As winter air gets chillier and the sky gets grey, our eyes reach the sky, looking for the shining heavenly body- Surya or Sun, which has been a source of light, life, hope, and strength for civilizations, for centuries. Little do we know, that ages, Yugas apart from today, standing on the brink of war with Ravana, Sri Rama too reached out to the powers of Suryadeva (Sun god), at sage Agastya’s advice, to instill in him, divine prowess, confidence, and victory. Bowing down to the most illustrious Sun, Agastya with Rama created the “Aditya Hridaya Stotra”- “the Heart of the Sun” hymn (that which infuses the heart with the powers of the Sun), a hymn chanted by Hindus to gain worldly and spiritual benefits, which like the light of the Sun, never end.
In the Yuddha Kanda of the sacred Ramayana, when Sri Rama is ready for the war with Ravana, Maharishi (great sage) Agastya composes the Aditya Hridaya or Aditya Hridayam Stotra for Rama. As a hymn of the Sun, who is the most ancient god and the source and proof of the powers of all gods and goddesses in the human world, Aditya Hridayam sows the seeds of immense confidence and fearlessness in the heart of the chanter.
ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तम् समरे चिन्तया स्थितम । रावणम् चाग्रतो दृष्टवा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम ॥ 1
दैवतैश्च समागम्य दृष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम । उपागम्या ब्रवीद्राम-मगस्तयो भगवान् ऋषिः ॥ 2
“Sri Rama stood in the battleground, worried about the loss of the war. Ravana, dressed for the battle, came and stood in front of Rama. Seeing this, sage Agastya who had reached the battle with gods to witness the divine Rama in action, approached him.”
राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यम सनातनम । येन सर्वानरीन वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥ 3
आदित्यहृदयम् पुण्यम सर्वशत्रु-विनाशनम । जयावहम् जपेन्नित्य-मक्षय्यम परमम् शिवम् ॥ 4
सर्वमंगल-मांगलयम सर्वपाप प्रणाशनम् । चिंताशोक-प्रशमन-मायुरवर्धन-मुत्तमम् ॥ 5
“O Rama, the great warrior (Mahabahu), listen to this profound and secret Sanatana hymn, chanting which will ensure you emerge victorious in the battleground against all obstacles. This hymn is called “Aditya Hridayam”, and it is the destroyer (vinashanam) of all enemies (sarvashatru). This is an eternal and ever-auspicious hymn. It is the most fortunate hymn, which destroys all sins. It removes stress, and sadness and increases the lifespan.”
रश्मिमन्तम समुद्यन्तम देवासुर-नमस्कृतम् । पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तम भास्करम् भुवनेश्वरम् ॥ 6
सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मि-भावनः । एष देवासुरगणान् लोकान पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥ 7
एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः । महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपामपतिः ॥ 8
पितरो वसवः साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः । वायुर्वहनी: प्रजाप्राण ऋतु कर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥ 9
“Adorned with his lustrous rays (Rashmi), Lord Surya is revered by gods (Deva) and demons (asura). Worshiped as Vivasvan, Surya is Bhuvaneshwara or Lord of the Universe. All gods are forms of the Sun and it is Him who nourishes the realms of the gods and demons with his aura. The Sun is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda (Karttikeya), Prajapati, Mahendra (Himalaya), Dhanada (giver of Dhana or money) or Kubera, Yama, Soma or Moon, Pitar (ancestors), Marut and Manu, Wind, and the source of seasons or Ritu.”
आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान । सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर-हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः ॥ 10
हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चि: सप्तसप्ति-मरीचिमान । तिमिरोन्मन्थन: शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान ॥ 11
हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः । अग्निगर्भोsदिते: पुत्रः शंखः शिशिरनाशान: ॥ 12
व्योम नाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्य जुस्सामपारगः । धनवृष्टिरपाम मित्रो विंध्यवीथिप्लवंगम: ॥ 13
आतपी मंडली मृत्युः पिंगलः सर्वतापनः । कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भव: ॥ 14
नक्षत्रग्रहताराणा-मधिपो विश्वभावनः । तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोस्तुते ॥ 15
“He has many names- Aditya (the son of Aditi, who is the mother of all gods), Savita (from whom the Universe originates), Surya, Khaga (who travels the sky), Poosha (Sun or light), Gabhistiman (source of light), Suvarnasadrishya (he who is like Suvarna or gold), Bhanu (sun), Harinyeta (the seed of Universe), Divakara (the cause of diva or day, light), Sahasrarchi (who has sahasra or a thousand archi or rays), Saptaspit (who has seven horses), Marichiman (he who is adorned with rays), Timiromanthana (he who removes timir or darkness), Shambhu (Shiva), Tvashta (the architect of Universe), Martanda (another name for Sun), Anshuman (he who has beautiful rays), Hiranyagarbha (the womb of gold from which the Universe emerged), Shishir (he who has a pleasant presence), Tapan (he who is a source of heat), Ahaskar, Ravi (names of Surya), Agnigarbha (who is the womb of fire), Aditiputra (the son of Aditi), Shankha (conch, an auspicious symbol), Shishirnashan (who dispels Shishir or cold), Vyomnath (the Lord of Sky), Tamabhedi (who breaks through darkness), an authority on Rig, Yaju and Sama Vedas, Dhanavrishti (who brings wealth), Aapam mitra (who causes rain), Vindhyaveethipalavangam (who crosses the horizon speedily), Aatapi (lustrous), Mandali (an allusion to the circular path of Sun), Mrityu (death), Pingala (brownish in color), Sarvatapan (who infuses all with heat), Kavi (creative one), Vishwa (world), Mahatejaswai (the most lustrous), Rakta (he who has blood like hue), Sarvabhaodbhava (who is origin of all), the Lord of celestial bodies, Vishwabhavana (who nurters the world), He is the most powerful and glorious amongst all glorious beings. I bow down to Him, the Sun God, Surya.”
नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रए नमः । ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ।। 16
जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाए नमो नमः । नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥ 17
नम उग्राय वीराय सारंगाय नमो नमः । नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्तण्डाय नमो नमः ॥ 18
ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेषाय सूर्यायादित्यवर्चसे । भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥ 19
तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने । कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषाम् पतये नमः ॥ 20
“I bow down to the rising Sun in the Purva (eastern) giri (mountain) and the setting Sun in the Pashchim (western) aadri (mountain). I worship the Lord (Pati) of Jyotirgana (the celestial bodies) and the days. The auspicious one who is the form of victory, whose horses are green in color, who is adorned with Sahasra or thousand rays, I bow down to Aditya (Sun). I rever Ugra (ferocious), Veera (valiant), Saranga (a name of Rama’s bow), the Sun who is Padmaprabodha (the cause of the bloom or prabodha or lotuses or Padma). He is the Lord of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, whose aura manifests in the Universe and solar system, and whose anger manifests as all-devouring agni or fire. He is the annihilator of darkness, cold, enemies, ill-willed, and the supreme Lord of all lights.”
तप्तचामिकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे । नमस्तमोsभिनिघ्नाये रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥ 21
नाशयत्येष वै भूतम तदेव सृजति प्रभुः । पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥ 22
एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः । एष एवाग्निहोत्रम् च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम ॥ 23
वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतुनाम फलमेव च । यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः ॥ 24
“O Sun god, your aura is like the glimmer of molten gold, you are Hari (Vishnu) and Vishwakarma (the architect of the Universe), the destroyer of darkness and the witness of the Universe. He births, nourishes, and annihilates all beings. He who eternally resides in all the Bhutas (elements of the Universe) and remains ever-awakened, He is the Agnihotra (sacred sacrificial ritual, Yajna), and its fruit. For all the actions that happen in all the realms, the Sun bestows the auspicious fruits upon all beings.”
“एन मापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च । कीर्तयन पुरुष: कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥ 25
पूज्यस्वैन-मेकाग्रे देवदेवम जगत्पतिम । एतत त्रिगुणितम् जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि ॥ 26
अस्मिन क्षणे महाबाहो रावणम् तवं वधिष्यसि । एवमुक्त्वा तदाsगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम् ॥ 27
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोsभवत्तदा । धारयामास सुप्रितो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान ॥ 28
आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परम हर्षमवाप्तवान् । त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान ॥ 29
रावणम प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत । सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोsभवत् ॥ 30
अथ रवि-रवद-न्निरिक्ष्य रामम | मुदितमनाः परमम् प्रहृष्यमाण: ।
निशिचरपति-संक्षयम् विदित्वा सुरगण-मध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥ 31”
In the Phalashruti (fruit of listening) of the Aditya Hridaya Stotra, sage Agastya tells Sri Rama the benefits of chanting or listening to the hymn.
“O Rama, whether you are facing obstacles, suffering, a difficult path, or fear, reverence of Surya protects one in all these occasions. Chanting this hymn thrice, you should enter the battlefield and be assured, that you will emerge victorious. Armed with the powers of the Sun, you will annihilate Ravana. Saying this, sage Agastya returned, and Rama filled with bliss, began worshipping Surya with the Aditya Hridaya Stotra. Seeing Rama lift his bow with valor in his heart, Bhagwan Surya standing amidst gods, blessed him to take on the army of Ravana and emerge undefeated.”
1. In the modern-day battlefields of life and career, Aditya Hridaya Stotra is like having the Sun shield your heart. Though chanted by many on Sunday or Ravivar (the day of Surya), Aditya Hridaya Stotra can be recited every day, facing the Sun to receive His heavenly powers.
2. Visualizing the Sun with eyes closed, and reciting the Aditya Hridaya Stotra instills calmness and fearlessness in the heart of the devotee. Meditating with the hymn brings peace and focus, and is highly auspicious for students and people in the creative field.
3. For those who have anxiety and stress, Aditya Hridaya Stotra and worship of the Sun are considered supremely beneficial. As Rama was filled with strength and confidence after reciting the hymn, anyone who evokes the powers of Surya is blessed by his potent aura and carries a firmness in their everyday life.
4. Surya is the most brilliant and divine presence in three realms. His worship and chant of the Aditya Hridaya Stotra give the devotees a magnetic and dynamic personality, helping them achieve great success in life.
The tradition of Sun worship in India is an ancient one. For centuries, from the Vedic period to the present day, people have created numerous hymns, rituals, and paths for the reverence of Surya. If you are intrigued to know more about Sun-worship and the history of the Sun god in Hinduism, visit our Exotic India where a marvelous collection of statues of Surya Deva, ritual paintings, Navagraha yantra and murtis, and sacred books offer you an opportunity to immerse in the immortal light of the Sun god.
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