 A number of important Surya temples remain, but many are no longer in worship.In various respects, Surya has tended to be merged into Shiva, or seen as subsidiary to him.The oldest surviving Vedic hymns, such as the hymn 1.115 of the Rigveda, mention "Sūrya" with particular reverence for the "rising sun” and its symbolism as dispeller of darkness, one who empowers knowledge, the good and all life.