Surya's religious role and mythic relationships (Souram)
Suryahad three queens - Saranyu (also called Saraniya, Saranya, Sanjna, or Sangya), Ragyi, and Prabha.
Saranyu was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu or Sraddhadeva Manu (the seventh, i.e. present Manu) and the twins Yama Dev (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yami (associated with the river Yamuna).
She also bore him the twins known as the Ashwins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas.
Once, Saranyu, being unable to bear the extreme radiance of Surya, created a superficial entity from her shadow called Chhaya and instructed her to act as Surya's wife in her absence.
Chhaya mothered two sons - Savarni Manu (the eighth, i.e. next Manu) and Shani Dev (the planet Saturn), and two daughters - Tapti (goddess of river Tapti) and Vishti.He also has a son, Revanta, or Raivata, by Ragyi.
In astrology
Surya represents soul, will-power, fame, the eyes, general vitality, courage, kingship, father, highly placed persons and authority.
Surya is the chief, the solar deity, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wife Aditi
He has hair and arms of gold. His chariot is pulled by seven horses, which represent the seven chakras.
He presides as "Ravi" over "Ravi-war" or Sunday.
Surya is the lord of vegetation and breathing.He claims the first puja in siva puja and yaga puja.
He is the God - a living God - whom everyone can see, perceive and pray.
Though he is visible, he also has been presented in a variety of forms.
He is the life-giver and time-giver.
In Hindu religious literature, Surya is notably mentioned as the visible form of God that one can see every day.
Furthermore, Shaivites and Vaishnavas often regard Surya as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively.
For example, the sun is called Surya Narayana by Vaishnavas.
In Shaivite theology, Surya is said to be one of eight forms of Shiva, named the Astamurti.
He is said to be of Sattva Guna and represents the Soul,the King, highly placed persons or Father.
The Suryanar temple is located 12kms from Kumbakonam enroute to Mayavaram.
Surya's wives are Usha, Prathyusha.
The presiding deities are Puranavaradheeswarar and his consort Mangalanayaki.
Surya is the Lord of Simma Rasi and occupies the central place amongst the navagrahas.
The adidevatha is Agni, prathyutha Devatha - Rudran.
His colour is red and his vahana is a chariot drawn by seven horses.
The grain associated with his is wheat;
the flower - lotus, yerukku;
fabric - red clothes;
gem - ruby;
food - wheat, rava, chakkara pongal.
In the six sects established by Adi Sankara, Souram is one devoted to Sun God.
Even in other religions, Sun worship has place.
In the Zodiac, Sun occupies a prominent place - the Center.
The griha is the source of life and He is therefore described as the life-giver (Pranadhata).
He helps one gain his eyesight and Suryanamaskar (worship by prostration) will strengthen one's bones, cure illness, however sever it may be, cleanses the devotee from his sins and bestows on him progeny, wealth, good-health and long life.
He is the cause for rain-fall benefiting the world.
The Vedas adore him as a witness of all actions (Sakshi).
Worship of this devata on Sunday is supposed to bring in manifold benefits to the worshippers.
He is the lord of Leo in the Zodiac.
He stays one month in each Rasi and takes 365 days or 12 months to complete a round of 12 Rasis.
Suryanarayana Temple - Tamil Nadu Suryanarayana Temple, popluarly known as Suryanar-Koli, is about 3 kms. from the Aduturai railway station on the Southern Railway main line from Madras to Thanjavur.
There are also temples to Sun at Konark in Orissa and Modhera in Gujarat.