Mythology

The Sun has been worshipped in almost all civilizations since the beginning of human existence. Even the tribal communities across the world have celebrated and worshipped the essential forces of nature and the source of energy like the Sun.

Probably, one the most pious and difficult worships among all of the Hindu festivals in India is the Chhath Puja of Bihar and other part of India where the devotees worship the Sun in a four days ritual. Chhath is a festival dedicated to the Sun God, considered to be a means to thank the Sun Bhagwan for bestowing the bounties of life in earth and fulfilling particular wishes.

Worship of Sun Bhagwan has been described in the Rigveda, the oldest Hindu scriptures, and mantras praying to the sun in the Vedas are found. The Rigveda Says the sun is the soul of the universe and it controls the animate as well as the inanimate.In Chhandogya Upnishad the Sun has been called Omkar. In “Aditya Hrudayam” which is mentioned in Ramayan, is another ancient practice which involves surya namaskar.

It is a procedure of saluting The Sun, taught to Bhagwan Sri Ram by Sage Agastya, before his fight with Ravan. It is described in the "Yuddh Khand" Canto 107 of Ramayan. In Bhagavadgita (Ch. 10. 35), Lord Krishna states:Brihat saama latha saamnaam |Gayatri chandasaam aham ||Maasaanam maarga sirshoham |sRitunaam kusumaakarah ||

Among the hymns, I am the Brihat saama sung to Lord Indra, of the poetry, I am the Gayatri verse sung daily by the initiated, Of all the maasas (months), I am the margasira (November- December). Among all the ritus (seasons), I am the flower bearing spring. :-- More information about Surya can be found in Brahmaanda puraana, Markandeya puraana, Regveda, Uttara Ramayana, Kashi Khanda and Mahabharata. Surya was born to Kashyapa Prajaapati, one among Navabrahmas and Aditi, a celestial maiden, thus lord SUN is considered as he is belonging to Kashyapa gotra. 

According to Markandeya puraana, Surya is considered as the creator, the Brahma. From this ancient supreme god the whole world evolved. He is looked upon as the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer of the whole universe. Surya is the chief among the Navagrahaas. .....Surya Mantra.....The Surya Mahaa Mantra’s Beejaaksharaas run thus: 'OM HRAAM, HREEM HROUM SAHA SURYAAYA NAMAHA’.

Surya is the only visible God whom we can see, perceive and pray. The Sun God is considered as the life-giver, ''Prana data'' of the entire universe. Surya is essential for life. All Vedas regard Surya as the witness (Saakshi) of all actions performed by any living or nonliving being. Thus the Sun or Surya is also known as ''Aatmakaraka''. Being a Sanskrit word, ''Aatma'' means ''soul'' and ''Karaka'' means ''indicator''.

The Sun is the ''indicator of the soul''. The Surya is the indicator of our ego, honor, status, fame, the heart, the eyes, general vitality, respect and power including parenthood. "Japa kusuma-sankarsham kashyapeyam maha-dyutimtamo-rimsarva-papa-ghnam pranato'smi divakaram"."Let us chant the glories of the Sun God, whose beauty rivals that of a flower.

I bow down to him, the greatly effulgent son of Kashyapa, who is the enemy of darkness and destroyer of all sins." :-- The following mantras are also considered very good for the Sun: "Om ghrinih suraya namah" The Tantrik Mantra of the Sun: "Om Hraang Hreeng Hroung Sah Suryay Namah"

The Vedic Mantra of the Sun:
 "Om Akrishnen Rajsa Vartmano Niveshayanm Amritam MartyanyaHiranyayen Savitarathenadevo Yaati Bhuvanani Pashyan Suryay Namah".Gayatri Mantra: "OM BHOORBHOOWAH: SWAHA: TATSAVITOORVARENYAM BHARGODEVASYA:DHEEMAHEEDHEEOHYONAH:PRACHODAYAAT""O God, Thou art the giver of life, the remover ofpain and sorrow, the bestower of happiness; O Creator of the Universe,may we receive thy supreme, sin-destroying light; may Thou guide our intellectin the right direction."

The sun can be propitiated from either kind of mantras but among these Beeja Mantras are more popular. By undertaking this “Anushthana” ( Puja & Homa [ Ritual of Chanting of Mantras] ) one can remove the malefic effects of the Sun especially when performed in the Major Period ( Mahadasha) or Sub-Periods ( Antar Dashas) of the Sun.The Hindu scriptures present the Sun as the most potent god. There are only five Pauranik gods and the Sun is one of them but the images of the remaining four gods — Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesh and Durga — are also found in Him.

In Surya Sahastranaam several synonyms of the Sun are actually Vishnu’s names and at one place He is also called Jyotirlinga, representing Shiva. Mahakaal is both the name of Shiva and the Sun. Ganesh, the son of Shiva, is also represented in the Sun. Image of the rising Sun in a water reservoir or pond appears like an elephant’s trunk due to the ripples, resembling Ganesh. Gayatri and Savitri are forms of the Sun. Aditya is derived from Aditi, which is the name of Durga.

The worship of the Sun God means the worship of all the five Pauraanik gods and goddess. According to the “BHAVISHYAPURANA” following flowers are acceptable for worshiping sun. BELA, MAALTI, KAASH, MAADHAVI, PAATLA, KANER, JAPA-KUSUM, YAAVANTI, KUBJAK, KARNIKAAR, KURANTAK, CHAMPA, ROLAK, KUND, VAAN, BARBARMALLIKA, ASHOK, TILAK, LODH, ARUKHA, KAMAL, MOULSIRI, AGASTYA, AND PALAASH. 

Along with these flowers or any one or twos of them if DOORVA (DOG GRASS Cynedon dactylon ) is offered it add some more auspicious effects while worshiping the God sun. Only Following leaves may be offered to the sun... Viz. BELPATRA, SHAMI PATRA, BHANGRAIYA PATRA, TAMAAL PATRA, TULSI AND KAALI TULSI PATRA, KAMAL PATRA. THESES FLOWERS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITTED FOR THE OFFERINGS TO THE SUN Viz. GUNJA, DHATOORA, KAANCHI, APARAAJITA ( GIRIKARNIKA), BHATKATAIYA, TAGAR AND AMDA.