In Hinduism, Surya is called the Sun God, the Sun or the God of Light and Day. He is known by other names including Divakara, Shiva Surya, Adithya, Surya Narayanan and Bhaskara. He lives in the Suryaloka. Surya’s parents are Aditi (mother) and Kashyapa (father). His consorts are Chhaya, Ushas, Ratri and Saranyu.
During 1500-5th century BCE – the Vedic period, solar characteristics existed in many other deities, which later were integrated into one single deity in Hinduism. At one time, Lord Surya was given the same ranking along with other deities like Ganesha, Vishnu, Shakti and Shiva.
A number of temples are dedicated to Surya God, in many parts of India. The deity is revered as supreme deity by the Saura sect (a small group). The Gayatri Mantra is addressed to Lord Surya by Hindus every day at dawn.
As a mythological father, Surya is known to have a number of noteworthy sons including Karna (a great warrior in the Mahabharata), Manu (the human race progenitor), the Ashvins (twin physicians to the gods), Sugriva (the Monkey King in the Ramayana) and Yama (god of the dead.
Surya has the power to cure disease, eliminate darkness and illuminate and heat the whole world. Surya produced a lot of brightness, so pieces were clipped from Surya by the gods which they used as weapons as recorded in the Puranas.
Lord Surya is depicted riding a chariot drawn by either a single seven-headed horse or by seven horses, his head is surrounded by rays or a nimbus and he holds full-blown lotuses. A beautiful temple called the Sun Temple is dedicated to Surya at Black Pagoda, at Konark in Odisha during the 13th century. Here the Sun God is shown riding a chariot on wheels being pulled by leaping horses, across the heavens.
