Aditya Hridayam
(Prayer to Sun God for leadership)
The Aditya Hridayam, is a hymn in glorification of the Sun or Surya and was recited by the great sage Agastya to Lord Rama on the battlefield before fighting with Ravana. This historic hymn starts at the beginning of the Battle with Ravana, when Lord Rama is fatigued and getting ready to fight. The mystical hymn is directed to the Sun God, the illustrious lord of all victories.
Sundara Khanda = The Heart of Aditya (the Sun God)
Valmiki Ramayanam Aditya = the Sun God
Hridayam = that which is especially nourishing and healing for the heart.
Sage Agasthya Muni gave this powerful Mantra to Sri Rama when Rama was perplexed, while fighting with Ravana. After chanting this Hymn three times Sri Rama defeated Ravana.
Prayer Verse 1:
Tato yuddhaparishraantam samare chinmayaa sthitam
raavanam chaagrato drushtva yuddhaaya samupasthitam
English Translation:
Rama, exhausted and about to face Ravana ready for a fresh battle was lost deep in contemplation.
Prayer Verse 2:
Daivataishcha samaagamya drashhtumabhyaagato ranam
upaagamyaa braviidraama magastyo bhagavaan rishhi
English Translation:
The all knowing sage Agastya who had joined the Gods to witness the battle spoke to Rama thus
Prayer Verse 3:
Raama Raama mahaabaaho shrnu guhyam sanaatanam
yena sarvaanariinvatsa samare vijayishhyasi
English Translation:
Oh Rama, mighty-armed Rama, listen to this eternal secret, which will help you destroy all your enemies in battle
Prayer Verse 4:
Aaditya hrudayam punyam sarva shatru vinaashanam
Jayaavaham japennityam akshayyam paramam shivam
English Translation:
This holy hymn dedicated to the Sun deity will result in destroying all enemies and bring you victory and never ending supreme bliss.
Prayer Verse 5:
Sarvamangalamaangalyam sarvapaapapranaashanam
Chintaashokaprashamanam aayurvardhanamuttamam
English Translation:
This hymn is supreme and is a guarantee of complete prosperity and is the destroyer of sin, anxiety, anguish and is the bestower of longevity.
Prayer Verse 6:
Rashmimantam samudyantam devaasuranamaskritam
Puujayasva vivasvantam bhaaskaram bhuvaneshvaram
English Translation:
Worship the One, possessed of rays when he has completely risen, held in reverence by the devas and asuras, and who is the Lord of the universe by whose efflugence all else brighten.
Prayer Verse 7:
Sarvadevaatmako hyeshha tejasvii rashmibhaavanah
Eshha devaasuraganaa.nllokaan paati gabhastibhi
English Translation:
He indeed represents the totality of all celestial beings. He is self-luminous and sustains all with his rays. He nourishes and energizes the inhabitants of all the worlds and the race of Devas and Asuras.
Prayer Verse 8:
Eshhah brahmaa cha vishhnushcha shivah skandah prajaapati
Mahendro dhanadah kaalo yamah somo hyapaam patim
English Translation:
He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skands, Prajapati. He is also Mahendra, kubera, kala, yama, soma and varuna.
Prayer Verse 9:
Pitaro vasavah saadhyaa hyashvinau maruto manuh
Vaayurvanhih prajaapraana ritukartaa prabhaakarah
English Translation:
He is the pitrs, vasus, sadhyas, aswini devas, maruts, manu, vayu, agni, prana and, being the source of all energy and light, is the maker of all the six seasons.
Prayer Verse 10:
Aadityah savitaa suuryah khagah puushhaa gabhastimaan
Suvarnasadrsho bhaanu rvishvaretaa divaakarah
English Translation:
He is the son of Aditi, creator of the universe, inspirer of action, transverser of the heavens. He is the sustainer, illumination of all directions, the golden hued brilliance and is the maker of the day.
Prayer Verse 11:
Haridashvah sahasraarchih saptasaptirmariichimaan
Timironmathanah shambhustvashhtaa maartandam anshumaan
English Translation:
He is the Omnipresent One who pervades all with countless rays. He is the power behind the seven sense organs, the dispeller of darkness, bestower of happiness and prosperity, the remover of misfortunes and is the infuser of life.
Prayer Verse 12:
Hiranyagarbhah shishirastapano bhaaskaro ravih
Agnigarbhoaditeh putrah shankha shishiranaashanah
English Translation:
He is the primordial being manifesting as the Trinity. He ushers in the Day and is the teacher (of Hiranyagarbha), the fire-wombed, the son of Aditi, and has a vast and supreme felicity.
Prayer Verse 13:
Vyomanaatha stamobhedii rig yajuh saama paaragah
Ghana vrishhti rapaam mitro vindhya viithii plavangamah
English Translation:
He is the remover of intellectual dull-headedness. He is the Lord of the firmament, dispeller of darkness. Master of all the vedas, he is a friend of the waters and causes rain. HE has crossed the vindya range and sports in the Brahma Nadi.
Prayer Verse 14:
Aatapii mandalii mrityuh pingalah sarvataapanah
Kavirvishvo mahaatejaa raktah sarva bhavod hbhavah
English Translation:
He, whose form is circular and is colored yellow, is intensely absorbed and inflicts death. He is the destroyer of all and is the Omniscient one being exceedingly energetic sustains the universe and all action.
Prayer Verse 15:
Nakshatra grahataaraanaam adhipo vishva bhaavanah
Tejasaamapi tejasvii dvaadashaatman namostute
English Translation:
He is the lord of stars, planets and all constellations. He is the origin of everything in the universe and is the cause of the lustre of even the brilliant ones. Salutations to Thee who is the One being manifest in the twelve forms of the Sun.
Prayer Verse 16:
Namah puurvaaya giraye pashchimaayaadraye namah
Jyotirganaanaam pataye dinadhipataye namah
English Translation:
Salutations to the eastern and western mountain. Salutations to the Lord of the stellar bodies and the Lord of the Day.
Prayer Verse 17:
Jayaaya jayabhadraaya haryashvaaya namo namah
Namo namah sahasraa.nsha aadityaaya namo namah
English Translation:
Salutations to the One who ordains victory and the prosperity that follows. Salutations to the one possessed of yellow steeds and to the thousand rayed Lord, and to Aditya.
Prayer Verse 18:
Namah ugraaya viiraaya saarangaaya namo namah
Namah padma prabodhaaya maartandaaya namo namah
English Translation:
Salutations to the Terrible one, the hero, the one that travels fast. Salutations to the one whose emergence makes the lotus blossom and to the fierce and omnipotent one.
Prayer Verse 19:
Brahmeshaana achyuteshaaya suuryaayaadityavarchase
Bhaasvate sarvabhakshaaya raudraaya vapushhe namah
English Translation:
Salutations to the Lord of Brahma, Shiva and Achyuta, salutations to the powerful and to the effulgence in the Sun that is both the illuminator and devourer of all and is of a form that is fierce like Rudra.
Prayer Verse 20:
Tamoghnaaya himagnaaya shatrughnaaya amitaatmane
Kritaghnahanaaya devaaya jyotishhaam pataye namah
English Translation:
Salutations to the transcendental man that dispels darkness, drives away all fear, and destroys all foes. Salutations also to the annihilator of the ungrateful and to the Lord of all the stellar bodies.
Prayer Verse 21:
Tapta chaamiika raabhaaya haraye vishvakarmane
Namastamo.abhinighnaaya ruchaye lokasaakshine
English Translation:
Salutations to the Lord shining like molten gold, to the transcendental fire, the fire of supreme knowledge, the architect of the universe, destroyer of darkness and salutations again to the effulgence that is the Cosmic witness.
Prayer Verse 22:
Naashayatyeshha vai bhuutam tadeva srijati prabhuuH
Paayatyeshha tapatyeshha varshhatyeshha gabhastibhih
English Translation:
Salutations to the Lord who destroys everything and creates them again. Salutations to Him who by His rays consumes the waters, heats them up and sends them down as rain.
Prayer Verse 23:
Eshha supteshhu jaagarti bhuuteshhu parinishhthitah
Eshha evaagnihotramcha phalam chaivaagnihotrinaamh
English Translation:
Salutations to the Lord who abides in the heart of all beings keeping awake when they are asleep. He is both the sacrificial fire and the fruit enjoyed by the worshippers.
Prayer Verse 24:
Vedaashcha kratavashchaiva kratuunaam phalameva cha
Yaani krityaani lokeshhu sarva eshha ravih prabhuh
English Translation:
The Sun is verily the Lord of all action in this universe. He is verily the vedas, the sacrifices mentioned in them and the fruits obtained by performing the sacrifices.
Prayer Verse 25:
Phala stuti
Enamaapatsu krichchhreshhu kaantaareshhu bhayeshhu cha.
kiirttayanh purushhah kashchin naavasiidati raaghava
English Translation:
Raghava, one who recites this hymn in times of danger, during an affliction or when lost in the wilderness and having fear, he will not lose heart (and become brave).
Prayer Verse 26:
Puujayasvainamekaagro devadevam jagathpatimh
Etat.h trigunitam japtvaa yuddheshhu vijayishhyasi
English Translation:
Raghava, worship this Lord of all Gods and the Universe with one-pointed devotion. Recite this hymn thrice and you will win this battle.
Prayer Verse 27:
Nasminkshane mahaabaaho raavanam tvam vadhishhyasi
Evamuktavaa tadaa.agastyo jagaamh cha yathaagatamh
English Translation:
O mighty armed one, you shall truimph over Ravana this very moment. Having spoken this, Agastya returned his original place. Raghava became free from worry after hearing this.
Prayer Verse 28:
Etachchhritvaa mahaatejaa nashhtashoko abhavattadaa
Dhaarayaamaasa supriito raaghavah prayataatmavaanh
English Translation:
He was greatly pleased and became brave and energetic.
Prayer Verse 29:
Aaadityam prekshya japtvaa tu param harshhamavaaptavaanh
Triraachamya shuchirbhuutvaa dhanuraadaaya viiryavaanh
English Translation:
Gazing at the sun with devotion, He recited this hymn thrice and experienced bliss.
Prayer Verse 30:
Rraavanam prekshya hrushhtaatmaa yuddhaaya samupaagamath
Sarva yatnena mahataa vadhe tasya dhritoabhavath
English Translation:
Purifying Himself by sipping water thrice, He took up His bow with His mighty arms. Seeing Ravana coming to fight, He put forth all his effort with a determination to destroy Ravana.
Prayer Verse 31:
Atha ravi ravadanam nirikshyam raama
Muditamanaah paramam prahrishhyamaanah
Nishicharapatisa nkshayam viditvaa
Suragan amadhyagato vachastvareti
English Translation:
Then knowing that the destruction of the lord of prowlers at night (Ravana) was near, Aditya, who was at the center of the assembly of the Gods, looked at Rama and exclaimed 'Hurry up' with great delight. Purifying Himself by sipping water thrice, He took up His bow with His mighty arms. Seeing Ravana coming to fight, He put forth all his effort with a determination to destroy Ravana.
Link to YouTube video of Aditya Hridayam
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