43 - Bhuvana Košha. The functions of the Seven Rays of the Sun: The chariots of Planets 

Puräņas evince great interest in cosmogony, cosmology and cosmography as an area lying between philosophy and theology. They are more interested in trying to solve the mysteries of the supreme soul and the universe rather than the matter-of-fact world around them. This topic has been discussed practically in all Puranas like the Bh.P. (V. 16.1-25), NP. (I.3.37-49). Though the imaginary nature of their concepts is obvious, we may, however, suggest that the idea of the planets receiving their power and existence from the rays of the Sun might be the Puranic way of suggesting that all planets are born from the Sun. 

Sūta said: 

1. Thus Mahādeva, the grandsire of the universe, the lord of Devas, the embodiment of Time and the Supreme Ruler controls time. 

2. O Brāhmaṇas, out of his rays which are the illuminators of the worlds, the most excellent among them are the seven rays, the purifiers of the houses (v.l. graha-yonayaḥ—"sources of planets"). 

3-4. Suşhumla, Harikeśha, Viśhvakarman, Viśhvaśhravas, Samyadvasu, Arvāvasu and Svaraka. These are the glorified seven rays. The ray of the Sun named Suşhumla develops the light of the cool-lustred (i.e. the moon). 

5. This Suşhumla is described to be moving sideways (horizontally) and upwards. The ray that is said to be Harikeśha is the nourisher of the lustre of the stars. 

6. The ray Viśhvakarman perpetually nurtures Budha (the Mercury). The ray that is named Visvaśhravas always nourishes Shukra (the Venus). 

7. The ray which is well-known as Samyadvasu, develops the Mars. The lordly ray Arvāvasu affords nourishment to the Jupiter very well. 

8-9a. The seventh ray Svaraka gives succour to Shanaiśhchara (the Saturn). Thus, thanks to the power of the Sun the stars and constellations are nurtured. Being thus developed perpetually they bring nourishment and delight to everyone. 

9b-11. In view of its taking up (Adāna) of the splendour from the heavenly and the earthly objects and of the nocturnal darkness, it is called Aditya. With its thousand Nādis (i.e. rays), the thousand-eyed lord Sun-god takes up the waters of the rivers, oceans, wells and canals and also from the mobile and immobile beings. 

12. He has a thousand rays exuding chillness, rain and heat. Among them four hundred Nädis (i.e. rays) of the variegated forms shower rains. 

13. The rays called Chandragās, Gālās, Kāñchanās, Sātanās* which are called Nectarine (Amruta) create showers. 

*v.l.: The alternate lists of rays (i) Chandrajās, Yamyås, Ketagās and Pūtanás. 

(ii) Chandanas, Jakşhas, Kotalās and Bhūtalás. 

14-15a. Again the excessively cold Nādīs are the rays emanated from the Sun. They are Reşhyā, Meşhyā and Väsyä, Hrādini and Sarjana. All these rays are yellow in colour and are termed as Chandrās. 

15b-16a. The rays called Shukla, Kunkuma, Go and Viśhvabhrut are designated Shukla and they create three types of heat. 

16b-17. The Sun sustains human beings, Pitrus and deities by these rays-human beings through the medicinal herbs, Pitrus through Svadhā and Devas through Nectar. He propitiates the three through the three articles. 

18-19a. The lord gives heat during Vasanta (the spring) and Grīşhma (the summer) through six rays; he sends forth showers during Autumn and the rainy season through four of his rays, he sends forth cold in Hemanta and Shiśhira (early and late Winter) through three rays. 

19b-22a. Varuna is the Sun-god who presides and functions in the month of Magha; Puşhan does so in Phālguna; Devesa, in the month of Chaitra; Tapana in Vaišhākha; Indra in the month of Jyeşhtha while Ravi gives heat in Aşhādha, Vivasyān in the month of Srāvana; Bhaga officiates in Bhadrapada, Parjanya in the month of Āśhvina; Bhaskara in the month of karttika; Mitra in the month of Margashirsha and the eternal Vişhnu in Pausha. 

22b-25. Varuna has five thousand rays, in his activity as the Sun; Pūşhan works with six thousand rays; Devesha with seven thousand rays; Dhātri with eight thousand rays; Shatakratu (Indra) with nine thousand rays; Vivasvān protects with ten thousand rays; Bhaga protects with eleven thousand rays; Mitra blazes with seven thousand rays; Tvashtru illuminates with eight thousand rays; Aryaman protects with ten thousand rays; Parjanya protects with nine thousand rays and Vişhņu the supporter of the universe blazes with six thousand rays. 

26-27. During Vasanta (the spring-time) the Sun is tawny-coloured; during the summer it has the lustre like that of gold; it is white during the rainy season; the lord should be known as pale, whitish in colour during the Autumn; during Hemanta (early winter) he is copper-coloured; and during Shishira (late winter) the Sun is red in colour. The Sun deposits Kala (digit?) (v.l. power and energy) in the medicinal herbs and Svadha in Pitrus. 

28. The Sun deposits Amruta (nectar) in the immortal beings. Thus in the three beings he deposits the three articles. O Brāhmanas, there are eight other planets which are presided over by the Sun. 

29. They are: The Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Rähu and Ketu. 

30. The planets are fixed to the Pole star (Dhruva) by the wind-rays whirling in their own orbit, they follow the Sun. 

31. They move about like the firebrand in a circle, when urged by the whirlwind. Since the wind propels and bears them, it is named Pravaha. 

32-33. The chariot of the moon has three wheels. His horses have the lustre of Kunda (white jasmine) flowers. They are yoked to the left as well as to the right and are ten in number. In that chariot, the moon traverses the constellations supported in Vithi (the path of the firmament) like the Sun (traversing the planets). O leading Brāhmaṇas, its increase and decrease are ever dependent on Dhruva. (v.l. are remembered in the same manner as the rays of the Sun.) 

34. In the bright half of the month, when the Sun is in the opposite direction of the moon, the other (back) side of the moon is always filled up with those brilliant rays. (v.l. ever according to the order of the days.) 

35. (In the dark half) when the moon is emaciated and drunk by Devas, the Sun nourishes it forever, O Brähmaņas, by a single ray called Suşhumla. 

36. This body of the moon is developed by the prowers of the Sun. By gradually becoming bigger everyday, it is seen complete and full on the Full Moon day. 

37. O Brāhmaṇas, the deities drink the full moon consisting of Amruta in the course of half a month. This is so because their diet consists of Nectar. 

38. When a fifteenth of it remains, consisting of a single digit, the groups of Pitrus drink the last portion in the afternoon. 

39. They drink for the period of two Lavas, * the Kalā of the moon that remains. The digit of the moon is constituted of nectar and is auspicious.

*Lavathe 60th part of the twinkling of the eye. 

        40. By imbibing the nectar called Svadhā oozing out of the rays on the new Moon day, the Pitrus become satisfied for the period of a month. 

41. O excellent one, the moon is not destroyed but only the nectar is drunk to the fill. Thus the decrease and increase of the moon are dependent on the Sun. 

42. The chariot of the son of the moon (i.e. Budha-the Mercury) is yoked to eight horses that have the velocity of the windand that are born of water. He moves about all round in that chariot. 

43. The chariot of Shukra (the Venus) is yoked to ten horses born of the Earth. The beautiful golden chariot of Bhauma (the Mars) is yoked to eight horses. 

44-45. The chariot of Jupiter is made of gold and eight horses are yoked to it. The chariot of Saturn is made of silver and it is drawn by eight horses. The chariot of Svarbhānu (Rāhu) and Bhaskarāri (i.e. Ketu) are made of iron. Each of them is drawn by eight horses. Thus the chariots of the great planets have been recounted. 

46. All these blessed ones are fixed to Dhruva by the strings of wind. The planets, stars, constellations and other abodes are entirely fixed to Dhruva. They whirl and cause others to whirl by the wind-made reins.