Suryanamaskara Mantra with meaning

४. सूर्य नमस्कार मन्त्राः

(भाग: अ)

ओम् अग्निमाळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य॑ देवमृत्विजम् । होला राधात्र्तमम् ॥ ऋग्वेदात्मने सूर्यनारायणस्वामिने नमः ॥ १

Om agninile purohitam yajñasya dēvamṛtvijam. Hotaras ratnadhatamam. Rgvedätmanë sūryanārāyanasvamin namah.

1. We adore Lord Agni (Fire God) the Divine, the high priest of the sacrifice (Yajna), the Ministrant (Ritvija) who offers the oblation and also the one who dispenses the reward of the Yajna. (Here, the Lord is seen as the possessor of great wealth which He bestows as reward to worthy recipients).

Salutations to Lord Suryanarayana who is the Soul of Rig Veda (Lord who is adored in the Rig Veda)

इषे त्वोर्जेत्वा॑ वा॒यव॑स्स्थोपा॒यव॑स्स्थ दे॒वो व॑स्सवि॒ता प्रापैय श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे ॥ यजुर्वेदात्मने सूर्यनारायणस्वामित ॥२॥

rva vāyavassthōpāyavasstha dēvō vássavita prarp.. Sresthatamaya karmaņē. Yajurvēdātmane sūryanārayanasvaminë namaḥ.

2. We invoke Lord Vayu (Master of life energies), sustainer of human beings, to bestow upon us abundant energy. May God Savitur (Savita/Sun) inspire us to embark upon the noblest of deeds.

Salutations to Lord Suryanarayana who is the Soul of Yajur Veda (Lord who is adored in the Yajur Veda)

अग्र आर्याहिवीतये॑ गृणानो ह॒व्यया॑तये । निहोर्ता सत्सि बर॒हिर्षि ।। सामवेदात्मने सूर्यनारायणस्वामिने नमः ॥ ३॥

Agna āyahivītayể gọņānō havyadataye. Nihōta satsi barhişi. Sāmavēdātmanē sūryanārāyaņasvamine nanch

3. Oh Lord, giver of bountiful gifts, we adore You with dedication. May You reside in our hearts and bestow prosperity upon us.

Salutations to Lord Suryanarayana who is the Soul of Sama Veda (Lord who is adored in the Sama Veda)

शन्नों देवीरभिष्टय आपो भवन्तु पीतयें । शंयोरभिस्रवन्तु २ अथर्ववेदात्मने सूर्यनारायणस्वामिने नमः ॥ ४ ॥

Šanno dēvīrabhiştaya apo bhavantu pītaye. Samyon bhisravantu nah. Atharvavēdātmanē sūryanārāyan svāminē namaḥ.

4. O Goddess, one who fulfils our desires, may we partake of the divine water and attain health and prosperity.

Salutations to Lord Suryanarayana who is the Soul of Atharava Veda (Lord who is adored in the Atharva Veda)

(भागः – आ)

घृणिस्सूर्य आदित्यो न प्रर्भा वात्यक्षरम् । मधु क्षरनि तद॑सम् । सत्यं वै तद्रसमापो ज्योतीरसोऽमृतं ब्रह्म भूर्भुवस्स वरोम् । छायासुवर्चलाम्बा-समेत-श्री सूर्यनारायणस्वामिः नमः ।। १ ।।

Ghrnissurya ādityō na prabha vatyaksaram. Madhu kşaranti tadrasam. Satyam vai tadrasamāpō jyōtīrasō’mṛtaṁ brahma bhūrbhuvassuvarom. Chāyāsuvarcalāmbāsamēta śrī sūryanārāyaņasvāminë namaḥ.

Section B: Lord Surya as the Supreme Brahman

1. The eternal Lord Aditya (Sun) represents the Supreme Brahman, who is the Lord of the three worlds (the gross, the subtle and the causal) and is represented by the Pranava. He is the source of light and life in the universe and pervades the universe with his rays. His energy (as heat) creates the clouds which come down as rain and flow as rivers. Thus, He is the creator and the sustainer of the universe.

Salutations to Lord Sri Suryanarayana, who is accompanied by his consorts Chaya (Shadow) and Suvarchalamba (Effulgence).

त॒रण॑वि॒श्वद॑र्शतो ज्योति॒ष्कृद॑सि सूर्य । विश्वमार्भासि रोच॒नम् । उप॒या॒मनु॑हीतोऽसि॒ सूर्यांय त्वा॒ भ्राज॑स्व॒त ए॒ष ते॒ योन॒स्सूर्यांय त्वा॒ भ्राज॑स्वते । छायासुवर्चलांबा-समेत-श्री सूर्यनारायणस्वामिने नमः ।॥ २ ॥

Taranirviśvadarśatō jyotiṣkṛdasi sūrya. Viśvamābhasi rocanam. Upayamagṛhītō’si sūryaya tvā bhrājasvata ēṣa tē yōnissūryaya tvā bhrājasvate. Chāyāsuvarca- lāmbāsamēta śrī sūryanārāyaņasvāminē namaḥ

2. O Lord Surya (Sun), You are the one God whose form is visible to everyone. It is your light which helps us see You and everything else in the Universe. You are the origin of all the light of knowledge and radiance of the Spirit in this universe. Salutations to Lord Sri Suryanarayana who is accompanied by His consorts – Chaya (Shadow) and Suvarchalamba (Effulgence).

(भागः – इ)

ओं हाम् । उद्यन्नद्य मित्रमहः । मित्राय नमः ॥ १ ॥
Öm hrām. Udyannadya mitramahah. Mitrāya namah ओं ह्रीम् । आरोहन्नूत्तरां दिवम् । रवये नमः ॥ २ ॥

Öm hrīm. Arohannuttarām divam. Ravayē namah. औं हूम् । हृद्रोगं मम॑ सूर्य । सूर्याय नमः ।। ३ ।।

Öm hrüm. Hrdrögam mama sūrya. Sūryāya namaḥ. औं हैम् । हरिमाण॑ञ्च नाशय । भानवे नमः ।। ४ ।।
Auam hraim. Harimānanca nāśaya. Bhānavē namaḥ. ओं ह्रौम् । शुकॆषु मे हरिमाणम् । खगाय नमः ।। ५ ॥

Öm hraum. Śukeșu mē harimānam. Khagāya namaḥ. ओं ह्रः । रोप॒णावा॑सु॒ दध्मसि । पूष्णे नमः ।। ६ ।।
Ôm hrahah. Rōpanākasu dadhmasi. Pūsnē namaḥ. ओं ह्राम् । अर्थो हारिद्रवेषु मे । हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः ॥ ७ ॥

Ôm hrām. Athổ hāridravēsu mē. Hiranyagarbhāya namaḥ. औं ह्रीम् । ह॒र॒िमाण॒न्निद॑ध्मसि । मरीचये नमः ।। ८ ।।Auam hrīm. Harimānannidadhmasi. Marīcayē namaḥ.

Section C: The four steps in doing the Prostrations

In the following hymns, Lord Surya is addressed by twelve names starting from Mitra to Bhaskara.

Aum Mitraya namah

Aum Ravayé namah

Aum Suryaya namah

Aum Bhanavé namah

Aum Khagaya namah

Aum Pushné namah

Aum Hiranyagarbhaya namah

Aum Marichayé namah

Aum Adityaya namah

Aum Savitré namah

Aum Arkaya namah

Aum Bhaskaraya namah

Mantras that are recited while doing a physical prostration have four parts:

Step 1: In the first step, the chanting takes the following form:

Aum + 1 Beejakshara + 1 Pada of a Rucha + 1 particular name of Sun God

i) Aum: Aum signifies the powerful Pranava Mantra.

ii) Beejakshara: The six basic sounds are Aa, Ee, Eu, Ae, Ow, Aha – also known as the long vowels are the vital roots from which all other sounds are derived. Hence, they constitute the Beejaksharas or basic letters (sounds) of Surya namaskara Mantras. These six Beejaksharas are pronounced as Hraam, Hreem, Hruum, Hraim, Hrawm and Hrahah.

iii) Rucha: Each Mantra in the Veda is referred to as a Rucha. There are three Ruchas, each of them having four Padas being chanted as part of the Suryanamaskar Mantras (Each of these twelve padas are chanted in conjunction with the twelve names of the Sun)

ओं हूम् हैम् । उदंगादयमर्मादित्यः । विश्वेन सहसा सद आदित्य-सवितृभ्यां नमः ।

Öm hrüm hraim. Udagādayamadityah. Viśvena saha saha. Ādityasavitrbhyām namaḥ.

औं हौम्, ह्रः । द्विषन्त॒ मम॑ र॒न्धयं । मो अ॒हं ि र॑थम् । अर्क-भास्कराभ्यां नमः ।

Öm hraum, hrah. Dvişantam mama randhayan. Mõ ahar dvişatō ratham. Arkabhāskarābhyām namah.

ओं हाम्, ह्रीम्, हूम्, हैम् । उद्यन्न॒द्य मिंत्रमहः आरोह॒नुत्र्त्तरां दिवम् । हृद्रोगं मम॑ सूर्य । हर॒िमार्णञ्च नाशय। मि॒त्र-रवि-सूर्य-भानुभ्यो नमः ।।

Öm hrām, hrīm, hrüm, hraim. Udyannadya mitramahah. Āröhannuttarām divam. Hrdrögam mama sūrya. Harimāņañca nāśaya. Mitraravisūryabhānubhyō namaḥ.

ओं हौम्, हः, हाम् ह्रीम् । शुकैषु मे हरिमाणम् । रोप॒णावा॑सु॒ दध्मसि । अर्थो हारिद्र्वेषु मे । ह॒रिमाण॒ग्निर्द- ध्मसि । खग-पूष-हिरण्यगर्भ-मरीचिभ्यो नमः ।।

Ôm hraum, hrahah, hrām hrīm. Šukeșu mē harimānam. Rōpaņākasu dadhmasi. Athö haridravēșu mē. Harimāna- nnidadhmasi. Khagapūşahiranyagarbha-marīcibhyo namah

The chanting of the first twelve Mantras as described above constitutes the first step.

Step 2: In the second step, the chanting takes the following form

Aum + 2 Beejaksharas + 2 padas + 2 names of the Sun God

Step 3: In the third step, the chanting takes the form of: Aum + 4 Beejaksharas + 4 padas + 4 names of the Sun God

Step 4: In the fourth and the final step, the chanting is

Aum + All 6 Beejaksharas + All 12 padas (3 ruchas) + 12 names of the Sun God

Thus after all the four steps, twenty-two Mantras are chanted and with each Mantra one Suryanamaskara (physical prostration) is performed. This cycle is repeated three times to complete one Trucha Kalpa Namaskara (with sixty-six physical prostrations being performed)

Coming to the purport of these Mantras, it is necessary for us to understand the meaning of the three ruchas recited as part of Suryanamaskar and the significance of the twelve names of the Sun God.

ओं हूम्, हैम्, होम्, ह्रः । उर्दगादयमर्मादित्यः । विश्वे सहंसा सह । द्विषन्तं मर्म रन्धयन् । मो अहं द्विषतो रथम आदित्यसवित्रर्क-भास्करेभ्यो नमः ।।

Viśvena sahasā saha. Dvişantam mama randhayan. M Öm hrüm, hraim, hraum, hrahah. Udagādayamadityah aham dvişatō ratham. Adityasavitrarkabhāskarēbhy namah.

ऑ हाम्, ह्रीम्, हुम्, हेमू, ह्रौम्, ह्रः । उद्यन्नद्य मित्रमहः आरोह॒त्रुत्त॑रा॒ दिवम् । हृद्रोगं मम॑ सूर्य । ह॒र॒िमाण॑ञ्च नाशय । शुकॆषु मे हर॒माणम् । रोप॒णावा॑सु॒ दध्मसि । मित्र-रवि-सूर्य- भानु-खग-पूषभ्यो नमः ।।

Ôm hrām, hrīm, hrüm, hraim, hraum, hrahah. Udyannadya mitramahah. Arohannuttarām divam. Hrdrōgam mama sūrya. Harimāņañca nāśaya. Śukēsu mē harimānam. Rōpaņākāsu dadhmasi. Mitraravi- sūryabhānukhaga-pūṣabhyō namaḥ.

ओं हाम्, ह्रीम्, हूम्, हैम्, हौम्, ह्रः । अथो हारिद्र्वेषु मे । हर॒िमान्निद॑ध्मसि । उद॑गाद्यमा॑दि॒त्यः । विश्वे॑न॒ सह॑सा स॒ह । द्विषन्त॒ मम॑ र॒न्धयं । मो अ॒हं द्विषन्तो र॑धम् ।। हिरण्यगर्भ-मरीच्यादित्य-सवित्रर्क-भास्करेभ्यो नमः ।।

Ôm hram, hrīm, hrüm, hraim, hraum, hrahah. Athờ haridravēsu mē. Harimānannidadhmasi. Udagādaya- madityah. Viśvena sahasā saha. Dvisantam mama randhayań. Mõ aham dvişantō radham. Hiranyagarbha- marīcyādityasavitrarkabhāskarēbhyō namaḥ

The three Ruchas are:

1. O Lord Surya, rising with benevolent radiance upon me good health by removing all diseases (denoted by Hrudroga – diseases of the heart and yellowness of the body. Hrudroga denotes all diseases of the body and yellowness is symbolic of ill health).
2. O Lord Surya, may this yellowness be bestowed upon parrots, starlings and haritala trees (which makes them look more beautiful).

Note: This is a prayer to transfer the yellowness of the human body (from the reciter) to birds and plants because this would enhance their beauty.

3. O Mighty Lord Surya, I was helpless against the disease; but You have helped me my enemy overcome it with the strength You granted

ओं हाम्, ह्रीम्, हुम्, हेमू, होम्, ह्रः । आँ हाम्, हरि हूम्, हैम्, हौम्, हः । उद्यन्नद्य मित्रमहः । आरोहकर राम् दिवम् । हृद्रोगं मर्म सूर्य । हरिमार्णञ्च नाशय । शुकेषु । हरिमाणम् । रोप॒णावा॑सु॒ दध्मसि । अर्थो हारिद्र्वेषु में हारिमाण॒ग्नि-द॑ध्मसि । उद॑गाद्यमा॑दि॒त्यः । विश्वेन॒ सह॑स स॒ह । द्विषन्त॒ मम॑ रन्धयं । मो अ॒हं द्विषतो र॑थम् । मित्र रवि–सूर्य भानु-खग–पूष-हिरण्यगर्भमरीच्या-दित्य-सवित्रर्क- भास्करेभ्यो नमः ।।

Öm hrām, hrīm, hrüm, hraim, hraum, hrahah. Ôm hrām, hrīm, hrüm, hraim, hraum, hrahah. Udyannadya mitramahaḥ. Ārōhannuttarām divam. Hrdrōgam mama sūrya. Harimāņañca nāśaya. Šukėșu mē harimānam. Rōpaņākāsu dadhmasi. Athö haridravēșu mē. Harimānannidadhmasi. Udagādayamadityaḥ. Viśvēna sahasā saha. Dvişantam mama randhayan. Mō aham dvișatō ratham. Mitra ravisūrya bhānukhagapūşahiranya- garbhamarīcyāditya-savitrarka bhāskarēbhyō namaḥ.

Significance and meaning of the of Lord Surya names

The first name Mitra (friend) depicts the truth that Sun God is the friend of all beings in the Universe. Ravi refers to the One who is adored by everyone. Surya is the sustainer; Bhanu means one who dispenses beauty and splendour; Khaga is the deity who moves in the sky; Pushan is the protector; Hiranyagarbha is the origin of all strength and vitality; Mareechi is the destroyer of diseases; Aditya is the merciful benefactor; Savitur (Savita) is the bestower of wisdom; Arka means one who is worthy of adoration and praise; Bhaskara is the all powerful bestower of light and heat in the universe.

आदित्यो वा एष एतन्मण्डलं तर्पति तत्र ता ऋचस्तचा. मण्डलं स ऋचां लोकोऽथ य एष एतस्मिन्मण्डलेऽचिर्दीप्यते तानि सामा॑नि॒ स समा॒म्नां लोकोऽथ य एष एतस्मिन्मण्ड लेऽर्चष॒ पुरु॑ष॒स्तानि॒ यज॑ष॒ स यर्जुषा मण्डलं स यर्जुषां लो॒कस्सैषा त्रि॒य्येव॑ वि॒द्या त॑पति॒ य ए॒र्षोऽन्तरा॑दि॒त्ये ह॑र॒ण्मयः पुरुषः ।। छायासुवर्चलाम्बासमेत-श्रीसूर्यनारायणस्वामिने नम: ॥ १ ॥

Ādityō vā ēșa ētanmandalam tapati tatra tā rcastad rcamandalagam sa rcăm lōkō’tha ya ēșa ētasmin- mandalē’rcirdīpyatē tāni samani sa sāmnām lōkō tha ya ēsa ētasminmandalērciși puruṣastāni yajūgamși sa yajusā mandalagam sa yajuşām lōkassaişă trayyēvá vidyā tapati ya ēşö’ntaradityē hiranmayaḥ puruṣaḥ. Chāyāsuvarca- lāmbā-samētaśrīsūryanārāyaņasvāminē namaḥ.

Section 4: Meditation on Lord Surya (Aditya)

Introduction to 1st Stanza

Here Lord Aditya is adored as the abode of the Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda. Atharva Veda is the fourth one which emerged later. The Vedic knowledge was classified into 3 Vedas in the early Vedic age.

1. The orb of Lord Aditya grants light and heat (This is the physical aspect of Lord Aditya; followed later by the spiritual aspect). Aditya is the abode of all the verses of Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. Thus, He combines in Himself the threefold knowledge – Trividya (of the three Vedas). The Supreme Golden person (Hiranmaya) who is extolled in the 3 Vedas shines forth effulgently in the orb of the Sun.

Chaya (Shadow) Salutations to Lord Sri Suryanarayana who is accompanied by his consorts and Suvarchalamba (Effulgence).