Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates 鈥楽urya (The God of Atmosphere)鈥� of the study on the Vedic influence of Sun-worship in the Puranas, conducted by Goswami Mitali in 2018. The tradition of observing Agnihotra sacrifice and the Sandhya, etc., is frequently observed among the Hindus. Another important innovation of the Sun-worship in the Puranas is the installation of the images of the Sun in the temples.鈥擳his section belongs to the series 鈥淪alient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda鈥�.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 2 - 厂奴谤测补 (The God of Atmosphere)
厂奴谤测补 is the most concrete of the solar deities that represents the simplest and most direct form. The bright orb of the Sun is praised highly in the 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻.[1]
In his luminous form, 厂奴谤测补 is compared to the golden disc or ornament that shines in the sky:
峁泃补蝉测补 艣耻肠颈 诲补谤艣补迟补尘补苍墨办补峁� rukmo na diva 耻诲颈迟腻 vyadyaut/[2]
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya interprets the passage thus:
耻诲颈迟腻 uditau s奴ryasyodaye sati 耻诲颈迟补峁� 迟补迟迟别箩补岣� 诲颈惫补岣� antarik峁sya rukmo na bh奴峁峁嘺miva vyadyaut vidyotate prak腻艣ate/[3]
The atmospheric aspect of 厂奴谤测补 is well-delineated in the Vedas.[4] 厂奴谤测补 shines in the firmament and enlightens the whole universe. He is called 艣耻办谤补 for his brightness.[5] The rising, the mounting and the setting of 厂奴谤测补 is frequently referred to in the Vedic literature.[6] 厂奴谤测补 is the god with scorching heat and light.[7] The moon and all the planets of the sky borrow their light away from the Sun and shine in the sky. For such 厂奴谤测补 is called 箩测辞迟颈峁峁泃.[8] The moon is called 膧诲颈迟测补 for taking its light away from the Sun.[9]
It reflects the sunlight, falling on it and becomes visible to all:
tasm腻denayo岣� sad峁浥沘yo岣� 蝉补迟辞谤苍补迟补谤腻峁� 肠补苍诲谤补尘腻 产丑腻迟颈/ 腻迟迟腻 hyasya bh腻岣�/[10]
The 础颈迟补谤别测补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 also, points out that the moon is born of the Sun:
腻dit测腻d vai 肠补苍诲谤补尘腻 箩腻测补迟别/[11]
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya gives the interpretation of the relevant passage thus:
测腻 tith腻vam腻v腻s测腻m腻ditye pravi峁ａ弓a艣肠补苍诲谤补尘腻岣� 艣uklapak峁pratipad测腻dit测腻j箩腻测补迟别/[12]
厂奴谤测补 creates the days and nights with its rising and setting.[13] The Vedic seer observes that the Sun, as if, wears the dirty clothes at the night and in the morning he wears the clean clothes:
dve dradhas墨 satat墨 vasta eka岣� 办别艣墨 惫颈艣惫腻 产丑耻惫补苍腻苍颈 惫颈诲惫腻苍/
迟颈谤辞诲丑腻测补颈迟测补蝉颈迟补峁� 惫补蝉腻苍补岣� 艣耻办谤补m腻 date anuh腻ya j腻yai/[14]
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya is more clear in interpreting the passage who states, i.e.
k墨d峁浥沘 eka 腻诲颈迟测补岣�, 办别艣墨 ke艣asam腻nara艣miyukto 惫颈艣惫腻 产丑耻惫补苍腻苍颈 惫颈诲惫腻苍sarv腻llok腻nsva谤补艣尘颈产丑颈岣� prak腻艣ayam腻na岣�/ uktayorvastrayormadhye r腻tri谤奴辫补峁� 惫补蝉迟谤补峁� 尘补濒颈苍补尘补丑辞谤奴辫补峁� tu 艣耻办谤补m/ yad腻 谤腻迟谤颈谤奴辫补尘补蝉颈迟补峁� 惫补蝉迟谤补峁� vas腻no vartate 迟补诲腻 蝉惫腻迟尘补谤奴辫补峁� tirodh腻ya gacchati/ atha j腻ryai j墨r峁嚹宀饽� 谤补惫颈岣� pa艣c腻danuh腻ya tadasita峁� 惫补蝉迟谤补峁� parityajya 艣耻办濒补尘补丑辞谤奴辫补峁� 艣惫别迟补峁� 惫补蝉迟谤补尘腻诲补迟迟别/[15]
Here, the day and night are compared to the clothes with white and black colour, i.e. clean and dirty respectively. 厂奴谤测补 wears both these types of clothes accordingly while actively participating in the process of the creation of the days and nights. In the 骋辞辫补迟丑补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, the course of the earth around the Sun is referred to as the cause of day and night, but not the rising and setting of the Sun.[16] He is extolled as the cause for the days and nights.[17] In the 础颈迟补谤别测补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 also, it is stated that the Sun never sets nor rises. He appears to have set when night befalls. Again, in the morning, one regards the Sun to have risen, as if, he creates the day, and at that time the other part remains in darkness.[18]
As soon as 厂奴谤测补 rises, it illuminates the whole world with its light.[19] In the Vedic texts, 厂奴谤测补 is worshipped as the highest light.[20] In the 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲蝉, he is called as the lord of light.[21]
厂奴谤测补 is worshipped as the light and the light is called as the Sun:
He is acclaimed as 惫颈艣惫补箩测辞迟颈.[23] In the 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测颈蝉补峁僪颈迟腻 also, 厂奴谤测补 is eulogized to bestow the all-pervading light.[24] It is poetically conceived that all the constellations depart with the night like the thieves at the rising of the Sun.[25] Several times in the Vedas, the dark-dispelling traits of 厂奴谤测补 is mentioned. The darkness is imagined as the skin over the firmament and 厂奴谤测补 is invoked to throw it out over the water.[26] The obscure sunlight during the eclipse of the Sun is mythically described in the Vedas. 厂惫补谤产丑腻苍耻, a demon is said to have eclipsed the Sun with darkness while Atri restores the light of the Sun.[27] Again, the defeat of 厂奴谤测补 by Indra is also narrated as alluding to an eclipse in the Vedas.[28]
In the 叠峁沨补诲腻谤补峁噛补办辞辫补苍颈峁诲, 厂奴谤测补 is invoked as that supreme power, which is capable of destroying the ignorance with his light. 厂奴谤测补 is invoked to unveil the face of Satya Brahman by spreading his rays that is covered with the veil of ignorance.[29]
In the Vedic literature, 厂奴谤测补 is mentioned as moving on a car with one steed, i.e. 别迟补艣补,[30] or seven mares called 丑补谤颈迟补岣�,[31] or seven horses, i.e. 补艣惫补,[32] or with indefinite number of steeds.[33] His horses are commonly called 办别迟补惫补岣�,49 i.e. the rays of the Sun.
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya has clearly stated that sapta丑补谤颈迟补岣� are simply his rays:
sapta saptasa峁僰hyak腻岣� 丑补谤颈迟补岣� 补艣惫腻岣� 谤补蝉补丑补谤补峁嘺艣墨濒腻 ra艣mayo v腻/50
The living beings on the earth are completely dependent on these rays.
Even after death also, as stated in the 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, the sunrays lead man to Brahmaloka:
腻 bharata 艣颈办峁迟补峁� vajrab腻hu asm腻 indr腻gn墨 补惫补迟补峁� 艣补肠墨产丑颈岣�/
ime nu te ra艣maya岣� s奴ryasya yebhi岣� 蝉补辫颈迟惫补峁� pitaro na 腻san//[34]
Though Indr腻gn墨 is the deity worshipped in the verse in point, yet Indra and Agni are none other than 厂奴谤测补. S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya in his interpretation of the relevant passage states thus:
s奴r测腻tmana indrasya yebhi岣� 谤补艣尘颈产丑颈岣� 测补颈岣� 补谤肠颈产丑颈岣� asm腻ka峁� 辫颈迟补谤补岣� p奴rvapuru峁Ｄ遽弗 蝉补辫颈迟惫补峁� sahapr腻ptavya峁� sth腻na峁� brahmalokamagacchan/ arcir腻dim腻rgena hi brahmalokamup腻sak腻 gacchanti... tasm腻t s奴ryasya ra艣m墨n腻峁� stavanenendr腻gnyorubha测腻rapi 蝉迟耻迟颈岣� siddh腻/[35]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
cf., udu tyaddar艣ata峁� vapurdiva eti pratihvare/ yad墨m腻艣urvahati deva eta艣o vi艣vasmai cak峁se aram// 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 7.66.14
[2]:
Ibid., 6.51.1
[3]:
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya, Ibid.
[4]:
[5]:
cf., taccak峁rdevahita峁� 艣耻办谤补muccarat/ Ibid., 7.66.16 艣ukro使si bhr腻jo使si svarasi jyotirasi/ Atharvavedasa峁僪it腻, 2.11.5
[6]:
cf., vai艣v腻narasya sumatau s测腻ma r腻j腻 hi ka峁� bhuvan腻mami艣r墨岣�/ ito j腻to vi艣vamida峁� vi ca峁ａ弓e vai艣v腻naro yatate s奴rye峁嘺// 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 1.98.1
tats奴ryasya devatva峁� tanmahitva峁� madh测腻 kartorvitatata峁� sa峁� jabh腻ra/ yadedayukta 丑补谤颈迟补岣� sadhasth腻d腻dr腻tr墨 v腻sastanute simasmai// Ibid., 1.115.4
Also vide. Ibid., 1.108.12; Atharvavedasa峁僪it腻, 1.29.5; 7.13.1; Kau峁Ｄ玹ataki 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲, 2.7
[8]:
cf., tara峁噄rvi艣vadar艣ato jyoti峁峁沝asi s奴rya/ 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 1.50.4
[9]:
cf., 鈥adyad腻datta, tasm腻诲颈迟测补岣�/ 艢atapathabr腻hma峁嘺, 11.8.3.11
[10]:
Ibid.
[11]:
础颈迟补谤别测补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, 45.5
[12]:
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻ry, Ibid.
[13]:
cf., vi d测腻me峁 rajasp峁泃hvah腻 mim腻no aktubhi岣�/ pa艣yanjanm腻ni s奴rya// 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 1.50.729 Taittir墨yasa峁僪it腻, 3.2.2.2 30 Ibid.
[14]:
Taittir墨yasa峁僪it腻, 3.2.2.2
[15]:
Ibid.
[16]:
cf., sa v腻 e峁 na kad腻can腻stameti nodayati/ tad yadena峁� purast腻t udayat墨ti manyate r腻traiseva tadanta峁� gatv腻// 骋辞辫补迟丑补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, 2.4.10
[17]:
cf., ida峁� vapurnivacana峁� jan腻sa艣caranti yannadyastasthur腻pa岣�/ dve yad墨峁� bibh峁泃o m腻turanye iheha j腻te yam测腻 sabandh奴// Ibid., 5.47.5
艣耻办谤补峁� te anyad测补箩补迟补峁� te anyadvi峁r奴pe ahan墨 dyauriv腻s墨/ 惫颈艣惫腻 hi m腻测腻 avasi svadh腻vo bhadr腻 te 辫奴峁苍niha r腻tirastu// Ibid., 6.58.1
鈥� he 辫奴峁苍 tvad墨yamanyadeka峁� 谤奴辫补峁� 艣耻办谤补峁� 苍颈谤尘补濒补峁� divasasyotp腻daksm/ tvad墨yamanyadeka峁� 谤奴辫补峁� 测补箩补迟补峁� 办别惫补濒补峁� yajan墨ya峁� na prak腻艣aka峁� r腻trerutp腻dakam/ ata eva vi峁r奴pe vi峁mar奴pe ahan墨 aha艣ca r腻tri艣ca bhavata岣�/ ahor腻trayornirm腻峁噀 s奴rya eva kart腻鈥�/ S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya on Atharvavedasa峁僪it腻, 11.6.21
[18]:
cf., sa v腻 e峁 na kad腻c腻nastameti nodeti iti/ ta峁� yadastamet墨ti manyante使hna eva tadantamitv腻使th腻使使tm腻峁嘺峁� viparyasyate r腻tr墨mev腻vast腻tkurute使ha岣� parast腻t iti鈥� sa v腻 e峁 na kad腻cana nimrocati// 础颈迟补谤别测补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, 14.6
[19]:
[20]:
cf., s奴ryamaganma jyotiruttamam/ Ch腻ndogyopani峁d, 3.17.7
[21]:
鈥�jyoti峁Ｄ遽箖 辫补迟颈岣�/ 笔谤补艣苍辞辫补苍颈峁诲, 2.9
[22]:
痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测颈蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 6.9
[23]:
艢atapathabr腻hma峁嘺, 8.7.1.15,16,17,22
[24]:
鈥i艣va峁僯yotiryaccha/ 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测颈蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 15.58
[25]:
cf., apa tye t测腻yavo yath腻 nak峁tr腻 yantyaktubhi岣�/ 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 1.50.2
[26]:
cf., vahi峁ａ弓hebhirviharan测腻si tantumavavyayannasita峁� deva vasma/ davidhvato ra艣maya岣� s奴ryasya carmev腻v腻dhustamo apsva使nta岣�// Ibid., 4.13.4
[27]:
[28]:
cf., eva svena bh腻gadheyenopadh腻vati峁� sa evaina峁� varu峁嘺p腻艣腻nmu帽cati 办峁涐梗峁嘺 eka艣itip腻dbhavati v腻ru峁噊 hye峁 devata测腻 sam峁沝hyai suvarbh腻nur腻sura岣� 蝉奴谤测补峁� tamas腻使vidhyattasmai dev腻岣� pr腻ya艣cittimaicchantasya帽 yatprathama峁� tamo使p腻ghnants腻 k峁涐梗峁嚹迨箆irabhavadyaddvit墨ya帽 s腻 辫丑补濒驳耻苍墨 yatt峁泃墨ya帽 s腻 valak峁Ｄ� yadadhyasth腻dap腻k峁沶tants腻使virvas腻/ Taittir墨yasa峁僪it腻, 2.1.2.2
[29]:
[32]:
cf., sapta yu帽jati rathamekacakro a艣vo vahati saptan腻m腻/ Ibid., 1.164.2
[33]:
cf., aha峁� s奴ryasya pari 测腻m测腻艣ubhi岣� paita艣ebhirvaham腻na ojas腻/ Ibid., 10.49.749 cf., 办别迟补惫补岣� praj帽腻pak腻岣� s奴r测腻艣v腻岣� yadv腻 s奴ryara艣maya岣�/ S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya, Ibid., 1.50.150 S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya, Ibid.
[34]:
峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻,1.109.7
[35]:
S腻ya峁嚹錭腻rya, Ibid.