Presentation of Sun based on Indian iconography This concept has been presented to grade 6 children in Chennai School in 2014. This has been enjoyed by the students. The way they admired Indian iconography made me to accept that parents and elders must present all culture to children to their level. Today we are going to meet Sun through ancient Indian tradition. First I wish you to see my board drawing and also think about the idol of Sun in temples. Sun is being celebrated as the main source of energy by all ancient civilization. Especially Egyptian paintings show Ra - the Sun God in various forms. In Indian Sun is considered as male energy why? Ram: Because Sun is the reason for the solar creation. He is the beeja - seed You are correct; he is addressed as Surya Narayana. Narayana is the energy for all humans on earth. Can we list out various names for Sun in Tamil and Sanskrith? Surya - One who makes everyone to function through his light energy. Mandali - One who looks circular in shape. John: Sir, but even moon looks circular in shape. Raju: Yes, but phases of moon changes in 15 days and Sun is only permanent in its circular shape. You are correct. Sun is also known as Ravi - one who is being respected by all. Sai: Sir, father's name is Ravi. I will tell the meaning to him today. Yes, Sun is known as Dhinadhi pathy - leader for the day, dhina karan - one who makes a day with the rays of light, Baskaran, Diwaakar, Aadhavan, Vai e lone - one who creates the heat through rays of light, kai kahir selvan – one who nourishes this Earth with his rays. Now let us look into his image. In North India Sun holds the conch and disc like Vishnu. He is Vishnu because he is the protecting source of the Earth. In south India he holds 2 lotuses. Sai: I can say why. Sun rays alone makes lotus to get blossomed. I have seen devotees offering lotus to sun. Sun rays make us aware and it is the lotus called awareness about life we have to make blossom within us. See he is travelling in a chariot with 7 horses in seven various colors. You know why? Uma: Sir, it is VIBGYOR? Sun light is split as 7 colors. I have seen this in Navarathry Golu dolls. Yes. Can you see the chariot rider? He is known as Arun [all called other friend who's name is Arun] Arun is the speed of sun light. It is the force which brings sun light to Earth in 8 minutes. In 1 second it travels 2000 kilometers. See the 2 female forms of energies to the left and right of Sun. One is Usha - sun light and another is Chaaya... Many: She is the shadow created by Usha. Sai: Haaa... my father and mother having good matching name. He is Ravi and his wife is Usha. I admired their decoding skill. Sun's eternal energy is named as Gayathri. Many: Now we can say why many perform Sandhya vandhanam and chant gayathri mantra in morning and evening before and after Sun rise and set. Gayathri mantra is being derived from Sun's energy which has the power to create awareness within us. This is being derived and formulated by Saint Viswamithra. We all are from Sun's clan. So we belong to Surya vamsam. Sai: SreeRam belongs to Surya vamsam. Yes, SreeRam was mentally and physically tired when he came down south in search of Sitha. Saint Agasthya met him in a coastal town called Devi Pattinam near Rameshwaram Island. He asked Rama to perform poojas to Navagrahas and recited the very ancient shloka called Aadithya Hrudhayam upon Sun. Rama also followed. Later when Rama became tired in war at SriLanka he chanted this shloka 3 times and got into awareness to face the war. Next day I recited Aadithya hrudhayam also. I showed many photos of Sun, Devi Pattinam and Konark temple. Children were asked to draw and color sun out of imagination.