Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates ‘Symbolic relevance of the Lotus in Sun-worship’ 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 40 - Symbolic relevance of the Lotus in Sun-worship
The Lotus is one of the fetishes that is employed to symbolize the Sun-god. This symbol is used in the Vedic rituals to show the fertility aspect of the deity. In different rituals, a Lotus leaf is placed in the first layer in the centre as the symbol of the Sungod.[1] The Lotus wreath with the twelve flowers[2] may signify the twelve months of the year. The association of Lotus and the Sun is well mentioned in the Atharvaveda.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
cf., apāṃ pṛṣṭhamasi yoniragneḥ samudramabhitaḥ pinvamānam/ vardhamāno mahāñ ā ca puṣkare
[2]:
Pañcaviṃśabrāhmaṇa,18.9.6-8