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[Alexandr Korol]

Vayu (northwest), Kubera (north), and Soma (northeast). Surya, as a lokapala, is responsible for the southwest. Like the other lokapalas, he sits on an elephant that helps him guard his direction.
Surya is the source of the drink of immortality, amrita, which he passes to Soma, the moon god. Like with Soma, there is enmity between Surya and the immortal demon Rahu. According to the cosmic cycle, as a result of their confrontation, Rahu periodically swallows Surya.” You see, Surya is swallowed by the Sun. The cosmic cycle is these shifts of eras. “When Surya was pursued by the demon Rahu, Brahma, not wanting Surya to burn the entire world in the heat of battle, commanded Garuda to carry his brother Aruna into the solar chariot so that Aruna would shield the world from the scorching rays with his body. As a result, Aruna became Surya’s charioteer and the deity of the morning dawn.” There is also a deity named Savitar: “a solar deity in Vedic mythology. Eleven hymns in the Rigveda are dedicated to him. His solar nature can be judged by his epithets. Savitar’s eyes, hands, and tongue are golden, and his hair is yellow (like Agni or Indra). His golden chariot is equipped with a golden yoke, which, like Savitar himself, takes different forms; it is drawn by two radiant horses. He is attributed with a strong golden radiance, which he emits around him, illuminating the air, sky, earth, and the entire world. He raises his mighty golden hands, blessing and awakening all beings, and they stretch to the ends of the earth. Savitar rides his golden chariot along both the upper and lower paths, watching over all creatures; he has measured all earthly space, moves through three bright heavenly realms, and merges with the rays of the Sun. People ask Savitar to carry a departing soul to the place where the righteous dwell; he grants immortality to the gods and longevity to humans. He drives away evil spirits and sorcerers; people ask him to banish bad dreams and make them sinless. ... he guards the established laws; waters and winds are subject to him. No one, not even Indra, Varuna, Mitra, or other gods, can resist his will and dominion. In Savitar, the divine power of the Sun is personified, while Surya is a more concrete image in which the external appearance of the Sun is never overlooked.”