Surya, Sun God
This statue is an 11th Century black-stone sculpture of the Hindu Sun God, Surya, and dates from the late Pala period. Surya is widely worshipped in India and is an unbroken, ancient tradition that is more than 5,000 years old.
In the sculpture, Surya stands in a frontal position holding two fully bloomed lotuses in his hands. According to myth, when Surya rises, the lotus blooms. The lotus flower is important in Surya iconography because it blooms after receiving the sun rays in the morning. Surya¡¯s hands are shown in the famous Surya mudra (hand gesture), which is used in yoga for better metabolism and rendering energy.
Surya is accompanied by his two consults, Suremnyu, the goddess of dawn, and Chaiya, the goddess of shadow. The two goddesses on either side are Usha, the rising sun, and Retusha, the setting sun, who are shooting arrows to dispel darkness. Flanking Surya are his two attendants Danda and Pingale. One of them has an inkpot and pen and the other has a rod. Immediately on both sides of Surya are his consorts Chaya and Suvarchala who are waving ceremonial whisks, Chauri, which symbolize authority.
Surya is the dispeller of darkness and represents qualities like willpower, name, fame, and authority.
Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, presented the gift and Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar accepted the sculpture on behalf of the 51³Ô¹Ï.