Exalted/World/Unconquered Sun

(https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?386176-Exalted-Aspects-of-the-Unconquered-Sun), retrieved 2018-06-30

By Caldorian @ RPG.net

Aspects of the Unconquered Sun

During the early First Age, the Solar Exalts of the Zenith caste regularly communicated with the Unconquered Sun. Many of them, however, had conflicting accounts on how the most powerful god of Heaven looked like or how he acted towards his worshippers. Then, on the first congregation of the Zeniths, they finally catalogued all accounts of his appearances and discovered that there are at least five aspects of the Unconquered Sun: The Merciful Bodhisattva of Pure Light, the Diamond Protector of the Dharma, the Irrefutable Sage of Heaven, the All-Searing General of Righteousness, and a presence that—after many days of discussion—they eventually called the Holy Catvarimurti of Immaculate Perfection, the integration of all other aspects. Yet they didn’t realise that what they saw of the Unconquered Sun was nothing else than the reflection of his unfathomable perfection in their own souls: depending on what virtues they favoured, the Unconquered Sun took another appearance for them. Those who favoured all virtues to the same degree, perceived him as the Holy Catvarimurti of Immaculate Perfection.

Compassion – The Merciful Bodhisattva of Pure Light: The Gatekeeper, Lord of Mercy, Protector of the Innocent, the Light of Salvation, Guide of Liberation, He Who Holds the Crown of Enlightenment.

For most people, the Unconqered Sun is a god of righteousness, of justice and of might. Few people, however, remember the Merciful Bodhisattva of Pure Light in the Times of Tumult. After the Usurpation, the Immaculate Order made sure to bury or hide every depiction of the Merciful Bodhisattva of Pure Light, for—together with the Irrefutable Sage of Heaven—this aspect was the most popular and loved one among the peoples of the First Age and, thus, the most dangerous. He was the only truly approachable aspect for mortals and their woes.

He is depicted as a four-armed youth of great feminine beauty, with a slender body and medium length golden-red hair. His brow displays the Disk of the Zenith, brightly shining with a warm and calming light. Resplendent lotus blossoms spring up from his footsteps, representing the love he brings forth in every being. He is clothed in a revealing robe and adorned by an orichalcum collar. In the right upper hand, he holds the Crown of Enlightenment (a laurel). With the left upper hand, he pours the inexhaustible waters of mercy from a flask. With both lower hands, he forms the Varada mudra, the mudra of offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity.

When he appears, he is gentle, kind, and understanding. He kisses their lowered brows and speaks words of salvation and hope. He has love for everyone, young and old, beautful and ugly, wise ad foolish. His words are of such compassion and beauty that all who hear him begin to weep in happiness. He has sworn to keep open the Gates of Enlightenment until all living beings have walked through. His touch heals the sick and injured, his whispers let the wicked see the errors of their way, he condemns hate and violence and preaches love and reconciliation.

Conviction – The Diamond Protector of the Dharma: The Guardian, the Keeper of the Dharma, Protector of all 10 000 Things, He Who Holds the Shield of Creation.

Due to his nature and his appearance, the Diamond Protector of Dharma never had many depictions during the First Age. Only a few devoted priests honoured this aspect of the Unconquered Sun. After the Usurpation, the Immaculate Order sealed away most depictions of his other aspects in order to suppress his veneration. The few gruesome statues of the Diamond Protector of the Dharma, however, they left standing willingly, for his fierce and fearsome look served as good proof of the Anathemas’ terror. Nothing is further from the truth, however. The fearsome appearance is not meant to terrify the people of Creation, but to frighten away all those who threaten Creation or the righteous path to enlightenment.

He is depicted as a four-armed hulking giant of terrifying appearance, with skin of diamond and claws on hands and feet. His head is shaven, his face is contorted in an expression of wrath, his eyes are on fire, his tusks big and sharp. On his brow, he displays the fiery Ring of the Night, around his neck he wears a mala of human skulls, symbolising the transience of existence. His only clothing is a brocade loincloth and an orichalcum belt. With his upper right hand, he carries the Shield of Creation in order to protect Creation from its enemies. With his left upper hand, he swings a flaming orichalcum Daiklave with which he cuts down ill intentions. With his lower hands, he forms the Karana mudra, which expels creatures of darkness and removes all obstacles such as sickness or negative thoughts.

When he appears, he is unrelenting in his frankness and harshness. His presence forces all who behold him to bow down, while his booming voice fills their hearts with a petrifying terror. Only when he has disappeared, the holy truth of his words is felt and all doubt is dispelled. He condemns doubt and indecision, he smites the wicked who want to harm the Dharma, and preaches the will to withstand all hardship and to always know the truth of one’s heart.

Temperance – The Irrefutable Sage of Heaven: The Savant, the Flame of Illumination, the Beacon of Knowledge, the Banisher of Secrets and the Maker’s Apprentice, He Who Keeps the Horn of Wisdom.

After the Usurpation, the worship of this aspect was suppressed more than of any other aspect, for the tenets of the Irrefutable Sage of Heaven directly conflicted with the motivation of the Immaculate Order and its Sidereal masters. Whereas the Sidereals wanted to bury the truth behind the Usurpation and to conceal their presence, the Irrefutable Sage of Heaven would eventually uncover the truth, demask the shadowy manipulators of fate, and illuminate the darkness of ignorance with the beams of knowledge. While the Maiden of Secrets gathers knowledge, the Irrefutable Sage of Heaven spreads it; therefore, it is said that she helped to make people forget him altogether.

He is depicted as a four-armed elderly man of grave and cultivated appearance, with a short-trimmed beard and long golden-white hair which is held in a topknot. On his brow, the illuminating Mark of the Twilight is displayed, acting as a third eye which sees through all illusions. He wears a finely crafted robe embroidered with mantras. In his upper right hand, he wields the Horn of Wisdom which is filled with all the knowledge of Creation and the Primordials. His upper left hand, carries an orichalcum hammer which he uses to forge reality from the Wyld. Both his lower hands form the Vajra mudra, the mudra of knowledge.

When he appears, he is fatherly, wise, and understanding for he knows every secret, even the secrets of hearts. His words always radiate calmness and absolute honesty, and even his most simple sentences become either unfathomable koans expressing the secrets of Creation or explanations of the most profound truths. His bright and alert gaze cuts through all illusions. Those who listen to his words, grow in wisdom and experience themselves. Fair Folk who are in his presence shriek in terror for he gives them form, reality, and worst of all individuality. He condemns ignorance, lies, and deceit, spreads wisdom, insight, self-realisation, and truth, and preaches the search for all-encompassing knowledge.

Valour – The All-Searing General of Righteousness: The Lightbringer, the Cleansing Flame, the Smiter of Evil, Patron of Warriors and Generals and Driver of the Sun Chariot, He Who Wields the Sun Spear.

In the Time of Tumult, this is by far the best-known aspect of the Unconqered Sun. Since even the monks of the Immaculate Order feared the wrath of the All-Searing General of Righteousness, they refrained from destroying or even hiding his depictions. Thus, his noble stature is what most people think of when they talk about the Unconquered Sun.

He is depicted as a four-armed man of noble beauty, with skin of white light, a muscular body and short golden hair. The look of his stately face displays a grim and unyielding determination, while the burning Mark of Dawn shines on his brow. He wears an orichalcum full-plate armour, engraved with the screams of his shattered enemies. On the back, the armor extends to form a corona behind his head, symbolising his superiority. In his upper right arm, he carries the Sun Spear which annihilates every enemy. His upper left arm holds the Flame of Judgement that burns the wicked and spares the righteous. Both his lower hands hold the reins of the Sun Chariot on which he stands.

When he appears, he is of little words, but always assertive and straight-forward. His presence provokes both awe and fear, his clear and loud voice instills confidence and courage. Those who see him feel no fear for the enemy, no pain, no doubt. He quenches all dishonourable thoughts in his worshippers, let’s them see the deadly intentions of their enemies, and liberates them from compassion born out of inappropriate softness. When fighting, he anticipates every move and he moves with such a speed that he seems to have a thousand arms. He condemns cowardice and ill-timed appeasement, he preaches the decisiveness to punish evil and bring justice and righteousness to the world.

The Holy Catvarimurti of Immaculate Perfection: The unyielding, unfathomable integration of perfection, the Unconquered Sun.

Due to its abstract nature, the Holy Catvarimurti of Immaculate Perfection always had few depictions in Creation. Since it was little understood, many of its depictions remain in esoteric reliefs, hidden temples, or occult books. It appears as a stylised golden sun disk, often incorporating the different Caste marks.

When it appears, it takes no form but a booming voice of light and warmth. Sometimes it is compassionate and kind, sometimes harsh and unrelenting, but it always strikes such a deep chord in the listener that they weep for sorrow and joy for the rest of the day. Those who have encountered the Holy Catvarimurti of Immaculate Perfection say that it transcends every duality and binds together everything that is touched by the sun.