The Radiance Legacy: The Glorious Children of Surya Dev
Surya Dev (the Sun God) is the God of Light and one of the five major deities in Sanatan Dharma. Surya Dev has many names, such as Aditya, Arka, Bhanu, Savitr, Pushan, Ravi, Martanda, Mitra, Bhaskara, Prabhakara, Kathiravan, and Vivasvan. In Hindu mythology, Surya dev is described as riding across the sky and providing warmth to the universe. But apart from these celestial duties, Surya Dev is also a father, and he has many daughters and sons who hold a very significant role in shaping the Universe. Surya Dev has many children with his various wives and consorts. Each child plays a crucial role in maintaining the cosmic balance of the Universe: Manu as the beginning, Shani as Karma, Yamuna as purity, Yama as the ending, etc. Today’s blog will teach us about the Children of Surya Dev and their fascinating tales.
Table of Contents:
1. Children of Surya Dev
Children of Surya Dev
1. Shani Dev (Saturn): The Disciplinary God
Shani Dev is the god connected with the Saturn planet. People fear him for his impartial judgment. He is popular for bringing challenges and hardship to the people, which makes them face their karma. He encourages confidence, discipline, and resilience. It is also believed that the gaze of Shani Dev made Surya Dev ill. However, all these are Shani’s Destiny to rule Karmic justice.
2. Yamraj (God of Death): The Gatekeeper of Souls
Yamraj is the deity of Death, and he guides the souls to their rightful place in the afterlife. He is known for truth and justice, which ensures that the deeds of all the souls are accounted for. Yama is the only person who died with no sins, which makes him suitable for the Judge of Sins as the God of Death. Yamraj helps us to live our lives with dharma (righteousness) and accept death with peace. Yamraj is considered a fair judge who sends souls to their right place by rewarding or punishing them according to their Dharma.
Festivals:
Bhai Dooj: Bhai Dooj is celebrated to celebrate the bond between Yamraj and his sister Yamuna. According to Hindu scriptures, Yamuna invites her brother for a great meal, and by seeing her joy and determination, he grants her a boon. On this day, the brother who visits her sister will be safe from unnatural deaths.
Pitru Paksha: On this day, rituals are performed to honor the ancestors, and Yamraj plays a very special role in guiding the souls to their rightful place.
3. Ashwini Kumars: The Twin Healers
The twin sons of Surya Dev and Ashwini Kumars are the Gods of Medicine and Health. They are energetic, youthful, and skilled in medicine and healing. Devotees come to these deities for the aid of any dangerous disease. Ashwini Kumars teaches us to prioritize our health and reminds us to live a healthy and youthful life. In the Mahabharata, the Pandava twins Nakula and Sahadeva were the children of the Ashwini. They are believed to provide aid to many gods during the wars with the demons.
4. Yami (River Yamuna): The Eternal Companion
Yami, the dearest sister of Yamraj (God of Death), is the symbol of purity, devotion, and love. She is also known as the Goddess of the Yamuna River. People celebrate the Bhai Dooj, which is dedicated to Goddess Yami, and this festival is celebrated to celebrate the bond of brothers and sisters. She teaches us to cherish the bond of all relationships, especially the bond of brothers and sisters, and embrace life's dynamic nature. In the Mahabharata, Maa Kunti prays to the Yamuna River to let her son Karna float down in the river safely.
5. Revanta: The Warrior Leader
Revants is the God of warriors and horses, and he symbolizes valor, discipline, and the protection of dharma (righteousness). He teaches us to face all the challenges with courage and fight for justice. Revanta is connected with protecting travelers, warriors, and hunters, and he is also worshiped as a Guardian God in many traditions.
6. Karna
Karna is the son of Kunti and Surya Dev, and he is popular for his generosity, valor, and tragic fate. Kunti gave birth to Karna by using a boon granted to her by Sage Durvasa, which gives her the liberty to summon any god and have a child with them. By the fear of society, Kunti abandons Karna by placing him in a basket and setting him afloat in the Yamuna River. Later on, a charioteer named Adhiratha and his wife Radha found Karna in the river and raised him as their son. Surya Dev blessed his son Karna with a divine armor (kavach) and earring (kundal), which made him invincible.
7. Manu: Vaivasvata Manu
Manu is the son of Saranyu (daughter of Vishwakarma) and Surya Dev. He is also known as the seventh Manu (Lawgiver), and he is the one who gives laws and morals to society. According to Hindu mythology, Manu built a boat to save humans and animals in the great flood, and the boats were guided by Lord Matsya, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.
8. Tapati: Goddess of the Tapti River
Goddess Tapati is the daughter of Saranyu and Surya, and she embodies the sacred Tapti River. This river flows from central India, and it is considered very significant in Hindu mythology. Goddess Tapati symbolizes light and warmth. She was married to King Samvarana, and their union is popular for their divine love.
9. Sugriva
Sugriva is the king of Kashi (Varanasi) in the Ramayana, and he is also the son of Surya Dev. He played a crucial role in the Ramayana by helping Lord Rama rescue Sita. He is the younger son of Vali, and later he married Vali’s wife, Tara, and adopted his son, Angada.
Lessons from the Children of Surya Dev
Shani Dev: He teaches patience, karma, perseverance, and the value of hard work.
Yamraj: He encourages living with integrity and embracing the cycle of life and death (moksha).
Yami: She teaches the importance of love, devotion, and familial bonds.
Ashwini Kumars: They inspire a focus on health, innovation, and service to others.
Revanta: He demonstrates courage and the spirit of leadership.
Tapati: She symbolizes life-giving rivers and the sustenance they provide.
Vaivasvata Manu: He represents the foundation of civilization and law.