Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

SURYA (1) 297various arts and skills to mankind. Accordingto tradition he discovered the elixir of immortalityin a fruit which he consumed. Also SunWu-Kong.Sundara (charming)1. Goddess. Hindu (Puranic). A prosperousaspect of the god ŠIVA.2 Minor goddess. Buddhist (Mahayana). Anattendant of BUDDHAKAPALA.Suparikirtitanamasri (lord with a celebratedname)Physician god. Buddhist-Lamaist [Tibet].Accounted among a series of medicine buddhasor SMAN-BLA. Typically depicted with stretchedearlobes. Color: yellow.SuparnakumaraGod. Jain [India]. One of the groups under thegeneral title of BHVANAVASI (dwelling in places). Ofyouthful appearance.Sura (wine)Goddess of wine. Hindu. She is considered to beof terrible appearance and has no consort. Threeeyed.SuraksiniMinor goddess. Buddhist (Mahayana). An attendantof BUDDHAKAPALA.Surangama (bright colored)God. Buddhist (Mahayana). A BODHISATTVA orbuddha-designate. Color: white. Attribute: sword.Suresvara (lord of the gods)God. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). One of theeleven EKADASARUDRAS or RUDRA gods. Attributes:arrow, ax, bell, bow, bowl, club, drum, hook,iron rod, lotus, prayer wheel and trident.Survarnabhadravimalaratnaprabhasa(the bright, pure jewel splendor)Physician god. Buddhist-Lamaist [Tibet].Accounted as one of a series of medicine buddhasor SMAN-BLA. Typically depicted with stretchedearlobes. Color: yellowish white.SURYA (1)ORIGIN Hindu (Vedic, Epic and Puranic)[India]. Sun god.KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 1700 BC untilpresent.SYNONYMS Diakara (day-maker); Grahapati (kingof planets); Surya Narayana.CENTER(S) OF CULT the “Black Pagoda” shrine atKonorak in Orissa; also throughout India.ART REFERENCES sculptures from circa AD 600,including erotic reliefs at the “Black Pagoda,”usually in bronze, less frequently in stone.LITERARY SOURCES Rg Veda and other Vedictexts, Epic and Puranic texts.In the Vedas Surya is a prominent figure, not onlythe personification of the sun in the heavens andof cosmic order, but also a source of infiniteknowledge. Considered to have been introducedfrom Iran, he is head of the ADITYA group of sundeities. He is the son of Dyaus and ADITI and hisconsorts include LAKSMI, CHAYA and SANJNA. Hischildren include MANU, REVANTA, YAMA andYAMUNA, and a sun goddess also called SURYA.Surya is depicted either standing or seated,sometimes driving a one-wheeled chariot drawn