The Sun

Vivasvan - The Sun Demigod 

By Mike Hunt  

Who or what drives the Sun along its pre-determined orbital course in the Heavens, or what is the Sun anyway?

Don't look to science for the answer. It doesn't have one. It says the Sun is a ball of gas almost a million miles in diameter and incredibly hot and around which our Earthly global sphere rotates . This is false. 

The Vedas, on the other hand, which pre-date modern science and astronomy by thousands of years say the Sun is a living light driven and inhabited by a number of deities or demi-gods, chief of which is Vivasvan(current Sun god). He powers and drives the Sun on its course on a chariot with the help of his 7 faithful steeds, his loving mate, and loyal companions. 

The Vedic model of our cosmos is rich and beautiful and astounding to behold. It is a chandelier of planes and gods and lights and sounds. It mirrors the human spine and chakra system and is a far cry from any of the current models of the cosmos today which are silly and meaningless in comparison.

The Vedic cosmos or universe is an egg (of which there are others) and Earth is a round global sphere with other dimensional planes above and below it. 

The higher planes are heavenly and good and the lower planes are hellish and evil. Fourteen planes exist in all, seven above the Earth and seven below, with Earth in the middle. Each is separated by a wide gulf.

Our Vedic Universe, Bhu mandala and the Earth Globe

Earth is the physical visible middle planet, the arena or testing ground for all the others. It is here on our Earth globe where we work things out and which determines which of the other planes we go to at death. The above planes are basically subtle or invisible, but the planes below are very visible or dense.

The Pole Star (Polaris) Drives all the Stars

All of the heavenly bodies are attached to the pole star or its axis by invisible astral chords of wind. The pole star or axis directs their movements. The pole star itself Druvaloka (Polaris) 

The Sun's (Vivasvan) Path and our earth globe

The Vedas say the Sun runs on water, evaporating it and using it as fuel. Also, the Sun contains over 100,000 types

of rays or radiations that control different aspects of our lives and universe. The upward, downward, and lateral orbital

motions of the Sun or Vivasvan produce the seasons, day and night, and other astronomical or astrological phenomenon.

Vivasvan's Chariot Wheel and the Seasons

Swami Prabhupada explains

In each and every planet there is a predominating deity. It is understood from Bhagavad-gita that in the sun there is a predominating deity named Vivasvan. SB 4.22.54, Purport:

In each and every planet there is a predominating deity. It is understood from Bhagavad-gita that in the sun there is a predominating deity named Vivasvan. Similarly, there is a predominating deity of the moon and of the various planets. 

Actually the predominating deities in all the other planets are descendants from the predominating deities of the sun and moon. On this planet earth there are two kshatriya dynasties, and one comes from the predominating deity of the sun and the other from the predominating deity of the moon. 

These dynasties are known as Surya-vamsa and Candra-vamsa respectively. When monarchy existed on this planet, the chief member was one of the members of the Surya dynasty, or Surya-vamsa, and the subordinate kings belonged to the Candra-vamsa. However, Maharaja Prthu was so powerful that he could exhibit all the qualities of the predominating deities in other planets.

In the modern age, people from earth have tried to go to the moon, but they have not been able to find anyone there, what to speak of meeting the moon's predominating deity. 

The Vedic literature, however, repeatedly informs us that the moon is full of highly elevated inhabitants who are counted amongst the demigods. We are therefore always in doubt about what kind of moon adventure the modern scientists of this planet earth have undertaken.

Surya is the life and soul of this universe, and there are innumerable universes for which a sun-god is the life and soul. SB 5.20.46, Purport:

All living entities, including demigods, human beings, animals, birds, insects, reptiles, creepers and trees, depend upon the heat and light given by the sun-god from the sun planet. Furthermore, it is because of the sun's presence that all living entities can see, and therefore he is called drg-isvara, the Personality of Godhead presiding over sight."

In this regard, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says, surya atma atmatvenopasyah. The actual life and soul of all living entities within this universe is the sun. He is therefore upasya, worshipable. We worship the sun-god by chanting the Gayatri mantra (om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi). 

Surya is the life and soul of this universe, and there are innumerable universes for which a sun-god is the life and soul, just as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the life and soul of the entire creation. We have information that Vairaja, Hiranyagarbha, entered the great, dull, material globe called the sun. 

This indicates that the theory held by so-called scientists that no one lives there is wrong. Bhagavad-gita also says that Krsna first instructed Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god (imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam (BG 4.1)). 

Therefore the sun is not vacant. It is inhabited by living entities, and the predominating deity is Vairaja, or Vivasvan. The difference between the sun and earth is that the sun is a fiery planet, but everyone there has a suitable body and can live there without difficulty.

Vivasvan is the name of the present predominating deity of the sun. He is generally called Surya, the sun-god, but he also has his own particular name. CC Madhya 21.60, Purport:

“When Krishna was so informed, He immediately asked the doorman, "Which Brahma? What is his name?" The doorman therefore returned and questioned Lord Brahma." From this verse we can understand that Brahma is the name of the post and that the person occupying the post has a particular name also. From the Bhagavad-gita: imam vivasvate yogam (BG 4.1).

Vivasvan is the name of the present predominating deity of the sun. He is generally called Surya, the sun-god, but he also has his own particular name. The governor of the state is generally called raja-pala, but he also has his own individual name. Since there are hundreds and thousands of Brahmas with different names, Krishna wanted to know which of them had come to see Him.

There is one principal living entity who is called the sun-god, Surya Narayana. Or, in the language of the Bhagavad-gita, he is called Vivasvan. Lecture on BG 4.1 and Review -- New York, July 13, 1966:

Just like this planet is predominant by earth only, similarly, there are varieties of planets in the universe. Some planet is predominant by air; some planet is predominant by water; some planet is predominant by fire. So similarly, the sun planet is predominated by fire. There are living entities also, and there is one principal living entity who is called the sun-god, Surya Narayana. Or, in the language of the Bhagavad-gita, he is called Vivasvan. In the language of Bhagavad-gita.

Just like in every planet there is a chief man... Just like in your country, the chief man is President Johnson, similarly, in every planet, there is a chief man. Formerly, in this planet also, there was one king. We can get from Mahabharata history that five thousand years before there was only one king of this planet, one flag, and one regiment. 

We get this information from Mahabharata. Gradually, the world has divided into many states, and we can see hundreds of flags in the United States, er, Nations. But similarly, the example is that similarly, that in the sun planet there is a chief person who is called Vivasvan, who is called Vivasvan.

So Lord Krsna says that "This science of karma-yoga, what I am just trying to explain to you, it is not a new thing, but first I spoke this karma-yoga to Vivasvan." Vivasvan means the sun-god. And then He says that vivasvan manave praha: "Vivasvan"—means the sun-god—"again repeated the same thing to his son, who is called Manu." At the present moment, the predominating Deity in the sun planet is called Vivasvan. Lecture on BG Lecture -- Ahmedabad, December 8, 1972:

Krsna said that "First of all, I described, I instructed this yoga system, bhakti-yoga system, Bhagavad-gita, to Vivasvan, the sun-god, and the sun-god, whose name is Vivasvan..." The particular name is also given. It is not vague, that... At the present moment, the predominating Deity in the sun planet is called Vivasvan. 

So he spoke this Bhagavad-gita philosophy to his son, vivasvan manave pra..., Manu. Manu is the original person of the human society. Manusya. Man. So Manu spoke to his son, Iksvaku. Maharaja Iksvaku. He's the first person of the surya-vamsa. There are two ksatriya families: one, candra-vamsa, coming from the Moon, and the other from the Sun, Vivasvan. So Maharaja Iksvaku is the original personality in the surya-vamsa ksatriyas in which Lord Ramacandra appeared. So in this way, there is parampara system.

Just like we have got a president he has got a particular name, similarly, the president of the sun globe is called Surya, Suryadeva. But he has got a particular name. So at the present moment, the predominating deity of the sun globe is called Vivasvan. Lecture on SB 1.2.11 -- Tirupati, April 26, 1974:

When we say Brahman, impersonal Brahman, or when we speak Paramatma, or when we speak of Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no difference between these three terms. Just like sunshine and the sun globe and the sun-god. According to Bhagavad-gita, we have got the name of the predominating deity in the sun globe. Imam vivasvate yoga? proktavan aham avyayam (BG 4.1). 

This is said in the Bhagavad-gita. First of all Krsna says, "Long, long ago, millions of years ago, I spoke this philosophy of Bhagavad-gita to Vivasvan." Vivasvan means the present predominating deity of the sun globe. Just like we have got a president, similarly, but he has got a particular name, similarly, the president of the sun globe is called Surya, Suryadeva. But he has got a particular name.

So at the present moment, the predominating deity of the sun globe is called Vivasvan. So this Vivasvan or the sun-god and the sun globe and the sunshine, they are not different. All of them are light. Without light in the sun globe, how so much light is emanating? So therefore the inhabitants of the sun globe, their body is made of fire. Therefore everything is glowing. And we, from distant place, we see the sun globe also glowing. And the sunshine is also glowing. Within the sun globe there is sun-god, Vivasvan. He is a person, Surya-narayana. Lecture on SB 2.9.4 -- Japan, April 22, 1972:

So you realize the Absolute Truth in different stages, in the beginning as impersonal Brahman, impersonal Brahman. Just like you realize the sun as impersonal sunlight, then localized sun globe. But if you are able to enter into the sun globe, then you see the sun-god, Vivasvan. It is up to your power. But actually, from the person, sun-god, the light is coming. This is practical. The sun-god... Within the sun globe there is sun-god, Vivasvan. He is a person, Surya. And there are persons also in that globe. They are living in the Suryaloka.