Before beginning the study of planetary positions in a horoscope, it’s important to understand the Devatās — the divine personalities behind the planets.

The Vedas teach a personalist worldview, urging us to see consciousness behind every form.

In this sense, planets aren’t merely celestial bodies — they are manifestations of high consciousness and unique personal qualities.

Vedic texts such as the Puranas and Upanishads describe many stories involving the planetary gods.

These aren’t just fanciful myths — they reflect a deeper reality, helping us grasp the principles of cosmic correspondence.

Surya, the God of the Sun

In ancient times, the sage Kashyapa Prajapati, the progenitor of humanity, and his wife Aditi had twelve divine sons called the Ādityas — children of Aditi.

Among them was Surya, the one who gives light to this world.

Surya has many names:

The Vana Parva lists 108 of them.

The Puranas most often mention two:

Martanda — “Born of the dead egg” Vivasvan — “The Shining One”.

The Curse and Birth of Surya

Legend says that one day, Chandra, the Moon god, visited Aditi.

Aditi, being pregnant, couldn’t rise quickly to greet her guest.

Chandra mistook this delay as disrespect and cursed her:

“May the child in your womb die!”

Kashyapa, seeing his wife weeping, blessed her so that the child would return to life.

Thus, their son was named Martanda while in the womb, and upon birth became known as Vivasvan — Surya.

Surya and Sangya

The Puranas recount that Vivasvan married Sangya, daughter of the celestial architect Vishvakarma.

Their first child was Vaivasvata Manu, the progenitor of the Solar dynasty.

Sangya and Vivasvan had two other notable children:

Yama, god of death and justice Yami, his twin sister.

Unable to endure her husband’s intense radiance, Sangya secretly left, replacing herself with her shadow, Chhaya, whom she infused with life.

Chhaya bore Surya more children, including Shani (Saturn).

Chhaya favoured her own children, neglecting the elder ones.

One day, Yama, angered by this, kicked Chhaya, and she cursed him:

“May your leg wither!”

Surya, unable to reverse the curse, softened it — making Yama lame.

This event led Surya to discover that Chhaya was not Sangya.

He sought Vishvakarma’s help, who reduced Surya’s blinding radiance and guided him to where Sangya was meditating in the form of a mare.

Surya, taking the form of a horse, reunited with Sangya, and their reunion produced the Ashwini Kumaras, twin horse-headed celestial healers who accompany Surya’s chariot at dawn and dusk.

Surya: King of the Planets

Surya is considered the most important planet because he represents the three Vedas — Rig, Yajur, and Sama.

The Puranas describe the cycle of day and night as Surya’s journey in a vast chariot drawn by seven horses, symbolising the seven meters of Vedic hymns.

Accompanying Surya in his chariot are other deities, sages, celestial musicians, nymphs, yakshas, and nagas —

who each take turns throughout the year to bring warmth, cold, and rain.

Surya’s Detachment from Conflict

Surya is constantly engaged in service to the world, often staying above the quarrels between gods and demons.

Once, the mighty demon Ravana, after conquering the three worlds, arrived at Surya’s palace and demanded a duel:

“King of Light! Come out and fight! The King of Darkness challenges you!”

Surya replied calmly:

“Tell your master I have no time for battle, nor do I care who wins.”

Foolishly, Ravana boasted that he had defeated even the Sun god — but Surya simply continued his cosmic duty, unmoved.

Surya and Virochana

Surya’s power is so immense that only Mahavishnu himself could override his blessings.

The Ganesha Purana tells how Surya was pleased with Virochana, son of Prahlada Maharaja, a virtuous demon king who honoured the Vedas and protected Brahmins.

Surya gifted Virochana a divine crown, decreeing that Virochana could only die if someone removed it from his head.

Virochana, proud of this boon, thought himself immortal.

Mahavishnu, taking the form of a beautiful woman, seduced Virochana, removed the crown, and ended his life.

Another tale tells how Virochana and Indra once approached Prajapati to learn about the Supreme Self (Atman).

Prajapati cryptically told them:

“The reflection you see in a mirror or water is your true self.”

Virochana took this literally, thinking the body itself was the soul, and spread this belief among demons

thus binding them ever more deeply to materialism.

The Dual Nature of the Sun in Jyotish

This story helps explain why the Sun is considered a “cruel” or malefic planet in Jyotish, despite being of sattvic (pure) nature.

A strong Sun gives pride, ego, identification with the body, and attachment to the material world.

But its sattvic nature also means it can illuminate our inner self, the atma, and guide us towards realising our life’s true purpose.

In Jyotish, Surya is not merely the centre of our solar system, but a cosmic teacher —

showing us both the dangers of ego and the path to self-realisation and service.