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 The great planet-god Sanisvara is also the son of Surya, born of Chaaya. It is said that Samjna, the first consort of Surya was unable to bear the tremendous radiance of her husband and caused Chaaya (her shadow) to take her place. Out of this union of Chaaya and Marthaanda (sun) was born Saturn - Sani - ref. Navagraha Stotram on this planet God : (1) Neelanjana Samaabhasam Raviputram Yamaagrajam Chaaya Marthaanda Sambhutam Tam Namaani Sanaiscaram - (2) Surya Putro Deergadeho Visaalaaksha Sivapriyah : Mandacaarah Prasannaatmaa Peedaam Harathu Me Sanih - The first hymn was composed by Sage Vyaasa (Vyaasa Viracitam Navagraha Stotram) whereas the second hymn - Navagraha Peedaahara Stotram - can be found in the Brahmaanda Purana also authored by Sage
Vyaasa.
Samjna (also called Suvarchala) symbolises 'light and immortality' (freedom from darkness, nescience) and Chaaya represents 'death, shadow and darkness'. The import is Samjna stands for the immortal creative aspect of Purusha and Chaaya to the 'transient, ephemeral, mortal creation of Prakriti. The overlord to both, Surya, combines both - mortality and immortality. Although Adi Sankara had established Sauram (the worship of the Sun) as one of the six sub-faiths (the Shan Mathas), he has not composed a single hymn on this God. He composed 65 hymns in all on other Gods and Goddesses -- Siva, Vishnu, Ganesa, Devi, Subrahmanya, Krishna, Rama, Dakshinamurthy, Hanuman, and on rivers Narmada, Yamuna and Ganga. However, Surya is the first God, of the five, worshipped in the Pancaayataana by Sankara's followers: Aadityam, Ambikam, Vishnum, Gananatham and Maheswaram. Here, Subrahmanya does not find a place.
In the Saavitryupanishad (Sama Veda) and the Suryopanishad (Atharva Veda) the Sun God is extolled as the Supreme Reality. He is called 'Mitra' (one interpretation: friend), the resplendent, the cause of all. The potent mantras Bala and Atibala, taught to Sri Rama by sage Viswamitra are incorporated in the Savitryupanishad: The Suryopanishad prays: 'May the Sun in the east, in the west, in the north and the south (He is all-pervasive), may he procure for us all that we desire. May he confer on us significant longevity - Savitaa Purastaath, Savitha Pascaattaath, Savitoruttaraattaath Savita Aadharaattaath Savitaa Nah Suvathu Sarvataartim Savito No Raasataam Deergamaayuh. This prayer is believed to be one of the most efficacious.
 The Surya Namaskara (the twelve health-ensuring body postures) represents both a meaningful exercise and a fervent prayer to the Sun God and is, in fact, a yogic exercise. The Surya Namaskara Prasnam found in Taittiriya Aranyaka details an arduous Vedic method of worshipping Lord Surya and is also called Arunopanishad. There are 130 separate chants in this 'Prasnam' (Vedic lesson) and, therefore, entails 130 salutations, a vigorous exercise indeed! The 'Suryanar Koil' (Surya temple) in Tamil Nadu, Martand (Kashmir), Osia (Rajasthan), Konark (Orissa), Modhera (Gujarat), Bhuleshwar (Mumbai) are some of the most famous 'Surya' temples. Of these, the Suryanar Koil in Chola Desa, Tamil Nadu, alone has the unique distinction of conducting Vedic worship uninterruptedly for over nine centuries. The dates of these temples range from the fifth to twelfth centuries A.D. Pictures of Surya, as the radiant Sun, are often depicted with a moustache-lined smiling face!
(to be concluded)
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