| Surya | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Other Names |
Savitr, Pushan, Mārtanda, Bhaga, etc. |
|
First Appearance |
Hindu Mythology |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Surya is the Sun and the solar deity in Hinduism, revered as one of the five principal gods in the Smarta tradition. He is known by many names—such as Ravi and Bhaskara—and is associated with the Ādityas, divine aspects of the sun like Savitr and Pushan.
He is most often depicted riding a chariot drawn by seven horses, symbolizing the seven colors of light and the seven days of the week. Throughout history, Surya was worshipped alongside Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu at different times of day, and sometimes blended with deities like Indra or Ganesha. He also appears in Buddhist and Jain traditions.
Surya is the father of the epic heroes Sugriva (Ramayana) and Karna (Mahabharata), and he was an important deity to characters in both epics. He is linked to the zodiac sign Leo and gives his name to Sunday (Ravivara).
Major festivals honoring him include Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Ratha Saptami, Chhath Puja, and Kumbha Mela. Surya worship was especially prominent in regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. Although his worship declined after the 13th century—partly due to the destruction of Sun temples—several historic Surya temples remain, and his identity is often integrated with Vishnu or Shiva in later traditions.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Surya from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Rigveda
- Ramayana
- Mahabharata
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
- Chandogya Upanishad
- Kaushitaki Upanishad