CJI--IAPTER - V[

DECLINE IN THE
POPULARITY OF SUN
WORSHIP
 CHAPTER- VI

DECLINE IN THE POPULARITY OF SUN WORSHIP

The popularity of the Sun worship in Bengal down to the end of Hindu rule is

indicated by the opening verse in the copperplates of Visvarupasena and Suryasena in

praise of the Sun god. The extant remains of the icons of Surya, dated or undated, also

suggest the continuity of Sun worship until at least the early mediaeval period. Perhaps.

this popularity was partly the cause as well as effect of the deep-rooted belief recorded on

the pedestal of a Surya image from BairhaHa (Dinajpur District) that the god was the

healer of all diseases ('samasta-roganiim harllii l However, since the early part of the

13'h century A.D. things began to change in the disfavour of the Sun-cult. In actuality. the

process started long back, specifically since the Sena Period. The northern style SGrya

and his worship probably did not last long alter the Varman-Sena period: at least we

hardly come across any such images aflerwards.

There could be various reasons t(1r the subsequent decline in the importance and

anthropomorphic worship of the Sun in early Bengal. However. it is also to be kept in

mind that the solar worship in the t(ml1S stated alxl\e did not only disappear from this

part of eastern India, but also from the rest of the Indian sub-continent. Naturally. the

question rises as to what led to the decline of the solar-cult.

No mysticism, symbolism or high philosophy around SOrya:

The daily visibility of the Sun to naked eye prevented the sectarians to develop

any mysticism, symbolism or high philosophy centering round him. Consequently.

240
 though he became popular universally due to simplicity of concept and beneficence,

highest devotion could not be given to a phenomenon that was visible to the naked eye.

No distinct school or schools of philosophy did ever grow up around the Sun god, as they

developed round the two major Purfu;lic systems. We find extensive religious literature in

the tenth, eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D around Vai~Qavism and Saivism but almost
1

nothing about Siirya. As a result, no backing of high philosoph/ was available to him - a

fact that is so essential for greatness in religious matters.

Popularity of ekantil<~worship:

In the early mediaeval period. the emphasis was gtven upon the 'ekantika ·

worship of the 'l}(adeva · due to monotheistic ideas reaching north from the South. The

ekanrika worship became more popular than the smanu type. of which the syncretic icons

and Paiicayatana temples were the products. It mav he that the ekiintika attitude was

regarded as better tilted to meet the challenge of Islam. Someone who believed in his

f}(adeva could not give an important position to a god (i.e. Surya) liable to he identified

with rival gods- Brahm a. Vi$\lU or Siva.;

Degradation of Sun worshipping Maga Brahmaoas:

The immense popularit: of Sun worship in anthropomorphic form as well as in

the temples was a direct contribution of the Iranian Maga BrahmaJ;as. We have already

seen that after their advent in India in the tifth century B.C.. they remained neglected for

long in the orthodox Hindu society. as their customs varied with those of the Indians in

many fundamental points. Their position. howe\·er. distinctly improved later on. Still, on

241
 account of their peculiar customs, these Brahmm;~as remained distinct and separate from
4
the majority of the Indian BrlihmaJ;Ja community from an early time."

In the opinion of the orthodox BrlihmaQas, the study of astrology and practice of

medicine were some of the condemned vocations and very much reprehensible on the

part of the BrlihmaJ;Jas 5 On the contrary. the Sakadvlpl or Devala BriihmaJ;Jas used to

cultivate astrology, palmistry and the casting of horoscope etc. They also officiated in the

grahayajna as priests with a view to propitiating the planets. prescribed amulets and

practiced treatment of smallpox etc. 6 Pursuit of these censurable arts and sciences

reduced them to an extremely degraded position.

7
It has been suggested that in course of time the Sun worshipping Magas were

divided into two groups -- of the Magas and the Rhojakas later on degraded as the

Yiijakas. Bhojakas or Yajakas or the Scvakas appear to have been indigenous priests of

the Sun-cult as they are described as chanting Vedic mantras etc. 8 Most probably, the

Bhojakas followed this injunction at the beginning hut cb iated from it later on. In

addition, they entered into matrimonial alliances with !(Jreigners like the Magas.
9
According to Monier Williams. the Bhojakas themselves \\ere the descendants of the

Magas through the women of the Bhoja race. The Gm;wkas (astrologer. also called Graha-

\ipra) are said to be the issues of Devala (SakaLhlpl RriihmaQa) t:1ther and Vaisya
10
mother. Because of this prohibited inter-caste marriage or origin from unwanted

.
matnmony, t he Bh OJakas
. .
came to be degraded as low or apiil1kteya II or Devalaka-
12
BriihmaQas (temple-priests). It may be derived specifically from the Deo-Baranark

(Shahabad, Bihar) inscription that with the temple of the Sun god were associated the
13
Bhojakas. The service of a pujfirl or priest of a popular god, who officiates at smaller

242
 shrines and lives upon the offerings made to the idol has always been held to be

14
degrading and is never performed by any higher class Brlihml1Qas. The name Bhojaka

is taken to have originated from their function of eating first on Sriiddha-ceremony.

V arahamihira 15 informs us, "the Brlihml!Qa who knows very well the (astronomical and

astrological) works and their meaning, is the first to eat the food (Agrabhuk) offered to

the manes". It is but natural to presume that an agrabhuk BrlihmaQa would be looked

upon as fallen in the higher circle of the Hindu society.

N. N. Vasu, based on an early text Brahmajii/a/asu/la 16 held that the magic priest

were held in disrepute since the days of Buddha. It is well known that the Magas were

famous for their magic and occult power. It is quite probable that the Buddhist text had

Magas in mind while referring to the magic priests in the time of Buddha. The Magas

were in disrepute too in India because of their objectionable practices

The Graha-vipras are said to ha,·c been hypocrite and even described as

· Kailamhid' (Master fraud). 17 They were well known in the society for their fraudulence.

That they were not respectable c\'erywherc in the society and looked dO\m upon as fallen

has been indicated in the Brhaddharma PuriJIJa because of their dependence on

astrology. A section of these Brahmm;as called .~grodili)l Brahmaoa were also considered

as fallen because of their practice to receive the tirst gi fi in the funeral ceremony from the

''-.J
l)uuras. IB

The Maga Brahmaoas, since the very beginning. extended religious privileges to
10
women and men of lower class. The priests of the castes belonging to Afadhvama

(intermediate) and Adhama (low) Samkaras are said to be degraded (patila} BrahmaQas,

who attain the status of the castes they serve. The idea gradually grew that the Brlihmaoas

243
 serving the lower castes attained their rank 20 Therefore, it can be said safely that because

of their association with the people of lower strata, the position of the Siikadvipi

BrahmaJ;JaS was lowered beyond measure in the eye of the higher society. In this

connection it is possible, as it has been suggested, that the Sun-worshipping Siikadvlpl

BriihmaQ.as including the piijarl were illiterate 21 In contrast with erudition of the

scholars belonging to the Vaisnavite and Saivite order, it is apparent that the Saura

Devala BrahmaQ.as could hardly expect any royal patronage from the kings other than

those who did not profess Saura religion.

The descendants of the early Maga immigrants finally lost their position in the

society. if they ever at all enjoyed any high position there. Being deprived of their status,

these Brahma!)as sought to establish supremacy over the low-class untouchables and it

was from then that solar worship became almost extinct in higher Hindu societyn The

indigenous Siirya-piija and its alien form \\ere mixed up and its separate existence as a

cult for the exclusive worship of the deity was obliteratcd. 21

The Brahma!)as and the K~atriyas who traditionally enjoyed vast powers and

privileges in India for a long time could not tolerate that a new class of people like the

Maga Brahma!)as should usurp their supremacy. The Magas were originally the priests of

the foreign people who exercised influence tempoararily over portions of the country. but

were ultimately absorbed in the Hindu fold.

No development of Saura- Sakti:

Bengal became one of the leading centers of the Sakta cult during the last two or

three centuries of her ancient period. Even as early as 7th -8 1h century A.D. Siikta goddess

244
 was worshipped in Riirjhii and Varendrl with Tiintric rites by a man in collaboration with

a woman, as found in the Devl Puri'i~;~a.

24
Most of the Tiintric books were not only

written in Bengal, but also the full burgeoning of Tiintricism took place here.

The major mental focus of the Sena-Varman-Deva ages was the meditation and

concepts entrenched in astrology, the Agamas. Nigamas and Tantra. Saivism, one of the

major sects in Bengal, had been influenced by Tiintric concepts and practices. It would

seem that during the Pala period, the figures of the divine couple. Umi'i and Mahdvara.

had captivated the Bengali mind. The embracing figures of Siva and Umi'i came to be a

concept of Bengali Tantric Saktaism. Sitting comfortably in the lap of Siva, bound in

embrace and smiling joyously, Umii was indeed the Tripurasundarl of the power of Siva,

of the Tantric devotees, the meditation of which was the highest form of dhyiinayoga. In

a few images of Lak~·mf-N.Jraya(w !rom eastc:rn and northern Hengal. Lak~mf appears

seated on the left knee of Vi~QU. which readily reminds one of the contemporary images

of Siva and Umii-Mahdvara. The development of Vai~Qavism in Bengal in the Sena-

Varman period was largely enhanced because of the eyoJutinn nf the Riidha-Kn(w

concept and the concept of Radha very likely developed under the influence of

Siiktaism. •;

Sun worship also adopted Tantric practices hut remaining tree from some lunda-

mental concepts of Tantricism such as the conception of a t"emak principle who in

association with a male principle is responsible for the evolution of the universe 26 No

such concept as of Prajili'i of Tiintric Buddhism and Umii of Tantric Hinduism could be

developed round the name of Sarnjilil or ( 'hilvil - wives of the Sun god - bv the solar

sectarians. His consorts were never given any separate worship in Bengal, which is

245
 psychologically a matriarchal region under a tremendous impact of Tantricism, not to

speak of according as much high position as that of La/qml, Umii or Riidhii. Naturally,

the Bengalis did not keep on feeling attracted in the sect or the cult, which is devoid of

matriarchal element, which does not believe in the independent entity of Sakti and engage

in her worship. It is significant to note that no image of the Sun with the female consort

in Tantric sense has been found so far. The solar sectarians did not popularize this

concept and convert it into Tantric doctrine of a Saura-Sakti particularly when other

sectarians were adopting it. 27

No single deity had ever been able to reach the core of the Bengali heart. It was

the divinities in company with the dominant .faktis that have always occupied the highest

position in their mind. Therefore, the deities like Lak~mi-Nclrilyw,1a, Cm<i-Mahdvara and

Riidhii-Kn·IJa reign supreme here. Conversely. Brahma, one of the most important

divinities of the Hindu Trinity, is given a secondary position in the religious pantheon

and invoked only during the offering of oblation along with the Ku.\·aiJgikiJ hymn of

marriage. Similarly, GaQesa also could not gain much intluence in the psyche of the

Bengal people. He receives worship from the mercantile community only as a giver of

success and at the beginning of occasional religious ceremonies in the houses of the

smiirta-people. The same thing happened also in case of Surya.

Inclusion of Surya in Paiicopasana:

Another factor of importance, which might have halted the march of the Sun

worship. was the inclusion of the Sun god in the system of Paiicopiisana Sun god was

considered the cause of everything of the world. He was responsible for the creation,

246
 preservation and destruction. Thus, gradually developed the philosophic view that all

deities being his manifestations, his worship can, without any philosophic contradiction,
28
be combined with the worship of other deities. It also seems that the groupings of five

principal deities at one place came into existence out of keen rivalry and competition

among the respective sects. It must have resulted in mutual understanding among them

and harmonious relation with one another. Alternatively, this keen rivalry and

competition among the various sects might have infused a fear of curse in their minds in

the event of not worshipping the other equally benevolent or harmful gods. This sort of

thinking resulted in the worship of chief deities in a group. In view of the Muslim

aggression and danger from Islam, a pressing necessity of unity among the followers of

different sects might have also impelled them to think of worship of five main deities in a

group. Thus originated the syncretic images. Paiicopiisanii and Paiiciiyatana temples.

Whatever may be the case. it has been enjoined by the Smctikiiras that in the daily

worship, one has to pay one's obeisance to the live deities namely. Gaoe5a. Narayaoa.

Surya. Siva and Sakti. A Brahma1_1a. ofliciating as a priest for the worship of any god or

goddess, is found to perf(Jrm initially Paiicopiisanii or the worship of tive-deities 29

·sz!rmya namal:z' is the usual mantra used b' the priests t(Jr performing the worship of

the Sun god. Significantly enough. the utterance of the mantra 'idityadi Navagrahebhya~

namah · is the usual practice of the priests. It accommodates the name of Aditya (Sun

god) along with those of the nine planets. The system of worship (Piifii- Vidhiina), as

approved by the Purta;zas and the Smrti-nihandhakiiras of Bengal. has left no scope of

exclusive worship of the Sun god.

247
 Non-availability of royal patronage:

The royal patronage of a religion is not only a good index of its general influence

and popularity, but also an important factor for its prolonged and dominant survival. In

Bengal, the Pre-Pal a dynasties of the Kha1gas in Samata(a and Kantideva in Cha((agrfun,

as well as the Pa.la, Candra and Kamboja dynasties and individual rulers like Rm;~avanka­

malla of Pa(likera were all Buddhists. Vainyagupta (Mahadeva-piidiinudhiiya),

Sasanka, 30 Lokanatha, Dommanapala and the early Sena rulers like Parama-Saiva

Vijayasena and Parama- ,~aiva Vallalasena were all Saivas. The Varmans of East Bengal,

the later Sena kings like Parama-Vai~IJaVa Vijayasena and the Deva family of Tripura-

Noakhali- Chanagrfun region were Vai$1Javas. No royal Saura family is known in Bengal.

In fact, Sun worship was not the official religion in India. Only the Scna kings Visvariipa

and Suryasena, who most probably ruled from 1206 - 1225 A.D. styled themselves

Parama-Saura i.e. devout worshippers of the Sun. but that too after professing the two

great faiths (i.e. Saivism and Vai~ryavism) followed by their ancestors 31 Lack of royal

patronage not only prevented the Sun-cult from enjoying added popularity among a large

body of people but also disabled its counsels to be inlluential with the rulers. Thus

deprived of easy and secure livelihood through private or royal charity, they could not

devote themselves with full time, attention and enthusiasm to the all-round advancement

of the Sun cult.

Eclipse of Sorya by VillUJu:

Assimilation of some features belonging to two Hindu cult gods became a

common factor in the religious arena, which is clearly visible between Siirya and Vi~Qu

248
 too. Mention may be made of Silrya-NiiriiyaQa that acquired great circulation in medieval

time. Surya-Niirliyar,w is actually regarded as a form of Vi~QU, which points to merger of

Sun worship in the Vi~Q.U cult. 32 Equal faith of a devotee to both Vi~QU and S\irya is

indicated by the two halves of his name, viz, Visviiditya and ViSvarilpa recorded in

Algayava(a Prasasti of Yak~apala's father Visvaditya-Visvariipa. 33 Fusion of these two

gods seems not to be uncommon. Both the divinities had originally the same common

source of Vedic Surya. Purar;ms also show their identical relation. The Agni PuriiQa states

that the Sun-god is another manifestation of the god Vi~QU who is extolled and glorified

in the hymns of the fl,gveda and is the source of all good and evil. 34 In the Siimba PuriiQa.

it is said that the Sun was worshipped as Vi~l)U in .5vetadvfpa 35

With the rise of Vai~Q.vism. the Sun god gradually began to loose much of his

importance, as Vi~Qu. originally a solar deity, absorbed in himself much of the elements

that had been attributed to Surya in the earlier days."' Even in iconography. there also

occurs no special distinction between the concepts of the image of Vi~QU and that of the

standing. four-armed Surya upon a lotus with the two wiws. Sari1jiia and Chaya. on either

side. and before him the charioteer of the Sun. Thus. it was not difficult for Vi~QU to

eclipse Sl!rya. at least in Bengal." ;\s there was already a popular sect round Vi~(lU - a
3
form of the Sun, ' the question of a Saura sect could not possibly have arisen in the

people's mind. Because of prolonged royal patronage. missionary zeal of a large body of

distinguished and dedicated BrahmaQas and adaptation with the prevailing Tantricism.

Vai~Qavism became so dominant and aggressive a religion as to turn the Sun god of

whom he was just an insignificant aspect in the Vedas, into a part of his body. This finds

an excellent ret1ection in verse l of the Sian Stone lnscription 39 (approx. 1043 A.D.) and

249
 in verse 2 of the Kamauli Copper Plate 40 (1132 A.D.) of Vaidyadeva, where Siirya,

'borne on a seven-horse chariot', has been described as the right eye of Hari (Vi~Q.u).

Vi~Q.u's superiority over Siirya is noticeable even in the solar vrata. In the Surya- Vrata

performed by the people of Chittagong, one set of food-offerings is presented by the

priest to Vi~Q.U, the Preserver of the world, who is, at first, propitiated and another set to

41
the Sun-deity.

Identification of Slirya with Siva:

Besides Vai~Q.avism, Saivism was also a great sect in the BrahmaQ.ical religion in

early Bengal. Like the former. it had also enjoyed state support from some of the Gupta

and Sena rulers in addition to that of Sasanka, Lokanatha, I?ommanapala etc. and intense

dt:\ utinn pf a large numh~r of Brahma\1as besides enormous strength !lowing from the

Tantric cult. For reasons stated above, Sun-cult was not in a position to cope with

Saivism and preferred to link the Sun-deit\ with :lfuhe.\:mru. The composite image of

Marttarda Bhairava serves as an excellent illustration of this tendency, which is also but

a pointer to the weakened position of the Sun god. Scale turned in distil\ our of SO!) a to

such an extent that he came to be identified with Siva in the .\lutsya Pura!Ja. 1lence. in

the )ditya.\:ayana Vrata it is enjoined that the \\orship of Cnul-.l!ahe.\:rara be done with

the recitation of the names of Surya and ,\'iiryaca should be done on the S'ivali11ga (55-

56). Both the deities occur in the .\futsm l'zmi(W ( 68-:1 :i) in a compound viz.

Ravi.1'ankarau. In the Samba Purara, the Sun is said to have been worshipped as

In the .~ail·a svstem.

42
Mahe5vara in Kusadvipa. . .
the Sun is not a mere votaf\ of Siva ' but

also one of his a~{amurtis (Miilavikiignimitra, !, 1). The identity of Siirya with Siva may

250
 be traced back as early as the IJ.gveda. In some passages of the IJ.gveda, Agni is identified

with the Sun. 43 Moreover, Siikapfu;li, a predecessor of Yaska, expounded a theory of

three-fold existence of Agni, viz. terrestrial, aerial and heavenly based on the IJ.gveda -

10.88.10 (Nirukta 7.28). Moreover, Rudra is closely connected with Agni in the
44 45
IJ.gveda This easily explains the above injunction and the identity of Siva and Siirya

It is interesting to note here that this tradition continued in an altered forms as folk gods

of Bengal, where both of them stood for gods of fertility cult.

It appears from the available evidence that the preponderance of Vai~Qavism and

Saivism over-shadowed the cult of the Sun god. which consequently further declined.

Royal patronage secured by these two sects from the Senas, no doubt, added much to

their strength and popularity. The worst position of the Sun god may be gleaned from a

stone image of Harihara (Pl. 22b) belonging to the 12th -13 111 century A.D. The central

figure represents Siva in the right half and Vi~1,1u in the left half and both the gods are

provided with respective iiyudhas, viihanas and .vaktis. In the background at the extreme

right appears a standing Buddha in ahhaywnudra and in the corresponding position to the

left is Siirya with his usual attributes. attendants. charioteer and chariot-horses 46 Here the

Sun god is shown not only as inferior to Brahmar,Jical gods like Vi~\lU and Siva but also

to Buddha because the latter. though placed in the background, has been given the right
7
side_4 which is traditionally regarded as more important than the left one. The

composition of lfari-Hara standing between the two wives reminds us of the verse

describing Pradyumne§vara in the Deopara pra.\'asti of Vijayasena. Similar verses in

praise of Hari-Hara are also quoted in Srfdhardasa's Sadukti-kan;zamrta. Repeated

occurrence of such description in the epigraphy, literature and real art clearly

251
 demonstrates to what a low position was reduced the Sun god under the aggressive

48
ascendancy of the two great cuIts.

In the folk songs around the Sun god discovered from the district of Barisal in

eastern Benga!, 49 he has been called Hari as well as Siva. In the same folk ballads, Gauri

is stated to be the Sun god's bride and a legend about Sri Kr~JJa has also been inter-

polated. We find it stated that the god Siva (i.e. the Sun god) adorned with flowers of

Dhutura plant in his two ears, has started on his journey, and is going to Mathura

accompanied by sixteen hundred milk-maids ("SiMi (hiikur yiitrii ka!le dui kane dhuturo

I ~-olasata gopin! !aye chaliclhe mathurii").

50
The reason for thus identifYing the Sun-

deity with Hari (or Vi~QU) and Siva and connecting him with Gauri and Gop!n!s is not far

to seek. It seems that the position of the Sun was gradually being usurped by the more

dominant Vai~Qava and Saiva cult.

Rivalry and reverses of SOrya:

There existed many a religious sect, major or minor, in Bengal and rivalry among

them was not quite unnatural. The enmity revealed itself mainly by way of representing

other dominant god or gods as attendant or accessory figures of another ambitious cult-

god or replacing some opponent dcit: from the Trinity. The Sun-cult. especially

spearheaded by the Maga BrahmaJJas of foreign origin. could not have been an exception.

In Trimzlrtis. Surya as the principal god is not unknown as it is found in Gujarat and

Rajasthan. Sii.rya replaces Brahmii in the trinity in an inscribed sculpture of Bengal. There

are many composite images at Ranapur. which may be taken" as of Brahmii, Vi~Qu and

Surya thus showing that Siva has been replaced by Sii.rya. Surya replaces Vi~QU in the
 door lintel of the tenth century A.D. Siva-temple at Tejpur in Assam with Brahma and

Siva on two sides. Saillkaraclirya had to face the Sun-worshippers in the Deccan, whom

he found as divided into six sub-sects.

2
Emnity of the Saivas, especially the Piisupatas has been suggested 5 as one of the
53
causes for the decline of the Sun-cult under discussion. Even the Mahiibhiirata goes to

state: - "Meanwhile, Rudra of terrible prowess rushed against the celestials. Filled with

anger he tore out the eyes of Bhaga'' (i.e. Siirya). "Excited with anger, he attacked Pu~an

(Siirya) with his foot. He tore out the teeth of the god as he sat employed in eating the

large sacrificial cake". It is not unnatural for the god Pasupati. the lord of beasts, to have

fallen into conflict with Pii~·an who is intimately connected with cattle and pastoral life in

54
the /J!;l'eda. with the prosperity of cattle in the later Vedic literature'' and with the
56
Pm;li.1 who were traders and most probably non-.i\ryans. 57 It is equally not unexpected

of the god of the Vrcltyas (outcastes) to haw been angry with Blwr;a. ·a distributor of

wealth', usually the gift of' lndra and Agni, and the chief leader of rites 5g and the sustainer

of the world 59

The .~aivas, particularly the Pa.iupalas. were opposed to the solar cult and this

must have checked its progress largely. The Pasupata was the ,,Jdest form of Saivism

prevalent in north India. Yariihamihira refers to the Pa.vupala. while prescribing the

installation of images of different deities. He states. "The priests'' ho install the image of

Vi~QU. should be Bhaxavatas; of Sun. Magas: of Siva. the Pa.iupalas (Ash-armed

one) ....... Saivism in Bengal was of the Pa.iupata sect. as is e\ident from the Bhagalpur
60
grant of NarayaQa pal a. It is deserving of note that emanating from the South, the kings

of the Sena dynasty were prominent devotees of Sadasiva the concept of which, having

253
 been accepted in South India, in course of time spread to Bengal with the Southern

dynasty and its army. 61 With the decline of Buddhism in the 12th century A.D. Saivism

became predominant in Bengal. As a historical process, a highly antagonistic attitude of

the Piisupatas of Bengal against the Maga Brahm<~Qas whose sphere of influence also

included a large body of the Vriityas is easily comprehensible.

Siirya reduced to the status of a graha:

It has already been seen that the worship of the Navagrahas became immensely

popular in medieval time mainly among the Hindus, as a means to secure peace,

prosperity and long life, avert misfortune and harm enemies. Constant fear of growing

foreign invasion and prevailing socio-economic tensions might have contributed to this

new phenomenon. The Sun worshipping Maga Brahm<~Qas who took to the profession of

astrology upheld Grahayas;a or Svastyayana as a sole. infallible panacea for the problems

confronting the society. In astrology. Ravi (Slirya) is considered as one of the leading

planets. determining the fortune of humankind. Introduction and popularization of

Navagraha worship in such an energetic way, in reality. brought the Sun god down to the

position of one of the planets only. though a central tlgure among them. trom the lotiiest

seat of a great benevolent deity and the 'soul of all movable and immovable things'. 1' 2

Independent worship of the Sun as a god naturally lost its rationale in the society. In

absence of images of the nine planets in a single stone slab. they could be worshipped hy

..
drawing their figures on canvas in their respective colour or in mandalas made of scented

paste (Sandal-wood-paste). The present practice of grahayajiia with no requirement of

icon in any form, in all probability. was prevalent in the last phase of our period under

254
discussion. Under the changed situation, there was left no urge before the people to do

the individual and anthropomorphic worship of the once-great god Siirya in temples, big

or small. Anyway, the Maga-dvijas who introduced, popularized and took to the greatest

height, the anthropomorphic and temple-worship of the Sun god under a strong religious

zeal, possibly under economic compulsion never hesitated to reduce the status of their

deity.

Assimilation of Brahmar;Jical religion and solar deity:

The whole question concerning the decline of Sun worship in the so-called post-

Hindu period originates from the occurrence of large number of Sun-images and

references to Sun temples belonging to the Pala-Sena period against their conspicuous

absence in the succeeding age. It is 1\ell J...no\\n that the practice of Sun worship in

anthropomorphic form and in temple was not at all an indigenous one. rather very much

alien to the mainstream tradition. A critical o;tudy of the practices of the primitive tribes

of India clearly shows the general absence of any material representation of the solar

deity while the deity are being offered sacrifices in an open space cleared of jungle on a
63
raised altar Even in different Siirya-\'rala.\. which have been perforrned by the

womenfolk from time immemorial. the god is worshipped with the aid of symbolic repre-

sentation. In the Vedas, the Briihmw;ws. the 1/pani~·adas, the Siitras and the Epics. we

notice the worship of the Sun god in both atmospheric and symbolic fom1s. especially

among the orthodox section of the society.

Coming to the Pural)ic age. we are amazed to find that many Pural)as 04 even do

not mention the role of the Magian priests at all and continue the indigenous and national

255
 tradition of Sun-worship as found in the Vedas, the BrahmmJas, the Upani!jads, the

Sutras, and the Epics. In the Vi!jQU, Viryu, Brahmtil}rja, MarkaQdeya and Matsya Puri[Qas,

which were thoroughly imbued with the orthodox spirit of the Sun-cult, the Vedic

tradition65 of Sun worship is found to have been carried on. They reveal that the orthodox
66
tradition of Sun worship actually developed on the lines of the Satapatha Briihma!}a 's

67
prescription of a golden disc to represent the solar orb and the Upani~adic doctrine of

the golden Puru!ja in the Sun who was identified with the Ultimate Being. The

prevalence of this tradition even after the spread of the Magian custom is attested by the

Kurma PuraiJa which describes the Sun as the heavenly body in regulating time and

seasons, in maintaining the planets in their position and in fostering the life of the plants

and animals. This description is in conformity with the Vedic account of the Sun god.
68
Even in the Samba PurtiQa, which symbolizes the climax of the Magian belief, the

Vedic tradition has not been forgotten. The Dn·i !Jiu/gara/a Purii(W. describing the

various sects of Hinduism, states that some persons who knew the Vedas worshipped the

Sun everyday in the morning. midday and in the ewning with various hymns 69 This

shows that among the Sauras was also a section. which continued worshipping him in the

old Vedic way Even a group of the Sun worshipping Magas 7(1 called Bhojakas (later on

degraded as the Yajakas) who appear to have been indigenous priests of the Sun-cult. are

described as chanting Vedic mantras etc." In view of the above. it is evident that even

after the flood of Magian Sun worship in northern India. the indigenous form of Sun

worship without image and temple had simultaneously been going on.

It is beyond doubt that in the tield of iconography and temples. the

Maga priests exerted powerful influence and this new tradition was materially helpful

256
 in propagating and diffusing the sectarian form of Sun worship. They gave material

and lithic representation to the imaginary and atmospheric conception of the Sun as

found in the Vedas, the Epics and the Purcu;zas. However, as far as the mythology,

theology and philosophy of the Sun-cult were concerned, the Maga-influence was

negligible. 72 As a means to wipe out the Magi an element even in solar iconography, a

constant, conscious and vigorous attempt was also being made in the form of hiding

or idealizing the alien traits (northerner dress, waist-girdle and high boots) in the Sun

images. This is evident from steady shedding off the northerner's dress by keeping

the upper body of the divinity open (Harinarayanpur image) or covering it with a
73
diaphanous garment, threatening instruction for not making the god's feet and

endowing him with Indian attributes such as yajnopavJta. tilaka etc.

The endeavour to merge the Sun-cult with the Brahmal)ical stream was slow hut

steady until the rule of the Buddhist Pal as because of their eclectic policy, though they

were also the upholders of the Brahma\1ical religion and social system. However. in the

Sena period the wheels of the religion and society turned in the one direction; in this era

the all-pervading and all-embracing religion of Bengal was Brahmal)ism. governed by the

Vedas and the PuriiiJas. the .S'ruti and the Smrti. and aJTected by the Tan/ras. Further.

from the second half of the eleventh century the descendants of the Buddhist kings also

gradually took to Brahrnal)ism. By the end of the ancient period, the Brahmal)ism of the

Vedas, Smrli and the PuriiiJaS had triumphed and the Sun god was ultimately assimilated

into the Brahrnal)ical religion losing his identity in the Brahmal)ical solar deity. This may

find corroboration in Verse I of the Edilpur Copperplate of the Sena king Siiryasena

(1206-1210 A.D.) where the Sun is described as "the friend of lotus beds, the source of

257
deliverance of the three worlds withheld in the prison of darkness, and the wonderful bird

of the tree of the Vedas, soaring high up on his two alternately expanding wings (i.e. the
74
two fortnights), of which one is white and the other is black".

Dharmathakur replaces Surya in Radha:

In ancient Racjhii or modem West Bengal, we find the immense popularity of the

worship of Dharmaraj or Dharma{hiikur who has been identified in the Sunya Puriit;~a
15

76
and the Dharmapuja-vidhana with the Sun god. It is interesting to note in this

connection that from the late Mm. Haraprasad Sastri down to Ashutosh Bhattacharyya, it
76
took us three generations to know finally that Dharma-puja belongs to the Sun-cult. "

Some solar attributes had definitely been absorbed in the personality of the

Dharma{lulkur. He is also conceived as the remcner of diseases like Suf)a. It is nut

unlikely that the place of the Briihma.IJical god Surya was gradually occupied by this folk-

'
god Dhanna{lulkur at least in some parts of BengaL Uivcn the authenticity of the Siinya

Puriit;~a of Ramai PaiJ<;Iit, it can be accepted that Dharma festival was current in Sena

times prior to the Turkish conquest. The local tradition of adoring the Sun god as

Dharma was so widely accepted in western part of Bengal that it did not leave any

opportunity for the Udlcyve.i-1 Surya in Purilt;ic garb to gain popularity. 77 It also appears

that atier the rule of Parama-Sauru Visvarupasena and Survasena. the solar devotees of

the South- West Bengal, being deprived of state support. gradually assimilated themselves

into other religious communities.s 2

258
 Notes and References

I. HB-1, p. 428.

2. Sharma, D., Rajasthan through the Ages, vol. I, Bikaner, 1966, p.720.

3. Ibid, pp. 385, 721.

4. Bhattacharyya, Ashutosh, 'The Popular Sun Cult of Bengal', Amrita Bazar Patrika,

Annual Pilja Number, 1945, p. 165.

5. HB-1, p. 585.

6. Bhattacharyya, Ashutosh, op. cit., p.l65.

7. Hazra. Studies. Vol. I. p. 30.

8. According to Varahamihira, the Sun-images should be invoked with auspicious

Vedic hymns before they are installed (Brhat ,)'arnhitii, Ch. LVIJl Versses 49-52).

9. Williams Monier, A Sanskrit English Dictionary. Oxford, !951.

I 0. HB-1. p. 570.

I I . BhaviJya P., 1.140. 141, 146.

12. Hazra . .<;tudics. Vol. I. p. 40.

13. MRCSB, p. 44.

14. Gosta. Liebert. !cono!(raphic DictionwT of the Indian Reli!(ions. Hinduism-

Buddhism-.Jainism, Delhi, 1986, p. 229.

15. H. Kern (Eugrtam). Brhat SwiJI1ita. Ch. II. verse I :l. JR. L~ .. !870-75!'.

16. Quoted by N .N. Vasu, Archaeological Survey o/Mayurhhanja.

17. Chakravarty, Jahnavi Kumar. Aryasapta.5atl 0 Gauq Vwiga (in Bengali), Calcutta.
1378 B.S., p.57.
18. Tarkaratna, Panchanan (Ed.), Brahmavaivarta Puri'u;w, Brahma kha!Jda, Ch. X,

Calcutta, 1399 B.S., p. 2.

259
 19. Hazra, Studies, Vol.!, p. 40.

20. Brhaddharma PuriiiJa, II, XIV.75.

21. Gosta, op. cit., p.229.

22. Bhattacharyya, Ashutosh, op. cit., p. 165.

23. Banerjea, J.N., Pauri'u;ic and Tiintrik Religion. Calcutta, 1994, pp. 145-6.

24. HBP, p. 422.

25. Ibid, p. 450.

26. Majumdar, R.C. (Ed.), The Age of Imperial Kanauj. Bombay, 1955, p.314 ff.

27. Ibid, pp. 262, 323.

28. SWAJ-P, p. 189.

29. Monier, Williams, Religious Thout;hi and Uje in India. London. 1883. p. 412.

30. Depicted on the coins ofSasanka were Siva and Nand!, the bull. Allan . .J., Catalogue

o/1ndian Coins in the British l'vfuseum. ( 'oins o(Ancient India. London. 1936. pp.

147-48.

31. HB-1. p. 427.

32. Fergusson, James, History of1ndian and Eastern Architecture. Kol. 11. Delhi. 197'2.

p.I06.

33. Sircar, D. C., EI. Vol. XXXVI, p. 88.

34. Agni P .. Tr. by Manmath Nath Dutta. Vol. I. I ~0-33.

35. Samba P.. pp. 26; 37; 38.

36. Chattopadhyay, S., The Evolution ojTheistic Sects in Anciem India. Calcutta. 1962.

p. 58; Ganguli, K. K. Some A.1pecls of Sun- worship in Ancient India,

Calcutta, 1965, p.

260
 37. HBP, p. 452.

38. Bhandarkar, R.G., Vai:p:zavism, Saivism and other Minor Sects, (Rep.) Varanasi,

1965; Hopkins, E.W., Religions of India, Boston, 1895, pp. 377-78.

39. 'pravodhanidre jagatiim yasyonmllan-mllane'- Sircar, D.C., Siliilekh Tiimrasiisaniidir

Prasafzge, Calcutta, 1387 B.S., pp. 85-10 I.

40. "etasya dalcyiw;zadriso Vam.se Mihra.syajiitaviin piirvam Vigrahapiila "; E. I., II, p.

350; Gauqalekhamala, p.l28; CB.I.. p. 370.

41. Bhattacharyya, R.K., & Mitra, S.C., 'On the Worship of the Sun-deity in Bihar,

Western and Eastern Bengal'. The .Journal ofthe Anthropological Society of Bombay,

Vol. XIII, 1927, pp . 316-316.

42. Siimha P .. p. 26: 37; 38.

43. MacDonnell, Vedic Afylho/ogy, p. 93.

44. Ibid. p. 77.

45. Kantawala. S.G .. Cul!ura/ Hislory(Yom the Jfal\ya l'urii!Ja, Baroda. 1964. p. 185.

46. AS'!- AR. Part II. 1930-34. pp. 256-257.

47. Incidentally, it deserves to be mentioned that much earlier Lord Buddha had been

accepted as one of the incamations of \'i~\1ll. and it did not take ,·ery long for the

acceptance to develop into affection.

48. In the Surya image from Banshihari (West Dinajpur) in SAGC shows the miniature

figure ofVi~QU on the lett side of the prahhiivall and two defaced figures on the right.

Two identical Surya images (BSHI. p.l 89. pl. 162) trom Vikrampur (Dhaka) in the

BNM (N0.6! & 66.31) show Brahm a, Mahesvara and Vi~QU seated on the top of the

prahhiiva!T.

261
 49. Typical Selections from Old Bengali Literature, Part I, published by the University of

Calcutta, 1914, pp. 164,171.

50. Mitra, Sarat Candra, 'On the Cult of the Sun god in Medieval Eastern Bengal',

Journal ofthe Department of Letters, Vol. XV, 1927, pp. 149-200.

51. Ojha, G.H., History ofJodhpur, I, !938, p. 66.

52. Chattopadhyaya, op. cit., p. 58.

53. XII.J60.18-!9.

54. RV, !.5.1, 2; V1.54.5; VI.53.9.

55. MS, 4.3.7; TB, 1.7.24; SGS., 3.9.

56. RV, Vl.53.3, 5, 6, 7.

57. Vedic Index. vol. I. p. 472.

58. RV, Vll.3.8.3.

59. RV, Vl1.3.8.2.

60. fA, XV, p. 304; Gauda/ekhamalii. p. 55.

61. HBP, p. 420.

62. RV. 1.115.1.

63. Das. Tarak Candra. "Sun-worship amongst the aboriginal tribes of eastern India· .

.Journal ofthe /Jepartment ofLellers. Vol. IL 1924. p. <JIJ

64. Majumdar. R.C. (Ed.), 7/u• ( 'lassica/ Age. Bombay. l <J54. p. 438.

65. Roy. S.N .. ·Early Puri[Qic Account of Sun and Solar Cult'. University ojAllahabad

Studies, 1963. pp. 41-45.

66.SB, VII.4.1.10.

6 7. BA U, !1.5.5.

162
68. Hazra, Studies, p. 63. cf. Samba P., 6.15; 12.8; 12.13; 24.7; 29.15; 30.18.

69. Srlmad Devl Bhagavata P. Ch. VIII. Book I, p. 27, Tr. by Swami, Vijayananda, alias

Hari Prasanna Chatteiji, Panini Office, Allahabad.

70. Hazra, Studies, Vol. I, p. 30.

71. Samba P., 27.

72. SWAI-S, p. 258.

73. Change in religious outlook against top boots and Avymiga is met with in the

injunctions led by Mat.sya, Padma and Agni Pura!Jas where the sculptor is warned

against covering the feet of the god if he does not intend to be inflicted by leprosy.

Padma Purana. S; ~{i. Khaf,l<ja, Var\g. Edition. Chap. VIII, Sl. No. 42;

:'vfatsm Pura(w. CCLXI I--.- XCIV.!. Such scriptural prohibition provided

sentiment to the sculptors of later ages to insert or submerge the feet of the god

below the knees in the chariot- pedestal or to put them inside the chariot.

74. !R. p. I 26.

75. Sen. Sukumar. Ba1ig/a Sahityer ltihas. Vol. I. Aparardha. Calcutta. 1975: p. 147 ff.

76. Manda!, Panchanan & Sen, S. (ed.). Rupramer Dharmammigal, Introduction.

Burdwan. B.S. I 35 I.

76a. Ray, Sudhansu Kumar. !'he Ritual Arl o/lhe Bra/as ofBengal, Calcutta. 1961, pp. i-

11.

77. MRC.'iB, p. 70.

78. Tarafdar. Mamtajur Rahaman. Bangia Siihityer l!ihiis (in Bengali), Dhaka. 1987.

263