Request of members to complete the Translation of Aditya Hrudhayam.

[Guest guest]

I have now received mail asking me to complete the translation of the verses

22 to 32. I am unable

to say no to such kind requests. Hence I will make a compromise. I will

translate them and add

the comments on the Vedic significance of this Stotram.Sage Agasthya was a

Tapasvi of

the highest order and considered an authority on the Veda Samhitas and

Upanishads. He was

also an authority on Tamil grammar.

 

The praise he records for Aditya in the Aditya Hrudhayam is the distillation of

the thoughts

housed in Surya Namaskara Prasnam (SNP) found in the first chapter of the

Taittiriya Aranyakam

dealing with the Vedic method of worship of the Sun God. This Prasnam( Vedic

lesson)

is a tribute to the Svayam Jyothi or the Tejas aspect and other Kalyana gunas

of of the Brahman or supreme being.

 

.The number of Panchasats (individual mantras)found in SNP is 130. Those, who

perform

the Surya Namaskaram through the recitation of SNP prostrate on ground at the

end of each

Panchasat and salute the Lord at the center of the Orb of the Sun as " Sri

Chaya

Suvarchalaambha Sameta Sri Surya NARAYANA Swamineh Nama:, Om Namo Narayanaya".

Thus, We get a Clue about the Identity of the Para Brahman at the epicenter

of the Orb of Sun, who acts as the Witnes of all deeds (Karma Saakshin) from

this mode of

salutation..

 

A portion of the Sandhya Vandana Mantra taken from the Vedas states

"Asaavadityo Brahma".

Here, Lord Aditya is equated to the Supreme Brahman. Sage Agastya explained this

truth to

Rama on the battle field. He also included in his praise the message of

Taittiriya Brahman ,

which points out that anyone , who worships the rising and setting Sun as the

Supreme Brahman

would be blessed with all auspiciousness on this earth. .In verses 8 and 9 ,

Sage Agastya

summarizes the Brahman aspect of Aditya and His Soverignity over all beings

including

Devas, Asuras and other Gods. He describes this Parabrhamam as the seed of the

Universe

(Verse 10), the source of Auspiciousness (Verse 11), the source of all

evolutes(Verse 14), the

one denoted by the mystic syllable OM (Verse 18), the architect of the Universe

, the uprooter of

darkness/Avidya (Verse 21).

 

The second to the sixth Anuvakas of SNP meditate upon Surya as the

embodiment of Time

and witness of all human deeds.The passage of Time is compared to the flow of a

majestic river.

The seasons are seen as beautiful entities populating the banks of that

river.Aditya Hrudhyam

salutes the Sun God as the Rtukartha(verse 9). The specific beauty of the

individual seasons

and their relationship with Aditya are described in various mantras

known for their piety and poetic imagery. The references in the Aditya Hrudayam

about time

punctuated events such as the birth of the species, its existence and its death.

These references

are directly correlatable to the Kalaswaroopam and the functions of the

Trimurthys . The Rise

of the Sun, the coursing thru the heavens and the setting again are time

related functions alluded

to in the Stotram.

 

As Surya travels in His celestial orbit, He is recognized by the Vedas as

Urucakshas (far seeing)

and Visvacakshas (all seeing). The Seventh Anuvakam begins with the majestic

words "Chitram

Devanaam Udagadhinekam". It says that Lord Aditya of myriad forms ,embodying all

Gods ,travels

high on His celestial orbit.His Universal presence and energization of all

living entities , from plants to animals to humans are saluted in this Mantra.

We see an echo of these Vedic passages

in verses 7,8, 9, 12 and 13 of the Aditya Hrudhayam.

 

In the 22nd verse, Agastya explains to Rama that Aditya as the supreme Brahman

is responsible

for the creation, sustenance and the destruction of all chetanas and Achetanas.

He also points

out that This Supreme Brahman is the one who through his rays scorches the

universe and

produces life giving water through dense showers. The connection between the

force behind

heat (Agni) and Water(Vadavaagni) is a concept, which finds its origin in the

Anuvakams of SNP.

One of the Anuvakas describe Surya as being present in the eight forms of

Agnis. the homes of the 8 Agnis are as follows: Agni (East), Jatavedas (South

East), Sahojas (South), Ajiraprabhavan

(South West),Vaiswanaranan (West), Naryapas (Northwest), Panktiratas (North)

and Visarpi (North East , the direction of Isaana). Aditya"s Omnipresence is

saluted here.

 

After recognizing Aditya as the Life giving warmth (Agni), the 22nd Anuvakam

deals with

the frequently used Vedic text known as Mantra Pushpam that starts with the

words,

Yopaam pushpam Veda.The Mantra Pushpam recognizes and pays homage to "water" as

the most fundamental of "elements" (verse 13: Ganavrishti, Apaam Mitro).. The

relationship between

water, Moon, Agni, Vayu, starsand Surya is described and saluted here. A t the

end of the

22nd Anuvaka, the Veda mantram visualizes the entire world as floating in the

immensity of "water".

The Matra Pushpam riks are linked with Aruna Ketuka Saayanam, which is

important for Surya Namaskaram to gain the boons of longevity (verse

5),,disease free life and other blessings.

>From the 23rd to 26th Anuvakas ,various prayers to Surya are offered to attain

happy , healthy life and to realize union with the supreme being (Surya

Sayujyam) after departing from this world. In the final

32nd Anuvaka,the methodology is revealed for observing the ritual known as

Samvatsara Vrata.

Surya is known as the embodimentof time,punctuated by the Samvatsaras or years.

The observance

of this Vrata is therefore recommended as the essential route to attain the full

blessings of

Aditya Bhagavan , who is Samvatsara Swarupi.The recitation of Surya Namaskara

Prasnam concludes

with the salutations to the Navagrahas, the head of which is none other than

Surya. From

verses 25 to 27, Agastya reveals the recitation of this stotram as a way for

the sure removal of all impediments to Rama and to gain victory in hte battle

to come.

 

Verses 28 to 30 describe the exhilaration that Rama attained thru the

recitation of the Aditya Hrudhya Stotram taught by Sage Agastya and His mighty

resolve to destroy the evil Ravana.

In the final 31st verse of this stotram, we see Sun God, the object of praise

of this stotram , standing among the other Gods exclaiming " O Rama, Hasten and

conclude the mission of your Incarnation"

and blesses Rama .

 

The Upanishads and Aditya

*******************************

 

The Upanishads that came at the end of the Vedic Period hail Aditya in number

of places.

The CHANDOGYA Upanishad pays homage to Surya as self-born (Svayambhu) and

supreme ruler (Parameshtin). It states that Surya represents the supreme

principle first in the nonmanifest and

next in the manifest form.The Madhu Vidya preached in this Upanishad describes

the Surya"s rays

as embodying the mantras of the four Vedas and spreading them in the four

directions.

The holy mantra of Gayatri is related to this Vidya centering on Savita

worship. This Vidya also

identifies Surya as being present in the 5 centers of human heart.

 

The BRIHADARARANYAKA Upanishad describes Surya as the "honey" or the most

delectable

(life giving) principle for all beings. This Upanishad further identifies the

radiant Supreme Being

inside the Sun as the Same one resident in the eye of the man. He is none other

than the immortal,

eternal Brahman enveloping all things in this Universe and residing in as

Antaryami Brahman..

 

Among the other Upanishads , PRASNA Upanishad salutes Surya as "the ever present

one giving life

to all creatures as He rises." MANDALA BRAHMANOPANISHAD focusses on the

method of Surya

upasana revealed by the Sage Yajnavalkya ,who was initiated into the study of

Vedas by Aditya

Bhagavan Himself. SURYA Upanishad contains several mantras for use by Aditya

Worshippers

to gain material and spiritual benefits.

 

AKSHI Upanishad expounds the worship of Surya through CHAKSHUMATI VIDYA ,which

confers the

benefit of unimpaired eye sight . SAVITRI Upanishad expatiates on the GAYATRI

Upasana as an

important aspect of the worship of Aditya. It also refers to the Bala and

Atibala mantras taught

by Sage Viswamitra to Rama and Lakshmana to ward off hunger and thirst.

 

SURYA TAPINI Upanishad invokes Surya as the supreme of all deities. The

methodology of

worshipping Surya as Dwaadasa (12) Adityas namely Mitra, Ravi, Surya, BHaga,

Khaga, Pushan ,

Hiranyagarbha, Marichi, Aditya, Savitar, Arka and Bhaskara are described here.

In another list of 12 Adityas, names such as Dhatru, Aryaman,Rudra, Varuna,

Tvashtar and Vishnu are mentioned

according to Vedic tradition. Several Surya Mantras are also revealed in the

SURYA TAPNI

Upanishad. Sage Agastya salutes Aditya as "DWadasaaatma" and "Tejasaamapi

Tejasvi " in

the 15th verse and alludes to the different names of the 12 Aditya elsewhere in

the

Aditya Hrudhayam.

 

NILA RUDRA Upanishad describes the image of Surya as Copper -Colored as

referred to in the

verse 14 of Aditya Hrudhayam. This Upanishad describes Surya as auspicious,

fearless and

surrounded by the 1,000 powers of life -the Rudras- who shelter Him in all

directions.

 

ADITYA AND THE EPICS (ITHIHAASAS)

*****************************************

 

During the time of the Epics, the Rg Vedic Trinity --Indra, Agni and Surya--

have been replaced by the Trinity (Vishnu,Rudra and Brahma). Vishnu of the

Vedic lore celebrated as the measurer of the Worlds

with three steps(Trivikrama aspect), and as one of the 12 Sun Gods is

transformed into all

powerful NARAYANA. Inspite of these changes in the position of Surya in the

Hindu pantheon of Gods, He is still given an important place in the time of

epics as revealed by the Aditya Hrudhaya Upadesam

by Agastya to the Supreme one , who incarnated as the human son of

Dasaratha.Even today ,we

recite the Gayatri mantram and offer Arkyam to Him three times a day during the

Sandhya Vandanam.

 

Besides Valmiki"s describtion of Rama Chanting Aditya Hrudhayam in Ramayana,

the poet also

points out in his composition that Vaivasvata Manu , the law giver ,was one of

the sons of Surya.

This Manu is the progenitor of the Solar race of Kings (Surya Vamsa). Hence ,

it is appropriate

for Rama to salute the Aadi Karanam of his family at the most important moment

of His mission on Earth.

 

The Mahabharata extols Surya in many of its Parvas(Chapters). It describes the

physical form of Surya;envisages Him as perpetually creating ,supporting and

destroying life (Verses 7,10,11 , 14 , 19

and 20 of Aditya Hrudhayam) and pleasing all by His multifold brilliance( Verses

6,7,9,10,12 and 14).

The Mahabharata also states that Surya moves in His orbit in a one wheeled

Chair, while sitting on a Lotus flower .His Chariot drawn by the Seven horses is

driven by Aruna (the Red One) ,who is the wise

elder brother of Garuda.

 

Summary

***********

The Stotram is about the Parabrahman , Sriman Narayana who is the one praised

through the

Surya(Aditya) Gayatri of the Maha Naraynopanishad:

 

BHAASKARAAYA VIDMAHE MAHAT DHYUTIKARAAYA DHEEMAHI

TANNOH ADITYA: PRACHODHAYAAT

 

SRI RAMA, WHO TOOK THE INCARNBATION OF A HUMAN BEING AND AS THE SON OF

DASARATHA

HAD TO OBSERVE THE DHARMA AND ANUSHTANAM TAUGHT BY AGASTHYA IN HIS ROLE

AS A MERE MANUSHA AS HE HIMSELF STATES TO MINIMIZE HIS SARVA SWAMITVAM.HIS

WORSHIP

OF RANGANATHA AS THE ISHVAKU KULA DAIVATAM ALSO COMES UNDER THIS CATEGORY OF

THOUGHT.

 

SRI RAMACHANDRA PARABRAHMANEH NAMA:

 

Oppiliappan koil Varadachari Sadagopan

 

..