The sun derives its energy and effulgence from the Divine cosmic source. It is the same cosmic source that accounts for the power of the human mind and the marvellous power of the eye to see the most distant star. With this power of sight, man is able to see the entire creation. There is no greater power than this. This boundless power is being recognised and exercised by each according to the level of his development. Because of man’s ability to manifest the divine boundless cosmic energy, man is described as a manifestation of the Divine (Vyakti). Humanness lies in manifesting what is hidden and invisible to man. (SSS Vol.39, p. 246)

Sun is the source of Time. Surya is the father of Time (Kala) as the Shastras declare. The sun limits and regulates the number of years each one lives; the sun diminishes every day a fraction of the allotted span. So the Sun is the supreme arbiter, the maker of man’s destiny. The Sun is the source of all life, plant and animal, upon this planet. Surya is a great Tyagi, unequalled for renunciation. He is the great Yogi; without a second’s thought of His own glory, or of rest. He performs His duty without thought of reward. He is humble and steady in work. Imagine the patience with which the sun puts up with all that extreme heat, for the sake of the world and of humanity. If the sun is idle for a moment, the world will be consumed in flames. Instead, He is fostering the world. He feels it is His mission, His purpose, and not as His service. (GV, pp. 52-53)

The Sun is designated the Cosmic Eye, Jagat Chakshu, a name based on the Sun’s involvement with and proximity to other objects. The Sun has no ego-sense, or sense of possession and property, and no will or want or wish. By His very presence, darkness disappears and light envelops the world, so He is called the Enlightener. But He is not consciously doing so, as if duty bound. The Atma too has neither obligation nor application. (SSVahini, p. 189)

Surya, or the Sun, with its rays illumines all beings in the ten regions. Surya is the very Self of Prajapati, and hence, all beings - both in the regions so illumined - become the very ‘self’ of Prajapati. The word ‘Prana’ therefore, refers to Aditya itself, for Aditya (the Sun) gives Prana (the Vital Essence). Since all beings are able to live by consumption of food, etc., the Sun is also known as Vaishvanara. The whole universe is of His nature, and so He is also known as Vishvarupa.Samvatsara, or the year, is an indicator of Time according to the position of the Sun. Time is but a series of days and nights and these are phases caused by the Sun. The rotation of the Moon causes Tithis, or stages, in fullness. The twin forces, the Sun and the Moon, are the products of Prajapati and so, Time, which is marked out by the tropics, the seasons, the months, etc., is also of the same essence. Prajapati has the Northern and Southern cycles also. The rays of the setting sun merge in the Sun itself; they emanate and spread again when the sun rises the next day. In the same manner, during dreams, the sensory world gets merged in the consciousness - reflecting the Mind, and when one wakes from sleep, the sensory impressions emanate as of old and move out in their native form. That is why the Self, or Purusha, does not hear or see or touch or enjoy. He does not walk or talk. (UV, pp. 43-45)

In the worship of the Sun God, certain mantras are used (invoking the different attributes of the deity). Among the names recited in praise of the Sun God are:

tamoghnaaya himaghnaaya shatrughnaaya amitaatmane |

krutaghnaghnaaya devaaya jyotishaam pataye nama

‘Himaghnaaya Namah’ (prostrations to the dispeller of snow); ‘Tamoghnaaya namha’ (prostrations to the destroyer of darkness); ‘krutaghnaghnaaya namha’ (Prostrations to the destroyer of the ungrateful). The Sun is hailed as the melter of snow and dispeller of darkness in the first two names. The third name describes the Sun God as one who gives up those who forget the good done to them. How does the Sun God give up the ungrateful? The Vedas have declared that the Sun emerged from the eyes of the Cosmic Person (the Virat Purusha). The Sun’s radiance illumines the eyes of a human being. When the Mantra declares that the Sun God goes away from the one who is ungrateful, its inner meaning is that the Sun God makes the ungrateful person blind and withdraws from him the power of sight. Today persons guilty of ingratitude go about as blind persons or as ignorant beings of the real power of sight. Every person should therefore cherish the sense of gratitude. (SSS Vol.24)

The Sun is teaching us that when one is oneself, there will be no exhaustion or elation, no disgust or pride. The task of Surya is not something imposed from outside and taken up under compulsion. That is why it is performed systematically and smoothly. He is also exhorting mankind to use the time that He creates and allots, fully and fruitfully; not merely for living comfortably and safely, but for living a moral and elevating life, worthy of the destiny that is man’s. Now you can realise why the Gita was first taught, by the Lord to the Sun. He is the great ‘Karma Yogi’, the great ‘Nishkama Karma Yogi’. (D3 , p. 386)

The Sun has two properties: Light and Heat. The Atma too can be viewed in two aspects: Swarupa and Svabhava, its ‘It-ness’ and ‘the effect of Its It-ness’. The innate Truth or Swarupa is known as Dharmi and its effect or quality or Svabhava is known as Dharma. When one is aware of the Dharma, he can be said to have attained the Dharma-bhuta-Jnana (the Transformation resulting from the knowledge of the Atma Svabhava or Dharma). The sublimation resulting from the knowledge of the essence or It-ness or Swarupa of the Atma is Dharma-bhuta-Jnana.

The Swarupa of the Atma is Anu or Atomic.

Its Dharma or quality is splendour.

The Atma is described as Vibhu.

Subtler than the subtlest Anu

Vaster than the vastest

Witnessing all everywhere

Atma is Brahma, Brahma is Atma.

This subtlest Anu, Atma, is in all things and its quality is therefore evident everywhere. It occupies all but it cannot be occupied by any other. The Atma principle, the Brahman principle is immanent in all things in the Universe, but nothing can penetrate it. Since the Anu or the Atma which has that form is in all things, it is clear that all things are Atma! There is nothing in the Universe devoid of this Anu force. This quality of the Anu is cognisable in all things as the Dharma. So, the Dharmi or Atma is omnipresent. The human body too is no exception to this. The atom or Anu is immanent in it and so, we are the embodiment of Atma, of Atmic energy.

(Holding up a silver tumbler in His hand, Bhagavan said:) To know this, as a silver Tumbler is knowledge of the Dharma, knowledge of the effect; to know this is silver is knowledge of the Dharmi. This handkerchief too has the Anu characteristic. Burn it, it becomes ash; ash has atoms; the Anu persists even when the substance takes another form. That is the reason why the Atma is announced as Eternal Truth by the Vedas.

The body is composed of many substances but every substance is essentially Anu in structure. Appearance and nomenclature may change through childhood, boyhood, adolescence, youth, middle age and senescence, but the Dharmi, the Brahman reality, shines in native splendour without being affected in the least. Ignoring this one Reality, the Truth, man is fully involved in illusory tangles. (SSS Vol.11, pp. 218-219)

The Solar rays absorb water from the oceans; convert it into clouds and then into rain. These raindrops reach the oceans in the form of streams and rivers. Likewise we must transform the knowledge gathered by our senses into wisdom and use it for the good of all. (Saiclopedia, p. 1)

Anadi nidhanam vishnum

sarva loka maheshvaram,

Lokadyaksham stuvannityam

sarva dukkhatigo bhaved

Embodiments of Love! Anadi nidhanam is a name attributed to God in relation to time. Sarva loka Maheshvaram signifies that God is the illuminating overlord of all the worlds. Lokadyaksham stuvannityam - He is the presiding ruler of the Cosmos. Who is He? He is the Sun. Time is marked by the Sun. Hence the Sun is the visible manifestation of God. He is the effulgence that is common to all nations, all creeds and all people. Hence Shankara hailed the Sun as ‘Anadi nidhanam Vishnum,’ the presiding deity for the Samvatsara (year) as the overlord of time. Samvatsara is the appellation given to the Kaalatmaka (Time-spirit). Because the Lord is the very soul of Time, Shankara described Him as ‘Kaalatmakaaya Namah’ (Prostrations to the One who is the Spirit of Time).

Time is most precious in human life. More valuable than Time is Prana (life). Man aspires to achieve many things without concern for his life. However great his achievements are man is driven by the urge to achieve more. This discontent is itself a source of satisfaction for man. (SSS Vol.29, pp. 57-58)

The Sun moves into a house of the Zodiac every month. In a year he goes round the twelve houses of the Zodiac. The entry of the Sun into Capricorn has physical, ethical, social and moral significance. From today (Sankranti) the Sun starts on his northward journey. What does north signify? It is considered the direction leading to Moksha (Liberation). The sun is said to move towards Himachala. Himachala is made up of two words: Hima + Achala. Hima means that which is white as snow. Achala is that which is unshakeable. What is the place to which this description applies? It is the region of the Heart. In a heart that is pure and steady, the Sun of Buddhi (the intellect) enters. There is no need to undertake a journey in the external world. The Uttarayana (or the Northward Journey) means turning the intellect inward, towards the heart. The bliss that is experienced within alone is true bliss for man. All other external and sensory pleasures are ephemeral. Only the Atmic principle is pure, permanent and infinite. This has been termed as the abode of Moksha (Liberation). The Journey to Moksha is called the quest for Liberation. (NNSG Vol.7, p. 7)

The Sun takes the Northern Path from today (Sankranti), the Higher Path. In the North, the Himalayas welcome you into Unaffectedness (Achala), Purity (Hima, Snow) and Immaculateness (pure, white untarnished clarity) and Coolness (Perfect Joy). Whenever the mind yearns for and pursues those four gains, it is on the Northern Path, leading to Himalayas, the Abode of Gods; it is following Sun, the Splendour of the Intelligence. (NNSG Vol.7, p. 9)

At the time of Rama’s birth, for 15 days there was no sunshine. It was darkness all around. Consequently, the moon was agitated. It lamented, ‘Alas! I am unable to have a glimpse of Lord Rama! After the passing of 15 days the sun itself was curious to see Rama. He gradually stated rising. Consequently, the moon too started its lunar phases. The sun and the moon started executing their assigned tasks. This caused day and night to appear on earth. If you investigate the mystery of nature you will find that man plays no role anywhere in it. (SSB 2002, p. 159)