Sun (Surya) in Vedic astrology: meaning and significations

The Sun's Sanskrit name is Surya; B.V. Raman also lists Ravi. BPHS names the nine grahas (planets) as Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu.

Its main governance is the soul. BPHS says Surya is the soul of all, and PVR writes: 'Sun governs soul'.

A piece of sky-lore, told as tradition: PVR records that the Rama avatara of Vishnu is said to have come from the Sun.

BPHS and PVR both class the Sun as a natural malefic. PVR explains why the label matters: 'because the results given by planets are based on their inherent nature'. Which houses a planet rules for a given lagna can change how it behaves; that functional nature is a later lesson.

BPHS pictures the planets as a royal cabinet, and the Sun and Moon are the kings.

The traditional images that follow are just that: traditional images meant to give a feel for the planet, not literal claims. BPHS gives the Sun the colour blood-red and Agni (fire) as its presiding deity.

PVR notes that the fire element is ruled by Mars and that the Sun shares the same fiery nature, which shows leadership and enterprise.

In terms of guna (a basic quality of nature), the Sun is sattvik, a quality PVR glosses as 'purity and truthfulness in one's thoughts and action'.

Its abode, in BPHS's imagery, is a temple; PVR says 'This description should give one an idea of the nature of planets.'

Dignity describes the strength a planet gains from the sign it occupies. BPHS and PVR's tables agree: the Sun's own sign is Leo, it is exalted in Aries (deepest at 10 degrees), debilitated in Libra (deepest at 10 degrees), and its moolatrikona (a specially favoured stretch of its own sign) is the first 20 degrees of Leo, with the rest counting as own sign. A planet is considered strong in its own sign, exaltation sign or moolatrikona.

PVR offers an analogy: the own sign is like home, where one is most natural and comfortable; the moolatrikona is like the office, where one does one's formal duty; the exaltation sign is like a favourite party or picnic; the debilitation sign is like being stuck at a place one hates.

The Sun also has directional strength, called digbala: it is strong in the south, which corresponds to the 10th house, and strong in the daytime.

PVR's Table 7, drawn from BPHS, sets out each planet's natural relationships. For the Sun: friends are Moon, Mars and Jupiter; Mercury is neutral; enemies are Venus and Saturn.

These relationships matter because a planet sitting in a friend's sign is said to be in a friendly sign, which supports it. The full grading of relationships, including temporary friendships that depend on where planets sit in a specific chart, is covered in the dignity lesson.

A karaka is a significator, literally 'one who causes'. PVR's Table 16 lists the Sun's natural significations (naisargika karakatwas) with the house each is read from: self, soul and constitution from the 1st house; fame and power from the 5th; father and boss from the 9th; career and achievements from the 10th.

The Sun also rules three nakshatras (lunar mansions within the zodiac): Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttarashadha.

In Vimshottari dasha, the dasha (planetary period) system PVR calls the most popular, the Sun's mahadasha (main period) lasts 6 years of the 120-year cycle.

In motion, the Sun moves roughly one degree a day, about a month per sign, and never turns retrograde (appearing to move backwards). Its weekday is Sunday, and the first hora (planetary hour) after sunrise that day is ruled by the Sun.

Two further notes from the texts: PVR describes the Sun as 'a king who is also a warrior', 'a brave king, who asserts himself'.

B.V. Raman warns that 'Planets in intimate conjunction with the Sun get combustion and become utterly powerless.' Combustion (astangata) is a condition the Sun creates in other planets that sit too close to it.

PVR also mentions Ravi lagna (Sun lagna), counting houses from the Sun; because the Sun signifies the soul, these houses show things from the soul's point of view.

BPHS offers a traditional sketch of the Sun's appearance and character: 'Surya's eyes are honey-coloured. He has a square body. He is of clean habits, bilious, intelligent and has limited hair'.

These are traditional character sketches, and B.V. Raman cautions that such descriptions 'are only general in nature and should not be applied hastily'.

Skybond's chart records each planet's sign, house, degree, nakshatra and pada, its dignity, whether it is retrograde or combust, and which houses it rules for your lagna. It uses Vimshottari dasha for timing.

A note on interpretation generally: OnlineJyotish suggests treating interpretations 'as traditional associations rather than promises'.