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HINDU GOD - SURYA
GOD OF THE SUN
For thousands of years Hindus have
revered the sun, which they call
Surya, as both the physical and
spiritual heart of our world and the
creator of all life itself.
Surya controls the waters and the winds
on earth.
Surya is depicted as a red man with
three eyes and four arms, riding in a
chariot driven either by seven horses or
by one horse with seven heads. He is
shown with golden hair and arms. Surya
holds water lilies with two of his
hands. With his third hand he encourages
his worshipers whom he blesses with his
fourth hand. In India, Surya is believed
to be a benevolent deity capable of
healing sick people. Even today, people
place the symbol of the Sun over shops
because they think it would bring good
fortune.
When Surya married Sanjna, his wife
could not bear the intense light and
heat. Therefore, she fled into a forest
where she transformed herself into a
mare to prevent Surya from recognizing
her. But Surya soon discovered Sanjna's
refuge. He went to the same forest
disguised as a horse. Sanjna gave birth
to several children, and eventually
reunited with her husband.
However, the heat and the light of Surya
were so intolerable that Sanjna was
always exhausted doing her domestic
duties. Finally, Sanjna's father decided
to help her and trimmed Surya's body
reducing his brightness by an eighth.
Thus, Sanjna could more easily live
close to her husband. |
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