Chapter 51 - Characteristics of the images of the Sun and other planets

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. (The image of) the Sun (should be made) to ride a chariot having one wheel and seven horses. (He must) hold two lotuses, ink-stand, pen and a staff in his right hand.

2. Piṅgala, an attendant and gate-keeper of the Sun (should be placed) on the left with the mace in his hand. (Sun-god) should have female attendants bearing chowries (fly-flappers) and the pale-looking consort by his side.

3. Or (the image of) the Sun should be made as riding a horse alone. The guardian deities of different quarters should duly be endowed with weapons, holding two lotuses (in hands) and bestowing boons.

4. (The images of) Agni and other gods bearing the club, trident, disc and lotus should be placed in different directions (around). (The images of) the forms of Sun, commencing with Aryamā are represented as possessing four arms and placed in a diagram of twelve petals.

5-6. Varuṇa, Sūrya, Sahasrāṃśu (one who has thousand rays), Dhātṛ, Tapana, Sāvitṛ, Gabhastika, Ravi, Parjanya, Tvaṣṭṛ, Mitra (and) Viṣṇu are his different names as he moves over the zodiacal signs commencing with the Aries in the course of months commencing with Mārgaśīrṣa and ending with Kārttika.^[1]

7-9. Their female energies known by the names—Iḍā, Suṣmnā, Viśvārcis, Indu, Pramardinī, Praharṣaṇī, Mahākālī, Kapilā, Prabodhanī, Nīlāmbarā, Ghanāntasthā and Amṛtā, and placed at the ends of petals are of black, red, pale red, yellow, pale yellow, white, brown, yellow, green, white, grey and blue.

10. Similar colours are given to Varuṇa and others placed at the tips of petals. The form of Tejas (effulgence) should be represented as fierce, extremely crooked, possessing two arms holding a lotus and sword.

1. These two correspond to the months December-January and November-December.

11. The form of Moon should be represented as holding a sacrificial pitcher and rosary. (The image of) Mars should be) holding a spear and rosary. (The figure of) Mercury (should be) holding the bow and rosary in his hands. (The form of) Jupiter (should be) holding the sacrificial pitcher and rosary.

12. (The image of) Venus may be holding the sacrificial pitcher and rosary. (That of) Saturn should be endowed with a girdle of bells. (While that of) Rāhu (the ascending node of the moon considered as a planet) (is represented as) holding half of the lunar disc, (that of) Ketu (the descending node of the moon considered as a planet) (is represented as) holding the sword and lamp.

13. (The serpents) Ananta, Takṣaka, Karka, Padma, Mahābja and Śaṅkha are all (represented as) having hooded heads with great radiance.

14. (The image of) Indra is endowed with thunder-bolt and as seated on an elephant, (that of) Agni as riding a goat and holding a spear, (that of) Yama as on a buffalo and carrying a club and (that of) Nirṛti as holding a sword.

15. (The image of) Varuṇa (ocean god) is made as seated) on a crocodile and as holding a noose, (that of) Vāyu (wind god) (as riding) an antelope and holding a banner, (that of) Kubera (god of wealth) as seated on a sheep and bearing a mace, and (that of) Īśāna (as seated) on a bull and having a matted hair.

16. (The images) of the guardian deities of the quarters of the world are endowed with two arms. (The celestial architect) Viśvakarman (should be represented) as holding a rosary. (The figure of) Hanūmat (monkey, devoted to Rāma) may be holding the thunderbolt in his hand and pounding the earth with his feet.

17. (The semi-divine beings) Kinnaras may be (represented) as holding lutes in their arms and the Vidyādharas (semi-divine beings) as having garlands (and moving) in the sky. The goblins may be (represented) as having emaciated bodies and the vampires as deformed faces, the Guardians of the sites as having the tridents and the spirits of the dead people as lean and big-bellied.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These two correspond to the months December-January and November-December.