Beliefs & Legends related to Surya

Ancient spiritual texts in India attribute many powerful healing abilities to Surya, the sun god. This article reveals some of the most popular qualities that Surya, the sun, has to share to people as taught in the legends of India.

Abodes of Surya
Beliefs related to Surya

Surya is portrayed with two lotuses held in both his hand, and is occasionally shown with the hood of the mythical serpent Adi Sesha spread over his head. At the base of his image are shown his gatekeepers Pingala (Agni) and Danda (Skanda). Surya is portrayed riding a seven horse chariot driven by Aruna or Anoora. Aruna (a charioteer devoid of legs) is said to be the son of Kasyapa muni and Vinata and brother of Garuda.

The Indian system of beliefs regards sunlight as the greatest of disinfectants, hence the sun is associated with healing power.

Legend has it that Samba the son of Krishna was cured of leprosy by his worship of the sun god. It is still believed by many that sun worship offered at several of the sun temples all over India, is a cure for leprosy and other skin ailments, blindness and infertility.

The Vedas refer to sun worship. Vishnu is also described as being seated in the midst of the disk of the sun; over time Vishnu worship merged with sun worship (in some instances), and Surya is also referred to as Suryanarayana.

Interestingly, Buddhism refers to Marichi as an incarnation of Dhyan-Buddha-Vairochana, and is depicted with three faces symbolic of morning, noon and evening, on a chariot drawn by seven boars, driven by a Goddes without legs.

Legends related to Surya

There are several interesting legends surrounding Surya. Surya is considered to be an embodiment of the Trinity Bhrahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Surya is considered to be Bhrahma until midday, Shiva in the afternoon and Vishnu in the evening.

Surya is portrayed seated on a seven horse driven chariot. Aruna the charioteer is the elder brother of Garuda, the favorite mount of Vishnu.

Usha is the foremost of Surya’s consorts and is referred to in the Rig Veda. Usha is the queen of the night, and is described as dressed in gold clothing adorned with numerous stars. The second of his consorts is Padmini or the lotus. (The lotus blooms when the sun rises in the east). The third of Surya’s consorts is Chaaya.

Another legend has it that the first consort of Surya was Sanjana (Ganga). Yama and Yami were the children born to Surya and Ganga. Unable to bear the heat of the sun, Ganga returned to her father (Maya the divine architect)’s home. As she left her husband, she created a look alike Chhaya and left her in her place.

Chhaya bore more of Surya’s children, and meted out step motherly treatment to Yama and Yami. She cursed Yama to become an outcaste, and Yama thus became the God of death; Yami transformed into the river Yamuna.

Surya, suspecting foul play interrogated Chhaya, discovered the whereabouts of Ganga (Sanjana), reduced his intensity and led a life of bliss with her again; born to them were the divine physican twins, the Ashwini twins.

 
Source:  http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/surya_legend.htm , http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/surya_belief.htm

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