Tradition| Culture | Reciprocal
"Surya Devta and the Ritual of Offering Water: Exploring Hindu Traditions"
A Symbol of Gratitude
The Sun
A giant, bright ball of heated plasma, the sun is held together by its own gravity and is constantly producing energy through nuclear fusion events. It is the nearest star to Earth and the star at the center of the solar system. The sun is around 4.6 billion years old and is thought to have about 5 billion years left in it.
The Surya Devta
It is also referred to as the Hindu deity known as the Lord Sun. It is believed that Surya is the god of heat, light, and hope. He is frequently shown riding a chariot pulled by seven horses, each of which stands for one of the seven colors of the rainbow. The Lord Sun bestows wisdom, health, knowledge, and healing. It is also regarded as the supreme Deity since it gives people power.
The Hindu pantheon and various parts of India have several titles for Lord Surya, the Sun God. Lord Sun is known by several names, including Aditya, Bhaskar, Arka, Mitra, Savitr, Martanda, Ravi, and Vivasvat.
Why do we worship the sun?
In Hinduism, Lord Surya worship is thought to have numerous spiritual and bodily advantages.
The sun was revered as a god or goddess in many prehistoric cultures, and rites and ceremonies were held to recognize and respect its strength and significance. For instance, the sun god Ra was regarded as the world’s creator and ruler in ancient Egyptian mythology, and worship of him was essential to Egyptian religion.
Why do we offer water to the sun?
In numerous civilizations and religious traditions, people offer water to the Sun. Water is viewed as a representation of rejuvenation and purity. Depending on the particular beliefs and cultural setting, the justifications for this behavior may differ, however there are a number of universal themes and interpretations.
For instance, Surya Namaskar, also known as the Sun Salutation, is a daily ritual in Hinduism that entails offering water to the sun. This ceremony is thought to aid in purification of the body and mind and to ask the sun god’s blessings for good health, wealth, and spiritual development.Offering water to the sun may be considered an act of respect or appreciation in some cultures.
One approach to purify oneself or the environment and ask for the sun’s blessings for regrowth and renewal is to offer water to the sun.
What is Surya Namaskar?
Surya Namaskar, also known as Sun Salutation, is a sequence of yoga postures that is traditionally practiced at sunrise as a way of honoring and worshiping the sun.
12 pose of Surya Namaskar-
- Pramanasan
- Hastauttasan
- Padasan
- Ashwasanchalnasan
- Dandasan
- Ashtang Namaskar
- Bhujamgasan
- Adhomukhshawasan
- Ashwasanchalnasan
- Padasan
- Hastauttasan
- Pramanasan
The incredibly positive feedback from my co-author, Heaven's Healthy Healing motivated me to create this post.
Do you adhere to any particular sun-related traditions in your culture?
I would like to give a shoutout to Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles for sharing the amazing prompt.
Dr. Preeti Singh shared an inspiring as well as thought-provoking story.
