These Sunset visuals were received in the mail, humorously captioned ‘Sun theft’! It triggered childhood memory of a legendary tale of Hanuman’s tryst with the Sun.
Hanuman was growing older. Anjana,his mother said to him: “Son! It is time to get educated. There is no better teacher than Surya, the Sun god, who dispels all darkness. Go to him and gain knowledge.”Even though he was omnipotent, Hanuman obeyed his mother. He reached the Surya Mandala and humbly prayed : “O! Surya Deva, I want to learn Vedas, Vedangas, and Upangas from you. Please teach me.” Surya replied: ‘O! I am always on the move, how can I teach you? This reply angered Hanuman.He blocked the path of Surya. The Sun god relented and pacified him: “I have no objection to teach you. But you have to find a way to learn”.
Hanuman stood facing the sun and started walking backwards. Surya was moving forward and was teaching Hanuman. Within a week of his education, he astonished Surya and wanted to continue his education. Instead of walking backward, he put one foot on the rising hill and the other one on the setting hill to face the Sun god.His passion for knowledge with devotion pleased the Sun and he taught all that is to be taught to Hanuman.
