How is water (arghya) offered to Surya Dev?

Traditionally, after bathing, one faces the rising sun and slowly pours water from a copper vessel while chanting a mantra such as "Om Suryaya Namah".

On which day is Surya Dev worshipped?

Sunday is Surya Dev's day. Ratha Saptami, Makar Sankranti and Chhath Puja are the major festivals of his worship.

How many horses draw Surya's chariot?

Surya's chariot is drawn by seven horses, and his charioteer is Aruna.

Who taught the Aditya Hridaya Stotra and to whom?

According to the Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki's Ramayana, the sage Agastya taught the Aditya Hridaya to Rama before his battle with Ravana.

Who are the children of Surya Dev?

Yama, Yamuna, Vaivasvata Manu, the Ashvins, Shani and Tapati are Surya's children, and Karna and Sugriva are also regarded as his sons.

Surya Dev

The Visible God, Soul of the World

Surya Dev is the god of the Sun — the "visible deity" praised since the Vedas as the source of light, energy and life. He heads the nine Navagrahas, Sunday is his day, and offering water (arghya) at sunrise is the heart of his worship.

The Story of Surya Dev

Sun worship is among the oldest strands of Hinduism. Many Rigvedic hymns praise the rising sun that dispels darkness and witnesses the deeds of all beings. The Gayatri mantra (Rigveda 3.62.10) is addressed to Savitr, the Sun as the impeller and giver of life, and the Rigveda calls the Sun the soul of all that moves and stands still. Surya is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Aditi, mother of the gods, and so is called Aditya. His consorts are Sanjna (Saranyu) and Chhaya. Through Sanjna were born Yama, Yamuna (Yami), Vaivasvata Manu and the twin Ashvins; through Chhaya, Shani and Tapati. His sons also loom large in the epics — the generous warrior Karna of the Mahabharata and the vanara king Sugriva of the Ramayana are both his sons. In the Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki's Ramayana, just before the final battle with Ravana, the sage Agastya taught Rama the Aditya Hridaya hymn, by whose recitation Rama went on to victory. Surya crosses the sky in a one-wheeled chariot drawn by seven horses, driven by Aruna, the brother of Garuda. The Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha is built in the shape of that chariot. Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Ratha Saptami and Chhath Puja are all festivals of the Sun. Offering water from a copper vessel at sunrise, the Surya Namaskar salutation, chanting "Om Suryaya Namah" or "Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah", and fasting on Sundays are the traditional forms of his worship.

Iconography & Symbols

Radiant and golden, holding a lotus in each hand, riding a chariot drawn by seven horses with Aruna as charioteer.

Other Names

Aditya
Bhaskara
Divakara
Ravi
Savita
Dinakara
Martanda

Surya Dev: Aartis, Chalisas, Stotras & Festivals

Stotra

Aditya Hridaya Stotra

Frequently Asked Questions

How is water (arghya) offered to Surya Dev?: Traditionally, after bathing, one faces the rising sun and slowly pours water from a copper vessel while chanting a mantra such as "Om Suryaya Namah".
On which day is Surya Dev worshipped?: Sunday is Surya Dev's day. Ratha Saptami, Makar Sankranti and Chhath Puja are the major festivals of his worship.
How many horses draw Surya's chariot?: Surya's chariot is drawn by seven horses, and his charioteer is Aruna.
Who taught the Aditya Hridaya Stotra and to whom?: According to the Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki's Ramayana, the sage Agastya taught the Aditya Hridaya to Rama before his battle with Ravana.
Who are the children of Surya Dev?: Yama, Yamuna, Vaivasvata Manu, the Ashvins, Shani and Tapati are Surya's children, and Karna and Sugriva are also regarded as his sons.