The power of Surya, the sun god, is conceived of as dispelling darkness both spiritual and earthly: curing disease, heating and illuminating the world. Surya is father of Manu (progenitor of the human race), Yama (lord of death), the Asvins (twin celestial horsemen), Karna (great warrior of the Mahabharata), and Sugriva (king of the monkeys).

The sacred geometry for this watercolor was derived from a copper plate c.1700 from Rajasthan.