Nārada’s Description of Sūrya’s Virāḍrūpa

Sāmba asked Nārada Maharshi to describe Bhagavān Sūrya fully: his virāḍrūpa (his cosmic, universal form), his divine parivāra (company of attendants), his kiraṇas (rays) and his cosmic identity. Nārada answered with a long account. It is part of the instruction that Nārada gave to Sāmba at Dvārakā, which Śrī Kṛshṇa had recommended as the path to understanding Sūrya upāsanā (devoted worship). It is found in the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 75.

Nārada’s vision in Sūrya-loka

Nārada told what he saw himself when he visited Sūrya-loka, the world of Bhagavān Sūrya.

“I arrived in Sūrya-loka and saw devas, gandharvas, nāgas, yakshas, rākshasas, and apsarās all absorbed in his service. Gandharvas sang; apsarās danced; yakshas, rākshasas, and nāgas stood guard with weapons. The three Vedas — Ṛk, Yajus, and Sāman — had taken forms and were praising him; the ṛshis were worshipping him with Veda-mantra-stavana.”

“The three sandhyās had taken beautiful forms and stood at his four sides with añjali, glowing with their own colors — the Prātaḥsandhyā in deep red, the Madhyāhna-sandhyā in moon-white, and the Sāyaṃsandhyā in rose-pink. The Āditya, Vasu, Rudra, and Marud gaṇas, the Aśvinī Kumāras, and Indra himself were worshipping him — Indra standing in person and proclaiming jaya jaya.”

Sūrya’s ratha and parivāra

Nārada described the divine chariot and company of Bhagavān Sūrya as he saw them in his loka.

  • Sārathi (charioteer): Aruṇa, the elder brother of Garuḍa.
  • Horses: seven horses, green as young leaves, yoked to the ratha (chariot).
  • Ratha: built from the avayavas (limbs) of Kāla itself.
  • Patnīs (wives): Rājñī and Nikshubhā, seated on either side of Bhagavān Sūrya.
  • Parivāra gaṇas: Piṅgala, Lekhaka and Daṇḍanāyaka, each attending to his own duties.
  • Dvāra-pālakas (doorkeepers): two birds named Kalmasha stand as doorkeepers.
  • Also present: Brahmā, Diṇḍi (an attendant) and others, performing the stuti (praise) of Bhagavān Sūrya.

Sūrya’s cosmic identities

Nārada described Bhagavān Sūrya as the avyakta-kāraṇa, the unmanifest cause of all.

“Vivasvān is the avyakta-kāraṇa-kāraka — the cause of all causes, unmanifest. He is nitya, satya, and asat-svarūpa simultaneously. The great thinkers (tattva-cintakas) say he is both Pradhāna and Prakṛti. He is devoid of gandha, varṇa, rasa, śabda, and sparśa — yet all things arose from him. He is the jagadyoni; he is the sanātana Parabrahman; he is the niyantā of all beings. His is the Brāhmī-buddhi that gives dharma and aiśvarya.”

Nārada also gave the reason for each of his names:

  • Āditya: because he is the ādi-deva, the first deva.
  • Aja: because he is unborn.
  • Devadeva: because he is the deva of the devas.
  • Īśvara: because he is the Īśa and Adhīśa of all lokas.
  • Prajāpati: because he protects the prajās (living beings).
  • Purusha: because he lives within all beings (purśayana).
  • Svayambhu: because he is apūrva, without anything before him, self-originated.

Sūrya’s birth

“Dāksha-kanyā Aditi was married to Kaśyapa Maharshi. From their union arose a single aṇḍa containing Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, and Svaḥ combined. From that aṇḍa, Bhagavān Sūrya emerged with twelve ātmans and his tejomaṇḍala.”

The Sūrya-maṇḍala is 9000 yojanas in diameter. His kiraṇas fill the whole maṇḍala, like the stamens that spread out from a kadamba flower. The great Purusha, whom we call upon with the words sahasraśīrshāḥ purushaḥ, lives in the centre of this maṇḍala.

The kiraṇas: the thousand rays

Bhagavān Sūrya has one thousand kiraṇas. They are worshipped by twenty names: Heti, Kiraṇa, Gau, Raśmi, Gabhasti, Abhīshu, Ghana, Ushṭra, Vasu, Marīci, Nāḍī, Dīdhiti, Sādhya, Mayūkha, Bhānu, Aṃśu, Saptārci, Kara, Pāda.

Of the thousand kiraṇas:

  • 400 kiraṇas are Candana. They make rain and are of immortal nature.
  • 300 kiraṇas are Candra. They bring snow and are green in colour.
  • 300 kiraṇas are Śukla. They make heat and sustain the world.

Seven kiraṇas among the thousand are supreme: Sushumṇa, Hariksheśa, Viśvakarman, Sūrya, Raśmi, Vishṇu, Sarvabandhu.

Sūrya and the three Vedas

In the morning the Ṛgveda sings his praise, at noon the Yajurveda, and in the evening the Sāmaveda. Brahmā, Vishṇu and Maheśvara worship him always. All the āhutis (offerings) given in the fires reach Sūrya Nārāyaṇa in the end. Rain also comes from him; from rain comes anna (food); and anna sustains the world. Nārada therefore said:

“Sūrya Nārāyaṇa is the jagadānanda-kāraka, the lokabāndhu, the dispeller of poverty.”

Sources

  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 75