The article "God of Sunday" by Devdutt Pattanaik discusses the significance of Sunday, originally the first day of the week in Roman times, named after the Sun-God, Helios or Hyperion. This day later became known as Dominica in Christian tradition, symbolizing the day of rest after God's creation of the world. Pattanaik explains that weekdays are an arbitrary division of time with origins traced back to Babylon, spreading to various cultures including India, where Sunday is called Ravi-vaar. The association of the first day of the week with the Sun remains a historical mystery. In Hinduism, the Sun-God Surya is essential, depicted as a powerful celestial body with a chariot of twelve wheels, representing the seasons, pulled by seven horses. The unseen seventh horse symbolizes intuitive wisdom. Surya's wife, Saranya, gives birth to twins: Yama, the god of death, and Yami, who transforms into the Yamuna river. Saranya, overwhelmed by Surya's brilliance, leaves, resulting in the birth of Shani, the god of delays, through her shadow-twin Chaya. Surya eventually finds Saranya again, transforming into a horse to win her back, leading to the birth of the horse-headed twins, the Ashwins, who represent health and healing. The narrative highlights the deep connections between the Sun-God and horses in Hindu mythology.

by Devdutt Pattanaik in English Magazine

Writen by Devdutt Pattanaik

Category Magazine