importance given to it by Indian sages from the earliest times. Irrespective of the variously differing perceptions of the Universe and the Cosmos the primacy of the sun remained through centuries, an undisputed central law of liv- ing. Modern science has underlined the cen- tral position of the sun. We know that en- ergy in any form — heat, light and electro- magnetic waves — has its origin in solar energy generated by nuclear fusion reac- tions at the sun's core. The sun represents the limit, the point where the manifest and the unmanifest worlds unite. The sun thus represents the Supreme Principles.

duly

worshipped.

Several

names

are

attributed e.g. Loka-Chakshush,

'eye of the

Graha-Raja,

world',

'king

of

the

constellation', Gabhastimaan,

'possessed of

rays', Sahasrakirana,

'Having a thousand

Visawat,

Bhaskara,

rays',

'the brilliant',

'light maker', Dina-Kara,

'Day maker', Arha-

Pathi, 'Lord of day'. Surya namaskaara* or worship of the sun as a visible symbol of the supreme is also performed during the Yagna. A pandit with an athletic build and a lot of stamina, usually undertakes to perform this physi- cally taxing ritual. A small oil lamp and various offerings are laid out in an appropri- ate manner, for this worship. The pandit while chanting Vedic hymns, carries out elaborate prostrations according to a certain

“Look to the blazing Sun and bathe in its light. When you bring in light, the darkness vanishes.” — Prabhushri.

* For more details refer sec. K Pg. K-50