Common questions about IAS, our mission, and how you can be part of this spiritual movement.
The same father does not make all children identical. Hindu mythology portrays Devas and Asuras as different groups, but their moral character depends on their individual actions.
1. Aditi performed penance to seek divine help for the Devas.
2. We cannot say for certain that Surya Dev knew every future conflict in advance.
3. Even if a deity knows about a conflict, Hindu stories sometimes portray events as part of Karma and cosmic order.
4. Surya Dev's purpose was to uphold Dharma, not necessarily to prevent every conflict before it began.
The exact explanation depends on the Hindu scripture and version of the story.
In Hindu mythology, if the Asuras ruled heaven during a conflict, the Devas did not necessarily disappear.
- Devas: They might live in other places, retreat, or seek protection from Lord Vishnu.
- Asuras: In some stories, they conquer Swर्ग Loka (heaven) and take control of Indra's kingdom.
- Surya Dev's birth: The exact timeline depends on the Purana and the particular story. We cannot assume that all Asuras ruled heaven during Surya's birth.
According to Hindu mythology, Shani Dev is the son of Surya Dev, but their relationship became strained because of misunderstandings involving Shani's mother, Chhaya.
- Surya Dev: Father of Shani Dev.
- Shani Dev: Son of Surya Dev and Chhaya, known for justice and karma.
- Reason for enmity: Some traditional stories describe conflict between them because Surya doubted Chhaya and Shani's parentage, leading to tension.
The origin of Surya Dev is explained in two ways:
1. According to Hindu mythology: Surya Dev is the son of Prajapati Kashyapa and Aditi. He is also called Aditya.
2. According to science: The Sun formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a huge cloud of gas and dust that collapsed under gravity.
The first temple of Surya Dev depends on what is meant by “first,” because several ancient Sun temples existed in different parts of India.
According to the Samba Purana tradition, Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, established the first Sun temple at Mulasthana (traditionally identified with Multan, in present-day Pakistan) after worshipping Surya Dev.