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RELIGION & MYTHOLOGY

 

 

 

  Surya

 

India

A contemporary bronze and copper head of the Hindu sun god Surya, in a terminal at Delhi International Airport. He traditionally stands for time, space and universal order and thus the lotus motifs and flames used here represent the Solar Calendar. On the crown there are 12 flames symbolizing the months, and the golden rasmi or flame at the top of the crown represents one complete year.

 

The gilded earrings show the equinoxes for the summer and winter. At the base there are rows of seven lotuses to represent the 7 days of the week.

 

  Surya

 

  Surya

 

The radsami or halo on the rear of the head is fashioned like a sun, as well as a jet turbine, which has 24 blades or flames, that represent the 24 hours of the day. The outer ring has sixty smaller flames, that denote the minutes and seconds. In Thai, he is known as Phra Ahtit (fig.).

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