Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas

by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words

This page relates ‘Symbolic relevance of the Golden Disc 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 39 - Symbolic relevance of the Golden Disc in Sun-worship

The golden disc or a disc or plate of gold is employed as the Sun symbol in the Vedic rituals.[1] The term rukma is used for the Sun in the Vedic texts.[2] The term rukma is interpreted by Sāyaṇācārya as bright[3] and thus the Sun-god is regarded as the ornament of the sky. Due to the shining nature and round shape of the gold disc or plate, it may be regarded as the symbol of the god of light, i.e. Sūrya.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf., brahma jajñānaṃ prathamaṃ purastādvi śrīmattaḥ suruco vena āva/ Vājasaneyisaṃhitā, 13.3

Also vide, TS., 4.2.8; AB., 7.12; PB. 18.9.9; SB. 3.5.1.20; 3.9.2.9; 5.2.1.21; 5.4.1.13; 7.4.1.10; 12.4.4.6; Āpastambaśrautasūtra 16.22.3; Kātyāyanaśrautasūtra17.74

[2]:

cf., divo rukma urucakṣā udeti/ Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 7.63.4

[3]:

cf., ayaṃ sūryaḥ rukmaḥ rocamānaḥ…/ Sāyaṇācārya, Ibid., 7.63.4

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