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the fingers of his right hand and the palm of his left.
11]
Surya known in Chinese as Jih Tien-tzu EX F
Surya, one of the more important deities, personifies the sun and is the Vedic sun-god. He is regarded as a Yaksha and as the ruler of the sun. He is the source of all knowledge; and also within agricultural communities he controls the seasons. In India his main characteristics are lotuses, one held at shoulder height in each hand.
An image of Surya is present in both the Pi-yun Ssu and the Ta Pei Ssu. In the Ta Pei Ssu he is portrayed as a standard Chinese minister, standing in colourful robes, highly decorated with a floral pattern. He is wearing a Ming dynasty leather bonnet of an official and is holding a tablet between both hands before his chest. He has a black moustache and beard but no unique characteristics. In the Pi-yun Ssu the deity would appear to be female. She is dressed in multi-coloured robes and crown, but this time holding a very long-stemmed flower between her right and left hands.
[2] Candra known in Chinese as the ruler of the moon 7.
He is male and referred to also as Yüeh T’ien and as Soma Deva or Candra Deva.
An image of Candra is present in both the Pi-yun Ssu and the Ta Pei Ssu. In the latter he is depicted as a youthful emperor or chief minister with an ornate official leather bonnet and highly colourful, decorated robes. He holds a tablet in both hands before his chest but has no unique identifying characteristic. In the Pi-yun Ssu he is again dressed in multi-coloured robes. This time, however, he is wearing an ornate and colourful crown and his hands are held in what perhaps is a symbolic sign, with the right hand held at shoulder height, fingers poised as if to pluck something out of the air and the left hand outstretched.
13] Yama Known in Chinese as Yen-mo-lo
In the Vedas Yama is the god of the dead with whom the spirits of the departed dwell. He would appear to have several forms and identities,
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the fingers of his right hand and the palm of his left.
11]
Surya known in Chinese as Jih Tien-tzu EX F
Surya, one of the more important deities, personifies the sun and is the Vedic sun-god. He is regarded as a Yaksha and as the ruler of the sun. He is the source of all knowledge; and also within agricultural communities he controls the seasons. In India his main characteristics are lotuses, one held at shoulder height in each hand.
An image of Surya is present in both the Pi-yun Ssu and the Ta Pei Ssu. In the Ta Pei Ssu he is portrayed as a standard Chinese minister, standing in colourful robes, highly decorated with a floral pattern. He is wearing a Ming dynasty leather bonnet of an official and is holding a tablet between both hands before his chest. He has a black moustache and beard but no unique characteristics. In the Pi-yun Ssu the deity would appear to be female. She is dressed in multi-coloured robes and crown, but this time holding a very long-stemmed flower between her right and left hands.
[2] Candra known in Chinese as the ruler of the moon 7.
He is male and referred to also as Yüch T’ien and as Soma Deva
or Candra Deva.
An image of Candra is present in both the Pi-yun Ssu and the Ta Pei Ssu. In the latter he is depicted as a youthful emperor or chief min- ister with an ornate official leather bonnet and highly colourful, deco- rated robes. He holds a tablet in both hands before his chest but has no unique identifying characteristic. In the Pi-yun Ssu he is again dressed in multi-coloured robes. This time, however, he is wearing an ornate and colourful crown and his hands are held in what perhaps is a sym- bolic sign, with the right hand held at shoulder height, fingers poised as if to pluck something out of the air and the left hand outstretched.
13] Yama Known in Chinese as Yen-mo-lo
In the Vedas Yama is the god of the dead with whom the spirits of the departed dwell. He would appear to have several forms and identities,
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