Arka is one of the thousand names of God Viṣṇu, and this name also refers to his status as One to be worshiped. Viṣṇu, often identified with Sūrya (Surya; the Sun-god), is celebrated in Veda. In the dhyānamantra (dhyanamantra; the hymn to be meditated upon, to coceptualise the form of a Deity) of Viṣṇu, the Deity is invoked as — ‘dhyeyaḥ sadā savitṛmaṇḍala-madhyavartī.