Veda gyan

Welcome to the Fourteenth Issue of Vedagyan.

 Thai month starts with a Pooja for the Sun god. Our Culture, Scriptures and Ethos hold the Sun God at an exalted position. He is referred to as Prathyaksha Brahman Which means the concept of Brahman though beyond comprehension finds itself expressed by the Sun. Vedic scriptures dedicate several chapters in praise of this God. Sun represents Knowledge, valour, Health; he is the ordainer of the active universe. There are several examples in the scriptures that highlight the role of the Sun God as the giver of the ultimate knowledge. For instance Sun god taught The Yajur Veda  to Yagyavalkya. He appeared as a white horse and taught entire Veda and it is called Sukla Yajur Veda.

 Sage Agastia taught Lord Sri Rama the Aditya Hrdayam to win the war against Ravana and this was followed by the Lord! Sama Veda has dedicated a chapter called Arunam for Surya Namaskara. Sandhyavandana mantra is a prayer to sun God and the mid day prayer in particular is fully dedicated to Him. there is a mudra by clasping both the palms and looking at the sun through fingers. They are arranged in such a manner that the direct sun light does not affect the retina! Sun God is discribed as a relentless traveller from east to west, though the Veda also states clearly that it is allegorical.

He is depicted as being driven in a charriot by Aruna the brother of celestial bird Garuda! His seven horses represent seven colors. Once Vrtrasura captured Sun God and kept him captive in a cave, who is later released by Indra after a war in which the enemy is killed! 

 Lord Rama is born in Surya Vamsa, Karna of Mahabharat is of his amsa too, Manu the first human father is born to Sun God. Two wives of Sun God are Ushas and Chaya. Yama, Saneeswara, and Yami or Yamuna are born to Chaya Devi. Sun God represents knowledge and the moon represents mind.  His twelve forms are Dhaatr, Mitra, Aryaman, Rudra, Varuna, Surya, Bhaga, Viswavan, Pusan, Savita, Twashta, and Vishnu. His other names are Amsa, Daksa, Marthanda, and Aditya being the son of Adithi! Scriptures discribe that those who die take either the path of sun or the path of moon.

 Those who take the path of Sun during Uttarayana are not born again! Many scriptures define the sun, moon and agni as the three eyes of Lord Siva, Nrsimha, sakthi and the Sudharsana the Lord of the weapon at the hands of vishnu.