Surya - The Sun, with 7 horses & his Charioteer Aruna rama The royal family was childless

The royal family was childless

and a benevolent protector of the arts and sciences

beside him

The serpent is a common feature in Ganesha iconography and appears in many forms

Trishul (trident)

Surya - The Sun, with 7 horses & his Charioteer Aruna rama The royal family was childlessSurya is the sun and the solar deity in Hinduism. The iconography of Surya is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed by horses, often seven in number which represent the seven colours of visible light, and seven days in a week. Earliest representations of Surya riding a chariot occur in the Buddhist railings of the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya (2nd century BCE), in the Bhaja Caves (1st century BCE), and the Ananta Gumpha at the Khandagiri caves