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Also known as: Aditya, Ravi, Bhaskara, Bhanu, Divakara, Vivasvan
The radiant sun god, source of light, time, and life-sustaining energy.

Significance
Surya is worshipped as the visible form of the divine, the eye of the cosmos whose daily rising governs time, health, and vitality. Devotion to him emphasizes discipline, clarity, and gratitude for life-force, and he is invoked for healing, vigor, and success in undertakings.
Iconography
A radiant figure riding a chariot of seven horses (representing the colors of light) driven by the charioteer Aruna, holding lotus flowers.
Festivals
Rigveda 3.62.10
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
We meditate on the glorious radiance of that adorable Savitr (the Sun); may he illumine our minds.
Traditional Vedic/Puranic salutation formula
ॐ सूर्याय नमः
Om, salutations to Surya.
Traditional Surya Namaskara mantra sequence
ॐ मित्राय नमः । ॐ रवये नमः । ॐ सूर्याय नमः । ॐ भानवे नमः । ॐ खगाय नमः । ॐ पूष्णे नमः ।
Salutations to the Friend of all, to the Radiant One, to the Sun, to the Illuminator, to the Sky-mover, to the Nourisher.
Aditya Hridayam, Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 105.4
आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् । जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥
This Aditya Hridayam is sacred, destroys all adversity, and brings victory; reciting it daily grants imperishable and supreme well-being.
Surya Ashtakam, traditional (Samba Purana)
आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं प्रसीद मम भास्कर । दिवाकर नमस्तुभ्यं प्रभाकर नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Salutations to you, O first of gods; be gracious to me, O Bhaskara. Salutations to you, maker of the day; salutations to you, giver of light.
Surya Kavacham (attr. Yajnavalkya), traditional Puranic kavacha stotra
शिरो मे भास्करः पातु ललाटं मेऽमितद्युतिः । नेत्रे दिनमणिः पातु श्रवणे वासरेश्वरः ॥
May Bhaskara protect my head, the one of boundless brilliance protect my forehead; may the jewel of the day protect my eyes, the lord of the day protect my ears.