The rich pre-Christian traditions of Easter make it an excellent time to practice the Indo-European tradition of honoring the Sun. For Indo-European religion the Sun is not only important as a physical reality in our current world but is dually associated with the purity and righteousness of the Kommos ( Dharma ). For us, the Sun of righteousness rises again out of the depths of darkness conqueroring the darkness of wickedness.
The Sun in Indo-European Spirituality: A Symbol of Righteousness, Life, and Peace
Throughout the ancient world, the Sun has been revered as a divine embodiment of light, life, and cosmic order. In the Indo-European religious traditions—from Vedic India to Celtic Europe and the Germanic north—the Sun was not only a celestial body but a sacred presence: the eye of heaven, the fire of the soul, and the moral compass of the world. One of its most universal and ancient symbols was the swastika—a radiant emblem of motion, purity, and peace.
The Swastika: A Sacred Symbol of Light and Motion
The swastika, from the Sanskrit svastika (स्वस्तिक), means “that which is associated with well-being”—from su (good) and asti (to be). Found across Vedic, Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, and even Baltic cultures, this rotating cross represented the dynamic, life-giving energy of the Sun, spinning outward to touch and bless all life. The swastika is a sacred symbol of love, peace, prosperity, and righteousness. The Swastika in Gaulish is called Suestia and Fylfot in Nordic religions of ancient times.
In Vedic tradition, it adorned temples and fire altars, invoked in rituals for protection and dharma. Among the Celts, various style of the Suestia are displayed, often inscribed on metalwork, shields, and pottery clearly showing protective purposes and blessing.
The Sun as the Eye of the Gods
In Rigvedic hymns, the Sun (Sūrya) is called the eye of Mitra and Varuna, the celestial witness to truth. The Greek Helios, Roman Sol Invictus, and Celtic Lugh (the “shining one”) reflect a shared spiritual theme: the Sun as a divine judge and purifier, whose light exposes falsehood and nourishes all living things with warmth and clarity.
In Zoroastrianism, a fellow Indo-Iranian faith, the Sun (symbolized by fire) is the image of Asha—truth, order, and right living. Everywhere the Sun rose, it illuminated not just the earth, but the path of righteousness.
Spring, Resurrection, and Easter
As Indo-European cultures observed the Sun’s yearly journey, the vernal equinox and the spring resurrection of the world were times of joy and renewal. In ancient festivals such as the Vedic Holi, the Celtic Alban Eilir, and the Germanic Ostara, people celebrated the Sun’s return from darkness—the triumph of light, life, and righteousness.
This theme found its way into Christianity with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated at Easter (a name likely derived from the goddess Eostre/Ostara). Christ, like the Sun, rises in glory, dispels darkness, and offers new life. In many early Christian artworks, Christ is portrayed with a solar halo—“the Sun of Righteousness” from Malachi 4:2, who rises with healing in his wings.
The swastika even appears in early Christian and Byzantine churches as a solar cross—a continuation of the Indo-European spiritual vision of a cosmos ruled by divine light, purity, and moral clarity.
The Sun as Righteousness, Love, and Truth
In all Indo-European traditions, the Sun is not just light, but ethical light. It is the symbol of:
- Love – nourishing all without discrimination.
- Peace – maintaining celestial and earthly balance.
- Purity – burning away falsehood and impurity.
- Righteousness – walking in alignment with divine law.
- Truth – illuminating what is hidden.
This is why so many ancient oaths were sworn “by the Sun,” and why solar gods were often gods of justice, order, and spiritual vision, such as Lugus ( Lugh in Irish ) who’s name means “Light” and who’s countenance is like the Sun in Irish scriptures and whom of which restored order to Ireland after the battle of Mag Tuiread defeating the Fomorians.
Conclusion: Returning to the Solar Heart
As the world rediscovers ancient traditions, it is important to reclaim the swastika and solar imagery in their original meanings—as symbols of divine peace, cosmic harmony, and spiritual awakening. The Sun unites all life, all religions, and all truths in a shared rhythm of light and renewal.
From the Vedas to the Celts, and from ancient rites to Easter morning, the Sun continues to rise as a sacred mirror of the soul—a reminder that in light, we live rightly and that the light of Dharma ultimately prevails.