My daughter tells stories to her three-year-old before she goes to sleep. She told her that the sun is visible in the day and the moon only at night and added the age-old myth of the great grand lady and saint Avvai as living on the moon. My granddaughter pondered for a while and after the brief moment of silence asks where is "Tata" or grandfather? Similarly, Mahindran's two-year-old daughter came into AVM's prayer room, and on seeing only AVM Agathiyar there asked her parents, "Where is Paati or grandma?" Children I suppose believe that if there is a grandpa then there should be a grandma too and vice-versa. When I went over my granddaughter asked me "How does the moon shine?" I told her that it appears to shine because it is lighted up by the sun and that it by itself does not shine and went on to show her a video of the light of the sun falling on the moon.
We are told that God is light. Tavayogi brought me to the flame at my altar and told me that we do not worship the flame per se but the red aura that surrounds the flame and fills the room. This would be the Non-Luminous Zone at 1400 °C, a region where "we can observe that there will be a kind of ‘aura’ formed around the candle. (Source: "http://gyanpro.com/blog/different-parts-of-candle-flame-you-probably-did-not-know/). When we "dissect" the light we see that it has several layers, burning at different temperatures within the flame and emitting several colors. But it goes unnoticed most of the time. We are told to light a lamp in the hours before dawn and before nightfall and worship the flame. Looking at the flame for several moments during worship and gazing even longer in intense concentration sadhanas brings us to see these layers clearly. Looking at the flame seems to help with our eyesight too as revealed recently.
Staring into deep red light for three minutes a day helps to maintain vision, British researchers have discovered. They found that the long-wave impulses stimulate the mitochondria in the cells of the retina. (Source: https://www.dw.com/en/deep-red-light-can-recharge-aging-eyes/a-54090927)
Glen Jeffery, professor at the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London reports,
"Our study shows that it is possible to significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy system that has declined in the retina cells,"
A similar layered formation of the flame is seen in the sun too as captured by the photographer in the Nat Geo People documentary titled "Escape to Costa Rica." I believe this is the reason our ancestors worshiped the sun for it represented God to them. The sun was the life-giver, sustainer of life, and destroyer. The sun is the source of all energy. Without light, we have no sight; without heat, we would die. My friend sent me the following some time back,
I read your post on Jyothi. Sometime ago, Amma (Krishnaveni Amma of Kalyana Theertam) spoke about Lord Shiva as effulgence itself. That was how He stood at Tiruvannamalai,...A pillar of light. His true nature. But, how could the rest of Creation visualise Him? The light as we know it, is impure. The internal jyothi that the Masters want us to "see",is the same effulgence, and, is pure. Creation comes forth from the Divine Mother, and for any creation to take place, it needs space and time to incubate, mature and be released. Such is the nature of the Divine Mother. She is the heat, of that effulgence. Together, as Lord Arthanareeswara, they incubate and bring forth Creation. All possible forms and sources of light in the cosmos has heat, as an indispensable accompaniment. He,in His pure form , is pure effulgence. Out of His infinite Grace, He brings forth Shakthi, and begins Creation, for our salvation.
These sacred verses find a mention in the Yuddha Kanda of Sage Valmiki's Ramayana. And the Stotram was recited by Sage Agastya to Shri Ram just before the war against Ravana. Before the fateful day, Shri Ram had spent sleepless nights and restless days as he was relentlessly searching for his beloved wife Sita, who was abducted by Ravana. Therefore, a need arose to calm him and provide him with the much needed mental and physical strength to face the enemy on the battlefield.
The hymns pay tribute to the Sun God, who showers the Earth with light and heat, both that are essential for sustaining life on the planet. Since both light and heat are inherent characteristics of the Sun God, you can energise yourself mentally and physically by reciting this sacred Stotram. Mainly during testing times, this Stotram acts as an immune and morale booster for the body and the mind, respectively. This Stotram helps a person regain lost confidence, and helps him/her focus on her goal to triumph. We wouldn't be able to sustain on earth without the Sun. Therefore, the recitation of the Aditya Hridayam is a thanksgiving gesture. (Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/this-sunday-check-out-the-benefits-of-chanting-aditya-hridayam-stotram-dedicated-to-the-sun-god/586140)