Vedic Gods: Sooryan , Part II

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SrI:

 

Dear VedAbhimAnis:

 

Let us start this posting with a prayer to Sooryan from Rg Veda translated by R.T.H. Griffin :

 

1. His bright rays bear him up aloft , the God who knoweth all that lives,

Soorya , that all may look on Him.

 

2. The constellations pass away , like thieves , together with their beams ,

before the all-beholding Sun.

 

3. His herald rays are seen afar refulgent o'er the world of men ,

like flames of fire that burn and blaze.

 

4.Swift and all beautiful art Thou , Oh Soorya, maker of light ,

illumining all the radiant realm.

 

5.Thou goest to the hosts of Gods , thou comest hither to mankind,

hither all light to behold.

 

6. With that same eye of thine wherewith thou lookest brilliant VaruNa ,

upon the busy race of men.

 

7. Traversing sky and wide mid-air , thou meetest with Thy beams our days,

Sun , seeing all things that have birth.

 

8. Seven bay steeds harnessed to Thy car bear Thee , Oh Thou farseeing One,

God, Soorya, with the radiant hair.

 

9. Soorya hath yoked the pure bright Seven , the daughters of the car; with these,

His own dear team , He goeth forth.

 

10. Looking upon the loftier light above the darkness , we have come to Soorya ,

God among Gods , the light that is most excellent.

 

11. Rising this day , Oh rich in friends , ascending to the loftier heaven,

Soorya , remove my heart's disease , take from me this yellow hue.

 

12. To Parrots and to starlings ,let us give away my yellowness,

or this my yellowness , let us transfer to Haritaala trees.

 

13. With all His conquering vigour this Aaditya hath gone up on high,

giving my foe into mine hand: let me not be my foeman's prey.

 

Soorya NamaskAram

 

It will be appropriate to start with the 12 MantrAs for Soorya NamaskAram:

1.( PraNavam) MithrAya Nama:

2.( " ) RavayE Nama:

3.( " ) SooryAya Nama:

4.( " ) BhAnavE Nama:

5.( " ) Khagaaya Nama:

6.( " ) PushNE nama:

7.( " ) HiraNyagarbhAya Nama:

8.( " ) MaarichAya Nama:

9.( " ) AadityAya Nama:

10.( " ) SaavitrE Nama:

11.( " ) ArkAya Nama:

12.( " ) BhAskarAya Nama:

 

There are many mantrams in Rg Vedam addressed to Adityan:

 

1) Adhityasccha BuBudhAnA--4.1.18

2) Adhityaa ava hikhyAtAdhi--8.45.11

3) AdhityAnAm VasUnAm RudhriyANAm--10.48.11

4) AdhityAnAmavasA nUtanEna--7.51.1

5) Adhityaa rudra Vasava: --3.8.8

6) AdhityA rudhrA vasavO--7. 35.14

7) AadhityA ViSvE Marutasccha--7.51.3

8) AdhityAsO ati snigdhO--10.126.5

9) AdhityAsO adhitaya: --7.52.1

10) AdhityAsO adhitirmArdhayntAm--7.51.2

11) Adhityairindhra: sagaNO--10.157.2

12) AdhittE asya veeryasya--1.132.5

13) AdhittE viSvE kratum--1.68.2

 

There are many Rg Veda Mantrams for Adityaas , Aditi and other related gods . Some times it will be addressed to Bhaga , SavitAr , Aryaman, Pushan et al.

 

Here are some samplings from Rg Vedam(Translation: R.Griffith):

 

" Well knoweth Savitar , O child of water, where ocean firmly fixt , overflowed its limit "...." May the God Savitar , rich in goodly trasures, filling the region , borne by steeds, come hither ---In His hand holding much that makes men happy , lulling to slumber and arousing creatures."......." Savitar, golden haired , hath lifted eastward bright with sun beams , His eternal lustre".

 

" May Sooryaa guard us out of heaven , Vaayu from the firmament and Agni from terrestrial spots".

 

" AdityAs ! Ye most mighty Ones , grant our children and their seed extended term

of life that they may live long days.

 

" This light , the best of lights , supreme , all conquering , winner of riches, is exalted with high land.....all lighting, radiant , mighty as the Sun to see , He spreadeth wide unfailing victory and strength ...Beaming forth splendour with Thy light , Thou hast attained heaven's lustrous realm ...By Thee were brought together all existing things, possessor of all Godhead , all effecting God".

 

"We will invoke strong, early conquering Bhaga , the son of Aditi , the great supporter ".

 

There are similar prayers to Aryaman , Mitra , VaruNa and VishNu as one of the twelve AdhityAs . Here is the One for VishNu (7th Book XCIX) :" None who is born or being born , God VishNu , hath reached the utmost limit of Thy grandeur . The vast high vault of heaven hast Thou supported and Fixed Earth's eastern pinnacle securely ".

 

During Rg Vedic Time, Agni , Indhran , Sooryan were the dominant gods as seen from the Mantras addressed to them .

 

NamO Veda PurushAya,

V.Sadagopan