Although they were drowned in the darkness of paganism and worshiped not just one God, but a whole pantheon of gods representing the forces of nature, they were nevertheless intelligent and very observant people. They noticed, for example, that each season has its own, specific phase of the celestial body. But the conclusion was somewhat hasty - if the nature of the sun changes four times a year, then there must be four gods who command it.
Four-faced sun god among the Slavs
The logic of their reasoning was simple and understandable in everyday life. In fact, the same god could not create heat in the summer, from which the earth burned, and in the winter allow frost to bind nature with ice. So they placed responsibility for everything that happens in the annual cycle on four gods - Khors, Yarila, Dazhdbog and Svarog. Thus, the sun god in Slavic mythology turned out to have four faces.
God of the winter sun
The New Year for our ancestors began on the day of the winter solstice, that is, at the end of December. From this day until the spring solstice, Horse came into its own. This sun god among the Slavs had the appearance of a certain middle-aged man, dressed in an azure-colored cloak, under which could be seen a shirt made of coarse linen and the same ports. On his face, ruddy from the frost, there was always a stamp of sadness from the consciousness of his powerlessness in the face of the night cold.
However, he was quite capable of pacifying snowstorms and blizzards. When he appeared in the sky, they respectfully fell silent. Horse loved noisy celebrations in his honor, accompanied by round dances, singing and even swimming in ice holes. But this deity also had a dark side - one of his incarnations was responsible for severe winter frosts. Among the Slavs, Sunday was considered Khorsa day, and silver was considered the metal.
Spring and frivolous god
With the onset of spring, Khors retired, and his place was taken by Yarilo, the next in line god of the sun among the Slavs. He reigned until the summer solstice. Unlike the modest-looking Khors, Yarilo was presented as a handsome young blue-eyed man with golden hair. Picturesquely decorated with a scarlet cloak, he sat on a fiery horse, driving away the belated cold with flaming arrows.
True, even in those days, evil tongues attributed to him a certain resemblance to the loving Greek god Eros and even to Bacchus, the god of wine and noisy fun. It is possible that there was some truth in that, because under the rays of the spring sun the wild heads of our ancestors circled with the intoxication of voluptuousness. For this, the Slavs called him the god of youth and (lowering his voice) love pleasures.
Summer lord of the sun
But the spring days passed, and the next sun god took over. Among the Eastern Slavs, he was portrayed as the most majestic and dignified ruler of the daylight. His name was Dazhdbog. He made his way across the sky, standing in a chariot drawn by four golden-maned winged horses. The radiance from his shield was the same sunlight that illuminated the earth on fine summer days.
The veneration of Dazhdbog among our ancestors was so widespread that traces of his temples were discovered by scientists during excavations of most ancient Russian settlements. A characteristic feature of his cult is the presence of runes - examples of ancient sacred writing, intended to protect their owner from evil forces and help in all endeavors. The sign of Dazhdbog is also unusual - a solar square. This is an equilateral quadrangle into which a cross with edges bent at right angles is inscribed.
Autumn God
And finally, the last sun god in Slavic legends is Svarog. The whole autumn with its stormy days and the first night frosts was the period of his reign. According to legends, Svarog brought people a lot of useful and necessary knowledge. He taught them how to make fire, forge metal and cultivate the land. Even the plow, common in peasant farming, is a gift from Svarog. He taught housewives to make cheese and cottage cheese from milk.
Svarog is the oldest sun god among the ancient Slavs. He gave birth to sons who joined the pantheon of pagan gods and generally accomplished a lot during his life. But old age takes its toll, and therefore his autumn sun is cold and dark. Like all old people, Svarog loves to warm up. Any forge or just a furnace could serve as his temple (place of worship) - it would only be warm for the old bones. This is confirmed by archaeological finds. His images were found, as a rule, in places where fires had previously been lit.
Ancient Slavic god Ra
In conclusion, it should be mentioned that another sun god is known among the Slavs. Only echoes of ancient legends have been preserved about him. According to these legends, he bore the same name as his Egyptian counterpart Ra, and was the father of two pagan gods - Veles and Khors. The latter, as we know, followed in his father’s footsteps and eventually took his place, although he limited himself to reigning only in the winter. The god Ra himself did not die, but, according to legend, having reached old age, he turned into a large and deep river called the Volga.
In ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra was the supreme deity. The most revered gods of Egypt are its children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The earthly rulers-pharaohs were also considered his descendants.
According to legend, Ra first reigned on earth, and that was the “Golden Age”. But then people became disobedient, which is why the Sun God went to heaven. Sufferings unknown before came upon the human race.
However, Ra did not allow all the people to die and continued to provide them with benefits. Every morning he sets off on his boat on a journey across the sky, bestowing light on the earth. At night, his path lies through the afterlife, in which his worst enemy, the huge serpent Apep, awaits God. The monster wants to devour the sun so that the world is left without light, but Ra defeats him every time.
In art, Ra was depicted as a tall, slender man with the head of a falcon. On his head he has a solar disk and an image of a snake.
Throughout Egyptian history, Ra was not the only “solar” deity. There were also cults of gods:
- Atum is an archaic god who was widely revered before the establishment of the cult of Ra. Then he began to be identified with the latter.
- Amon is originally the god of the night sky. The center of his worship was in the city of Thebes, and after the rise of this city in the era of the New Kingdom (XVI-XI centuries BC), the role of Amun changed. He began to be revered as the sun god Amon-Ra.
- Aten is the sun god, whose monotheistic cult was tried to be established by Pharaoh Akhenaten (XIV century BC)
Mesopotamia
In Ancient Mesopotamia, the sun god was considered Shamash (Akkadian version), or Utu (as the Sumerian people called him). He was not the main deity of the Sumerian-Akkadian pantheon. He was considered the son or even a servant of the moon god Nanna (Sin).
Nevertheless, Shamash was highly revered, because it is he who gives light to people and fertility to the earth. Over time, his importance in the local religion increased: Shamash began to be considered also as a fair god-judge, establishing and protecting the rule of law.
Ancient Greece and Rome
The sun god in Ancient Greece was Helios. He played a subordinate position in relation to the main deity of the Greek pantheon - Zeus. In Ancient Rome, the god Sol corresponded to Helios.
According to legend, Helios lives in the east in magnificent palaces. Every morning, the goddess of dawn Eos opens the gates, and Helios rides out on his chariot, which is harnessed to four horses. Having passed through the entire sky, he hides in the west, transfers to a golden boat and sails across the Ocean back to the east.
On his journey above the earth, Helios sees all the deeds and actions of people and even immortal gods. So, it was he who told Hephaestus about the betrayal of his wife Aphrodite.
The rich Greek mythology contains many stories related to Helios. Perhaps the most famous is about his son Phaeton. The young man begged his father to allow him to travel across the sky once. But on the way, Phaeton could not cope with the horses: they rushed too close to the ground, and it caught fire. For this, Zeus struck Phaethon with his lightning.
In addition to Helios, in Ancient Greece the god of light Apollo (Phoebus) also personified the sun. During the Hellenistic period, the ancient Indo-Iranian god of light Mithra began to be identified with Helios and Phoebus.
India
In Hinduism, the sun god is Surya. It has many functions, including:
- disperses darkness and illuminates the world;
- supports the sky;
- acts as the “eye of the gods”;
- heals the sick;
- fights Rahu - the demon of solar and lunar eclipses.
Like Helios, Surya travels across the sky in a chariot. But he has seven horses. In addition, he has a charioteer - Aruna, who is also considered the deity of dawn. The wife of Surya is called the goddess Ushas.
As is typical for many ancient cults, Surya was also associated with other solar deities. Thus, at the most ancient stage of the development of Hinduism, Vivasvat was considered the solar deity. Then his image merged with Surya. In later centuries, Surya was identified with Mithra and Vishnu.
Ancient Slavs
There are few sources preserved about the beliefs and myths of the Slavs, and very few ancient images of the Slavic gods. Therefore, scientists have to collect Slavic mythology bit by bit. And in popular literature, gaps in genuine knowledge are often filled with speculation.
The names of many deities in which the Slavs believed before the adoption of Christianity are known. But the functions of many of them are not entirely clear. As the personification of the sun, the Eastern Slavs call:
- Dazhdbog;
- Horse;
- Yarilo.
According to Russian chronicles, in the 10th century. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich (the future Saint) ordered the installation of idols of Dazhdbog, Khors and other deities for worship. But why are there two sun gods in one pantheon?
Some researchers believe that “Dazhdbog” and “Khors” are two names of one deity. Others believe that these are two different gods, but related. It is also possible that Khors is the personification of the sun itself, and Dazhdbog is the personification of light. In any case, there remains a huge field for research here.
Nowadays, it is often written that the Slavic sun god was Yarilo (or Yarila). Images are also created - a sun-headed man or a young man with a beautiful radiant face. But, in fact, Yarilo is associated with fertility and, to a lesser extent, with the sun.
Germanic tribes
In German-Scandinavian mythology, the sun personified the female deity - Sol (or Sunna). Her brother is Mani, the divine incarnation of the Moon. Salt, like Helios, travels across the sky and illuminates the earth. In addition, the god of fertility Frey is also associated with sunlight.
Civilizations of America
American Indians also practiced polytheistic religions. Naturally, among the numerous higher beings, the sun god was among the main ones.
- Tonatiuh is the Aztec sun god, one of the central deities of the pantheon. His name translates to “Sun”. The cult of Tonatiuh was extremely bloody. The Aztecs believed that the sun god must receive sacrifices every day, and without this he will die and will not illuminate the earth. It was also believed that it was nourished by the blood of soldiers killed in battle.
- Kinich-Ahau is the Mayan sun god. As with Tonatiuh, he required sacrifices.
- Inti is the sun god of the Incas, the progenitor of life. He was a very important, although not the main deity in the pantheon. It was believed that the supreme rulers of the country trace their origins to Inti. Images of this deity in the form of a solar face are placed on the modern flags of Uruguay and Argentina.
Related article
Sources:
- Myths of the peoples of the world
Many religious beliefs have a mythological basis. To this day, legends about ancient gods endowed with omnipotence and supernatural strength, passed down from generation to generation, have been preserved. Such legends arose in various parts of the planet and became part of the culture of the peoples who inhabited it.
Instructions
One of the most revered gods in Egypt was Osiris. He was in charge of the forces of nature and the afterlife. As one of the many legends says, Osiris was killed by his brother, the god Set. Acting by cunning, Seth made a sarcophagus and announced at the feast that he would give it only to those who would like his creation. Unsuspecting Osiris tried to fit into the tomb. At this moment Seth and the other conspirators cap off. The treacherous Seth threw the lead-filled sarcophagus into the Nile. Subsequently, Isis, the faithful wife of Osiris, was able to revive her husband.
In Ancient Greece, the supreme Olympian god Zeus was especially revered. Many legends have been preserved about the Greek gods, in which Zeus takes an active part. It was believed that it was he who gave conscience and shame to humanity. In his relations with other deities, Zeus always acted as a formidable and punishing force. He was able to decide the destinies of other gods and
The main deity of the Indians of South America was Quetzalcoatl. It was believed that he could change his appearance, turning into a green snake and other strange creatures. Indian legends and traditions told how Quetzalcoatl, turning into an ant, stole delicious corn grains from an anthill to give them to people. The main Indian god more than once entered into battles with his powerful opponents who tried to harm people. In one myth, he goes into distant exile, promising to return. It is interesting that the superstitious Indians mistook the first Europeans for the retinue of Quetzalcoatl, whose return had long been expected.
The Indian god Shiva, along with Brahma and Vishnu, is part of the divine triad. Its task is to regulate the world order. Very often Shiva uses dance for this. Tired of dancing, Shiva stops for a while and indulges in rest. The Indians believed that at this time the world was plunging into chaos and darkness. Legend says that Shiva appeared in the human world more than once, but most often he was not recognized. Once Shiva was even cursed by the sages when he demanded worship from them. Only after the miracles performed by Shiva did people rush to his feet, recognizing him as a god.
Since ancient times, the Sun has been an object of worship among different peoples. Using the obvious role of the Sun as the source of life on Earth, church representatives promoted the development of Sun worship, the cult of the Sun.
The sun was deified by various peoples, who gave it their own names:
 The sun god Helios on four horses, emerging from the sea at dawn
From the history of the ancient world we know<...>"about the statue of the sun god Helios on the island of Rhodes, known as the Colossus of Rhodes and considered the sixth wonder of the world. The statue was created in 293–281. BC. sculptor Hares. The 36-meter statue was made of polished bronze sheets mounted on an iron frame. The face and crown were covered with gold. The statue was located next to the port and was turned to face the southeast, that is, so that the golden face was constantly illuminated by the sun and shone brightly. This suggests that during the daytime it could serve as a lighthouse. Statue of Olympian Zeus<...>had a scale of ten human heights, and the statue of Helios from the island of Rhodes - twenty. Built using a new technology for its time (hollow inside, using a frame and cladding), it immediately attracted the attention of the Greek world, turning the island of Rhodes into another object of cultural pilgrimage. However, the colossus - as the Greeks called all large statues - did not last long, only 56 years, and was destroyed by a great earthquake in 225 BC. Technical errors in calculations during construction played a significant role in the destruction. It remained in a ruined state for over 900 years, continuing to be considered a landmark of world significance. In 997, when the Arabs conquered the island of Rhodes, fragments of polished bronze that did not succumb to rust were removed from the island. The conquerors, who despised foreign culture and were indifferent to foreign history, melted down the metal and made coins and jewelry from it.”<...>
Giovanni Tiepolo, 1757 Apollo A later mythological tradition attributes to Apollo the qualities of a divine healer, guardian of herds, founder and builder of cities, and seer of the future. In the classical Olympic pantheon, Apollo is the patron of singers and musicians, the leader of the muses. His image becomes lighter and brighter, and his name is constantly accompanied by the epithet Phoebus (ancient Greek Φοιβος, purity, brilliance, (“radiant” - in Greek mythology). The complex and contradictory image of Apollo is explained by the fact that Apollo was originally a pre-Greek deity, probably of Asia Minor. Its deep archaism is manifested in its close connection and even identification with the flora and fauna. Constant epithets (epiclesses) of Apollo are laurel, cypress, wolf, swan, raven, mouse. But the significance of the archaic Apollo recedes into the background compared to his significance as a solar god. The cult of Apollo in classical ancient mythology absorbs the cult of Helios and even crowds out the cult of Zeus. The Roman divine pantheon is extremely interesting. The culture of Ancient Rome was based on the mythology and religious traditions of the peoples of the ancient empire. The Romans borrowed the basis of their pantheon from the ancient Greeks, who had universal cultural hegemony since the birth of Rome. Having developed their mythology, accepting new gods from the conquered peoples, the Romans created their own special culture, which combined the features of all the conquered peoples. Roman law, which became the basis for modern jurisprudence, was also created under the influence of Roman mythology.
In ancient Persian and ancient Indian mythology, the god of treaties and friendship, protector of truth. Mithra was the light: he raced on a golden sun chariot drawn by four white horses across the sky. He had 10,000 ears and eyes; wise, he was distinguished by his courage in battle. This god could bless those who worshiped him, granting them victory over their enemies and wisdom, but he showed no mercy to his enemies. As the god of fertility, he brought rain and caused plants to grow. According to one of the ancient legends, Mithra, being [to people] the sun, created a connection between Ahuramazda and Angro Mainyu, the lord of darkness. This assumption was based on the understanding of the role of the Sun as a sign of the constant transition of states of light and darkness. The ancients believed that Mithra emerged from the rock at birth armed with a knife and a torch. The spread of his cult is evidenced by paintings in underground tombs, almost all dedicated to his killing of the bull Geush Urvan, from whose body all plants and animals emerged. It was believed that regular sacrifices of bulls to Mithra ensured the fertility of nature. The cult of Mithra was very popular outside of Persia, and was especially revered by Roman legionnaires. Ra, Re, in Egyptian mythology, the sun god, embodied in the form of a falcon, a huge cat or a man with a falcon's head crowned with a solar disk. Ra, the sun god, was the father of Wajit, the cobra of the North, who protected the pharaoh from the scorching rays of the sun. According to the myth, during the day the beneficent Ra, illuminating the earth, sails along the heavenly Nile in the barge Manjet, in the evening he transfers to the barge Mesektet and in it continues his journey along the underground Nile, and in the morning, having defeated the serpent Apophis in a nightly battle, he reappears on the horizon.
A number of myths about Ra are associated with Egyptian ideas about the change of seasons. Every year, April among the Slavs began with the spring holidays of the rebirth of life. A young red-haired horseman on a white horse appeared in Slavic villages. He was dressed in a white robe, with a wreath of spring flowers on his head, in his left hand he held ears of rye, and urged his horse with his bare feet. This is Yarilo. His name, derived from the word “yar”, has several meanings: Tonatiuh(Nahuatl - lit. “Sun”) in Aztec mythology, the god of the sky and the Sun, the god of warriors. |
Let us praise the Sun God, who competes with flowers in beauty;
I bow before You, O radiant son of Kashyapa,
enemy of darkness and destroyer of all evilNava Graha Stotra (Stotra to the Sun). K. N. Rao
From Urya (Sanskrit: सूर्य - ‘Sun’) in the Vedic tradition is the god of the Sun. In the Vedic sources, Surya is mentioned under various names representing different aspects of his manifestation: Aditya (son of Aditi, 'splendor'), Arka (source of energy), Mitra (radiant friend of humanity), Suryaya (highest aspect of Surya), Bhanu (light of knowledge , 'enlightenment'), Savitri (life-giving awakening force), Pushana ('satiating', 'nourishing'), Ravi (giving light, 'shining'), Marichi ('radiant', dispelling doubts), Vivasvat ('brilliant') , Hiranya Gabha (primary source of life, golden universal essence), Khaga (supervising cosmic rhythms), Bhaskara (light that eradicates ignorance). For example, the name of the Sun “Arch” is found in the names of temples in Northern India and in its eastern parts: the Konark temple in the Indian state of Orissa, the name of which comes from the Indian phrase “Kona-arka”, which means ‘territory of sunlight’.
According to the Vedas, Surya is the creator of the material Universe (Prakriti). The epic "Mahabharata" opens its chapter about Surya by honoring him as the Eye of the Universe, the Soul of all things, the source of life, a symbol of freedom and spiritual enlightenment, the personification of the victory of good over evil, and life-giving force. According to myths, Surya is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Aditi (the embodiment of the light energy of the Universe). The sun is the luminary that gives the great light of Ra, the original light of the Universe, is a manifestation in the material world of the light body of the god Surya. Symbols of the sun, as a rule, are all the signs of solar symbolism, as the personification of the victory of the life-giving, creative light over the destructive darkness.
He who knows the One who dwells in a red lotus, surrounded by six vowels, with a six-part bija, the charioteer of seven horses, golden-colored, four-armed, holding two lotuses in his hands, (gestures of) blessing and fearlessness, the leader of the wheel of time, he (truly) is Brahman
("Surya Upanishad")
The Sun God is depicted riding a chariot drawn by seven horses, which represent either the seven primary colors of the rainbow, as the spectrum of visible colors of the rays of sunlight, reflecting the essence of the sevenfold nature of the Sun; or 7 meters of versification in Sanskrit (gayatri, brihati, ear, trishtubh, anushtubh, pankti, jagati); perhaps these are seven planets: Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Earth and Moon; it can also be assumed that these are Adityas - the seven brothers of Surya, who, under the name Marthandu, was the eighth, rejected, son of Aditi, from the cosmic womb who gave birth to: Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, Bhaga, Ansha, Daksha and Indra - they represent the divine Spirits , whose abode is the seven planets known back in ancient Vedic times. Surya always appears as a brilliant, radiant deity. As a rule, he holds a lotus flower and the wheel of time in his hands.
The Brihat Samhita states that Surya should be depicted with two hands and a crown on his head. In the Vishnu Dharmottara Purana, Surya is described as a four-armed deity holding a lotus in two hands, a staff in the third, and a feather in the fourth as a symbol of knowledge. Surya's charioteer, Aruna, acts as the personification of the dawn; on the sides of Surya's chariot one can see the dawn goddesses Usha and Pratyusha, who strike the attacking demons with arrows from their bows, which symbolizes their initiative to challenge the darkness. In some Buddhist works of art, Surya stands in a chariot drawn by four horses and is sometimes depicted next to Chandra (the moon god).
In Vedic astrology, Jyotish Surya is revered as Ravi (the root of the word "ravivara" - 'Sunday' - the day dedicated to the sun). Surya is the lord of one of the nine celestial houses ("navagraha"). Navagraha is the 9 planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu), but rather astrological forces that reside in physical, material, manifested form in the form of celestial bodies or lunar nodes (in the case of Rahu and Ketu). The sun is given a special place due to the fact that Surya personifies the soul of a person, his inner world (Karaka of the soul; “karaka” - 'carrying the corresponding qualities, properties'), and indicates what level of spiritual development a person has achieved, which in turn is determined the ability to accept the Dharma and comprehend the truth.
Surya is the main graha (‘planet’, ‘invader’, ‘possessor’) and the third most important in the birth chart after the lagna (ascendant; the sign located in the east at the time of birth) and Chandra (Moon). The harmonious Sun on a person’s birth chart reflects how strong a person’s connection with God is and what is the opportunity to comprehend one’s purpose in life and follow the Dharma. The sun bestows nobility, generosity, willpower, cheerfulness and the desire to follow lofty ideals. Surya is also considered Krura-graha ('cruel'), and this is due to the fact that, manifesting itself in our horoscope, it indicates that it will contribute to the occurrence of such events in life that we need so that we can cope with our shortcomings ; she is cruel but fair. Thus, the lessons taught by Surya lead to positive changes in our lives.
In Vedic astronomy, Surya appears as the dominant celestial body, appearing in various Vedic astronomical treatises: “Aryabhatiya” (5th century AD), “Romaka-siddhata” (6th century), “Paulisha-siddhanta” (6th century) , “Khandakhadyaka” (VII century), “Surya-siddhanta” (V-XI century) with mythological personifications of divine celestial bodies. In these treatises of antiquity, in particular in the Aryabhatiya, we already encounter the statement that the planets of our solar system revolve around the Sun and move in elliptical orbits, but the model of the “Surya-siddhanta”, which was told by the messenger of Surya at the end of Satya- Yuga - geocentric, their difference lies only in the relativity of “points of view”, all the information stored in these treatises is reliable and contains valuable astronomical knowledge.
Surya in the Russian Vedic tradition
In the Russian Vedic tradition, Surya corresponds to four sun gods - as hypostases of the solar deity (4 seasons and changes in the phases of the Sun). Khors (Kolyada) - the winter sun, one of the main solar gods of the Vedic pantheon, revered from the Winter Solstice (December 21–22) to the Spring Equinox (March 20–21), Yarilo - the god of spring and sunlight, the awakening of nature from winter sleep, is the embodiment of the spring Sun, full of life-giving energy, revered from the day of the Spring Equinox to the day of the Summer Solstice (June 21–22), Dazhdbog (Kupala) is the summer sun, the god of fertility, personifying the heavenly light pouring onto the Earth, into the world Reveal, revered from the Summer Solstice to the Autumn Equinox (September 22–23), Svarog (Svetovit) - the god of fire, creator of the Universe, whose sons are the fiery solar gods Khors, Yarilo and Dazhdbog, was revered from the Autumn Equinox to day of the Winter Solstice.
Surya Temples
One of the most famous temples of the Sun is the Indian temple of Surya in Konark (built in the 13th century), in the Orissa region, where there are also two more temples dedicated to the solar god: the so-called wooden Konark - Biranchi Narayan, located in Buguda, Ganjam district, and the temple Sri Biranchinarayan (13th century) in the village of Palia, south of Badrak, there are Surya temples in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan. In addition to them, there are more than a dozen temples of the Sun God in India. Outside of India, there are also sun temples in Nepal, China, America, Thailand, and Pakistan.
The Sun Temple in Konark is built of sandstone, surrounded by twelve pairs of stone wheels, with a diameter of just over three meters (a pair of wheels and an axle between them is a symbol of the connection between heaven and earth), built into the walls of the temple and personifying the twelve months of the year, or 24 hours in a day, giving the impression that the entire temple is the Vimana, or celestial chariot, of the solar god, thus the temple is a symbolic image of the Sun. Seven stone sculptures of horses are installed on the sides of the temple stairs, as if harnessed to Surya's chariot. Statues of Surya decorate the niches on the outside of the temple, they represent the morning, midday and evening Sun. On the temple you can see a sundial, allowing you to determine the exact time. The main building of the Konark temple was completely destroyed; the surviving structure was once located in front of the main building.
A set of sequentially performed asanas called “Surya Namaskar”, which literally means ‘sun salutation’, is a small warm-up that precedes the practice of yoga. Represents the worship of Surya as the deity of light and the source of life on earth. This practice developed in the 20th century, was first mentioned by Krishnamacharya, who taught it to his students B.K.S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, Sri K. Pattabhi, they brought it to the west. The greeting is performed at sunrise and, as a rule, represents the following sequence of asanas:
1. Pranamasana (Praying Pose).
- Perform while exhaling;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Mitraya Namaha” (chant in a state of friendliness, devotion and fidelity).
2. Hasta Uttanasana (back bend).
- Perform while inhaling;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Ravaye Namaha” (turn to the Sun as a source of light).
3. Padahastasana (deep bend with palms on the sides of the feet).
- Perform while exhaling;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Suryaya Namaha” (we worship the highest aspect of Surya).
4. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Horseback Pose, right leg back).
- Performed while inhaling;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Bhanave Namaha” (we glorify Surya, the giver of enlightenment, the spreader of the light of truth).
5. Parvatasana (Mountain Pose).
- Perform while exhaling;
- Concentrating on the Vishuddha chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Khagaye Namaha” (we worship the Sun, which rules time).
6. Ashtanga Namaskara (Greeting with eight points of the body).
- Performed while holding your breath;
- Concentrating on the Manipura chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Pushne Namaha” (turn to the Sun, which nourishes energy and vitality).
7. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose).
- Perform while inhaling;
- We concentrate on the Svadhisthana chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Hiranya Garbhaya Namaha” (we welcome Surya as the source of the universe).
8. Parvatasana (Mountain Pose).
- Perform while exhaling;
- Concentrating on the Vishuddha chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Marichaya Namaha” (praise the radiant Surya).
9. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Horseback Pose, left leg forward).
- Perform while inhaling;
- Concentrating on the Ajna chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Adityaya Namaha” (we address Surya as the son of Aditi - infinite space).
10. Padahastasana (deep bend with palms on the sides of the feet).
- Perform while exhaling;
- We concentrate on the Svadhisthana chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Savitri Namaha” (we honor Surya as an awakening, revitalizing force).
11. Hasta Uttanasana (back bend).
- Perform while inhaling;
- Concentrating on the Vishuddha chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Arkaya Namaha” (we welcome the fiery energy of Surya).
12. Pranamasana (Praying Pose).
- Perform while exhaling;
- Concentrating on the Anahata chakra;
- The accompanying mantra is “Om Bhaskaraya Namaha” (we praise the Sun, which leads to the knowledge of absolute truth).
Next, we repeat the sequence on the other leg (in point 4 “Ashva Sanchalanasana” - the left leg back, and in point 9 “Ashva Sanchalanasana” - the right leg forward), and so we perform 24 asanas - this will be the “circle” of Surya Namaskar.
When performing each asana, we concentrate on the corresponding energy center, while mentally pronouncing the accompanying mantra to the Sun. There are 12 solar mantras in total, all of them are saturated with the life-giving power of Surya, and his names carry corresponding vibrations into space.
When performing the Greeting, it is important not to lose your thoughts in unrelated matters, but to concentrate on Surya, with every movement and breath offering veneration to our life-giving luminary! Practicing with concentration on the Sun allows you to transform unbridled, distracting energy into a creative force.
Surya dev
Surya is the deity (devata) of the Sun. It is first mentioned in the ancient Vedic texts “Rigveda” (hymn I.115) as a symbol of light, revered at sunrise, dispelling darkness, imparting knowledge, wisdom, and goodness. Also in the Veda of Hymns, he is described as a precious stone in the heavens, in particular in hymn V.47: “Placed in the midst of the sky, a mottled stone, He came out beyond (the limits). He guards the two boundaries of space,” in hymn VI.51 - as “The pure, beautiful face of the law sparkled brightly in the sky, like a golden ornament at the rising (of the sun),” in verse VII.63 he appears as “The golden ornament of the sky, looking far away (god) rises, whose goal is far, crossing (the world), sparkling,” in some hymns he appears in the form of an eagle, a hedgehog, a horse, but in most cases he is correlated with a personified deity. It was believed that Surya Dev, riding a chariot across the sky, defeats the forces of darkness.
The bright face of the gods arose, the Eye of Mitra, Varuna, Agni. He filled the sky and earth, the airspace. Surya - the breath of life of the moving and motionless (world) (“Rigveda”, I.115.1)
Surya-Narayana
Surya manifests itself in a trinitarian aspect (the early Vedic Trimurti, which existed before the system of the three great gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, of which it is the forerunner), was formed, together with Agni and Vayu, and in the triad appears as a single solar light deity. In Vedic times, Surya was revered as one of the three main gods, but was later replaced by gods such as Shiva and Vishnu. However, he remains a revered deity in India and Nepal. sometimes appears in the form of the Sun, as an aspect of the creation of divine light. The Sun is also a cosmic male principle, the form of which is the pratyadhidevata (super-deity) of the Sun, personifying eternal goodness, light outside of time, moksha (liberation), universal peace. However, Vishnu is also a super-deity of the Sun, as the guardian of the Universe, maintaining cosmic order. It gives the power of light and warmth to the Sun God, the power of love and protection. Vishnu in the Vedic pantheon of gods later replaces Surya to a large extent and is referred to as Surya-Narayana. It represents the light that governs the cycles of creation in the Universe.
The wife of Surya-Vivasvat, according to legend, was Sanjna, with whom Surya had three children: Manu Vaivasvata (one of the fourteen Manus - the ancestors of humanity), Yama (the god of the underworld, the personification of the setting Sun) and Yami.
Yami, or Yamini (Sanskr. यमी - ‘night’) is the goddess of the sacred river Yamuna. As a rule, she is depicted with a dark face, since she is the patroness of the night, her vahana is the turtle as a water, female symbol, but also as a symbol of the universe, the embodiment of endurance, strength and immortality; sometimes she is depicted with a mirror in her hand, personifying the illusory world, Maya, sometimes she holds a jug of water, since Yami is the goddess of the river. Yami is also the personification of spiritual consciousness.
Surya nadi and Surya chakra
The right side of the human body is “solar” and is controlled by the fiery energy channel - Surya Nadi, or Pingala Nadi (activated by breathing through the right nostril), which controls the left hemisphere of the brain. In the modern world, with its tireless rhythm, the right side of the body (usually the muscles and the right side of the spine) suffers most from overstrain and undergoes uncontrollable compression due to the fact that solar (male) energy is depleted, requiring the expenditure of physical strength. Due to the fact that the right side of the body is associated with social life, while the left is associated with personal and family life, any problems of a social nature, as a rule, at work and in business, form clamps on the right side. Yoga offers us to cope with such negative manifestations through special practices, in particular, in this case, “Surya-bhedana” pranayama, or “increasing solar power”, which involves carrying out the breathing process as follows: inhaling through the right nostril, holding the breath, exhale through the left nostril. The “Surya Bheda Pranayama” technique is described in detail in the “Hatha Yoga Pradipika” (Chapter II, slokas 48–50). Thanks to it, Surya Nadi is strengthened and restored, which contributes to the development of endurance and increased performance. According to the texts of the Gheranda Samhita, this pranayama stops the aging process, increases heat in the body and awakens the power of Kundalini. Also on the right side of the body is the physical aspect of the Surya Chakra - the energy center located between Manipura and Anahata, the physical area associated with the chakra is the liver. Surya chakra is secondary, complementing the action of Manipura (whose governing celestial body is the Sun), and also manifests itself in union with Chandra chakra, located symmetrically in the opposite direction (the physical area associated with the chakra is the spleen). Surya chakra promotes digestion and is responsible for willpower and determination.
Surya Yantra and solar mantra Gayatri
What allows us to concentrate on the solar deity is his material manifestation, which we can see every day in the sky. However, there is a certain geometrically structured image that reflects the essence of the Sun. Yantra is a geometric design designating a specific deity. When addressing a revered god, it is prescribed to concentrate attention on a magical drawing - a yantra representing this deity. The yantra pattern is geometrically harmonized with the center of symmetry, to which the power of the gods descends. Surya Yantra is a visual representation of the energetic structure of the Sun. The Yantra, dedicated to the Sun God, allows you to increase the solar energy in the body, which causes a desire for self-development, strengthens faith in one’s own strength, develops self-esteem and uncriticality in us, helps strengthen willpower, leads to awareness, enhances the fire in the body, the lack of which, as usually leads to vision problems, poor digestion, chills in the body, heart problems and blood diseases.
If you place a yantra at home, then the best place for it will be the eastern part, and on the altar the image of Surya should be placed in the center, as befits the all-seeing eye of the gods.
The mantra, in the sound of which the vibrations of the life-giving bright Sun spread, is the Gayatri mantra. Its description and translation can be found at the following links:
It is sung in the tenth hymn of the Rig Veda (Hymn III, 62.10).
It is believed that verse III, 62.10 must be recited three times a day: at dawn, at noon and at sunset. The same mantra is recited during important ceremonies. There are three ways to repeat mantras: you can read them out loud, say them silently, or simply focus your thoughts on them. Reading aloud is the most primitive way, concentrating your thoughts on their essence is the highest
(Swami Vivekananda)
Let us bring glory to the divine life-giving Surya! May he illuminate our path to spiritual insight!
P.S. Get up early in the morning at sunrise, offer veneration to Surya, receive the power of the Sun - the power of bright truth. And may Surya resonate in your hearts with the warm light of love and the joy of being.
For our ancestors, the sun has always played a vital role in nature. After all, only thanks to him was their life on earth possible. Without sunlight and energy, it was impossible to grow a good crop. The ancients noticed long ago that the seasons of the year change depending on the position of the sun in the sky.
And it is not surprising that the sun god was of great importance. What did the Slavs call the sun god? It turns out that the Slavs had more than one sun god. Each of them corresponded to the sun at a certain period of the year.
Some sources present other sun gods:
- Winter – Kolyada.
- Spring - Yarilo.
- Summer – Kupailo.
- Autumn – Sventovit.
Moreover, the first is a child, the second is a young man, the third is a man, the fourth is an old man.
But Yarilo still had the greatest importance. After all, if you remember what the Slavs called the sun, then this was precisely his name - Yarilo. His name literally translates as “fast, swift, rising.” Agree that all these words can be attributed to the sun itself. And even more so for spring, the symbol of which was Yarilo. And therefore God was also “responsible” for fertility and a good harvest. Yarila is also credited with patronage in love and the conception of children.
The sun god had arrows, a spear, and a golden shield. Amber was rightfully recognized as its stone, and gold as its metal. There were many holidays in honor of God, the main participants of which were young people.
