MAIN MENU: Bio | Classes | Teacher Training | BKS Iyengar | Yoga & Sanskrit | Shop
The Aditya Hrdayam is a complete chapter from the Ramayana or "Tales of Rama" written by the poet Valmiki.
The Ramayana tells the adventures of Sri Rama, an incarnation of the god Visnu. He is incarnated as the epitome of righteousness. He is, and represents, the Divine Spirit in human beings.
Rama's chief adversary is Ravana, who represents that side of human nature that is ever ready to indulge in limited, earthly, mundane feelings and circumstances.
While he is still a young man, Sri Rama wins the hand of the beautiful and divine Sita in marriage. She is his sakti, his better half, and who completes him for without her he cannot manifest his true divinity through seemingly visible form. Sita is in fact an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi.
Due to intrigues at the royal court, Rama and Sita are banished and sent into exile in the surrounding wild forests. While there, they have many adventures as Rama gradually proves his prowess in overcoming the many trials and tribulations of life that the forests represent. Then one day the beautiful Sita is seen by Ravana. He immediately lusts after her and kidnaps her, taking her off to his court in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). This lust and capture of Sita by Ravana represents the potential and addiction that all humans have for the outer form of things. It is the all-too-human tendency to be ensnared by the material world, thus taking it to be something that it is not.
Rama's mission now is to recapture Sita, and restore both him and her to their primordial unity of meditative understanding incarnate. Rama's many adventures in the forests now continue in the company of the mighty monkey god Hanuman, his help-mate. Hanuman assists Rama in his quest for reunification with Sita.
When Rama and Hanuman eventually track Ravana, the demon king, down to Sri Lanka and confront him, Ravana despatches his many lieutenants to fight Rama on his behalf. One by one, they come, with their armies in tow … and one by one, Rama vanquishes them. The Aditya Hradayam begins at the point where Rama is so weary he feels he has no more energy to face anything further. Knowing how competent and fiercesome an adversary Ravana is, Rama is full of despondency and is beginning to wonder if he has the wherewithal to even stir himself to take on his greatest adversary, never mind be victorious. He is even wondering if the battle to reclaim his truer and better nature, in the form of Sita, is worth fighting, and worth the effort he must make.
It is at this point of Sri Rama's greatest despair that the divine sage Agastya appears before him and speaks to him. Agastya, a son of the Sun, reminds Rama that the light of the Sun, which is the Light of the Universe, and so which is the courage and meaning he seeks, can always be found by learning to be still, and by seeking within. Ravana, says Agastya, is not so much an external enemy as our own nature within. It is the nature that is ever prone to doubting its capabilities, insisting that the merely material is "our true purpose".
Agastya chants the Adita Hrdayam to Rama and reminds him of the properties and qualities of both the physical sun in the solar system; and of the inner Sun that is the Divine Presence. Agastya thus reminds Rama of the Sun's unfailing ability to light up the darkness and brighten human lives, giving warmth, hope and purpose. By the time Sage Agastya has finished his hymn in praise of the light that is the Sun dwelling within, Rama has regained his strength, energy and composure. He has been successfully reminded who he truly is. The moment of his greatest self-doubt and despair is now safely behind him. The end of the canto thus sees Rama suitably reinvogorated and completely ready to face his biggest enemy: his own self-doubt and misdirected mindfulness. These are what Ravana, the demon-king, in fact represent. Rama has learned that Ravana can only hold sway over him when he forgets his true self and loses sight of the Light. The Aditya Hrdayam is intended to assist us in remembering our own true selves at all times.
`
aum
. ïImÖaLmIik£
ramay[aNtgRtm!.
srŸmadv˜lmŸki r˜m˜yaõ˜ntargatam
From within the Ramayana of Valmiki
. AaidTy ùdym!.
˜ditya h®dayam
“The Sun in the heart”
.yu˜ka{fe.
yuddha k˜õýe
In the book entitled “The Struggle”
. ÇyaeÏzaetr.
trayoddhaþotara
In lines of 13 syllables
. @kzttmSsgR>.
ekaþatatamassarga×
Chapter 107
[1]
ttae yu˜pirïaNt< smre icNtya iSwtm!,
tato yuddha pariþr˜ntaÐ samare cintay˜ sthitam
Upon he being exhausted from the struggle, | worrying, wearying in the fight
rav[< ca¢tae †ò!va yu˜ay smupiSwtm!.1.
r˜vaõaÐ c˜grato d®ÿ÷v˜ yuddh˜ya samupasthitam
And also seeing Ravana before him; | standing due, ready, fresh for battle
[2]
dEvtEí smagMy Ðòum_yagtae r[m!,
daivataiþca sam˜gamya draÿ÷um abhy˜gato raõam
In company with the gods he came, | having journeyed to witness the struggle
%pagMyaävIÔammgSTyae -gvan&i;>.2.
up˜gamy˜bravŸd r˜mam agastyo bhagav˜n ®ÿi×
Having approached Rama he spoke, | the divine sage Agastya
[3]
ram ram mhabahae z&[u guý< snatnm!,
r˜ma r˜ma mah˜b˜ho þ®õu guhyaÐ san˜tanam
Rama, Rama, you great embodied one, | listen to the mystic-truth eternal
yaen svaRnrINvTs smre ivjiy:yis.3.
yena sarv˜narŸn vatsa samare vijayiÿyasi
By means of it, all your strifes, dear son | in the battle with them, you will be victorious
[4]
AaidTyùdy< pu{y< svRzÇuivnaznm!,
˜ditya h®dayaÐ puõyaÐ sarva þatru vin˜þanam
“The Sun in the heart” … it is propitious | it is the vanquisher of all impediments
jyavh< jpeiÚTym]Yy< prm< izvm!.4.
jay˜vahaÐ japennityaÐ akÿayyaÐ paramaÐ þivam
The usherer of victory, it is to be meditated eternally | it is unfailing, it is supreme, it is beneficent
[5]
svRm¼lma¼Ly< svRpapà[aznm!,
sarva maðgala m˜ðgalyaÐ sarva p˜pa praõ˜þanam
The most auspicious amongst the auspicious | the destroyer of all wrongs
icNtazaekàzmnmayuv›x›nmuÄmm!.5.
cint˜þoka praþamanam ˜yurvardhanam uttamam
The remover of woes and the propensity for woes, | the best at bringing health and wealth
[6]
riZmmNt< smuÕNt< devasurnmSk«tm!,
raþmimantaÐ samudyantaÐ dev˜sura namask®tam
Having many rays and rising swiftly, | saluted alike by gods and demons
pUjySv ivvSvNt< -aSkr< -uvneñrm!.6.
p¨jayasva vivasvantaÐ bh˜skaraÐ bhuvaneþvaram
Worthy of being adored, shining forth, | the giver of light, the lord of all
[7]
sv›devaTmkae ýe; tejSvI riZm-avn>,
sarva dev˜tmako hyeÿa tejasvŸ raþmi bh˜vana×
This very Sun—the embodiment of all deities | brilliant, illuminating, surpassing all
@; devasurgnaNlaekaNpait g-iSwi->.7.
eÿa dev˜suragan˜n lok˜n p˜ti gabhasthibhi×
This very Sun—the hosts of gods and demons | in all places protecting, guarding them with its rays
[8]
@; äüa c iv:[uí izvSSkNd> àjapit>,
eÿa brahm˜ ca viÿõuþca þivasskanda× praj˜pati×
This very Sun—it is the creator and the sustainer | it is the auspicious, the life force, the overlord
mheNÔae xnd> kalae ymSsaemae ýpa< pit>.8.
mahendro dhanada× k˜lo yamassomo hyap˜Ð pati×
The origin of strength, of wealth, of time | the master of all, of the moon … lord of the waters …
[9]
iptrae vsvSsaXya ýiñnaE métae mnu>,
pitaro vasavass˜dhy˜ hyaþvinau maruto manu×
Ruler of the ancestors, of the bright ones, of the seekers | of the bringers of treasure, the heavenly children, the progenitor
vayuv›iû> àja> àa[ \tuktaR à-akr>.9.
vayurvahni× praj˜× pr˜õa ®tukart˜ prabh˜kara×
Of wind, of fire … it is bestower of life’s breath, | creator of the seasons, the source of all glory
[10]
AaidTysivta sªyR> og> pU;a g-iStman!,
˜ditya savit˜ s¨rya× khaga× p¨ÿ˜ gabhastim˜n
Born of the universal power, creator, in constant motion, | mover in the ether, nourisher, possessor of many rays
suv[RsÎzae -anuih›r{yreta idvakr>.10.
suvarõa sad®þo bh˜nurhiraõyaret˜ div˜kara×
Of brilliant yellow, illuminator, | seed of the universe, maker of days
[11]
hirdñSshöaic›SsPtsiPtmRrIicman!,
haridaþvassahasr˜rcissaptasaptirmarŸcim˜n
Having yellow horses (pervader of all regions), having infinite rays, | having seven horses, vibrating with the effulgence
itimraeNmwnZzM-uSTvòa matR{fkae—=zuman!.11.
timiron mathanaþþambhustvaÿ÷˜ m˜rtaõýako ’Ðþum˜n
Dispeller of ignorance, bringer of happiness, eliminator of suffering | breather of life, rich in luminence
[12]
ihr{yg-RiZzizrStpnae=hSkrae riv>,
hiraõyagarbhaþþiþirastapano ’haskaro ravi×
Seed of the universe, bringer of comfort, able to burn, | creator of morning’s light, praised by all
Ai¶g-aeR=idte> puÇZzŒiZzizrnazn>.12.
agnigarbho ’dite× putraþþaðkhaþþiþiran˜þana×
Seed of all fires, born of the universal creative force, | of unlimited being, remover of chills
[13]
VyaemnawStmae-edI GyjuSsamparg>,
vyoman˜thastamo bhedŸ ®gyajuss˜map˜raga×
Sovereign of the skies, dispeller of darkness, | supreme in knowing the sacred teachings
"nv&iòrpa< imÇae ivNXyvIwIPlv¼m>.13.
ghanav®ÿ÷irap˜Ð mitro vindhya vŸthŸ plavaðgama×
Dispenser of abundant rains, befriender of the waters, | freely moving to the southern regions
[14]
AatpI m{flI m&Tyu> ip¼lSsvRtapn>,
˜tapŸ maõýalŸ m®tyu× piðgalassarvat˜pana×
Ablaze with heat, vessel of light, lord over death, | of the colour of honey, able to make all swelter
kivivRñae mhateja r−Ssv›-vaeÑv>.14.
kavirviþvo mah˜tej˜ raktassarva bhavod bhava×
Omniscient, manifester of all, of great brilliance | adored by all, initiator of all activities
[15]
n]Ç¢htara[amixpae ivñ-avn>,
nakÿatra grahat˜r˜õ˜m adhipo viþvabh˜vana×
Over stellar bodies of their different types … | the overlord; originator of the universe
tejsamip tejSvI ÖadzaTmÚmae=Stu te.15.
tejas˜mapi tejasvŸ dv˜daþ˜tmannamo ’stu te
The most luminous amongst all luminous bodies | prostrations to you who appear in the twelve forms
[16]
nm> pUvaRy igrye piímayaÔye nm>,
nama× p¨rv˜ya giraye paþcim˜y˜draye nama×
Salutations to the one rising by the mountain in the east | salutations to the one setting by the mountain in the west
JyaeitgR[a[a< ptye idnaixptye nm>.16.
jyotirgaõ˜õ˜Ð pataye din˜dhipataye nama×
To the lord of luminous bodies, | to the lord of days, salutations
[17]
jyay jy-Ôay hyRñay nmae nm>,
jay˜ya jayabhadr˜ya haryaþv˜ya namo nama×
To the one who brings success, to the one whose form is success, | to the one who pervades all, salutations and again salutations
nmae nmSshöa<zae AaidTyay nmae nm>.17.
namo namassahasr˜Ðþo ˜dity˜ya namo nama×
Salutations and salutations to the one with infinite beams, | to the issue of the cosmic progenitor, salutations and more salutations
[18]
nm %¢ay vIray sar¼ay nmae nm>,
nama ugr˜ya vŸr˜ya s˜raðg˜ya namo nama×
Salutations to the ferocious, mighty one | to the swift mover in space, salutations and yet more salutations
nm> pÒàbaexay àc{fay nmae=Stu te.18.
nama× padma prabodh˜ya pracaõý˜ya namo ’stu te
Salutations to the one who makes the lotuses bloom | O formidable one, salutations to you
[19]
ãüezanaCyutezay sƒrayaidTyvcRse,,
brahmeþ˜n˜cyuteþ˜ya s¨r˜y˜ditya varcase
To the creator, sustainer and annihilator, | to the one who crosses the sky, to the one who brightly shines
-aSvte svR-]ay raEÔay vpu;e nm>.19.
bh˜svate sarvabhakÿ˜ya raudr˜ya vapuÿe nama×
To the possessor of all brilliance, to the devourer of all, | to the one whose form is fierce … salutations
[20]
tmae¹ay ihm¹ay zÇu¹ayaimtaTmne,
tamoghn˜ya himaghn˜ya þatrughn˜y˜mit˜tmane
To the remover of darkness, to the ender of the cold season, | to the conqueror of enemies, whose nature is limitless
k«t¹¹ay devay Jyaeit;a< ptye nm>.20.
k®taghnaghn˜ya dev˜ya jyotiÿ˜Ð pataye nama×
To the one who punishes the ungrateful, to the one who is divine, | to the chief amongst the luminous bodies, salutations
[21]
tÝcamIkra-ay hrye ivñkm›[e,
taptac˜mŸkar˜bh˜ya haraye viþvakarmaõe
To the one who shines like pure gold, | to the destroyer of suffering, the maker of the universe
nmStmae=i-in¹ay écye laeksai][e.21.
namastamo ’bhinighn˜ya rucaye lokas˜kÿiõe
Salutations to the dispeller of the dark night, | to the one who shines, to the one witness of the world
[22]
nazyTye; vE -Ut< tmev s&jit à-u>,
n˜þayatyeÿa vai bh¨taÐ tameva s®jati prabhu×
The very destroyer of all that exists, | the excellent one, bringing it all back again
payTye; tpTye; v;RTye; g-iSwi->.22.
p˜yatyeÿa tapatyeÿa varÿatyeÿa gabhasthibhi×
Protecting as lord, warming as lord, | showering down as lord, radiating
[23]
@; suPte;u jagitR -Ute;u piriniót>,
eÿa supteÿu j˜garti bh¨teÿu pariniÿ÷hita×
Even as they sleep, the sun quickens all things, | the abiding vitality within all living creatures
@; cEvai¶haeÇ< c )l< cEvai¶haeiÇ[am!.23.
eÿa caiv˜gni hotraÐ ca phalaÐ caiv˜gni hotriõ˜m
This lord alone is the personification of fire, | and the one because of whom all fires burn
[24]
vedaí ³tvíEv ³tUna< )lmev c,
ved˜þca kratavaþcaiva krat¨n˜Ð phalameva ca
The knowledge, its realization, | and the end results attained by knowledge
yain k«Tyain laeke;u svRe;u prmà-u>.24.
y˜ni k®ty˜ni lokeÿu sarveÿu paramaprabhu×
Whatever activies in whatever locations, | omnipotent and omnipresent
[25]
@nmapTsu k«CD+e;u kaNtare;u -ye;u c,
enam ˜patsu k®cchreÿu k˜nt˜reÿu bhayeÿu ca
This very Sun—in calamities, in travails | upon difficult paths and in times of fear
kItRyNpué;> kiíÚavsIdit ra"v.25.
kŸrtayan puruÿa× kaþcin n˜vasŸdati r˜ghava
Whatever person sings this glory | will not be laid low, O child of the Raghava clan
[26]
pUjySvEnmeka¢ae devdev< jgTpit<,
p¨jayasvainam ek˜gro devadevaÐ jagatpatiÐ
To this very one be single-mindedly devoted | the lord of lords and ruler of the universe
@tiÄ+gui[t< jPTva yuÏe;u ivjiy:yis.26.
etat triguõitaÐ japtv˜ yuddheÿu vijayiÿyasi
If ever this hymn has been three times recited | then will you be victorious in the struggle
[27]
AiSmN][e mhabahae rav[< Tv< jih:yis,
asmin kÿaõe mah˜b˜ho r˜vaõaÐ tvaÐ jahiÿyasi
This moment is the right one, O great embodied one, | for you to defeat Ravana
@vmu®va ttae=gSTyae jgam s ywagtm!.27.
evam uktv˜ tato ’gastyo jag˜ma sa yath˜gatam
And thus having spoken, so did Agastya | depart the same way that he had come
[28]
@tCD+uTva mhateja nòzaekae=-vTtda,
etacchrutv˜ mah˜tej˜ naÿ÷aþoko ’bhavattad˜
And having heard this, being powerful and majestic, | he became one whose afflictions had been exorcised
xaryamas suàItae ra"v> àytaTmvan!.28.
dh˜ray˜m˜sa suprŸto r˜ghava× prayat˜tmav˜n
He memorized it, he became contented, | the child of the Raghavas held himself in perfect poise
[29]
AaidTy< àeúy jPTved< pr< h;RmvaPtvan!,
˜dityaÐ prekÿya japtvedaÐ paraÐ harÿamav˜ptav˜n
Having seen the sun, and having recited this, | he gained immense joy
iÇracMy zuic-RuTva xnuraday vIyRvan!.29.
trir˜camya þucirbhutv˜ dhanur˜d˜ya vŸryav˜n
Having sipped water three times, which purified him, | the warrior of prowess took bow in hand
[30]
rav[< àeúy ùòaTma jyaw¡ smupagmt!,
r˜vaõaÐ prekÿya h®ÿ÷˜tm˜ jay˜rthaÐ samup˜gamat
And having spied Ravana, his heart filled to bursting, | and so set on victory, he proceeded forth
svRyTnen mhata v&tStSy vxe=-vt!.30.
sarva yatnena mah˜t˜ v®tastasya vadhe ’bhavat
Striving mightily with every sinew, | he prepared to vanquish him
[31]
Aw rivrvdiÇrIúy ram< muidtmna> prm< àù:yman>,
atha raviravadannirŸkÿya r˜maÐ muditaman˜× paramaÐ prah®ÿyam˜na×
Then the sun, having seen Rama, exclaimed: … | mind filled with joy, feeling ecstatic
inizcrpits<]y< ividTva surg[mXygtae vcSTvreit.31.
niþicarapati saðkÿayaÐ viditv˜ suragaõa madhyagato vacastvareti
Knowing that the king of demons was to be destroyed, | standing in the midst of the deities … this one word … “Hasten”
. iTya;eR ïImÔamay[e vaLmIkIye
AaidkaVye yu˜ka{fe ;fuÄrzttmSsgR>.
ity˜rÿe þrŸmadr˜m˜yaõe v˜lmŸkŸye
˜dik˜vye yuddhak˜õýe ÿaduttaraþatatamassarga×
Here lies from the sage … from the blessed Ramayana of Valmiki … first amongst the poets … from the book entitled “The Struggle” … from Chapter 107
. AaidTy ùdym< StaeÇ< sMpU[Rm!.
˜ditya h®dayaÐ stotraÐ samp¨rõam
The recitation of the Adityya Hrdayam is now completed
` ` `
aum aum aum