While most Hindu deities are revered thru their symbolic medium of murtis, the sun god is worshiped not only as graphic or statue-like idol, but in His live appearance as well.
Surya Namaskar or salutation is an early morning Hindu prayer in standing posture and with folded hands facing the sun god.
Surya Devta or sun god enjoys unique status in Hindu iconography as the visible divine personality emerging from the horizon every day. His celestial arrival frees a devotee from ritualistic customs or caste-based barricades and taboos to have an independent face to face obeisance and worship. The sun god is approachable without any medium.
The Sun’s universal distribution of light and energy has been recognized since Vedic time as the ultimate source of life, the cause of our existence and the environment it nourishes.
From metaphysical viewpoint light and energy occupy fundamental ranking in Hindu faith. And sun is the spirited and analogous force in this numinous discernment. Light and energy are the divine elements to lead us to the path of knowledge, reality and truth. The Gayatri mantra predicates the divinity in light and energy.
The life and soul of the universe is the Sun.
(Excerpts from Hinduism Beyond Rituals, Customs And Traditions)
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