Ever since the creation of the universe, the sun has been illumining it and has impressed not only the human race but also all other creatures. His name occurs in the records of the Kassites and Mitanni but in the Indian context, he enjoys an important position in the Vedic as well as the post-Vedic literature. In the epics some of the others claimed their origin to the Sun. The Buddhist and Jain literature too provided him an important place in their respective religious treatises. In the Puranas however, he became a an important cult god and not only regular system of his worship is found presecribed therein, but also his images were required to be lodged in exclusive shrines dedicated to the deity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shanti Lal Nagar
Shantilal Nagar, a graduate of the Punjab University, served in the curatorial capacity in the Central Asian Antiquities Museum, New Delhi, the Archaeological Museum Nalanda, and Archaeological Section of the Indian Museum, Calcutta for a number of years. He has to his credit the scientific documentation of over fifty thousand antiquities, in these museums, representing the rich cultural heritage of the country and comprising of sculptures, bronzes, terracottas, beads, seals and sealing, ancient Indian numismatics, wood work, miniatures and paintings, textiles and Pearce collection of gems, ranging from the earliest times to the late medieval period. He was awarded, in 1987, a fellowship, for his monograph on the Temples of Himachal Pradesh, by the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. He has authored more than 38 books.
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