Surya – The Solar Deity

Surya – The Solar Deity is one of the primary Rig Vedic deities, and his following is widespread. As the central Graha in the Navagraha Mandala, or group of nine planets, Surya is present in most Hindu temples. Surya is also the main deity of the Souram sect, which is one of six main denominations of Hinduism.

Surya with consorts
Surya with consorts

In the Navagraha Stotram of Vyasa, Surya is described as follows:

Japaa Kusuma Sankaasham Kaasya Peyam Mahaa Dyuthim |

Tamorim Sarva Paapagnam Pranatosmi Divaakaram ||

I pray to the creator of days, the destroyer of all sins, the enemy of darkness, the greatly lustered, the descendant of Kashyapa, and the one who shines like a red hibiscus.

Surya is also known as Aditya, as he is the son of Aditi and Kashyapa. When Surya married one of his consorts, Samjna, she could not bear his extraordinary radiance. Thus her father, Tvashtr, who was the artisan of the Gods, divided Surya into 12 parts of which Samjna spent one month of the year with each. Thus the 12 Adityas were born and represent a month each.

Surya’s chariot is balanced on a singular wheel, which represents time. Each revolution of the wheel marks the passing of one year. The chariot is driven by Aruna, the red one, and is drawn by seven horses. Each of these horses represents a day of the week as well as a Vedic meter and is restrained by a rein that represents a season.

Surya with his chariot and charioteer Aruna
Surya with his chariot and charioteer Aruna

Iconographically, Surya is red in complexion, youthful, and golden-haired. He faces east with two, four, or eight arms and one or three heads respectively. His three faces represent the three Sandhyas – dawn, noon, and dusk. When Surya is depicted with two hands, he holds two fully blossomed, red lotuses.

There is a close connection between Surya and lotuses. The Lotus is one flower that blooms upon the morning’s first rays of sunlight. Similarly, the Hindu concept expounded through the symbolism of Surya is that God is the sun that triggers man, a lotus, to blossom.

~Svasti~

5 Surya Mantras and Surya Namaskaram for Pleasing the Sun God

In Astrology, the Sun, represents our conscious mind and in Hinduism, the Sun God worship considered very sacred. “Surya Namaskaram” is a special bowing method to express salutation to the Sun God (Surya Deva).

 Surya is depicted as a red man with three eyes and four arms, riding in a chariot drawn by seven mares. Surya holds water lilies with two of his hands. With his third hand he encourages his worshipers whom he blesses with his fourth hand. In India,

Surya is believed to be a benevolent deity capable of healing sick people. Even today, people place the symbol of the Sun over shops because they think it would bring good fortune.

One can find many temples, all over India, dedicated to the worship of Surya. He is worshipped in the early hours of dawn, especially on Hindu festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Ratha Saptami, Chhath, and Samba Dashami. 










Surya Namaskaram and mantras to chant, while doing the Sun Salutation sequence are as follows:




a. Sun Salutation Pose: Pranamasana (Prayer pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Mitraaya Namaha
Meaning: Who is friendly to all

b. Sun Salutation Pose: Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Ravaye Namaha
Meaning: The radiant one

c. Sun Salutation Pose: Hasta Padasana (Hand to foot pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Suryaya Namaha
Meaning: Who is the dispeller of darkness and responsible for bringing activity

d. Sun Salutation Pose: Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Bhaanave Namaha
Meaning: One who illumines

e. Sun Salutation Pose: Dandasana (Stick pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Khagaya Namaha
Meaning: Who is all-pervading, one who moves through the sky

f. Sun Salutation Pose: Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute with eight parts or points)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Pooshne Namaha
Meaning: Giver of nourishment and fulfillment

g. Sun Salutation Pose: Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Hiranyagarbhaaya Namaha
Meaning: Who has golden color brilliance

h. Sun Salutation Pose: Parvatasana (Mountain pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Mareechaye Namaha
Meaning: The giver of light with infinite number of rays

i. Sun Salutation Pose: Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Aadityaaya Namaha
Meaning: The son of Aditi – the cosmic divine Mother

j. Sun Salutation Pose: Hasta Padasana (Hand to foot pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Savitre Namaha
Meaning: One who is responsible for life

k. Sun Salutation Pose: Hastauttanasana (Raised arms pose)
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Aarkaaya Namaha
Meaning: Worthy of praise and glory

l. Sun Salutation Pose: Tadasana
Sun Salutation Mantra: Om Bhaaskaraya Namaha
Meaning: Giver of wisdom and cosmic illumination








Here are some of the most popular mantras to gain blessings from the Sun God




1.Aditya Gayatri Mantra – This mantra will help to improve your situation.

Om Bhaskaraya Vidhmahe
Diva karaya Dheemahe
Thanno Surya Prachodayath

Meaning: Om, Let me meditate on the Sun God, Oh, maker of the day, give me higher intellect, And let Sun God illuminate my mind.



2. Surya Mantra to relieve you from headache- This mantra is believed to provide comfort for those persons, who are suffering from the intense pain of a headache. Lie down in a comfortable place and concentrate your mind on the place where you feel the pain and chant this simple mantra for 10 minutes.

Om Karyaaya Namah



3. Aditya Hrudayam Mantra- This mantra can be used to thank Surya Dev, if you cannot find enough time to practice “Surya Namaskaram”.

Aadhitya Hrudhaya Punyam
Sarva Sathru Vinaasanam
Jayaavaham Jabe nithyam
Akshayam Paramam Shivam



4. Lord Surya Mantra

Namah Suryaya Shantaya Sarvaroga Nivaarine
Ayu rarogya maisvairyam dehi devah jagatpate

Meaning:  O! Lord Surya, ruler of the universe, you are the remover of all diseases, the repository of peace. I bow to you and please bless your devotees with long life, health, and wealth.

5. Aditya Hrudhayam:  This mantra appears in Ramayana and was dictated by Sage Agasthiya to Lord Rama in the battlefield. The word ‘Hridaya’ means that which is especially nourishing and healing for the heart or heart of Aditya. The word hridayam refers to the One who is shining or dwelling in the heart. Aditya is derived from “ad” meaning “to enjoy” or to perceive all sense objects like sound, touch, form, taste, and smell, after entering the heart.

1. Thatho yuddha parishraantam samare chintayaa sthitam
Raavanam chaagrato drishtvaa yuddhaaya samupasthitam



2. Daivataishcha samaagamya drashtu mabhyaagato ranam
Upaagamyaabraveed raamam agastyo bhagavaan rishihee



3. Raama Raama mahaa baaho shrunu guhyam sanaatanam
Yena sarvaanareen vatsa samare vijayishyasi



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



5. Sarva mangala maangalyam sarva paapa pranaashanam
Chintaa shoka prashamanam ayur vardhanamuttamam



6. Rashmi mantam samudyantam devaasura namaskritam
Poojayasva vivasvantam bhaaskaram bhuvaneshvaram



7. Sarva devaatmako hyeshaha tejasvee rashmi bhaavanaha
Esha devaasura ganaan lokaan paati gabhastibhih



8. Esha brahmaa cha vishnuscha shivah skandah prajaapatih
Mahendro dhanadah kaalo yamassomo hyappam patih



9. Pitaro vasavassaadhyaa hyashvinou maruto manuh
Vaayur vahnih prajaah praana ritukartaa prabhaakaraha



10. Aadityassavitaa sooryah khagah pooshaa gabhastimaan
Suvarna sadrisho bhaanur hiranyaretaa divaakaraha



11. Haridashwah sahasraarchih sapta saptir mareechimaan
Tmironmathanah shambhuh stvashtaa maartanda amshumaan



12. Hiranya garbhah shishirah tapano bhaaskaro ravih
Agni garbhoditeh putrah shankhah shishira naashanah



13. Vyoma naathah stamo bhedee rig yajussaama paaragah
Ghana vrishti rapaam mitro vindhya veethee plavagamah



14. Aatapee mandalee mrityuh pingalah sarva taapanah
Kavir vishwo mahaa tejaa raktassarva bhavod bhavah



15. Nakshatra graha taaraanaam adhipo vishva bhaavanah
Tejasaamapi tejasvee dvaadashaatman namostute



16. Namah poorvaaya giraye paschimaayaadraye namah
Jyotirganaanaam pataye dinaadhipataye namaha



17. Jayaaya jaya bhadraaya haryashvaaya namo namaha
Namo namah sahasraamsho aadityaaya namo namaha



18. Nama ugraaya veeraaya saarangaaya namo namaha
Namah padma prabodhaaya maartaandaaya namo namaha



19. Brahmeshaanaachyuteshaaya sooryaayaaditya varchase
Bhaasvate sarva bhakshaaya roudraaya vapushe namah



20. Tamoghnaaya himaghnaaya shatrughnaaya mitaatmane
Kritaghaghnaaya devaaya jyotishaam pataye namaha



21. Tapta chaameekaraabhaaya vahnaye vishwa karmane
Namastamobhi nighnaaya ruchaye loka saakshine



22. Naashayatyesha vai bhootam tadeva srijati prabhuh
Paayatyesha tapatyesha varshatyesha gabhastibhih



23. Esha supteshu jaagarti bhooteshu pari nishthitah
Esha chaivaagni hotrancha phalam chivaagni hotrinaam



24. Vedaashcha kratavashchaiva kratoonaam phalameva cha
Yaani krityaani lokeshu sarva esha ravih prabhuh



25. Enam aapatsu krichchreshu kaantaareshu bhayeshu cha
Keertayan purushah kashchin naavaseedati raaghava



26. Poojayasvaina mekaagro deva devam jagatpatim
Etat trigunitam japtvaa yuddheshu vijayishyasi



27. Asmin kshane mahaa baaho raavanam tvam vadhishyasi
Evamuktvaa tadaagastyo jagaama cha yathaagatam



28. Etachchrutvaa mahaa tejaa nashta shoko bhavattadaa
Dhaarayaamaasa supreeto raghavah prayataatmavaan



29. Aadityam prekshya japtvaa tu param harshamavaaptavaan
Triraachamya shuchir bhootvaa dhanu raadaaya veeryavaan



30. Raavanam prekshya hirshtaatmaa yuddhaaya samupaagamatu
Sarva yatnena mahataa vadhe tasya dhrito bhavatu



Atha ravi ravadannirikshya raamam
mudita manaah paramam prahrishyamaanah
Nishi chara pati samkshayam viditvaa
suragana madhyagato vachastvareti




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