Page:South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses.djvu/255



Of the miscellaneous gods found in South-Indian temples, mention may be made of the Navagrahas or " the nine Planets " headed by the Sun. They are installed within the enclosed verandah round the central shrine of a temple with or without a special structure erected over them. The Sun stands in the centre and the others are fixed round him, each in a specified direction. The Planets are highly respected and scrupulously worshipped by the people, as they are believed to influence the destinies of human beings.

The worship of the Sun in India has been as old as the SUN - Vedas. Dr. Bhandarkar refers to a special class of sun- worshippers in the North called Magas whom he identifies with the Magi of ancient Persia. 1 In the South, there does not appear to be any such class exclusively devoted to the Sun. The worship is common to all. Aditya-grihas (Sun-shrines) are mentioned in inscriptions of the eighth and ninth centuries of the Christian era, in the .northern districts of the Presi- dency ; in later times temples of Traipurushadeva are found dedicated to Sun, Siva and Vishnu, with much prominence given to the first as indicated by the sculptures. Evidence of the building of separate Sun-temples in Southern India, earlier than the twelfth century A.D., has not yet been found. The only temple thus far known to be dedicated to the Sun and his attendant Planets exclusively, is the one at SuriyanarkOyil in the Tanjore district. 2

The image of the Sun-god, according to the Agamas, is always to be placed in the centre of the Planets, looking eastward. Round, red, and decorated with red flowers, he must be clothed in garments of variegated colours with flags on his car. The car must have one wheel, drawn by seven , Saivism, etc., pp. 151 to 155.

2 Madras Epigraphical Report for 1908, Part II, paragraph 60.