Surya: The Ever-Burning God
Coyly, the mare looked at the strong stallion.
Sandhya knew that this was none but her own husband. He had finally come after her. And how he glowed! Even as a stallion, Surya was strong, bright, emitting heat and light — truly an unforgettable image.
They edged closer together. It was a much longed reunion. Atop the Himalayas, after many years of separation was born, Ashwini Kumar — the first rays of sun that form the primary horses to Surya’s chariot.
And whether we realize it or not, the “Sandhya Vandan” one performs at sunrise is nothing but paying an ode to Sandhya, the mother of these strong lads who lead their father into the horizon every day.
Surya is a powerful energy source and therefore, a very strong god in all mythologies. While some believe the sun is the sole source of energy that powers the energy of the rest of the world, others revere it as the ultimate god that must be prayed to for health and well-being.
The sun god, said to be created by Brahma with over a 108 names, has countless stories — a tumultuous marriage, outshining his partner and unknowingly conceiving a child with another, re-uniting with his partner after seeking her by taking the form of a horse — the tales have no end. This is also seen in Ram — a descendant of the Surya dynasty who somehow is never able to have a happy married life with his wife either.
However, Surya is also an important supporting character in many other stories. An intriguing one that comes to mind is Kunti’s testing of the mantra given to her by Surya. In a time when having a child without a husband was considered taboo, Kunti conceived Karna- the son of Surya because she did not believe in the unquestionable mantrashakti, leading to her abandoning her child.
Thus, Surya is harsh and decisive, firm and bold. But he is also empathetic and nurturing, caring for the life he gifts to his solar system.
Like one might observe on a sunny day- Surya comes with his own tribulations, complexities, overbearing nature and many moods (from shining brightly to burning down angrily) but one cannot deny, he really is a force to reckon with.
