mantra

With today’s update I am finishing my blog on Aditya Hrudayam. Before bidding adieu I would like to say a few words about the making of the blog. I would like to acknowledge the people/characters and the events that galvanized the blog.

As those who know me know already, this blog is a concoction of three of my greatest passions in life namely sun, science and samskrita shlokas. It started (unknown to me then) in Jan 2009 with an idol of lord Surya. This Surya in photo 1 is the primal force that played a major role in transforming me into a heliophile. The Surya in photo 2, the most adorable of all, is my chief source of inspiration for this blog and beyond. The third Surya I like to acknowledge is a stunning sculpture that decorates our formal living room thanks to Kyle Tortora (photo 4) of Lotus Sculpture https://www.lotussculpture.com/. Artisans from Swamimalai took two years to sculpt this masterpiece. Though priced at a premium the gratification of gazing and chanting Aditya Hrudayam to this showpiece every morning (which I do to my heart’s content) is unparalleled and priceless.

The critical inflection point for this blog came in the summer of 2017 in the form of the Great American eclipse (photo 5). This cosmic bliss lasted less than 2 minutes in real time but was so gripping that it left in me a lifetime’s worth of impact. In some ways it changed my perception of life. It was after this spectacle I learnt Aditya Hrudayam so effortlessly in less than one week. As a scientist what fascinates me incredibly is the fact that this hymn composed in Treta Yuga accurately states several facts about sun which modern science with all its technological advantage could discover only much later. Take the depiction of sun for example. The seven horses represent the seven colors of the visible spectrum and the serpents that yoke the seven horses are symbolic of the wavy nature of light (snakes like light move curvy not a straight line). What else can I say!! That is precisely why, in a very spontaneous/spur of the moment type of thing, I decided to blog Aditya Hrudayam, focusing mainly on the scientific themes. Since last summer I have been methodically documenting one shloka a week with my commentaries and scientific interpretations. Up until now I never knew I had this kind of discipline in me. In fact, outside of the realms of daily life and work routines this is the only time where true to self I have shown some form of commitment, discipline and sincerity in doing something solid and productive. This whole blogging experience has been intellectually stimulating, emotionally empowering and therapeutic, all at the same time.

Finally before wrapping up, I would like to acknowledge all the followers from the bottom of my heart ( there are a few and I know you all). Your interest was a great tonic. Thanks for your time, interest, patience (with some of the lengthy posts 😮), likes, comments and suggestions. May lord Surya bless you with His divine and luminous intellect and lead to success in all your endeavors.

धन्यवादः पुनः मिलामः च । Thanks and Goodbye!

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 36
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 31

A quick special note on the concluding verse – Aditya Hrudayam is set to 8 syllable poetic meter called Anushtup but this last 31st verse is set to a special 12 syllable meter called Jagati. It is very common in many shlokas to have the last verse in a different poetic meter.

अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं 
मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः । 
निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा 
सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥ 31 ॥

Atha raviravadannirīkṣya rāmaṃ
muditamanāḥ paramaṃ prahṛṣyamāṇaḥ ।
niśicarapatisaṃkṣayaṃ viditvā
suragaṇamadhyagato vacastvareti ॥ 31 ॥

Meaning:

Then, knowing fully that destruction of the head of the asuras (who are active and move around at night) was inevitable and near, lord Surya, surrounded by other devas in heaven looked at Rama delightfully and exclaimed “Hurry up” (Finish the job).

अथ Atha – then 
रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य ravi avadan nirīkṣy – sun God said (looking)
रामम् rāmaṃ – at Rama
मुदितमनाः muditamanāḥ – of delighted mind
परमम् paramaṃ – extreme
हृष्यमाणः prahṛṣyamāṇaḥ – with pleasure
निशिचरपति niśicarapati – Head of the asuras
संक्षयम् saṃkṣayaṃ – complete destruction
विदित्वा viditvā – having known (the outcome)
सुरगणमध्यगतः suragaṇamadhyagah – surrounded by Gods
वचस्त्वरेति 
(वचः त्वर इति) vacah tvar iti – spoke the words “Hurry up”

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 35
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 30

रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत् । 
सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत् ॥ 30 ॥

Rāvaṇaṃ prekṣya hṛṣṭātmā yuddhāya samupāgamat।
sarvayatnena mahatā vadhe tasya dhṛto’bhavat॥ 30 ॥

Meaning:

The cheerful Rama (joyous soul), looking at Ravana approaching him to wage a war, was determined (to win) and collectively put all his mighty efforts and to slay him (Ravana).

रावणम् Rāvaṇaṃ – at Ravana
प्रेक्ष्य prekṣya – looking towards
हृष्टात्मा hṛṣṭātmā – joyous soul (Rama)
युद्धाय yuddhāya – to fight a war
समुपागमत् samupāgamat – approaching
सर्व sarva – all, collective
यत्नेन yatnena – efforts
महता mahatā – mighty
वधे vadhe – to slay
तस्य tasya – him (Ravana)
धृतो dhṛto’ – determined, pledged
अभवत् abhavat – became

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 34
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 29

आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान्। 
त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्॥ 29 ॥

Adityaṃ prekṣya japtvā tu paraṃ harṣamavāptavān । 
trirācamya śucirbhūtvā dhanurādāya vīryavān ॥ 29 ॥

Meaning:

Gazing towards the sun, Rama recited the shloka (thrice) and became very happy and thrilled. After purifying himself by sipping the water three times (performed ācamanam) the brave Rama lifted his bow. (got ready for the battle).

Acamanam is the act of sipping water from the base of the thumb while reciting 21 different names of Vishnu. Per Hindu traditions it is an important ritual of spiritual and scientific significance. Spiritually this act is believed to purify the individual of the three types of flaws namely physical (kaya), verbal (vacha) and mental (manasa). Scientifically, it is an act performed to invigorate a person mentally. It improves cognitive performance immediately. Compared to drinking large amounts of water sipping 2-3 times re-invigorates the mind by helping to bring the full focus of the mind on the specific thoughts related to the job on hand. It is an act of mental rather than physiological significance. This is the reason why we see people sipping (not gulping) water while doing judicial/congressional testimonies, scientific presentations, job interviews etc.

आदित्यं Adityaṃ – lord Surya
प्रेक्ष्य prekṣya – looking towards
जप्त्वा japtvā – repeating the prayer (doing japam)
तु tu – indeed
परं paraṃ – highly
हर्षम harṣam – happy, joy
अवाप्तवान् avāptavān – became
त्रि tri– thrice
आचम्य ācamya – sipping water (performing Acamanam)
शुचिर् śucir-purifying
भूत्वा bhūtvā – after 
धनु dhanu – bow
आदाय ādāya – lifted 
वीर्यवान् vīryavān – the brave, valiant

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 33
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 28

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा। 
धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान्॥ 28॥

Etacchrutvā mahātejā naṣṭaśoko’bhavattadā। 
dhārayāmāsa suprīto rāghavaḥ prayatātmavān॥ 28 ॥

Meaning:

Having listened to this (Aditya Hrudayam), the brilliant Rama was freed of all worries. He was very pleased and took a delightful appearance and piously set out (to recite Agastya’s advise)

The remaining few verses (I think) are Valmiki’s narration of what happened after Sage Agastya left. In my opinion, he wrote these few verses to describe the scene after the prayer so that it appears complete to the readers. Here Valmiki is absolutely flawless and shows his versatility as a poet. He concludes the chapter on Aditya Hrudayam in itself but maintains the thrill of the story by saving the climax (outcome of the war) for the next chapter.

एत Etat – this
च्छ्रुत्वा chrutvā – after listening
महातेजा mahātejā – brilliant, splendid
नष्ट naṣṭa – lost
शोको śoko – worries, sorrows
भवत्तदा bhavattadā – became
धारयामास dhārayāmāsa – wore
सुप्रीतो suprīto – pleased
राघवः rāghavaḥ – Raaghava (refers to Rama)
प्रयतात्मवान् prayatātmavān – intended, piously disposed

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 32
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 27

फलश्रुतिः/ Phalashruti:

अस्मिन् क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि।
एवमुक्त्वा ततोगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम्॥ 27 ॥

Asmin kṣaṇe mahābāho rāvaṇaṃ tvaṃ vadhiṣyasi।
evamuktvā tatogastyo jagāma ca yathāgatam॥ 27 ॥

Meaning:

O mighty armed (Rama), at this very moment in time you will slay Ravana (also the Ravanas in our minds). After speaking thus (predicting Rama’s victory over Ravana), sage Agastya left tracing his steps back in the same manner as he arrived.

Summing up all the phala shruthis, chanting Aditya Hrudayam destroys enemies, ensures victory, invites success, keeps us in bliss, gives prosperity, auspiciousness, destroys all sins, sorrows, worries, confers longevity and good health, will help overcome threats and dangers to mind and body.

Scientifically, sun boosts mood and metabolism. It helps keep a positive attitude. It is true that attitude is every thing in life. We are what our minds think. If what we think is positive, it will reflect in our thoughts, intentions, words, actions and hence the results will also be positive and life will be successful.

Spiritually, according to Hindu philosophy all things in this world, living and non-living, have three basic attributes.

1.Sattva (state of contentment)
intelligence/constructive/balance/clarity/inspiration/bliss

2. Rajas (state of ebb and flow)
materiality/chaos/change/agitation/attachment/anxiety

3.Tamas (state of hollowness)
ignorance/destructive/inertia/lethargy/obstruction/depression

Of the three attributes, the one that brings sustained success is Sattva. Success is primarily an outcome of state of harmony and balance. The resources and circumstances (whether favorable or unfavorable) are tangential and immaterial.

It is my opinion that controlling the mind by keeping a state of balance and harmony is key to success in life. Aditya Hrudayam and sun worship help us precisely with that. It is the absolute truth and no maya or mantra.

अस्मिन् Asmin – at this very
क्षणे kṣaṇe – moment in time
महाबाहो mahābāho – strong arms (addressing Rama)
रावणं rāvaṇaṃ – Ravana
त्वं tvaṃ – you
वधिष्यसि vadhiṣyasi – will kill, slay
एवम् evam – thus
उक्त्वा uktvā – speaking
ततो tadā – then
अगस्त्यो āgastyo – sage Agastya
जगाम jagāma – left, returned
च ca – and, also 
यथागतम् yathāgatam – retraced in the same manner

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 31
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 26

फलश्रुतिः/ Phalashruti:

पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम्। 
एतत् त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि॥ 26 ॥

Pūjayasvainamekāgro devadevaṃ jagatpatim । 
etat triguṇitaṃ japtvā yuddheṣu vijayiṣyasi ॥ 26 ॥

Meaning: (as addressed by Agastya to Rama)

“If you worship this lord of all other Gods, the master of this universe with a concentrated mind and recite this hymn three times you will emerge victorious in this battle”.

Even though sage Agastya addresses this to lord Rama, the real audience for this critical take home message, in my opinion, is us.

The underlying metaphorical meaning (as addressed to us)

If we chant this shloka with a concentrated mind and pure body and worship sun regularly, we will also defeat the ten headed demon (all the negativities in our mind) and emerge victorious in the battle (of life), every single time.

The above narrative in Ramayana shows how Aditya Hrudayam and sun worship manifests with enormous potency instantaneously in Rama. Similarly, regular sun worship over time will manifest as power and attitude in our mind and body to trounce any physical or emotional adversity.

It is repeatedly reiterated throughout this shloka that lord Surya drives away the darkness from the Cosmos. Similarly, He is the most powerful force who can drive out the darkness residing in our minds. There is no doubt that Aditya Hrudayam will synchronize the mind, body and intellect to achieve the benefits listed in phala shruthi.

पूजयस्व Pūjayasva – worship
एनम् enam – Him
एकाग्रो ekāgro – with unified or concentrated mind
देवदेवं devadevaṃ – God of all other Gods
जगत्पतिम् jagatpatim – master of this universe
एतत् etat – this
त्रिगुणितं triguṇitaṃ – times three (gunitam is to multiply)
जप्त्वा japtvā – repeating the chant (japa is to repeat)
युद्धेषु yuddheṣu – in the battle
विजयिष्यसि vijayiṣyasi – you will emerge victoriou

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 30
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 25

फलश्रुतिः/ Phalashruti:

एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च। 
कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव॥ 25 ॥

Enamāpatsu kṛcchreṣu kāntāreṣu bhayeṣu ca ।
kīrtayan puruṣaḥ kaścinnāvasīdati rāghava ॥ 25 ॥

Meaning:

O Raaghava, however hopeless the situation may be, however huge the calamity or hardship may be, even if left lonely in a dangerous forest or when scared or nervous, any man who sings (His glories in) this prayer is not let down (to sink).

The essence of this shloka is that anyone who chants this prayer will overcome any kind of physical or emotional threat or danger. It can be interpreted both scientifically and spiritually. And, it makes sense both ways. To explain this further, I will have to circle back to the very beginning.

We all know Aditya Hrudayam is a prayer hymn addressed by the Sage Agastya to Lord Rama who was over-whelmed in the battle against demon king Ravana. Interpreted figuratively, Rama represents our soul and the ten-headed Ravana represents the ego and all the negativities that reside in minds. Many times in life there is a constant battle in our minds to overcome these negative forces. When facing such battles the soul loses hope, is very scared and fears defeat. The mind is depressed and turns negative. Sun god is Pratyaksha devata (one who we can see with our eyes) and the one who watches over us at all times. He is full of positive energy and praying to Him will help us overcome all the worries and anxieties in the mind and regain the lost confidence and strength required to trounce the situation.

Scientifically the link lies in the ‘third eye’ the pineal gland. Pineal gland is the gateway to higher consciousness. It is very critical to physical and mental health. When activated, it causes an inner awakening and provides the clarity of thoughts and vision beyond ordinary. And, the way to awaken the pineal gland is to do sun gazing and worship at dawn. Dawn is the time when there is a shift in energy, when earth’s magnetic field is charged. Gazing the sun and chanting the shloka activates the mind. Doing sun salutations (yoga inversions) increases the blood flow to the head. Therefore starting the day with that routine provides us the mental and physical energy to overcome any adversity.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness. We need light to drive out darkness. Lord Surya is luminous and dispels darkness from the cosmos. His (intellectually) positive energy drives out the darkness from our minds.

एनम Enam – (by praising) Him
आपत्सु āpatsu – in distress
कृच्छ्रेषु kṛcchreṣu – in hardship
कान्तारेषु kāntāreṣu – in wilderness, Forest
भयेषु bhayeṣu – in fear, anxiety
च ca – and
कीर्तयन् kīrtayan – sing, chant prayer or glories
पुरुषः puruṣaḥ – man
कश्चिन् kaścin – any
न na – not
अवसीदति avasīdati – let down, sink 
राघव rāghava – Raaghava

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 29
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 24

वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च। 24 ।
यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः॥ 24 ॥

Vedāśca kratavaścaiva kratūnāṃ phalameva ca। 24।
yāni kṛtyāni lokeṣu sarva eṣa raviḥ prabhuḥ॥ 24॥

Meaning:

The Sun God indeed is the (origin of) Vedas and the sacrifices (mentioned in them).
He is also the fruit obtained by performing the sacrifices.
He is the lord who powers all the actions in this universe
He is everything for this Universe.

This shloka reiterates Lord Surya as the universal powerhouse (both spiritual and scientific) that energizes all the actions in the world. Without Him nothing happens and life comes to a stand still. Sun’s energy powers all kind of actions on earth. Sun provides light and heat for life on earth. Sun powers water cycle, weather cycle, makes day/night units of Time which is eternal, makes it possible for plants to grow which in turn support all other forms of life. And, a miniscule fraction of the total output of Sun’s energy is all that is required to power all these actions. The Sun is such a blessing to this universe that we all take for granted. Solar energy is free, readily available at all times all around the world, ready-to-use, no pollution to worry about, and most important of all, will not run out any time in the near future. Now that is quite a powerhouse.

To me, this shloka feels more like a concluding summary. Aditya Hrudayam is a very unique hymn in the sense that the core prayer shlokas (#16 thru #20) are flanked on either side by glories of His attributes and phala shruthi. Shlokas are structured in a very unique way. 1 &2 are introduction, 3 thru 5 are phala shruthi, 6 thru 15 are His attributes, and 16 thru 20 are the core shlokas of the prayer. Then again, 21 thru 24 praise His glories, 25 thru 27 are phala shruthi, and the remaining four shlokas are the conclusion. The Sage perfectly summarizes His glory by praising Him the Lord of all actions in the universe leading to the next segment, the phala shruthi.

वेदाश्च Vedāśca – Vedas
क्रतव kratava – sacrificial rituals 
श्चैव ca+Eva – indeed (is) also
क्रतूनां kratūnāṃ – of these sacrifices rituals 
फलमेव phalameva– fruit
च ca – and
यानि yāni – whatever, whichever
कृत्यानि kṛtyāni – actions that happen
लोकेषु lokeṣu – in the world
सर्व sarva – all
एष eṣa – He
रविः raviḥ – The Sun
प्रभुः prabhuḥ – lord

Aditya Hrudayam Series Week 28
Shloka Taatparyam Shloka 23

एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः। 23 ।
एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम्॥ 23 ॥

Eṣa supteṣu jāgarti bhūteṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ । 23 ।
eṣa evāgnihotraṃ ca phalaṃ caivāgnihotriṇām ॥ 23 ॥

Meaning:

He abides in the heart of all beings keeping awake even while the beings are asleep. He is both the sacrifice (Agni the sacred fire) and the fruit (of the sacrifice) sought by the performers of the Yajna (agnihotrins).

This shloka in my opinion follows closely on the heels of last shloka on water cycle. This shloka mainly talks about Yagna, a sacred Vedic ritual done to invoke and please deities using fire as a medium and to attain boons for general well being. Per Vedic traditions, Agni is the messenger between people and God and a link between man’s consciousness and cosmic consciousness. During day time Sun gives us light and warmth. During night time people had to depend on fire for light and heat. Thus both Lord Surya and Lord Agni are linked as one supreme luminous deity in this shloka.

In the olden days it was common to do Yajnas to purify the atmosphere and secure timely rains for the crops to grow on earth. Sun through his rays heats up water, converts them to vapor, which then rises to the sky to form clouds and then recycles the water back to earth as rain. This causes the vegetation on the earth to grow. Thus Sun acts like Agni in this aspect. He himself is the fire that heats the water, takes the vapors to the sky to form clouds (like Agni who takes material offerings of the Yajna to the Gods) and causes good rains for the welfare of beings on the earth (the fruit of the sacrifice sought by the performers of the Yagna).

एष Eṣa – He
सुप्तेषु supteṣu – while sleeping
जागर्ति jāgarti – awake 
भूतेषु bhūteṣu – in beings
परिनिष्ठितः pariniṣṭhitaḥ – abides 
एष eṣa – he
एव evā – also
अग्निहोत्रं agnihotraṃ – sacred fire, Agni, Lord of fire
च ca – and
फलं phalaṃ – fruit
चैव caivā – and indeed
अग्निहोत्रिणाम् āgnihotriṇām – performers of the Yajna