In the Vedas,Surya is conceived as an
unified manifestation of the Brahmanical Trinity, the Morning Sun being
identified with Brahma, the creator; the Mid Day Sun with Mahaswara, the destroyer
and the Evening Sun with Vishnu, the presever. It is probably this conception
that the artist had wanted to express in the three images of Surya, on the three
sides of the main temple.
As the plan of the temple slightly makes an angle with the cardinal
directions,the image of the south,is flooded with the rays of the morning-Sun
and is therefore significant for its expression of youth and
activity,justifying the description of pravhata-Surya(morning Sun). It is
decorated with typical set of ornaments on the arms,neck and in the ears.The
head-dress is also typical.The waist band is provided with tassels hanging down
from it.This is called the avyanga(waist band) and is the Indianised form of
Aiwiyonghen the secret waist girdle of the Iranians.The drapery,reaching upto
the knee,is wonderfully carved.
The hands of the statue holds two full bloomed
lotuses,one of which still exists above the right hand of the figure.The bottom
of the pedestal is decorated with figures of women in various poses. Some are
playing on musical instrument and some are in dancing poses.It is also
decorated with the figures of seven horses driven by Aruna,the charioteer of
Surya,sitting near the feet of the statue with the reins of the horses in his
hands. the King and the Queen are sitting on the pedestal with folded hands and
the sword is lying nearby.In the panel two standing figures of male attendants
are seen with shields and swords in their hands.His four
wives-Rajani,Rikshubha,Chhaya and Suvarsasa are seen just above the two
attendants.Bramha and Vishnu are sitting at a little higher level. At the
topmost corners of the panel,Vidyadhars are seen offering garlands of flowers
from the Heven.
The figure in the western side may be taken as Madhyanha Surya(mid-day
Sun),standing with full vigour and personality.Decoration of the
panel,ornaments and drapery used,the presence of King and Queen,the seven
horses and the figure of Aruna are almost similar to the
prabhata-Surya(morning-Sun) who also wears upanat(boot).Some describe the Sun
with Upanat-Pinaddha-Padayugalam(wearing boots in his both legs). It is stated
in the Brihat Samhita,that the Sun God should be dressed in the fashion of a
northerner,called Udichyavesa. The third figure on the northern wall is the
Astachala Surya(evening Sun or setting Sun) the figure brings out beautifully
the tired expression which is the result of a hard days work,when all the other
horses are completely tired,he is anyhow completing his journey by riding on
the back of the last horse who is also found to be stooping with its folded
legs.
