Dear Viewer,
Welcome to my blog on Aditya Hridaya Stotram, which is aimed at the Sun god for bestowing strength to destroy evil forces.
Let us start with the Navagraha stuti on SURYA, the Sun God in the following link:
Aditya Hridayam literally means the "Heart of the Sun" (Aditya means the Sun God, and Hridayam means heart or essence). This stotram is found in the yudha kandam of Ramayana, wherein it is said that Saint Agatya taught this mantra to Lord Rama, when Rama was exhausted after a prolonged fight with Ravana and had doubted his victory over evil.
It represents the essence of the Sun as the life-giver, the dispeller of darkness, and the ultimate witness of the universe. Philosophically, the external Sun is viewed as a symbol of the inner light (Atman or soul) within every person.
There are a total of 31 shlokas in Aditya Hrudayam. Shlokas 1 & 2 describe the battlefield scene at the beginning of the war and arrival of Sage Agastya and the other devas to the battlefield to witness the epic war. In that battle, exhausted and worried, (Rama) stood in the battlefield as he looked at Ravana fully prepared to fight in front of him.
After learning this hymn from Sage Agastya, Lord Rama chanted Aditya Hrudayam. Invocated by Rama, Lord Surya appears and blesses Lord Rama that his victory over the demon king is certain and asks him to continue the battle. Refreshed with confidence and strength, Lord Rama re-enters the battlefield eager to defeat Ravana.
Many Vedic scholars believe chanting Aditya Hrudayam benefits body, soul and most importantly the mind. One of the main reasons to chant Aditya Hrudayam is to get lot of positive energy early in the morning and be successful in all our endeavors. In fact, Sage Agastya taught this hymn to Lord Rama to boost his confidence and be victorious over his enemy at a time when he was exhausted and fatigued in the battlefield.
Meaning and Significance
You can Listen to this Sloka in the following link:
Here is the translation of the opening verses of the Aditya Hridayam, which set the scene on the battlefield of Lanka just before the final battle between Lord Rama and Ravana.
Verse 1 & 2: The Scene on the Battlefield
Tato yuddha parishrantam, samare chintaya sthitam |
Ravanam chagrato drishtva, yuddhaya samupasthitam ||
Daivataishcha samagamya, drashtum abhyagato ranam |
Upagamyabravid ramam, agastyo bhagavan rishih ||
Translation:Seeing Lord Rama standing exhausted on the battlefield, deeply immersed in thought and facing Ravana, who was ready for battle, the great and divine sage Agastya, who had gathered with the gods to witness the war, approached Rama and spoke thus.
Verse 3: The Promise of Victory
Rama rama maha-baho, shrunu guhyam sanatanam |
Yena sarvan arin vatsa, samare vijayishyasi ||
Translation:"O Rama! O mighty-armed Rama! Listen to this eternal secret, my child, by knowing and chanting which you will conquer all your enemies in battle."
Verse 4 & 5: The Ultimate Protection
Aditya hridayam punyam, sarva shatru vinashanam |
Jayavaham japen nityam, akshayyam paramam shivam ||
Sarva mangala mangalyam, sarva papa pranashanam |
Chinta shoka prashamanam, ayur vardhanam uttamam ||
Translation:
"This sacred hymn dedicated to the Sun, known as Aditya Hridayam, destroys all enemies (sarva shatru vinashanam), brings ultimate victory, and should be chanted daily. It is a supreme, everlasting blessing that brings all forms of auspiciousness, wipes away all sins, dispels anxiety and grief, and bestows long life."
Verse 6: The Elements and Deities
Aditya Savita Surya Khaga Pusha Gabhastiman |
Suvarnasadrisha Bhanu Hiranyareta Divakara ||
Translation:
He is Aditya (son of Aditi), Savita (the generator of life), Surya (the motivator of actions), Khaga (the bird flying in the sky), Pusha (the nourisher), and Gabhastiman (the possessor of rays). He is brilliant like gold (Suvarnasadrisha), the shining one (Bhanu), the golden seed of creation (Hiranyareta), and the maker of the day (Divakara).
Verse 7: The Cosmic Trinity and Lords
Haridashva Sahasrarcih Saptasapti Mariciman |
Timironmathana Shambhus Tvashta Martanda Amshuman ||
Translation:
He has green horses (Haridashva—representing vital energies), possesses thousands of rays (Sahasrarcih), and rides a chariot driven by seven horses (Saptasapti). He is the creator of light (Mariciman), the destroyer of darkness (Timironmathana), the source of happiness (Shambhu), the divine architect (Tvashta), the life-giver born from a lifeless egg (Martanda), and radiant with infinite beams (Amshuman).
Verse 8: The Supreme God
Hiranyagarbha Shishira Tapano Bhaskaro Ravi |
Agnigarbho Aditeh Putrah Shankhah Shishiranashana ||
Translation:
He is the cosmic golden womb (Hiranyagarbha), cool and soothing like dew (Shishira), the source of heat (Tapana), the illuminator (Bhaskaro), and the one praised by all (Ravi). He carries fire within himself (Agnigarbho), is the son of Aditi (Aditeh Putrah), holds cosmic peace (Shankha), and destroys the winter cold and ignorance (Shishiranashana).
Verse 9: Master of Space and Knowledge
Vyomanathas Tamobhedi Rigyajussamaparagah |
Ghanavrishtir Apam Mitro Vindhyavithiplavangamah ||
Translation:
He is the Lord of space (Vyomanatha), the dispeller of darkness (Tamobhedi), and the master of the three Vedas—Rig, Yajur, and Sama (Rigyajussamaparagah). He causes heavy rain (Ghanavrishti), is the true friend of water (Apam Mitro), and swiftly crosses the celestial path over the Vindhya mountains (Vindhyavithiplavangamah).
Verse 10: The Transformer
Atapi Mandali Mrityuh Pingalah Sarvatapanah |
Kavir Vishvo Mahatejah Rakta Sarvabhavodbhavah ||
Translation:
He radiates intense heat (Atapi), is circular in form (Mandali), is death personified to the wicked (Mrityu), and is reddish-brown (Pingala). He burns everything at the end of time (Sarvatapana), is all-knowing and poetic (Kavi), encompasses the whole universe (Vishvo), possesses supreme energy (Mahatejah), is passionately crimson (Rakta), and is the origin of all existence (Sarvabhavodbhavah).
Verse 11: The Cosmic Order
Nakshatragrahataranam Adhipo Vishvabhavanah |
Tejasam Api Tejasvi Dvadashatman Namo'stu Te ||
Translation:
He is the Lord of constellations, planets, and stars (Nakshatragrahataranam Adhipo), and the creator and protector of the universe (Vishvabhavanah). He is the most brilliant among all luminous objects (Tejasam Api Tejasvi) and manifests in twelve zodiac forms as the twelve Adityas (Dvadashatman). Salutations to You!
Verses 12 to 15: The Final Salutations (Namaskarams)
In these verses, Agastya instructs Rama to offer salutations to the Sun's specific directions and archetypes:
- Verse 12: Salutations to the eastern mountain where the Sun rises (Purvaya Giraye) and the western mountain where he sets (Pashchimadraye). Salutations to the Lord of the stellar bodies (Jyotirgananam Pataye) and the Lord of the day (Dinadhipataye).
- Verse 13: Salutations to the one who brings victory (Jayaya) and the joy of victory (Jayabhadraya). Salutations to the deity who rides the yellow/green horses (Haryashvaya). Salutations to the thousand-rayed Lord (Sahasranshaya), who is Aditya.
- Verse 14: Salutations to the terrifying warrior who subdues enemies (Ugraya), the heroic one (Viraya), and the swift traveler (Sarangaya). Salutations to the one who awakens the lotus (Padmabodha). Salutations to Martanda.
- Verse 15: Salutations to the master of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu (Brahmeshana Achyuteshaya). Salutations to the Sun (Surya), the divine light (Aditya), the inner consumer (Bhasvate), the devourer of all (Sarvabhaksha), and the fierce form (Raudraya).
The Aditya Hridayam lists numerous names and attributes of the Sun God, primarily in Verses 6 through 15. These names describe the Sun not just as a physical star, but as the supreme source of life, energy, time, and cosmic order.
Suryashtakam
Here is a nice rendering of Surya Ashtakam, which resolves all your difficulties, if recited with devotion.
Hindu Concept of Time Based on Sun:
According to Vedas, Sun resides in Suryaloka (Sun-sphere) 1,00,000 yojanas (1yojana = 8miles) above the earth, right in between bhuloka (earth) and Bhuvarloka (Heavens). He constantly travels the sky in his massive chariot, ‘Saptashwa Ratham’. Sapta means seven and ashwa means horse. The seven horses yoked to this chariot represent the vasaras or seven days of the week. The chariot has only one wheel, the Kaalachakra. Varying units of Time on earth such as month, year, seasons etc. are established on this wheel known as Samvatsara. The axle of the wheel is tied to Dhruva, the pole star by a rope of wind. Dhruva is the Vedic equivalent of Polaris, the Northern pole star whose position is fixed in space. The Kaalachakra has twelve spokes. The spokes represent the twelve divisions of the sky (signs of the zodiac) and the six seasons are the sections of the rim. Time taken by this chariot to cross one division of the sky (one sign of the zodiac) is defined as one solar month on earth. Time taken to travel six divisions (one half of the sky) equals one Ayana, a six month period on earth. When the chariot travels six divisions south to north(Capricorn to Cancer) it is called Uttarayana. This six month period begins when Sun enters Capricorn (Makaram) around January 14th and ends when Sun leaves Cancer (Katakam) around July 16th. Uttara in Sanskrit means north and Ayana means movement. Uttarayana marks the end of winter solstice and arrival of longer days. Similarly, when the chariot travels six divisions north to south (Cancer to Capricorn) it is called Dakshinayana (Dakshina means south). It roughly corresponds to the second half of the year, July thru December. Also, as the chariot travels every two divisions in the sky a season passes on earth and hence seasonal changes are also part of this chakra. There are three seasons in one Ayana. Spring, Summer, and Monsoon are part of Uttarayana. Autumn, Fall, & Winter are a part of Dakshinayana. The aggregate of the two ayanas is one year or a Samvatsara. There are 60 Samvatsaras and once all 60 Samvatsaras are over the cycle repeats all over again. Various planets in our solar system are moving at varying speeds. For example, while it takes the Sun one month to cross one division of the sky it takes Jupiter one year to cover the same distance. Saturn takes 21/2 years. Taking into consideration all the planets, their speeds and relative positions at any given point in time it is only once in a cycle of 60 years the planets re-align in the same configuration in the sky as they were 60 years ago. This explains why the 60-year Samvatsara cycle aka ‘Shashti abdha poorthi’ is considered to be a significant milestone in one’s life. Riding in this chariot the Sun God travels the galaxy at a speed of 3,400,800 yojanas in a muhurtha. In other words, the orbital speed of Sun around the galaxy is a whopping 220km/second!!
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