Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c27.s3.24

v2.c27.s3.24

Sun Worship.—In the mythology of the Rajputs, of which we have a better idea from their heroic poetry than from the legends of the Brahmans, the sun-god is the deity they are most anxious to propitiate; and in his honour they fearlessly expend their blood in battle, from the hope of being received into his mansion. Their highest heaven is accordingly the Bhanuthan or Bhanuloka, the ‘region of the sun’: and like the Indu-Scythic Getae, the Rajput warrior of the early ages sacrificed the horse in his honour,¹ and dedicated to him the first day of the week, namely, Adityawar, contracted to Itwar, also called Thawara² [564].