Surya

“Wholeness is self-regulating since it comprehends within itself the totality of nature’s perfect law. Whatever our realm, this rulership can be seen from the Sun in our Vedic chart.”
~ Andrew Foss

The bright, luminous Deva known as Surya is the source of light and life in our solar system. Surya is one of the strongest pointers of overall energy, prana shakti, soul and vitality in the natal chart.

Surya has a relationship with all three centres of brain in the human body: solar plexus, heart and third eye. This gives us a glimpse into the subtler nature of Surya as the organizing power of inner luminosity ~ the spiritual light within. This is why we do many yogic practices to connect with these centres, to charge our light and tune into the highest expression of this vital life force energy.

Surya symbolizes our longing in the soul to have soul realization but, when imbalanced, can represent our ability to get lost in the world and develop “God complex”, ego-centred traits.

Surya rules the sign of Leo, Simha, the great Lion. Located at the third eye, exalted in Aries in the solar plexus, or Manipura chakra, and debilitated in Libra at the Heart, or Anahata chakra, because one of the greatest challenges for any king is to rule from the heart and not the head. The same is true for all of us.

The solar plexus is the centre of staying power and will. It becomes the source of aggression, control over and violence when out of balance. When somebody is stuck in their mind and identified with the mind and one’s thoughts as who they are, they are stuck in ego and often disconnected from their bodies, which is why asana practices serve to help draw one’s awareness out of repetitive mind, thought patterns and into connecting with and awareness of the body.

Every human soul has an inner longing to self-realize and self-actualize. Therefore, the more we truly know ourselves, the more we are able to share our true gifts with the world However, in imbalance and confusion, in identification with the outside world, there comes instead this obsession with “becoming someone”. The result is to never be and therefore, be stuck in the ego game of always becoming “other”. This is often framed as ambition ~ the seeking of glory instead of the realizing of glory from within. It is a restlessness instead of a calm radiance.

Therefore, it makes sense that the sun is debilitated at the heart where the ego takes a bow and surrenders control to the higher wisdom of the heart. The heart chakra is where cosmic consciousness comes online and naturally, as a result, the ego and sense of separation from the “other” dissolves.

art by Peter Welterfrede

The Sun provides us a foundational strength and nourishment.. life would not exist without it. Planets turn the sun’s energy into food and every living being draws solar energy, prana, light and warmth from the Sun.

The sun is the primary organizing power of our solar system. From one of the Upanishads comes this teaching which my teacher translated for us as so: “From the Sun arose all beings. The Sun sustains them all and into the Sun they all vanish. What the Sun is so am I.” All the solar system has emerged from Surya, is maintained by Surya and will eventually return to Surya. Cosmically, Surya is Brahma, Vishnu and eventually, Shiva.

The Sun is currently around 4.5 billion years alive and has approximately the same amount of time left before it reabsorbs everything in the solar system. One full day and night of Brahma, meaning one breath (exhale and inhale) of Brahma is 9billion years ~ the lifespan of Surya.

The distance between the Sun and the Earth is 108x the diameter of Surya ~ meaning, the distance between the Sun and Earth is equal to 108 Earths. Same with the Moon being the distance of 108 moons between the Earth and the Moon. Therefore, when we do our jappa practices 108x per mala, we are tuning into this subtle relationship and working with our karma at a very high level. (see video below for a deeper dive into this cosmic brilliance)

Every graha (planet) has higher and lower expressions in the chart ~ this is dependent on the native’s state of consciousness and karma ~ it is not the planet that decides for they simply influence by enlivening consciousness which activates our qualities and the necessary karma. How we choose to express it is up to each of us.

Surya is a strong, masculine, fiery planet star. Surya’s natural energy is fire, heat, activity, volition, leadership, discipline, clarity and the natural energies of a planet get activated particularly during its dasha period. At the same time which houses Surya owns and where it is located and aspecting will get activated during this intense six year period.

Lower expressions of Surya is ego which presents as extreme levels of insecurity and often masquerades as arrogance and expresses as the need to control. In an unbalanced state this becomes destructive in one’s life, especially in relationships. AMBITION is what manifests out of the lower expression as the desire possess, control, dictate and have power over the perceived “other”. Surya provides structure when in balance, but out of balance becomes rigid like a square and as a result, often expresses as dogmatic, fanatical and tyrannical. It all depends on the state of consciousness which is why, from the Vedic perspective, spiritual growth remains the highest, number one dharma for everyone. The more we expand and evolve our own consciousness state, the higher the expression of all the planets in our chart rise. Just because one’s Surya is strong in the chart, does not mean it will express in an evolved manner. The native must be evolving in order for the expression of Surya through us, and all other planets, to evolve as well.

The higher expression of Surya is the wise, humble leader ~ it is the giant Sequoia Redwood Cedar, for example. The highest expression of Surya is compassion, nourishing, life-giving leadership. Surya’s divine light brings forth clarity and shines forth Truth with its revelatory nature. Therefore, Surya brings great VISION and insight (third eye) when harmoniously balanced, charged and expressed through the wisdom and love of the heart.

Surya at the third manipura chakra is all about power, authority, independence, personal responsibility. Our positive mind, ability to inspire and ability to face challenge.

Therefore, a weak sun can show depressive tendencies, low energy and lack of confidence; issues with male figures, authority and inability to create structure and balance, follow through. A person with a strong sense of ego, who remains in an unawakened state of consciousness, who has a strong Surya energy in the chart will organize their life from a self-serving place of ego.

Surya is the only stationary planet (on a relative level from our perspective) in our solar system. Of course, Surya also moves around the galactic centre and has its own cycle, but from our perspective on Earth, it only rises and sets across the sky because the Earth is rotating on its own axis; therefore, for humanity and all life on Earth, Surya provides incredible stability and support.

Surya’s placement shifts one degree per day in the sky causing the Sun to spend 30days in each rashi (zodiac sign). The rashi in which Surya is located in your natal chart is your Sun sign in Vedic Astrology.

Depending on how Surya is expressing in your natal chart, balancing may be required for which a proper Jyotish reading can bring insight and remedy. Balancing the sun’s energy in our chart means balancing the solar energy within our own body’s solar system. Some of us need more discipline and energy ~ we may need to charge our Surya to bring more vital life force energy into our lives. Some of us may be too disciplined, rigid and hot (Pitta) and may need ways to calm and balance so we don’t end up burning out too soon. These aspects can show up in any area of our life whether at work, at home, in relationships, which includes our relationship with our selves, soul and Spirit.

Surya, Simha, Durga, and Rama (the most innocent, humble, philosopher king and highest expression of a leader) are all great, luminous beings that express the highest qualities of the Sun. Just like giant old growth trees represent a true leader offers in that they offer protection (shade), generosity, inclusivity and stability, Surya provides for all his children. Surya’s children is his community, his kingdoms, his planets, stars and solar system.

An afflicted Surya medically can result in skeletal, bone, teeth and head issues for which Jyotish offers remedies as well.

A fine balanced expression of Surya is vision, clarity, divine purpose and dharma.

Wherever Surya is deposited in the natal chart determines one’s Sun rashi which is active in one’s life. Whereas the Moon expresses through the mind and emotions, the sun expresses more through the auric field ~ it charges the sign it is in and makes that zodiac sign’s and nakshatra’s qualities more externally expressed. Surya is connected to the soul ~ the divine light expressing through this incarnation.

The Sun sign forms the great trine with the Moon and the Ascendant lords and provides a lot of insight into one’s inherent karma and dharma. However, one must always look at one’s natal chart as a whole, observing all the different trines, aspects, influences and positions in order to properly understand one’s challenges and highest potential. Reading a natal chart is a highly scientific process and nuanced, intuitive skill that synthesizes all the information present in the chart; therefore, before taking any of the information present herein and applying to yourself or someone else, a comprehensive natal chart analyses is recommended for correct interpretation and understanding.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments!

In honour of the great Surya, I will close with the Gayatri Mantra:

Om bhuh, bhuvah, swaha (Aumm Bhoor Bhoo-va Su-va-ha)
Tat savitur varenyam (Tat Sa-vee-toor Var-ayn-yam)
Bhargo devasya dhimahi (Bar-go Day-vas-ya Dhee-ma-hee)
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat (Dhee-yo Yo Nah Pra-cho-da-yaat)

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti, Hari Om Tat Sat

Tune in to listen to Sadhguru's most proficient and intelligent description of our solar system and time. Jai Guru Dev.