The Sun has always attracted humans as a powerful source of energy. Many races and civilisations have worshipped the Sun as a God. These were most practised by Vedic Indians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans which were the most advanced civilisations of their times. Scientists always wanted to know more and more about the Sun and other planets. For that, different missions were initiated by the leading countries of the world but only few succeeded. The distance of the Sun from the earth was a limiting factor behind the mission towards the Sun. But people are curious to know about the intensity of the Sun’s heat, its atmosphere and about any existence of life there, as on the moon and Mars.
India’s successful launch of its Aditya-L1 mission recently, soon following the successful landing of Chandrayan-3 on the southern part of the moon was a big surprise for the developed nations as India’s calibre was always underestimated by them.
The importance of the Sun in our daily life cannot be overstated, and India’s mission to this celestial body is but a tiny step towards understanding the life-giver of this universe.
In fact, no life is possible on the earth without the Sun. It is believed that this whole universe has been made from the five great elements, viz. earth, water, sun, air, and ether, also known as Panchamahabhutas. Our body has all these five elements in it. So, it can be said that we have a close relationship with these Panchamahabhutas, which not only affect our body in different ways but also help in keeping us healthy and fit.
Importance of Sun in Indian life
If we see the ancient references, it can be said that the Rishisof the Vedic period had clear concepts about the therapeutic values of earth, water, air, and sun. There are a good number of descriptions in Atharvaveda and Yajurveda which narrate the qualities and therapeutic potentials of these elements. Earth is narrated as ‘Mother’, water is considered as ‘Amrita’(panacea) and Sun is equated to ‘Brahma’ (the creator). There is extensive mention of Vayu (air) in Rigveda and considered to be the divine force of all activities, sensations, and peace. Perhaps these considerations had led to different cults which worshipped trees, rivers, Sun, God of rain (Indra), God of air (Varuna), etc.
The Sun is the creator. It is the source of energy. A lot of references can be seen in our ancient literature worshiping the Sun. In India, references are found of many Sun temples. Sun temple is a structure used for religious or spiritual activities and dedicated to the Sun or solar deity. We can see the references of Konark Sun Temple in Puri (Odisha) built by the emperor Narasingha Deva I (1238-1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty; Katarmal Sun Temple in Almora (Uttarakhand) built by the Katyuri kings in the ninth century CE; Sun Temple in Modhera in Mehsana district (Gujarat) situated on the banks of river Pushpavati and built by Bhima I of Chalukya dynasty in 1026 CE; the Martand Sun Temple Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, built in the eighth century CE (the oldest in the country); Surya Mandir in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) and Sidhgora Sun Temple, in Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), etc.
Not only in India, but references are also available regarding Sun Temples in other countries. One such temple in Beijing, China, was built in 1530 during the Ming dynasty by the emperor Jiajing. The temple of the Sun was used by the imperial court for elaborate acts of worship involving fasting, prayers, dancing, etc. as a part of year-long ceremonies involving all the temples. In ancient Egypt also, there were several Sun temples.
In the recently organised G20 Summit at New Delhi on 9-10th September, 2023, with the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth-One Family-One Future’, Konark Sun temple which is a UNESCO heritage, was displayed in the background of morning programme as a symbol of ancient Indian knowledge, developed civilization, and excellence in architecture.
Sun: The Purifier, The Healer
The practices of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salute), Dugdhakalpa (mono diet on milk), Upvas (fasting), Ushapanm (drinking water in the morning) and Sandhya (Hindu ritual in the morning when holy water is offered to the Sun, the Creator) were widely practiced in early days for health and healing. Every Hindu was advised to do Sandhya preferably standing in the water of a running river or a brook or in a lake or pond to offer Arghya to Lord Sun.
Arghya to Sun is ablutions of water to the Sun. The first part of Arghya consisted of hymns addressed to water and its benefits while the sprinkling of water on the face and head as well as touching the different organs with wetted fingers are meant to purify these parts and invoke the respective deities on them. This also stimulates the various nerve centres and wakes up the dormant powers of the body. Arghya is meant to drive the demons that obstruct the path of the rising sun. While the sun is the intellect, the demons are the evils of lust, anger, and greed. It is said that we pray to the Sun and offer Arghya for our peaceful life.
Rigveda says that the Sun is a great physician. It is believed that health and ill-health are under his control. He is prayed to for the cure of heart disease and jaundice. He is the greatest purifier. The Sun rays are also recognised as effective destroyers of disease germs — ‘the rising sun kills with his rays, the germs that pervade the world; the setting sun does the same’.
Sun is very deeply connected to our lifestyle. From ancient times, the Sun worship has been in existence in some form or the other. It can be said that the traditional Indian lifestyle revolves around the Sun. From waking up early in the morning before the sunrise, i.e., in brahmamuhurta till night at the time of sleep, the pattern of biological clock is followed. Sun is the representative of Agni in the body. Hence, taking food in coordination with the Sun is always beneficial. Physicians usually advise to take lunch preferably around 12.00 noon as that time the Sun is at the peak and our Jatharagni (gastric fire) is at maximum capacity. Similarly, in the evening it is advised to take light food preferably at the time of the sunset considering the gastric fire at low level. It is also advised to take fruits ripened in sunshine instead of artificially ripened with the help of chemicals. Sunshine keeps them fresh, alive, vibrant, and natural.
Surya Namaskara: The Ultimate Yogasana
Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) is a classic example from Yoga which is very much relevant to our health. Thanks to celebrations of the International Day of Yoga which propagated the science of Yoga to the whole world, millions of people the world over are now daily practising Surya Namaskara. In Surya Namaskara, we salute the Sun with 12 names of the solar body. Surya Namaskara consists of a series of 12 postures which are performed early in the morning facing the rising Sun. The 12 postures make a complete round of one Surya Namaskara. There are 12 Surya Mantras which are to be recited with the practice of Surya Namaskara. So, this is a way of acknowledging and appreciating the Sun god. When we practise Surya Namaskara, we offer our gratitude to Lord Sun and pray to him to give us wisdom, energy, and patience.Surya Namaskaris the most useful and popular mode of Yogic exercises which briefly bestows the benefits of Asanas, Pranayama and Mudras altogether. Surya Namaskara energises the entire neuro–muscular system of the body. Its regular practice ensures a balanced supply of oxygenated blood and perfect harmony to all the systems of the body, thus invigorating the entire psychosomatic system of human constitution. Apart from the practice ofSurya Namaskara, morning walk is preferred in sunshine along with the practice of Yogasanas and Pranayama.
Surya Namaskara is beneficial for physical as well as mental health. It awakens the vital force (prana shakti); each position of Surya Namaskara influences the endocrine glands, increases immunity, is highly beneficial for adolescents, removes the stiffness of the body and gives freshness, stretches the muscles of the entire body which develop body strength, is highly beneficial for the health of spinal cord, and provides physical balance leading to a balanced personality.
Sunlight for Wellness
Besides this, the Sun has a lot of other impacts on our health and life. Sun bath, colour therapy (treatment of disease through different rays of the sun), oil massage to the whole body and exposing the body to sun’s rays all are practices that have been used in India for a long time for a wholesome healthy routine.
The sunlight has healing powers. It is a combination of seven visible colours of the rainbow. Sunlight has been in use for healing since ages. Water solarised in colourless transparent glass bottles acts as a tonic for aged people. It is a very good remedy for the dentition diarrhoea among children. It makes up for the deficiency of calcium in children. We get vitamin D directly from the rays of the sun.
The sun’s rays also influence our health. Seven colours of the rays, i.e., violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red have different therapeutic effects. These colours work effectively in treatment of different illnesses. It is believed that these colours affect the human personality and influence various stages like mood, concentration, etc.
One of the stalwarts of Naturopathy, Dr JM Jussawalla has mentioned in his book, Heal Your Mind Heal Your Body that ‘colours have a direct effect on our health and personality hence colours in dress, furnishing and the walls of the rooms should be chosen and combined carefully with reference to the needs and personality of the individuals involved’. For example, in a sitting room, orange colour would evoke brightness of mood and cheerfulness. In the bedroom, green or blue give a sedative and cooling effect. In the dining room, yellow will be for appetite and digestion, or orange for well-being and stimulation.
Sunbath is a popular mode of treatment globally. In India, most of the Naturopathy Centres have facilities for sunbath. It is an application of natural sunlight directly to the exposed body surface. It is believed that sunlight is one of the best promoters of health, which also reduces the chances of disease. Sunlight not only kills the germs but vitalizes and energises the body and increases its immunity at the same time. The practice of sunbathing with Banana leaves known as Atapasnana is prevalent in Naturopathy Centres, especially in the southern part of India. It is an excellent way of sunbathing where the body is covered with banana leaves during sunbathing.
Sunbathing is a wonderful technique in which either the whole or a part of the body is exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Sunbathing has a lot of benefits. It is useful in the cases of malnutrition, anaemia, sluggishness or inactivity of the skin, chronic dyspepsia, neurasthenia, indigestion, rheumatism, diabetes as well as obesity.
In fact, the Sun is deeply amalgamated in our lifestyle. Sun provides us energy, boosts our stamina, removes vitamin D deficiency, removes darkness and enhances immunity. Sun is essential for the environment, plants, and so many other activities necessary for living beings. Sun is life and the darkness is death. That is why the Sun is called the ultimate source of energy and the greatest friend of humanity.
The Sun is the source of continuous energy. Sunshine makes us refreshed, shining, motivating, and vibrant, and develops a sense of aliveness when we are in contact with the Sun. Our traditional lifestyle always insists upon open houses full of air and sunshine to make abundance of these items and to eliminate all kinds of disease-causing germs. Unfortunately, in our so-called modern living or modern lifestyle we give least attention to the Panchamahabhutasor it can be said that we are drifting away from these five basic elements. This is not at all good for our health. These Panchamahabhutasgive us a kind of positiveness which transforms our whole thought process. Sun teaches us to live a disciplined lifestyle and regularity in each step of life for success.
*The writer is former Assistant Director (Naturopathy), CCRYN, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi. Presently, he is Director and Advisor of the upcoming Panchatatva Medical College and Research Centre of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Samalkha, Haryana. He can be reached at rajivrastogi2018@gmail.com.
