Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates ‘Vivasvat (a Form of the Sun-god)’ 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.—This section belongs to the series “Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda”.
Part 25 - Vivasvat (a Form of the Sun-god)
Vivasvat is mentioned as the ancestor of the human race as well as the deities.
In the Vedic texts, the deities are spoken of as the offspring of Vivasvat:
parāvato ye didhiṣanta āpyaṃ manuprītāso janimā vivasvataḥ/[1]
Particularly, the Aśvins, Yama, etc., are clearly stated to be born of Vivasvat in the Vedas.[2] Again, Agni is said to be produced from his parents, i.e. the fire-sticks and the Vivasvat.[3] In the Vedic texts, men are directly stated to be the progeny of Vivasvat Āditya.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 10.63.1
[2]:
cf., aṅgirobhirā gahi yajñiyebhiryama vairūpairiha mādayasva/ vivasvantaṃ huve yaḥ pitā teʹsmin yajñe barhiṣyā niṣadya// Ibid., 10.14.5
[3]:
cf., asaṃmṛṣṭo jāyase mātroḥ śucirmandraḥ kavirudatiṣṭho vivasvataḥ/ ghṛtena tvāvardhayannagna āhuta dhūmaste keturabhavaddivi śritaḥ// Ibid., 5.11.3