New Delhi, 27th January 2026: The landmark institution of Triveni Kala Sangam bore witness to a luminous literary milestone today with the official launch of "The Eternal Sun: The Legacy of Surya Dev" by acclaimed author Shalini Modi. Published by Rupa Publications, the work is being hailed as a definitive narrative on the solar deity, weaving together ancient wisdom and mythological grandeur. The evening, was collaboratively presented by Rupa Publication and Oxford Bookstores.
Shalini Modi’s The Eternal Sun stands out by seamlessly blending the narratives of the Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata to give an insight into the extraordinary lives of Surya Dev, his wives and progeny. Shalini Modi continues her mission to bring the profound depths of Indian mythology to a modern audience, ensuring that the legacies of the gods remain vibrant and accessible
The evening showcased the unveiling of the book followed by an intellectual panel discussion. Sunita Pant Bansal and Shalini Modi engaged in a deep-dive conversation, exploring the nuances of Surya Dev’s legacy. The session, expertly moderated by Richa Tiwari, Senior Development Editor at Rupa Publications India, touched upon the various phases of the life of the Sun God and the relevance of solar symbolism in contemporary times.
Talking about the book, author Shalini Modi says, we see Surya Dev as a luminary who drives away darkness, the guru who imparts knowledge, and the divine being who through his warmth ensures life. Through his presence in countless hymns, legends, and rituals, Surya has remained a steady figure of hope and aspiration, representing ideals that have influenced generations of seekers and believers. Such is the power of the Sun-god that even Lord Vishnu in his human incarnation, invoked him for strength and victory. Symbolically, he is the icon of true knowledge as he is light which dispels the darkness of ignorance. This true knowledge has the power to remove all doubts, thus strengthening one to take on all challenges placed in front of them. The Eternal Sun is a book very close to my heart as I began my Surya Sadhna 12 years ago and it has helped me establish a relationship with the luminary, said Shalini.
About the BookThe Eternal Sun: The Legacy of Surya Dev, seeks to illuminate the role of Surya in Hindu philosophy and culture through an exploration of stories associated with him, his relationships with his consorts, his lineage and other deities as well as beings and his influence on human life. As the book journeys through the myths, mantras and mysteries surrounding this divine luminary; it invites the readers to connect with the timeless energy of Surya, the god who watches over us, shines upon us, and inspires us to rise above and reach for the light within.
Price: 295
About Shalini ModiShalini Modi is an astrologer, author and an avid follower of old Indian scriptures, the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and epics, which she feels have a lot to offer. It is her belief that the stories and the philosophy in them are relevant to our lives even today and parallels can be drawn to any situation in our lives. Knowledge of Vedic astrology, mantra chanting and old scriptures enrich her writing, giving it multiple facets. Her engaging style, unconventional approach and her effort to find symbolism in our old texts make her books an interesting read.
Book BlurbActing on the sage Agastya’s advice, Lord Rama began the worship of Surya dev by first sipping the water thrice as he chanted the Lord’s name to purify himself. He then focussed on the orb of the Sun and chanted the Aditya Hridhyam as instructed.
Infused with an unexplainable energy, Lord Rama was now experiencing supreme felicity. With this new state of mind and body, he picked up his bow, fixed his eyes on Ravana and vowed to kill him.
Surya dev stood amongst the host of gods, witnessing Lord Rama readying himself to kill the mighty Ravana. This sight delighted him and he felt extremely exhilarated on perceiving the destruction of Ravana whose evil ways had tormented humanity and disturbed the peace on earth.
Such is the power of the Sun-god that even Lord Vishnu in his human incarnation, invoked him for strength and victory. Symbolically, he is the icon of true knowledge as he is light which dispels the darkness of ignorance. This true knowledge has the power to remove all doubts, thus strengthening one to take on all challenges placed in front of them.
Surya dev is referred to as the pratyaksha devata, one who is visible. He is the soul, Atmakarak of a horoscope in Vedic astrology. He is the life giver as without him, universe cannot exist. From ancient texts like the Rigveda, where Surya is praised as the soul of all that moves and does not move, to later texts where he becomes a more complex figure with a personality and family of his own, Surya's narrative is vast and deeply interwoven with various aspects of life and spirituality.
We see him as a luminary who drives away darkness, the guru who imparts knowledge to Lord Hanuman, and the divine being who through his warmth ensures life. Through his presence in countless hymns, legends, and rituals, Surya has remained a steady figure of hope and aspiration, representing ideals that have influenced generations of seekers and believers.
This book seeks to illuminate the role of Surya in Hindu philosophy and culture by examining the stories associated with him, his family, relationships with other deities and beings, and his influence on various aspects of human life. Through an exploration of his relationships with consorts, his lineage, and his devotees, we gain a deeper understanding of how Surya transcends his role as an important celestial body. The very first mention of Surya dev dates back to Vedic times.
In Vedic literature, he appears as one of the primary and most important devatas. Taittiriya Aranyaka which is a part of the Krishna Yajurveda, praises Surya dev also known as Aditya, as the Supreme Purusha, Brahma who gave divine power and knowledge to the devatas. Therefore, he who meditates upon him attains Brahma, the ultimate truth. He attains union and co-residence with the devas in their worlds.
Aitareya Brahmana 3, 44 (Rigveda), “The Sun causes day and night on the earth, because of revolution, when it is night here, it is day on the other side, the Sun does not really rise or sink.” Our sages had this knowledge much before science rediscovered it.
Later in Puranic texts, Surya dev was shown as a family man who was married and had children but this did not lose his place of prominence amongst devatas. Through stories the same knowledge of the Vedas was made easy to resonate with. However, over a period of time people forgot the symbolism beneath these fairy tales.
As we journey through the myths, mantras, and mysteries surrounding this divine luminary, we invite readers to connect with the timeless energy of Surya, the god who watches over us, shines upon us, and inspires us to rise above and reach for the light within.
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