Which scriptures describe the chariot of Sun God?

Question

सप्ताश्व रथमारूढम् प्रचंडम् कश्यपात्मजम् |
श्वेत पद्मधरम् देवम् तम् सूर्यम् प्रणमाम्यहम् ||

saptāśva rathamārūḍham pracaṁḍam kaśyapātmajam |
śvēta padmadharam dēvam tam sūryam praṇamāmyaham ||

The sun God who is mounted on a chariot driven by seven horses, the resplendent one, the son of sage Kaśyapa, holds a white lotus in the hand, I offer salutations to Him.

The above is one of the eight verses of Surya Ashtakam, a stotra on Aditya. It is said that the chariot has only one wheel and is pulled by seven horses. Anūra drives the chariot.

Many artists and some sites say that the seven horses indicate the colors of a rainbow i.e., VIBGYOR.

My questions :

• Which scriptures describe the chariot of Sūrya (Sun god)?

• Do those horses have any color?

Answer 1

It is described in Srimad Bhagavat Purana.

Srimad Bhagavat Purana Canto 5, Chapter 21 describes The movement of Sun and it's Chariot.

यस्यैकं चक्रं द्वादशारं षण्नेमि त्रिणाभि संवत्सरात्मकं समामनन्ति तस्याक्षो मेरोर्मूर्धनि कृतो मानसोत्तरे कृतेतरभागो यत्र प्रोतं रविरथचक्रं तैलयन्त्र चक्रवद्भ्रमन्मानसोत्तरगिरौ परिभ्रमति ॥१३॥

तस्मिन्नक्षे कृतमूलो द्वितीयोऽक्षस्तुर्यमानेन सम्मितस्तैलयन्त्राक्षवद्ध्रुवे कृतोपरि भागः ॥१४॥

रथनीडस्तु षट्त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनायतस्तत्तुरीयभागविशालस्तावान्रविरथयुगो यत्र हयाश्छन्दोनामानः सप्तारुणयोजिता वहन्ति देवमादित्यम् ॥१५॥

पुरस्तात्सवितुररुणः पश्चाच्च नियुक्तः सौत्ये कर्मणि किलास्ते ॥१६॥

English translation of Verse 5.21.13 to 5.21.16 which are related to the chariot of Sun:

SB 5.21.13 — The chariot of the sun-god has only one wheel, which is known as Saṁvatsara. The twelve months are calculated to be its twelve spokes, the six seasons are the sections of its rim, and the three cātur-māsya periods are its three-sectioned hub. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru, and the other rests upon Mānasottara Mountain. Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates on Mānasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine.

SB 5.21.14 — As in an oil-pressing machine, this first axle is attached to a second axle, which is one-fourth as long [3,937,500 yojanas, or 31,500,000 miles]. The upper end of this second axle is attached to Dhruvaloka by a rope of wind.

SB 5.21.15 — My dear King, the carriage of the sun-god’s chariot is estimated to be 3,600,000 yojanas [28,800,000 miles] long and one-fourth as wide [900,000 yojanas, or 7,200,000 miles]. The chariot’s horses, which are named after Gāyatrī and other Vedic meters, are harnessed by Aruṇadeva to a yoke that is also 900,000 yojanas wide. This chariot continuously carries the sun-god.

SB 5.21.16 — Although Aruṇadeva sits in front of the sun-god and is engaged in driving the chariot and controlling the horses, he looks backward toward the sun-god.

You can refer srimadbhagavatam.org for alternative English translation:

(13) This vehicle has only one wheel with twelve spokes [the months], six segments [the seasons] and three pieces to its hub [four month periods], which in its entirety is known as a solar year [a samvatsara]. Its axle is fixed on the top of Meru with Mânasottara at the other end. The wheel of the chariot of the sun being fixed there rotates to the mountain range of Mânasottara like a wheel of an oil press machine.

(14) Fixed to the base of that axle there is a second one which, like with the axle of an oil press machine, measures a quarter of its length. Its upper portion is fixed to Dhruvaloka [the center of the stars].

(15) The inside of the vehicle measures 3.6 million yojanas long and a quarter of that distance wide, it is pulled by seven horses named after the Vedic meters [Gâyatrî, Brihati, Ushnik, Jagatî, Trishthup, Anushthup and Pankti] that, in order to carry the god of the sun, by Arunadeva are harnessed to a yoke as wide as the vehicle [the actual diameter of the sun itself is 1.392 million kilometers].

(16) Even though Aruna, fulfilling his duties as the charioteer, sits in front of the sun god, he looks backward [not to show disrespect].

---

From Rigveda 1.164:

अस्य वामस्य पलितस्य होतुस्तस्य भ्राता मध्यमो अस्त्यश्नः। तृतीयो भ्राता घृतपृष्ठो अस्यात्रापश्यं विश्पतिं सप्तपुत्रम्॥ १.१६४.०१

सप्त युञ्जन्ति रथमेकचक्रमेको अश्वो वहति सप्तनामा। त्रिनाभि चक्रमजरमनर्वं यत्रेमा विश्वा भुवनाधि तस्थुः॥ १.१६४.०२

इमं रथमधि ये सप्त तस्थुः सप्तचक्रं सप्त वहन्त्यश्वाः। सप्त स्वसारो अभि सं नवन्ते यत्र गवां निहिता सप्त नाम॥ १.१६४.०३

English Translation sacred-texts:

1.OF this benignant Priest, with eld grey-coloured, the brother midmost of the three is lightning. The third is he whose back with oil is sprinkled. Here I behold the Chief with seven male children.

2 Seven to the one-wheeled chariot yoke the Courser; bearing seven names the single Courser draws it. Three-naved the wheel is, sound and undecaying, whereon are resting all these worlds of being.

3 The seven who on the seven-wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in tale, who draw them onward. Seven Sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the names of the seven Cows are treasured.

Answer 2

The Vishnu Purana: There is in Chapter VIII of Book II which is dedicated to the description of the sun and his chariot:

The chariot of the sun is nine thousand leagues in length, and the pole is of twice that longitude; the axle is fifteen millions and seven hundred thousand leagues long; on which is fixed a wheel with three naves, five spokes, and six peripheries, consisting of the ever-during year; the whole constituting the circle or wheel of time. The chariot has another axle, which is forty-five thousand five hundred leagues long.

The two halves of the yoke are of the same length respectively as the two axles (the longer and the shorter). The short axle, with the short yoke, are supported by the pole-star: the end of the longer axle, to which the wheel of the car is attached, moves on the Mānasa mountain. The seven horses of the sun's car are the metres of the Vedas, Gāyatrī, Vrihatī, Uṣṇih, Jayatī, Tṛṣṭubh, Anuṣṭubh, and Pankti.

Interesting side-note, chapter 12 of the same book describes the moon and the moon’s chariot.

The Markandeya Purana: chapter 107 (Hymn to the Sun) has a small reference to the Sun’s chariot:

O Sun, so that thou shinest exceedingly with masses of light that calls the three worlds into life. Mounting thy equally proportioned chariot that sways about gracefully and is widely pleasing, with horses that are ever unwearied, O adorable god, thou coursest the broad world for our good.

The Devi Bhagavata Purana: A reference to the color of the chariot’s horses is found in The Devi Bhagavata Purana (Book 2, Chapter 12):

“At that moment Kadru and Vinatā, the two co-wives of Kaśyapa saw the horses yoked in the chariot of the sun and thus argued with each other :-- Kadru, seeing the sun’s horse, first asked Vinatā “O good one! Tell me soon, what is the colour of this horse?” Vinatā said :-- “O auspicious one! What do you think?” I said, the colour of the horse is white; you also better say before hand what is its colour? We will then lay a wager (and challenge).

Thus saying, Kadru told her sons that were obedient :-- “Cover by your bodies all the pores of the body of the horse of the chariot of the Sun, so it may look black; go and do it.” At this some snakes replied “That cannot be.”

And in the same text is a more descriptive chapter on the movement of the chariot of the sun (book 8, chapter 15):

O Nārada! The Moon and the other planets and stars rise and set in the aforesaid manner. Thus the powerful chariot of the Sun travels in a Muhūrta 142,00000 Yojanas. By the force of Pravaha Vāyu (air), the Sun God, the Incarnate of the Vedas travels round the cities, the Zodiac, in one Samvatsara (year). The wheel of the Sun’s Chariot is one year; twelve months are the spokes; three Cāturmāsyas are the nave and the six seasons are the outer ring or circumference of the wheel. The learned men call this chariot as the Samvatsara (one year). The axis or axle points to the Meru on one side and to Mānasottara mountain on the other. The end or circumference of the wheel marks off other divisions of the time as Kalā, Kāṣṭhā, Muhūrta, Yāma, Parahara, day and night, and fortnights. The wheel is fixed on the nave. The Sun goes on this wheel, like an oilman’s on his oil-machine, round and round the Mānasottara mountain. The eastern side of the wheel is on that axis and the other part is fixed on the Pole Star. The dimension of the first axis is (15750000 Yoyanas). The second axis measures one-fourth of the above (3937500 Yoyanas). It resembles the axis of an oil-machine. The upper side of that is considered to belong to the Sun. The seat of the Sun on his chariot measures 36 Lakh Yoyanas wide. The Yuga measures in length one fourth of the above dimensions, that of his seat. The Chariot is is moved by seven horses, consisting of the seven Chandas, Gāyatrī, etc., driven by Aruṇa. The horses carry the Sun for the happiness of all. Though the charioteer sits in front of the Sun, his face is turned towards the west. He does his work as a charioteer in that state.

Answer 3

And about the colour of the horses, Aaditya hrudayam of Valmiki Ramayana describes them to be yellow in colour.

17th verse-

Jayaaya jaya bhadraaya Hari-ashvaaya namO namaha

Translation

• Salutations to one who gives victory and protects it,
  To the one who possesses yellow(hari) steeds(ahvaa)

^{Hari refers to yellowish hues that could be greenish too. But since it's Sun, I'm assuming yellow to be the meaning of hari.}

Answer 4

Chariot of Sun god has been described by several scriptures. Srimad Bhagavat Purana, Rig Veda, The Vishnu Purana, The Markandeya Purana, The Devi Bhagavata Purana and Valmiki Ramayana have been presented in other answers.

Other scriptures describing Sun's chariot include Brahmanda Purana, The Matsya puranam, Vayu puranam etc.,

Scriptures describe color of horses as green or greenish yellow.

Brahmanda purana describes Sun's chariot as follows

In the course of a day and night, the sun traverses the earth consisting of the seven continents and oceans by means of his chariot with a single wheel. The chariot is yoked with only seven horses. They are the Vedic Metres that have assumed the form of horses, They are stationed towards the place where the wheel is fitted. They assume the forms as they wish. They are green, imperishable; they are accompanied by tawny-coloured masters expounding the Brahman. In the course of a year those horses traverse eighty three hundred circles. It traverses the external as well as the internal circular zones, in the course of days. They have been yoked in the beginning of the Kalpa and they continue to bear till the annihilation of all living beings.

[45-48, Chapter 23: Information about Heavenly bodies(Stars, Planets etc.) : The movement of the Polar Star, Brahmanda Purana]

Matsya purana also describe Sun's chariot as follows

Thus the Sun moves on in His one-wheeled chariot swiftly drawn by His horses and at the end of a day returns to His abode. He always has (tawny) greenish yellow horses yoked to His chariot. He drinks water through thousands of His rays and ceases to draw it when it passes the point of saturation. Then He discharges them again in the form of rain. The Sun in course of one single day and night goes swiftly over the world consisting of the seven oceans and the seven islands, seated in His one-wheeled chariot and drawn by seven horses. The seven horses yoked to the Sun’s chariot are no other than the seven chhandas (metres); they can assume forms at their will; they go as they like; their speed is swift as wind; their colour is tawny ; and being once yoked they go on incessantly; they never get tired bit. They are the gods declaring the glory of Brahma. Ascending on such a chariot the Sun travels the earth in course of one day (24 hours.) The horses were yoked at the beginning of Kalpa and carry on the Sun till the end of the Great Dissolution (Maha Pralaya). Thus He goes on round and round, day and night, surrounded by the Valakhillya Munis. The great Rishis recite praises to Him in the chosen words composed by them; the Gandarbhas and Apsaras sing and dance round Him. Thus the Sun is carried on by the horses flying like birds. Similarly, the Moon moves on in the several asterisms that are divided into several vithts

[39-46, Chapter 126, Matsya Puranam]

Vayu puranam also describe Sun's chariot as follows (Chapter 51 also contains it in detail)

The Sun moves ahead in his chariot of green horses. Through his rays he takes up waters. At the time of their release he discharges them. Thus the Sun sustains the mobile and immobile beings perpetually. He is carried by green horses. By means of his thousands of rays he drinks water. While being carried by green horses he showers it again. Thus the Sun moves ahead quickly in his celestial sphere by means of his single-wheeled chariot dragged by the unimpaired gentle horses. In the course of a day and night he traverses over the world of seven continents and oceans by means of his single-wheeled chariot dragged by the seven horses. The Vedic metres that have assumed the form of horses are yoked to the chariot near the wheel. They can assume any form they please. They are yoked but once. They have the unlimited speed of the mind. They (are accompanied) by tawny coloured masters expounding the Brahman (or the Vedas). They cover one hundred and eighty zones within one year.

[41-46, Chapter 52: Movement of Dhruva, Vayu Purana]

Answer 5

At least all category of scriptures- Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata etc. mention about it.

Srimad Bhagavatam 5.21.12-19 “Thus the chariot of the sun-god, which is trayimaya, or worshiped by the words om bhur bhuvah svah, travels through the four residences…My dear King, the carriage of the sun-god’s chariot is estimated to be 3,600,000 yojanas [28,800,000 miles] long and one-fourth as wide [900,000 yojanas, or 7,200,000 miles]. The chariot’s horses, which are named after Gayatri and other Vedic meters, are harnessed by Arunadeva to a yoke that is also 900,000 yojanas wide. This chariot continuously carries the sun-god. Although Arunadeva sits in front of the sun-god and is engaged in driving the chariot and controlling the horses, he looks backward toward the sun-god…My dear King, in his orbit through Bhu-mandala [Earth], the sun-god traverses a distance of 95,100,000 yojanas [760,800,000 miles] at the speed of 2,000 yojanas and two krosas [16,004 miles] in a moment.”

Devi Bhagwatam 8.15.40-45 “…The seat of the Sun on his chariot measures 36 Lakh Yoyanas wide. The Yuga measures in length one fourth of the above dimensions, that of his seat. The Chariot is moved by seven horses, consisting of the seven Chhandas, Gâyatrî, etc., driven by Aruna. The horses carry the Sun for the happiness of all. Though the charioteer sits in front of the Sun, his face is turned towards the west. He does his work as a charioteer in that state…”

Rigved 1:50:8 Seven horses Steeds harnessed to thy car bear thee, O thou farseeing One,God, Sūrya, with the radiant hair.

Those seven horses are symbol of seven colorful Ray's of sunlight.

Rigved 1:105:9:- Where those seven rays of sun are shining, thence my home and family extend.This Tṛta Āptya knoweth well, and speaketh out for brotherhood. Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.

For more information you can go through this.