How do I solve 7 down in Times Cryptic 29538?

Question

Accepted Answer

7 down reads "Object of pagan worship endlessly hymned" (3 letters); the answer is SUN. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Object of pagan worship endlessly hymned (3)

7D — Object of pagan worship endlessly hymned (3) — SUN