Sun Cult in Pracyadesa : History, Religion and Iconography
Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Sun worship in the Vedic literature. 3. Sun worship in the epic and the Pauranic literature. 4. Growth and popularity of sun worship in early Bengal. 5. Sun images : studies in the development of iconography. 6. Decline in the popularity of sun worship. Appendices: 1. Sun Temples in early Bengal. 2. Sun worship in folk-tradition. 3. Inscriptions (with translations) on sun images discovered in Bengal. Resume. Bibliography. Index.
"The Suryadevata (Sun-God), the celestial luminary, was an object of great veneration to the ancient Indians from a very early time. The God was given many names like Savita, Pusa, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Mitra, Aryama and Visnu, emphasizing his different aspects and a number of qualities and functions were assigned to him.
The metaphysical background of the Sun-God came to be enriched and developed in the epic-Puranic period. The epics and the Puranas profusely eulogized the grace of the solar deity in his divine power of removing diseases, bestowing vigour, strength and long life.
Historical evidence regarding the existence of Saura-cult in medieval Bengal and Bihar comes from the epigraphic and iconographic records of the Pala-Sena dynasty.
The present work, is not a startling discovery of hitherto unknown sources, but a patient compilation and scientific interpretation of information contained in known sources\', including rare photographs suggesting fresh approaches to the study of fresh investigations. It offers a wealth of information, both literary and archaeological, about the history and religious significance of the Sun-God. It is important both as a scholarly study and as a work of interpretation that explores the hidden relationship between Indian religion and art." (jacket)
"The Suryadevata (Sun-God), the celestial luminary, was an object of great veneration to the ancient Indians from a very early time. The God was given many names like Savita, Pusa, Bhaga, Vivasvan, Mitra, Aryama and Visnu, emphasizing his different aspects and a number of qualities and functions were assigned to him.
The metaphysical background of the Sun-God came to be enriched and developed in the epic-Puranic period. The epics and the Puranas profusely eulogized the grace of the solar deity in his divine power of removing diseases, bestowing vigour, strength and long life.
Historical evidence regarding the existence of Saura-cult in medieval Bengal and Bihar comes from the epigraphic and iconographic records of the Pala-Sena dynasty.
The present work, is not a startling discovery of hitherto unknown sources, but a patient compilation and scientific interpretation of information contained in known sources\', including rare photographs suggesting fresh approaches to the study of fresh investigations. It offers a wealth of information, both literary and archaeological, about the history and religious significance of the Sun-God. It is important both as a scholarly study and as a work of interpretation that explores the hidden relationship between Indian religion and art." (jacket)
