Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c18.12

v3.c18.12

In the temple of Sūrya or the Sun-god, Śoma and the other grahas should be, it is said, established in the following manner:—on the east there should be Śoma; on the south-east, Bhauma; on the south, Bṛihaspati; on the south-west, Rāhu; on the west, Śukra; on the north-west, Kētu; on the north, Budha; and on the north-east, Śani. If such should always be the various positions assigned to these planetary deities, the belief, that the Nava-grahas are arranged in temples according to their position in the zodiacal circle at the time of the building of the temple, turns out to be unfounded. The names of the door-keepers at the four gates of the temple of Sūrya are given thus in the *Bhavishyat-purāṇa*: those at the first gate are called Dharma and Artha; at the second, Garuḍa and Yama; at the third, Kubēra and Vināyaka; and at the fourth, Raivata and Diṇḍi. Raivata is said to be a son of Sūrya, while Diṇḍi is said to be Śiva.