Aditya Hridayam

Āditya Hṛdayam, is a hymn associated with the Sun or Surya and was recited by the great sage Agastya to Rama on the battlefield before fighting with Ravana. This historic hymn starts at the beginning of the duel between Shri Rama with Ravana himself. Sage Agastya teaches Lord Rama, who is fatigued after the long battle with various fighters of Lanka, this procedure of worshiping Surya for strength to defeat the enemy. These verses belong to Yuddha Kanda (Book 6) Canto 107, in the Ramayana composed by Valmiki.

Significance of Slokas

In Aditya hridayam there are thirty Slokas in total. The significance of the verses is as follows:

1,2  : Approach of Sage Agastya to Shri Rama.

3, 4, 5 : Greatness of the Aditya Hridayam and advantages of reciting it.

6 – 15  : Surya as a means of self evident consciousness, conveying that the One pervading outside and inside is the same.

16 – 20 : Mantra Japa.

21 – 24 : Mantra Slokas extolling Sun God.

25 – 30 : The fruits of this prayer, the method of recital and the procedure followed by Shri Rama, invoking God to bless him with the requisite strength for the victory in the battle field.

Text

See Sanskrit for details of pronunciation.

Devanagari IAST ॥ आदित्यहृदयम्॥ .. ādityahṛdayam .. ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम्। tato yuddhapariśrāntaṃ samare cintayā sthitam रवणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्॥ १॥ ravaṇaṃ cāgrato dṛṣṭvā yuddhāya samupasthitam .. 1 .. दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम्। daivataiśca samāgamya draṣṭumabhyāgato raṇam उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवान् ऋषिः॥ २॥ upāgamyābravīdrāmamagastyo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ .. 2 .. राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम्। rāma rāma mahābāho śṛṇu guhyaṃ sanātanam येन सर्वानरीन् वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि॥ ३॥ yena sarvānarīn vatsa samare vijayiṣyasi .. 3 .. आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्। ādityahṛdayaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvaśatruvināśanam जयावहं जपेन्नित्यम् अक्षय्यं परमं शिवम्॥ ४॥ jayāvahaṃ japennityam akṣayyaṃ paramaṃ śivam .. 4 .. सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्। sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनम् आयुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम्॥ ५॥ cintāśokapraśamanam āyurvardhanamuttamam .. 5 .. रश्मिमंतं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम्। raśmimaṃtaṃ samudyantaṃ devāsuranamaskṛtam पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम्॥ ६॥ pūjayasva vivasvantaṃ bhāskaraṃ bhuvaneśvaram .. 6 .. सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः। sarvadevātmako hyeṣa tejasvī raśmibhāvanaḥ एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः॥ ७॥ eṣa devāsuragaṇām̐llokān pāti gabhastibhiḥ .. 7 .. एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः। eṣa brahmā ca viṣṇuśca śivaḥ skandaḥ prajāpatiḥ महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः॥ ८॥ mahendro dhanadaḥ kālo yamaḥ somo hyapāṃ patiḥ .. 8 .. पितरो वसवः साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः। pitaro vasavaḥ sādhyā hyaśvinau maruto manuḥ वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः॥ ९॥ vāyurvahniḥ prajāprāṇa ṛtukartā prabhākaraḥ .. 9 .. आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान्। ādityaḥ savitā sūryaḥ khagaḥ pūṣā gabhastimān सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः॥ १०॥ suvarṇasadṛśo bhānurhiraṇyaretā divākaraḥ .. 10 .. हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान्। haridaśvaḥ sahasrārciḥ saptasaptirmarīcimān तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान्॥ ११॥ timironmathanaḥ śambhustvaṣṭā mārtāṇḍa aṃśumān .. 11 .. हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः। hiraṇyagarbhaḥ śiśirastapano bhāskaro raviḥ अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः॥ १२॥ agnigarbho'diteḥ putraḥ śaṅkhaḥ śiśiranāśanaḥ .. 12 .. व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुःसामपारगः। vyomanāthastamobhedī ṛgyajuḥsāmapāragaḥ घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः॥ १३॥ ghanavṛṣṭirapāṃ mitro vindhyavīthīplavaṅgamaḥ .. 13 .. आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलः सर्वतापनः। ātapī maṇḍalī mṛtyuḥ piṅgalaḥ sarvatāpanaḥ कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः॥ १४॥ kavirviśvo mahātejāḥ raktaḥ sarvabhavodbhavaḥ .. 14 .. नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः। nakṣatragrahatārāṇāmadhipo viśvabhāvanaḥ तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन् नमोऽस्तु ते॥ १५॥ tejasāmapi tejasvī dvādaśātman namo'stu te .. 15 .. नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः। namaḥ pūrvāya giraye paścimāyādraye namaḥ ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः॥ १६॥ jyotirgaṇānāṃ pataye dinādhipataye namaḥ .. 16 .. जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः। jayāya jayabhadrāya haryaśvāya namo namaḥ नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः॥ १७॥ namo namaḥ sahasrāṃśo ādityāya namo namaḥ .. 17 .. नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः। nama ugrāya vīrāya sāraṅgāya namo namaḥ नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्ताण्डाय नमो नमः॥ १८॥ namaḥ padmaprabodhāya mārtāṇḍāya namo namaḥ .. 18 .. ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यायादित्यवर्चसे। brahmeśānācyuteśāya sūryāyādityavarcase भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः॥ १९॥ bhāsvate sarvabhakṣāya raudrāya vapuṣe namaḥ .. 19 .. तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने। tamoghnāya himaghnāya śatrughnāyāmitātmane कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः॥ २०॥ kṛtaghnaghnāya devāya jyotiṣāṃ pataye namaḥ .. 20 .. तप्तचामीकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे। taptacāmīkarābhāya vahnaye viśvakarmaṇe नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे॥ २१॥ namastamo'bhinighnāya rucaye lokasākṣiṇe .. 21 .. नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः। nāśayatyeṣa vai bhūtaṃ tadeva sṛjati prabhuḥ पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः॥ २२॥ pāyatyeṣa tapatyeṣa varṣatyeṣa gabhastibhiḥ .. 22 .. एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः। eṣa supteṣu jāgarti bhūteṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम्॥ २३॥ eṣa evāgnihotraṃ ca phalaṃ caivāgnihotriṇām .. 23 .. वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च। vedāśca kratavaścaiva kratūnāṃ phalameva ca यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः॥ २४॥ yāni kṛtyāni lokeṣu sarva eṣa raviḥ prabhuḥ .. 24 .. ॥ फलश्रुतिः॥ एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तातेषु भयेषु च। enamāpatsu kṛcchreṣu kāntāteṣu bhayeṣu ca कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव॥ २५॥ kīrtayan puruṣaḥ kaścinnāvasīdati rāghava .. 25 .. पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम्। pūjayasvainamekāgro devadevaṃ jagatpatim एतत् त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि॥ २६॥ etat triguṇitaṃ japtvā yuddheṣu vijayiṣyasi .. 26 .. अस्मिन् क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि। asmin kṣaṇe mahābāho rāvaṇaṃ tvaṃ vadhiṣyasi एवमुक्त्वा तदागस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम्॥ २७॥ evamuktvā tadāgastyo jagāma ca yathāgatam .. 27 .. एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा। etacchrutvā mahātejā naṣṭaśoko'bhavattadā धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान्॥ २८॥ dhārayāmāsa suprīto rāghavaḥ prayatātmavān .. 28 .. आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान्। ādityaṃ prekṣya japtvā tu paraṃ harṣamavāptavān त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्॥ २९॥ trirācamya śucirbhūtvā dhanurādāya vīryavān .. 29 .. रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत्। rāvaṇaṃ prekṣya hṛṣṭātmā yuddhāya samupāgamat सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत्॥ ३०॥ sarvayatnena mahatā vadhe tasya dhṛto'bhavat .. 30 .. अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं atha raviravadannirīkṣya rāmaṃ मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः। muditamanāḥ paramaṃ prahṛṣyamāṇaḥ निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा niśicarapatisaṃkṣayaṃ viditvā सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति॥ ३१॥ suragaṇamadhyagato vacastvareti .. 31 .. ॥ इति आदित्यहृदयम् मन्त्रस्य॥ .. iti ādityahṛdayam mantrasya ..

Meaning

Tato yuddhaparishraantam samare chinmayaa sthitam. raavanam chaagrato drushtva yuddhaaya samupasthitam.1

Rama, exhausted and about to face Ravana ready for a fresh battle was lost deep in contemplation.

Daivataishcha samaagamya drashhtumabhyaagato ranam upaagamyaa braviidraama magastyo bhagavaan rishhi 2

The all knowing sage Agastya who had joined the Gods to witness the battle spoke to Rama thus

Raama Raama mahaabaaho shrnu guhyam sanaatanam . yena sarvaanariinvatsa samare vijayishhyasi .. 3

Oh Rama, mighty-armed Rama, listen to this eternal secret, which will help you destroy all your enemies in battle

Aaditya hrudayam punyam sarva shatru vinaashanam . Jayaavaham japennityam akshayyam paramam shivam 4

This holy hymn dedicated to the Sun deity will result in destroying all enemies and bring you victory and never ending supreme bliss.

Sarvamangalamaangalyam sarvapaapapranaashanam . Chintaashokaprashamanam aayurvardhanamuttamam .. 5

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.

Rashmimantam samudyantam devaasuranamaskritam . Puujayasva vivasvantam bhaaskaram bhuvaneshvaram.. 6

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.

Sarvadevaatmako hyeshha tejasvii rashmibhaavanah . Eshha devaasuraganaa.nllokaan paati gabhastibhi .. 7

He indeed represent 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.

Eshhah brahmaa cha vishhnushcha shivah skandah prajaapati . Mahendro dhanadah kaalo yamah somo hyapaam patim .. 8

He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skands, Prajapati. He is also Mahendra, kubera, kala, yama, soma and varuna.

Pitaro vasavah saadhyaa hyashvinau maruto manuh . Vaayurvanhih prajaapraana ritukartaa prabhaakarah .. 9

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.

Aadityah savitaa suuryah khagah puushhaa gabhastimaan . Suvarnasadrsho bhaanu rvishvaretaa divaakarah .. 10

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.

Haridashvah sahasraarchih saptasaptirmariichimaan.. Timironmathanah shambhustvashhtaa maartandam anshumaan 11

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.

Hiranyagarbhah shishirastapano bhaaskaro ravih . Agnigarbhoaditeh putrah shankha shishiranaashanah 12

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.

Vyomanaatha stamobhedii rig yajuh saama paaragah . Ghana vrishhti rapaam mitro vindhya viithii plavangamah .. 13

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.

Aatapii mandalii mrityuh pingalah sarvataapanah . Kavirvishvo mahaatejaa raktah sarva bhavod hbhavah .. 14

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.

Nakshatra grahataaraanaam adhipo vishva bhaavanah . Tejasaamapi tejasvii dvaadashaatman namostute .. 15

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.

Namah puurvaaya giraye pashchimaayaadraye namah . Jyotirganaanaam pataye dinadhipataye namah .. 16

Salutations to the Eastern and western mountain, Salutations to the Lord of the stellar bodies and the Lord of the Day.

Jayaaya jayabhadraaya haryashvaaya namo namah . Namo namah sahasraa.nsha aadityaaya namo namah .. 17

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.

Namah ugraaya viiraaya saarangaaya namo namah . Namah padma prabodhaaya maartandaaya namo namah .. 18

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.

Brahmeshaana achyuteshaaya suuryaayaadityavarchase . Bhaasvate sarvabhakshaaya raudraaya vapushhe namah .. 19

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.

Tamoghnaaya himagnaaya shatrughnaaya amitaatmane . Kritaghnahanaaya devaaya jyotishhaam pataye namah .. 20

Salutations to he transcendental atman 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.

Tapta chaamiika raabhaaya haraye vishvakarmane . Namastamo.abhinighnaaya ruchaye lokasaakshine .. 21

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.

Naashayatyeshha vai bhuutam tadeva srijati prabhuuH . Paayatyeshha tapatyeshha varshhatyeshha gabhastibhih .. 22

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.

Eshha supteshhu jaagarti bhuuteshhu parinishhthitah . Eshha evaagnihotramcha phalam chaivaagnihotrinaamh .. 23

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.

Vedaashcha kratavashchaiva kratuunaam phalameva cha . Yaani krityaani lokeshhu sarva eshha ravih prabhuh .. 24

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.

Phala stuti

Enamaapatsu krichchhreshhu kaantaareshhu bhayeshhu cha. kiirttayanh purushhah kashchin naavasiidati raaghava .. 25

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).

Puujayasvainamekaagro devadevam jagathpatimh. Etat.h trigunitam japtvaa yuddheshhu vijayishhyasi .. 26

Raghava, worship this Lord of all Gods and the Universe with one-pointed devotion. Recite this hymn thrice and you will win this battle.

Nasminkshane mahaabaaho raavanam tvam vadhishhyasi. Evamuktavaa tadaa.agastyo jagaamh cha yathaagatamh .. 27

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.

Etachchhritvaa mahaatejaa nashhtashoko abhavattadaa. Dhaarayaamaasa supriito raaghavah prayataatmavaanh .. 28

He was greatly pleased and became brave and energetic.

Aaadityam prekshya japtvaa tu param harshhamavaaptavaanh. Triraachamya shuchirbhuutvaa dhanuraadaaya viiryavaanh .. 29

Gazing at the sun with devotion, He recited this hymn thrice and experienced bliss.

Rraavanam prekshya hrushhtaatmaa yuddhaaya samupaagamath. Sarva yatnena mahataa vadhe tasya dhritoabhavath .. 30

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.

Atha ravi ravadanam nirikshyam raama Muditamanaah paramam prahrishhyamaanah. Nishicharapatisa nkshayam viditvaa Suragan amadhyagato vachastvareti .. 31

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.

References

• http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry502.htm
• http://www.mypurohith.com/Rituals/Aditya_Hrudayam.asp
• http://www.yudit.org

Related links

• http://sanskrit.safire.com/pdf/ADITYA_TRANS.PDF
• http://www.mypurohith.com/Rituals/Aditya_Hrudayam.asp
• http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/mp3/aadityahrudayam.mp3

hi:आदित्यहृदयम् te:ఆదిత్య హృదయం