3. Description of God Sūrya

The Mākaṇḍeyapurāṇa contains a general description of the deity, especially his weapons, his identifications with the gods and obstructions of his functions. Sūrya is identified with a few Gods like Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Indra, Yama, Kubera, the lord of Water (Appati), the lord of wealth (Vitteśa), Varuṇa, Agni and Prajāpati.^[1] He is also equated with gross elements like the wind, the sky, the water and the earth. He is identified with the mountain, the ocean, the trees and the herbs^[2] and also with the time composed of nimeṣa, kāṣṭha and other measures of time.^[3] He is also identified with luminaries like the Moon, the grahas and the nakṣatras.

About Sūryas physical appearance it is stated that he is likened to the Vṛṣa or bull^[4] . Sūrya uses cakra, śaṃkha, sārṅga and padma as weapons for which he is known as Cakrin, Śaṅkhin, Śārṅgin and Padmin^[5] . He has a well proportioned car which is drawn by seven parrot-hued swift and ever unwearied horses. He mounts on that car and moves for the benefit of the world^[6]

The Sun god is also described by the terms which are applicable to the higher (Para) and the lower (Apara) Brahman. For example, he is described as:

1. unborn (Aja)^[7],
2. imperishable (Akṣara),
3. unchanging (Acyuta)^[8],
4. all-pervading (Vibhu)^[9]
5. unending (Ananta)^[10],
6. pure (Viśuddha)^[11],
7. unthinkable (Acintya)^[12],
8. possessed of unthinkable power (Acintyaśakti)^[13],
9. the highest (Para)^[14],
10. the supreme (Parama)^[15],
11. the highest soul (Paramātman)^[16],
12. eternal (Śāśvata)^[17] etc.

At times like the Upaniṣadic Brahman, the Sun shares contradictory attributes like mūrta and amūrta, sthūla and sūkṣma^[18]. He is described as Brahman’s forms both para as well as apara^[19]. He is called Parabrahma^[20]. He is the Ultimate Reality for the sages and the ponderable by the metaphysicians^[21]. He is also described as the sole domain of knowledge^[22]. He is said to be the highest soul. Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, which are mentioned as the manifestations in the act of creation, preservation and destruction respectively^[23].

Further he has certain philosophic attribute for which he is also called as:

1. Amalātman,^[24]
2. Sadātman,^[25]
3. Mahātman,^[26]
4. Bhūtāman,^[27] Guṇātman,^[28]
5. Ādya,
6. Akhilamartyamūrti,
7. Viśvāśraya^[29],
8. Viśvamūrti,^[30]
9. Guhya^[31]
10. the cause of all things like, creator, destroyer and preserver of the universe (Sarvakāraṇabhūta^[32],  Sarvahetu^[33] ) etc.

Thus the greatness of Sūrya has been established nicely in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

yo brahmā yo mahādevo yo viṣṇuryaḥ prajāpatiḥ /
vāyurākāśmāpaśca pṛthivīgirisāgarāḥ // Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa, 106.69

[2]:

Ibid.,106.70

[3]:

nimeṣakāṣṭhādimayaḥ kālarūḥ kṣyātmakaḥ /
prasīda svecchayā rūpaṃ svatejaḥśamanaṃ kuru // Ibid.,75.13

[4]:

Ibid., 104.4

[5]:

Ibid.,75.4

[6]:

Ibid.,104.8-10

[7]:

tvaṃ brahmā harirajasaṃjñitastvamindro vitteśaḥ pitṛpatirappatiḥ samīraḥ /
somo’agnirgraganapatirmahīdharo’bdvhiḥ kiṃ stavyaṃ tava sakatātmarūpadhāmnaḥ// Ibid.,101.36

[8]:

Ibid.,106.66

[9]:

Ibid.,106.21

[10]:

Ibid.,106.65

[11]:

Ibid.,75.3

[12]:

Ibid.,106.68

[13]:

Ibid.,100.6

[14]:

Ibid.,75.4

[15]:

Ibid.,99.22

[16]:

Ibid.,75.4

[17]:

Ibid.,99.21;101.18

[18]:

mūrtāmūrtastahā sūkṣmaḥ sthūlarūpastathā sthitaḥ /
nimeṣakāṣṭhādimayaḥ kālarūpaḥ kṣyātmakaḥ prasīda svecchayā rūpaṃ svatejaḥśamanaṃ kuru // Ibid.,75.13

[19]:

Ibid.,75.12

[20]:

Ibid.,98.27

[21]:

Ibid.,75.5;100.10

[22]:

Ibid.,75.3

[23]:

Ibid., 99.21; 100.2; 101.34; etc.

[24]:

Ibid., 75.3

[25]:

Ibid., 101.29

[26]:

Ibid., 75.30

[27]:

Ibid., 104.4

[28]:

Ibid., 101.27

[29]:

devaiḥ sadeḍyaḥ sa tu vedamūrtirarmūrtirādyo’khilamartyamūrtiḥ /
viśvāśrayaṃ jyotiravedyadharmā vedāntagamyaḥ paramaḥ pareśaḥ // Ibid., 99.22

[30]:

Ibid., 100.5

[31]:

Ibid., 106.6

[32]:

Ibid., 75.5

[33]:

Ibid., 100.7.