Month: May 2019

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