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Surya
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- One
of the widely diffused later myths, seemingly crafted to explain his decline
while the other gods rose in favor, has Surya married to Sanjana, daughter
of the Cosmic Craftsman, Vishvakarma. The marriage is very happy, but
Sanjana cannot bear her husband when he shines in full glory. One day she
makes the mistake of closing her eyes and averting her head from this
intolerable illumination and the normally gentle Surya almost becomes a
supernova. He curses his wife to bear the God of Death, Yama, for having
averted her gaze from the Giver of Life and for being variable and
inconstant in her opinions to bear a twin girl, Yamuna, a river that never
maintains its limits, constantly shifting itself. Fortunately, they already
have a brilliant son, Manu, who is to become the proto-Adam of the next
Cycle of Creation and he helps them to reconcile later. Sanjana is too hurt
by his behavior to easily reconcile, so she leaves her husband in possession
of her Shadow, a simulacrum, called Chaaya, while she goes to the forest to
perform penance and bring Surya's blaze down. She hides in the form of a
solar mare, and when Surya finds out, he joins her as a stallion or Ashwa.
The results of this equestrian wooing are supposed to be the Ashwini Kumara,
from Ashwa or horse.
- Vishvakarma decides to help his daughter and
puts Surya on his great lathe and cuts away an eighth of his effulgence.
This fiery power was redistributed amongst the other gods, primarily as
weapons. Vishnu got a discus, Shiva his trident, Skanda his spear and so on.
The shifting power structures amongst the gods and their collectively
assimilating the Surya cult are clearly visible here. Also notable is the
remarkable symbolism of Death being the son of the Giver of Life. No sooner
does life come into being than death has marked it down.
In later myths Surya sinks even further into insignificance. In the Ramayana
he is the father of Sugriva, the Monkey prince and can do nothing to prevent
his persecution at the hands of his brother. In the Mahabharatha, he is the
father of the tragic figure Karna, and again can do nothing to ease the
harsh destiny of his son. It's a long way down for the god described in the
Vedas as the Great All- Knowing Lord.
The many names of Surya somehow still pulsate with power when the panegyrics
to the other gods fade into staleness. He is Dinakara, Day-Maker; Vivasvat,
the Radiant One; Karma-sakshi, Witness of the deeds of men; Mihira, He who
waters the earth (by drawing up moisture so that clouds may form) Savitri,
the Nourisher of gods and men and best of all Savitr, the Impeller towards
the good light. One cannot help feeling that somehow India lost more than
beautiful temples when his worship collapsed, there was an entire subculture
of great vitality and creative energy which went with it. It was, by the
evidence available till now, about the only faith in India that did not go
emotionally overboard or assimilate so many bizarre aspects of behavior and
belief that make modern sensibilities squeamish. The light was sufficient
unto itself and there was no evil thereof. It is a belief that would be
reiterated in another time and place by an artist from another culture. Many
centuries later, as England's great painter, Turner, lay dying after a
lifetime of painting the light, he stated his life's discovery and faith in
four words.
"The sun is God."
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