Sun Cult in Pråcyadesa : History, Religion & Iconography

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, Puşa, Bhaga, Vivasvän, Mitra, Aryama and Vişnu, 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 culogized the grace of the solar deity in his divine power of removing diseases, bestowing vigor, 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 motion contained in known sources, scientific interpretation of informating fresh approaches to the study of including rare Photographs suggest fresh investigations. It offers a wealth of information, both literary and archaeological, about the history and that explores the hidden relationship study and as a work of interpretation religious significance of the Sun-god. It is important both as a scholarly between Indian religion and art.