The significance of the seven rays of Surya Bhagwan

Being the source of energy to our vry existence, the Sun God with his radiance not only helps us sustain life, but also emits rays of positivity through his seven rays. The Seven rays of his light in fact are the representations of the seven horses of his chariot which he rides with Arun as his charioteer. Surya Bhagwan is the only one deity who never stops as his continuous ride on the divine chariot to maintain life and creation in the Universe. Sitting on his divine chariot, while holding a white lotus in hand, he sustains the light of the world and brings light into our lives. The seven horses of his chariot are the seven colours he radiates through the White Light.

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It indeed shows the greatness of outr Sanatana Dharma not only in the upholding of our culture, but in revealing great knowledge of science, astrology, astronomy, medical sciences, engineering and many more. Long before the Western theories sprung up, the Vedas revealed that the Sunlight consists of seven colours. The seven colours of the Sun god are Violet, Indigo, Blue, Yellow, Orange and Red, commonly known as the VIBGYOR colours. It is a known fact that the sun god radiates millions of rays. The distinct feature is that each ray has the seven colours in it and this is signified as the Sun God riding the chariot driven by the seven horses. The Vedic meaning of Asva also translates as Light Rays. The Garud Puran mentions the names of the Asvas as Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnin, Jagati, Trishtubh, Anushtubh and Pankti, (which are used as the Sanskrit metres in poetry). This chariot of the Sun God is driven by Arun, brother of Garud.

The Rig Veda mentions that the Sun God’s seven coloured rays make a day. The Vishnu Puran mentions that Lord Vishnu enters the Sun’s Solar Rays and emits his presence into the Universe through these seven rays.
The Vedas also mention the Sun god accompanied with his twelve brothers in form of twelve Suns, and hence called also as Dwadasaditya (Dwadas means 12). Few texts ascribe it to the twelve months of the year according to which the span of the year was calculated on the basis of the Earth’s movement around the Sun.

Not only signifying the scientific calculations, each ray depicts a virtue. These rays are the symbols of Will power, Wisdom, Sincerity, Harmony, Perservance, Devotion and Courage. As every creation of the Universe depicts are inter relation with the human, the seven rays too describe the virtues to be possessed by mankind for the conduct of his/her Dharma.

It is for this very reason that our Sanatana Dharma mentions that the day should be started welcoming the sun rays into our life. The Surya Namaskaras through Yoga, or the Aditya Hrdayam through chanting are the best ways to welcome the positivity of Surya Bhgawan into our lives and having a healthy mind and body.

The Vedas have mentioned every aspect of the God‘s creation as an example of the way of life one has to lead and the Seven colours of the Sun God represent our knowledge and how it can be used to for the benefit of one self and also the entire mankind.