12 Names of the Sun

In India, astrology gives 12 different names to the Sun (which here in the modern west we almost don’t even have a single name for anymore! We just call him the Sun). There are 12 months (because there are 12 full moons during the course of a year) and during each month, the Sun moves into a new zodiac constellation (of which there are 12, therefore). There is a different name for the Sun depending on which sign he moves into that month.

Name	Meaning	Reason
Mitra	The Friend	This name is given to the Sun when he moves into Aries, where he is exalted and therefore at his most generous and friendly
Ravi	The Radiant	In Taurus (the feminine home of Venus) the sun exhibits his brilliant beauty
Surya	Giver of Beauty	In Gemini the Sun concentrates on making people beautiful so they may enjoy one another
Bhanu	Catalyst of Emotion	In Cancer (the 4th sign, feminine home of the emotional Moon) the Sun becomes the spark which ignites deep emotion
Khaga	Awesome	In Leo (the Sun’s own sign) the Sun becomes royal and kingly, an object of awe and reverence
Pushna	Nourisher	In Virgo (the 6th sign) the Sun destroys disease and nourishes health
Hiranya Garba	The All-Inclusive	In Libra (the 7th sign) the Sun illuminates our universal relationship to all beings
Marica	Destroyer of Darkness	The 8th sign, Scorpio, is a place shrouded in mystery. Here, the Sun destroys darkness.
Aditya	Illuminator of the Way	The 9th sign, Sagittarius, is the source of moral fortune. Here the Sun illuminates the correct path.
Savitra	The Arouser	Capricorn is the 10th sign of the zodiac, which is equivalent to the 10th House, which represents noon. Here the Sun wakes us and arouses our external impulses
Arka	Flash of Warmth	In Aquarius (11th sign) the Sun flashes warmth to the world
Bhaskara	Liberator	In Piesces (12th sign) the Sun illuminates the spiritual knowledge that leads to liberation