Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c13.s7.51

c13.s7.51

SŪRYA—An early image of Sūrya is depicted on a railing pillar at Bodhagayā (c. first century B. C.). Sūrya is seated in a chariot drawn by four horses and he is dressed in a *dhoti*, scarf and turban. As against this we find in the early Kushāṇa art another form of Sūrya wearing coat and trousers which was the Indo-Scythian dress mentioned as the *udichya-vesha*. The form of Sūrya was imported from Iran by the Scythians. The worship of the Sun-god under the name of Mitra, later on Mihira, was very popular in the Iranian religion. Mihira and Mah (Sun and Moon) were special deities honoured by the Parthians also. Both are represented on the coins of Kanishka. They were included in the list of the 27 Yazatas or deities. In the Kushāṇa period the elements of solar iconography are as follows:—