Key Themes and Ideas:

• Surya as a Divine Manifestation: The hymns repeatedly portray Surya as a manifestation of the divine, an "image of Divinity." He is not merely a celestial body but embodies divine qualities and power. This is explicitly stated in the opening verse: "Lo! there rises the sun, wonderful image of Divinity..."
• Surya as the Eye of Key Deities: Surya is identified as the "very eye of Mitra, heaven, the soothing cool of Varuna, the waters, and the beauty of the moon." This highlights Surya's interconnectedness with other significant deities and cosmic elements, suggesting his role in observing and influencing various domains.
• Surya as the Soul of the Universe: A central and profound idea is the concept of Surya as the "very soul of the moving and the unmoving world." This elevates the Sun beyond a physical phenomenon to a fundamental life principle, the animating force behind all existence.
• Surya's Cosmic Reach and Pervasiveness: The hymns emphasise Surya's ability to pervade and fill the entire cosmos. He "pervades and fills the heaven and earth and the middle regions of the sky." This underscores his immense power and influence across all levels of existence.
• Surya's Relationship with Dawn: The relationship between the Sun and Dawn (Ushas) is described in a poetic and metaphorical way, comparing the Sun's pursuit of Dawn to a "youthful lover who pursues his beloved." This imagery evokes a sense of natural harmony and the cyclical nature of daybreak.
• Surya's Connection to Human Endeavour and Knowledge: The hymns link the Sun to human activities, particularly in the realm of astronomy and the calculation of time. The verse about the Sun following Dawn notes that "therein, with reference to that, the leading astronomers of the stars extend their noble vision for the calculation of ages for the good of humanity." This suggests that the observation of the Sun is crucial for human understanding and well-being.
• The Sun's Radiant Power and Blessings: The hymns describe the Sun's rays as "blissful," "reddish, various and wondrous, exhilarating, invigorating." These attributes highlight the Sun's life-giving and positive influence on the world, bringing light and vitality.
• Surya as the Controller of Day and Night: The concept of Surya as the orchestrator of the daily cycle of day and night is clearly presented. The hymns explain that when the "Lord withdraws the light of the sun, then the Night of Pralaya absorbs everything of existence into her fold of darkness" (referencing a cosmic cycle) and, on a daily basis, "when the sun... collects the rays of light from down below then the night spreads her cover of darkness over all." This shows Surya's power to control light and darkness, shaping the temporal reality.
• Surya's Role in Creating Form and Visibility: The hymns state that the "Eternal Lord," through Surya, "creates light and shade and form" so that other deities like Mitra and Varuna (representing day and night) can be seen. The Sun, as "light incarnate," is depicted as revealing the forms of things in the "close space of heaven." This highlights the Sun's essential role in making the world visible and allowing for perception.
• Surya's Power Over Sin and Imperfection: The final verse offers a prayer to the "powers divine and vitalities of nature born of the rising sun," asking them to "save us to-day from whatever is sinful and despicable." This suggests that the Sun's emergence and associated divine forces have the power to purify and protect from negativity.
• Prayer for Blessing and Hope: The concluding lines express a prayer for blessings from various natural elements and deities associated with the Sun's cycle ("day and night, the wide space, the rivers and the sea, the earth and the heavens of light"). This demonstrates a reliance on these forces, stemming from Surya, to bring about "hopes and endeavours."