.. A:edty:Ædy:m:Î - n:am:av:el:H ..
Commentary with Namavali : N.Balasubramanian bbalu at satyam.net.in
INTRODUCTION.
Aditya Hridayam is a popular hymn. It appears in the Yuddhakandam in Valmiki's
Ramayana. It is a prayer to Aditya. One meaning of "Aditya" is the sun. But,
in this hymn "Aditya" is to be taken to signify the Supreme Being. "Hridayam"
is known to mean the heart; but it also means secret. The prayer holds in
itself the secret teachings of the upanishads about the Supreme Being. The
various names of the Lord mentioned in the hymn are of great significance
and so justify the name "hridayam". Given below are the 138 names of the
Lord n:am:av:el:H. culled from the hymn. They come handy for those who
want to do prostrations to the Lord while uttering each name and those who
want to do puja to the Lord. Those who want to do puja may invoke the Lord
in a design (rangoli) or a picture or in a pot of water and perform archana
after reciting each name. They are also suitable for reciting by those who,
for some reason are not able to do any of the above or recite the hymn in full.
(The following abbreviations are used in the comments given below.
VS - Vishnu Sahasranamam with the commentary of Shri Sankaracharya.
LS - Lalitha Sahasranamam)
The Aditya Hridayam, as we all know, was taught by the sage Agastya to
Shri Rama in the battle field. The battle with Ravana was fierce and
long-drawn. Rama was tired and concerned at the fact that the end was not
in sight. At that time the sage appeared on the scene and taught Aditya
Hridayam. He advised Shri Rama to worship Surya and repeat the verses three
times. He said that by doing so the Lord will be pleased wirth his devotion
and ensure victory in the battle
p:Üj:y:sv:òn:m:ðkag:Ò:ð dðv:dðv:ö j:g:tp:et:m:Î . Ot:t:Î e*:g:ØeN:t:ö j:ptv:a
y:عð\:Ø ev:j:ey:\y:es: .
Before proceeding further, some questions may arise in the minds of the
reader who has some familiarity with this hymn.
1 - Who is Aditya? Is He the same as the sun we see rising and setting
daily or some one different?
2 - Why does the sage ask Shri Rama to recite the prayer three times?
3 - And lastly, we know that Shri Rama was an avatar or incarnation of the
Supreme Being. This being so, why should He be asked to pray to some one?
The answer to these questions require some explanation. They are given below.
THE LORD'S MANIFESTATIONS. The upanishads say that the Supreme Being or
the Lord (will be called as He here) is without any attributes including
form.. But He manifests Himself in three forms for the benefit of His devotees.
1 - In the gross form sT:Ül: -p:ðN: . The eyes cannot see Him, because
He is the power behind the eyes. So, the kindly Lord makes Himself visible
in the form of Aditya or the sun. Shri Rudram (7th and 8th Rik) says this.
As::ò y:st:am:Ò:ð A,N: ut: b:B:ÒØH s:Øm:¤l:H .
As::ò y::ð|v:s:p:üet: n:il:g:Òiv::ð ev:l::ðeht:H.
ut:òn:ö g::ðp:a AdáS:ÀdáS:ÀØdhay:üH .
ut:òn:ö ev:Ã:aB:Üt:aen: s: dáÄ:ð m:àRy:aet: n:H..
This Sun who is copper colored when he rises, then slightly rosy-red, then
golden-yellow, this highly auspicious and beneficient one is verily Rudra. The
Lord Rudra with the blue throat who has assumed the form of the sun glows
red while rising. Him the cowherds behold and so the women carrying water;
nay all the creatures. He who is thus beheld by all; may He bless us with
happiness. Since He resides in the skies He is known as ev:hay:s:g:et:H -
ev:hay:s:ö g:et:H A:Â:y::ð|sy:ðet: ev:hay:s:g:et:H. (VS 876).
The sun provides the world with warmth, light, rain etc. They give life to all
in this planet and also sustain life. So, the sun has the functions of Brahma
the creator, Narayana the sustainer and Sankara the destroyer rolled into one.
The following prayer recited during Sandhyavandanam says all this.
n:m:H s:ev:*:ð j:g:dðk c:x:Ø\:ð j:g:t:Î )s:Üet: esT:et:n:aS: hðt:v:ð.
ev:ereWc: n:aray:N: S:ökratm:n:ð.
2 - In the subtle form s:Üxm: -p:ðN: He is the inner being who
bleses the sun and gives him his radiance. This is said in many places
in the scriptural texts. Some such cases are cited here for reference.
A:edty:H - A:edty:m:NRl:ant:HsT::ð ehrNm:y:H p:Ø,\:H A:edty:H; y:T:aedty: Ok
Ov:an:ðkñ\:Ø j:l:B:aj:n:ð\:Ø An:ðkv:t:Î\ )et:B:as:t:ð Ov:m:n:ðkñ\:Ø S:rirð\:Ø Ok
Ov:atm:an:ðkv:t:Î )et:B:as:t: Eet: A:edty:s:aDmy:a¾a A:edty:H. VS (39). He is
the Golden-hued Being resident in the solar disc. Or, just as one sun appears
as many in many vessels containing water, so also the same Atma appears as
many in many bodies. So, He is known as Aditya. jy::ðet:raedty:H - jy::ðet:e\:
s:ev:t:àm:NRl:ð esT:t::ð jy::ðet:raedty:H. VS (564). He resides in the sun.
B:an:Øm:NRl:m:Dy:sT:a - B:an:Øm:NRl:sy: s:Üy:üm:NRl:sy: m:Dy:ð et:Åt:iet:
t:T:a. s:öDy:as:m:y:ð dðvy:ast:*: Dy:ðy:tv:at:Î. LS (275). She resides in
the solar disc. She is to be meditated upon during the evening prayers.
We meditate on Narayana who resides in the sun with the following prayer
recited during our Sandhyavandanam.
Dy:ðy:H s:da s:ev:t:àm:NRl:- m:Dy:v:t:iü n:aray:N:
s:res:j:as:n:- s:öen:ev:ÄH. kñy:Ürv:n:Î m:kr- kÙNRl:v:an:Î ekriXi
hari ehrNm:y:v:p:ØH D:àt:- S:öK:c:#H..
Similarly we are advised to meditate upon Lord Siva along with Amba in the
sun and get relieved from the cyclic births.
s::òrm:NRl: m:Dy:sT:ö s:aöb:ö s:ös:arB:ð\:j:m:Î.
n:il:g:Òiv:ö ev:-p:ax:ö n:m:aem: eS:v:m:vy:y:m:Î..
The Mundaka Upanishad makes a more detailed narration. (II-ii-9 and 10).
t:cCÙB:Òö jy::ðet:\:aö jy::ðet:st:½datm:ev:d:ð ev:dÙH. It is pure, and
is the Light of lights which the knowers of the Self realise. t:m:ðv:
B:ant:m:n:ØB:aet: s:v:üö t:sy: B:as:a s:v:üem:dö ev:B:aet:. Everything
shines according as He does so: by His light all this shines diversely.
Shri Sankarchrya explaines in his commentary that the Supreme Being is
naturally effulgent. All this - the universe constituted by sun etc., shines
diversely. It is that very Brahman that illuminates and shines through the
different manifested lights. Shri Krishna says this specifically in His
Bhagavad Gita. (15-12). He says that the light that resides in the sun and
illuminates the whole world, that which is seen in the moon and fire are
all His only.
y:daedty:g:t:ö t:ðj::ð j:g:»as:y:t:ð|eK:l:m:Î. y:cc:ndÓm:es:
y:cc:gn::ò t:¶:ðj::ð ev:e¹ m:am:km:Î..
3 - In the causal form karN: -p:ðN: as the Self residng in the heart of
all beings. He is known as
B:Üt:atm:a - B:Üt:an:am:atm:a Ant:y:aüm:iet: B:Üt:atm:a .
\"O\: t: A:tm:ant:y:aümy:m:àt:H\"
( b:à- u 7. 3- 22) Eet: Â:Øt:ðH. VS(8).
s:v:aünt:y:aüem:N:i - s:v:ðü\:am:nt:HkrN:en:y:am:k Eet: .
\"O\:Î t: A:tm:ant:y:aümy:m:àt:\" Ety:nt:y:aüem:b:ÒaÉN:at:Î. LS(818).
Shri Krishna says this clearly in the Gita. BG (10-20). He says that He
is the Self residing in the heart of all beings. He is the beginning,
the middle and also the end.
Ahm:atm:a g:ØRakñS: s:v:üB:Üt:aS:y:esT:t:H. Ahm:aedÁ: m:Dy:ö
c: B:Üt:an:am:nt: Ov: c:..
The worship of Surya by chanting the verses thrice implies the worship of
the Supreme Being in all the three forms - in the gross form as the Sun,
the worship of Supreme Being in the subtle form as the power behind the
Sun and, in the causal form as the sentience resident in the heart of all
beings as explained above. We may find in the list of names (namavali)
that follows names that support the above explanation.
After teaching the Aditya Hridayam the sage left the place and joined the gods
(devas) who have assembled in the sky above the battle field to witness the
war between Shri Rama and Ravana.
Aesm:n:Î x:N:ð m:hab:ah:ð rav:N:ö tv:ö v:eD:\y:es:. Ov:m:ØVtv:a t:dag:sty::ð
j:g:am: c: y:T:ag:t:m:Î..
Earlier Shri Rama was concerned as to how he can win the battle with Ravana
as the events were not going his way. But on hearing the advice from the
sage Agastya, he regained his confidence and became cheerful. He chanted the
Aditya Hridayam stotram as advised by the sage and got ready to face Ravana.
rav:N:ö )ðxy: ÆÄatm:a y:عay: s:m:Øp:ag:t:m:Î. s:v:üy:tn:ðn: m:ht:a
v:D:ð t:sy: D:àt::ð|B:v:t:Î..
Surya Bhagavan was pleased by Shri Rama chanting the Aditya Hridayam properly
with devotion. He came down from His region and joined the group of gods
who have assembled in the sky above the battle field to watch the events. He
encouraged Shri Rama to go ahead and fight Ravana. He was sure that Rama
will kill Ravana and emerge victorious in the war.
AT: rev:rv:deÀrixy: ram:ö m:Øedt:m:n:aH p:rm:ö )Æ\y:m:aN:H.
en:eS:c:rp:et:s:öx:y:ö ev:edtv:a s:Ørg:N:m:Dy:g:t::ð v:c:stv:rðet:..
Now, we take up the question No. (3) mentioned earlier. That is, Shri
Ramayana says that Shri Rama was an incarnation of Shri Narayana or the
Supreme Being. We find in the Valmiki Ramayana (Yuddha Kanda - chapter 120)
that after Shri Rama won the battle with Ravana, the gods including Brahma,
Rudra and others approached Shri Rama, praised him and said that he is none
other than the Supreme Being Narayana.
B:v:an:Î n:aray:N::ð dðv:H Â:im:an:Î c:#ay:ØD::ð ev:B:ØH.
This being so, is it appropriate for Shri Rama to worship the Sun god? Does it
not imply that the Sun god is superior even to Shri Rama who is not different
from the Supreme Being? The answer to this question is as follows. The Sun
god mentioned in this Aditya Hridayam is not the solar disc but the Supreme
Being rsiding in the sun. This is said in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (3-7-9)
y:H A:edty:ð et:Ån:Î A:edty:adnt:rH, y:m:aedty::ð n: v:ðd,
y:sy:aedty:H S:rirm:Î, y: A:edty:m:nt:r:ð y:m:y:et:, O\: t:
A:tm:ant:y:aümy:m:àt:H..
He who inhabits the sun, but is within it, whom the sun does not know, whose
body is the sun, and who controls the sun from within, is the Internal Ruler,
your own immortal self. This was said earlier also.
That the Surya Bhagavan referred to here is the supreme Being only is amply
made clear as He is called herein (name no. 109) as the Lord of Brahma,
Isha or Siva and Achyuta or Vishnu b:ÒÉðS:an:acy:Øt:ðS:ay: n:m:H.
How can the sun be the Lord of the three gods mentioned here? So, one has
to conclude that the Aditya is only the Supreme Being. Shri Rama took on
the role of a human being just to teach us the way to live, not just to
destroy the demons. m:ty:aüv:t:ar- estv:h m:ty:üeS:x:N:ö rx::ðv:D:ay:òv: n:
kñv:l:ö ev:B::ðH.BH(5-19-5) He wanted to show that when one is confronted
with a seemingly difficult situation that appears to defy solution, he can
overcome it by resorting to God. Shri Krishna gave Arjuna the same advice
on the KurukShetra battle field. He told Arjuna that he will overcome all
difficulties by fixing his mind on Him the Lord. Shri Krishna added a warning
that if Arjuna failed to heed His advice, and, if from egotism he thought he
can manage the affairs himself, he will then be doomed to fail.. BG(18-58).
m:ecc:¶:H s:v:üdÙg:aüeN: m:t)s:ada¶:er\y:es:. AT:
c:ð¶v:m:h¢araÀ Â::ð\y:es: ev:n:{Ïxy:es:..
This, then, is the lesson we learn from Aditya Hridayam. To repeat, we should
turn to Lord when confronted with problems that threaten to overwhelm us. Now,
given below are the names n:am:av:el:H. of Lord Surya.
.. A:edty:Ædy:m:Î n:am:av:el:H ..
! reSm:m:t:ð n:m:H .
! s:m:ؽt:ð n:m:H .
! dðv:as:Ørn:m:skát:ay: n:m:H .
! ev:v:sv:t:ð n:m:H .
! B:askray: n:m:H . 5.
! B:Øv:n:ðÃ:ray: n:m:H .
! s:v:üdðv:atm:kay: n:m:H .
! t:ðj:esv:n:ð n:m:H .
! reSm:B:v:n:ay: n:m:H .
! dðv:as:Ørg:N:l::ðkp:al:ay: n:m:H . 10.
! b:ÒÉN:ð n:m:H .
! ev:\N:v:ð n:m:H .
! eS:v:ay: n:m:H .
! sknday: n:m:H .
! )j:ap:t:y:ð n:m:H . 15.
! m:hðndÓay: n:m:H .
! D:n:day: n:m:H .
! kal:ay: n:m:H .
! y:m:ay: n:m:H .
! s::ðm:ay: n:m:H . 20.
! Ap:aöp:t:y:ð n:m:H .
! ep:t:àm:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H .
! v:s:Øm:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H .
! s:aDy:m:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H .
! AeÃ:m:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H . 25.
! m:,nm:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H .
! m:n:v:ð n:m:H .
! v:ay:Øm:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H .
! v:Èy:ð n:m:H .
! )j:m:Üt:üy:ð n:m:H . 30.
! )aN:ay: n:m:H .
! ?t:v:ð n:m:H .
! k*:ðü n:m:H .
! )B:akray: n:m:H .
! A:edty:ay: n:m:H . 35.
! s:ev:*:ð n:m:H .
! s:Üy:aüy: n:m:H .
! K:g:ay: n:m:H .
! p:Ü\N:ð n:m:H .
! g:B:est:m:t:ð n:m:H . 40.
! s:Øv:N:üs:dáS:ay: n:m:H .
! B:an:v:ð n:m:H .
! ehrNy:rðt:s:ð n:m:H .
! edv:akray: n:m:H .
! herdÃ:ay: n:m:H . 45.
! s:h+aec:ü\:ð n:m:H .
! s:pt:s:pt:y:ð n:m:H .
! m:riec:m:t:ð n:m:H .
! et:em:r:ðnm:T:n:ay: n:m:H .
! S:öB:v:ð n:m:H . 50.
! tv:\XÕð n:m:H .
! m:at:aüNRay: n:m:H .
! AöS:Øm:t:ð n:m:H .
! ehrNy:g:B:aüy: n:m:H .
! eS:eS:ray: n:m:H . 55.
! t:p:n:ay: n:m:H .
! B:askray: n:m:H .
! rv:y:ð n:m:H .
! Aegn:g:B:aüy: n:m:H .
! Aedt:ðHp:Ø*:ay: n:m:H . 60.
! S:öK:ay: n:m:H .
! eS:eS:rn:aS:n:ay: n:m:H .
! vy::ðm:n:aT:ay: n:m:H .
! t:m::ðB:ðedn:ð n:m:H .
! ?gy:j:ØHs:am:p:arg:ay: n:m:H . 65.
! G:n:v:àÄy:ð n:m:H .
! Ap:aöem:*:ay: n:m:H .
! ev:nDy:v:iT:ipl:v:¤m:ay: n:m:H .
! A:t:ep:n:ð n:m:H .
! m:NRel:n:ð n:m:H . 70.
! m:àty:v:ð n:m:H .
! ep:¤l:ay: n:m:H .
! s:v:üt:ap:n:ay: n:m:H .
! kv:y:ð n:m:H .
! ev:Ã:sm:ò n:m:H . 75.
! m:hat:ðj:s:ð n:m:H .
! rVt:ay: n:m:H .
! s:v:üB:v::ð»v:ay: n:m:H .
! n:x:*:g:Òht:araN:aö AeD:p:ay: n:m:H .
! ev:Ã:B:av:n:ay: n:m:H . 80.
! t:ðj:s:am:ep: t:ðj:esv:n:ð n:m:H .
! ¾adS:atm:n:ð n:m:H .
! EndÓay: n:m:H .
! D:a*:ð n:m:H .
! B:g:ay: n:m:H . 85.
! p:Ü\N:ð n:m:H .
! em:*:ay: n:m:H .
! v:,N:ay: n:m:H .
! Ay:üm:N:ð n:m:H .
! Aec:ü\m:t:ð n:m:H . 90.
! ev:v:sv:t:ð n:m:H .
! tv:\XÕð n:m:H .
! s:ev:*:ð n:m:H .
! ev:\N:v:ð n:m:H .
! p:Üv:aüy:eg:ry:ð n:m:H . 95.
! p:eÁ:m:ay:adÓy:ð n:m:H .
! jy::ðet:g:üN:an:aöp:t:y:ð n:m:H .
! edn:aeD:p:t:y:ð n:m:H .
! j:y:ay: n:m:H .
! j:y:B:dÓay: n:m:H . 100.
! hy:üÃ:ay: n:m:H .
! s:h+aöS:v:ð n:m:H .
! A:edty:ay: n:m:H .
! ug:Òay: n:m:H .
! v:iray: n:m:H . 105.
! s:arög:ay: n:m:H .
! p:¼)b::ðday: n:m:H .
! )c:NRay: n:m:H .
! b:ÒÉðS:an:acy:Øt:ðS:ay: n:m:H .
! s:Üy:aüy: n:m:H . 110.
! A:edty:v:c:üs:ð n:m:H .
! B:asv:t:ð n:m:H .
! s:v:üB:x:ay: n:m:H .
! r:òdÓy: v:p:Ø\:ð n:m:H .
! t:m::ðGn:ay: n:m:H . 115.
! ehm:Gn:ay: n:m:H .
! S:*:ØGn:ay: n:m:H .
! Aem:t:atm:n:ð n:m:H .
! kát:Gn:Gn:ay: n:m:H .
! dðv:ay: n:m:H . 120.
! jy::ðet:\:aöp:t:y:ð n:m:H .
! t:pt:c:am:ikraB:ay: n:m:H .
! v:Èy:ð n:m:H .
! ev:Ã:km:üN:ð n:m:H .
! t:m::ðeB:en:Gn:ay: n:m:H . 125.
! G:àN:y:ð n:m:H .
! l::ðks:aex:N:ð n:m:H .
! B:Üt:s\XÕð n:m:H .
! B:Üt:p:al:ay: n:m:H .
! B:Üt:n:aS:ay: n:m:H . 130.
! p:ay:t:ð n:m:H .
! t:p:t:ð n:m:H .
! v:\:üt:ð n:m:H .
! s:Øpt:ð\:Ø j:ag:Òt:ð n:m:H .
! B:Üt:ð\:Ø p:eren:eÅt:ay: n:m:H . 135.
! Aegn:h:ð*:ay: n:m:H .
! Aegn:h:ðe*:N:aö Pl:ay: n:m:H .
! p:rm:s:m:T:aüy: p:rb:ÒÉN:ð n:m:H . 138.
Encoded and proofread by N.Balasubramanian bbalu at satyam.net.in
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