Children of the Sun: Sūrya Parivar

The family tree of Vivasvān is a fascinating subject - his children include some glorious personalities such as Shani, Manu, Yama, the Ashvins, Sugriva, Revanta and Karna, among others.

Children of the Sun: Sūrya Parivar
Bhagawan Sūrya on His Seven Horse Chariot, exoticindiaart


Small statured and copper bodied, the solar deity Sūrya Deva travels on a chariot driven by seven horses and the divine charioteer Aruna, or dawn.

Hindu cosmology generally distinguishes a planetary body from its pre-dominating deity. Sūrya Deva, then is the jiva-soul who is not the Sun itself, but presides over and puts the Sun on its appointed path.

Vivasvān is the name of the present presiding deity of the sun, i.e. our current Sūryadeva.

The family tree of Vivasvān is a fascinating subject - his list of partners and children include some glorious personalities such as Shani, Manu, Yama, the Ashvins, Sugriva, Revanta and Karna, among others.

But first :

Who married the Sun?

Surya and Sangya (The story of the sun and his wife). Mithila Painting, courtesy Pushpa Kumari, 2015

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