Surya God (Sūrya – sun) –
Indian god of the sun and sunlight, known since the Vedic period, who is worshipped as one of the most important gods. This is quite understandable, because the sun and sunlight are necessary for the existence of all living and pure things, for the fight against dark and impure forces, including diseases, and also for agriculture. To praise Surya meant to ward off diseases, crop failure, livestock death, and drought from oneself and loved ones.
How is it depicted? Often Surya, the sun god, is depicted as a man, sometimes with two arms, in which he holds a lotus flower and the wheel of time, and sometimes with four arms, in which he holds lotus flowers, a feather, and a staff. Most often, Surya is depicted sitting on a chariot driven by Varuna, harnessed to seven horses (or one horse with seven heads), symbolizing the seven sun rays and the seven colours of the rainbow. There are known cases of depicting Surya in the form of animals, weapons, and even stones.
The symbol of Surya is the swastika (a cross with bent ends), personifying the sun, light, movement, life.
Special days Eight days after the autumn Indian New Year, Chhath or Surya Puja – the Sun Day – is celebrated. On this holiday, Indians perform ceremonial rituals, offer gifts to Surya in the form of fruits, sweets and other products, wishing to treat and appease him so that the desired wish comes true. Celebrations are held brightly, in national coloured clothes, with flowers, and, since the main time of the ceremonies is at sunrise and sunset, with candles. The main participants in the rituals are usually women who pray to Surya for the fulfilment of their desires and well-being for their loved ones while standing in a body of water, entering the water before sunrise. Surya Sankranti (Sankranti – change, transition) is the day when the Sun moves to the next zodiac sign. On this day, the influence of the Sun changes. This is an auspicious time for spiritual – for putting things in order both at home and within oneself.
However, this time is not auspicious for solving problems in the family, with loved ones, for starting journeys or, for example, treatment.
Temple of the sun god One of the oldest and most majestic structures in India is the Surya Temple, which is located in the city of Konark. Some of the most common names for the temple are “Black Pagoda” and Padmakeshara (lotus pistil).
The temple was built in the 13th century on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. The temple is made in the form of a huge chariot. The outer part of the temple is decorated with sculptures reflecting the life of people, and inside – emptiness, which emphasizes that all the vanity of our world is outside the walls of the temple.
Currently, to avoid collapse, the entrance to the temple is closed, but this does not prevent many pilgrims from arriving at the temple to meet the sunrise on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Magh. Magh is the eleventh month of the Indian national calendar, which begins on January 21 and ends on February 19. Only two parts of the temple have survived to this day, namely the dance hall and the prayer hall. Time was merciless to the third part of the temple – the sanctuary, so it was lost.