Aditya Hridaya Stotram

Invocation (Viniyoga): Of this Shri Aditya Hridaya Stotra mantra, Sage Agastya is the Rishi, the meter is Anushtubh, the presiding deity is Lord Surya as Brahman, Om is the seed, 'Rashmimata' is the power, the Gayatri mantra beginning with 'Tat Savitur' is the pin, and it is recited for victory over all adversaries and inner obstacles.

Seeing Lord Rama exhausted in the battle and standing absorbed in deep contemplation, while Ravana stood before Him renewed and eager for combat, the venerable sage Agastya, who had joined the celestial gods to witness the war, approached Rama and spoke:

O Rama, O mighty-armed Rama! Listen to this eternal and esoteric secret, by reciting which, O beloved son, you shall conquer all adversaries upon the battlefield.

This sacred hymn named 'Aditya Hridaya' is holy, destroys all enemies, bestows victory, and should be recited constantly; it confers imperishable and supreme auspiciousness.

It is the source of all auspicious blessings, the annihilator of all sins, the dispeller of all anxiety and sorrow, and the supreme enhancer of longevity.

Worship the rising Sun, radiant with brilliant rays, revered by both gods and asuras, shining with splendor—the luminous lord of all the worlds.

Indeed, He embodies all the deities within Himself. He is self-luminous and produces rays of energy. He sustains and nourishes all the worlds, along with the hosts of gods and demons, by His celestial light.

He is Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the transformer, Skanda, Prajapati, Indra the king of gods, Kubera (Dhanada), Time (Kala), Yama, Soma the moon, and Varuna the lord of waters.

He is the Pitris (ancestors), the eight Vasus, the Sadhyas, the twin Ashvins, the Maruts, Manu, Vayu (wind), Agni (fire), the vital life-breath of all creatures, the maker of the six seasons, and the creator of light.

He is Aditya (son of Aditi), Savita (the instigator of life), Surya (the moving luminary), Khaga (traversing the heavens), Pushan (nourisher), radiating brilliant rays, shining like molten gold, the golden cosmic seed, and the creator of day.

He has green-gold steeds, a thousand rays, seven horses, and beaming radiance. He is the dispeller of darkness, the bringer of joy (Shambhu), the divine architect (Tvashta), born from the cosmic egg (Martanda), and radiating boundless rays.

He is Hiranyagarbha (the golden womb of creation), cooling and soothing (Shishira), scorching with heat (Tapana), illuminating (Bhaskara), praising and praised (Ravi), bearing fire within, son of Aditi, tranquil, and the dispeller of severe cold.

He is the Sovereign of the skies, piercer of darkness, master of Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, sender of heavy torrential rain, friend of the waters, and glider across the pathway of the Vindhya mountains.

He produces intense heat, possesses a circular orb, is death to decay, tawny in hue, heating everything, the omniscient poet-seer, the cosmic universe, possessing supreme radiance, crimson-tinted, and the source of all existence.

He is the sovereign of lunar mansions, planets, and stars; the creator of the universe; the splendor even among luminous bodies. Salutations unto You who manifests in twelve solar forms (Dvadashatman)!

Salutations to You in the Eastern mountain where You rise, and in the Western mountain where You set! Salutations to the Lord of the celestial constellations and the Sovereign Lord of the day!

Salutations unto the Victorious One, the Bestower of Auspicious Victory, the Lord of Tawny-Green Steeds! Salutations, salutations to the Thousand-Rayed Lord, salutations to Aditya!

Salutations to the Fierce and Awe-Inspiring, to the Valiant Hero, to the Swift Traveler! Salutations to Him who awakens the blossoming lotus, and to Martanda, born of the cosmic egg!

Salutations to the Supreme Overlord of Brahma, Shiva (Ishana), and Achyuta (Vishnu); to Surya possessing solar brilliance; to the radiant light, the consumer of all at dissolution, possessing a formidable form like Rudra!

Salutations to the Destroyer of Darkness, the Dispeller of Cold and Frost, the Annihilator of Enemies, the Boundless Soul, the Punisher of the ungrateful, the Shining God, and the Lord of all Lights!

Salutations to the Lord gleaming like refined molten gold, the Cosmic Fire, the Divine Architect of the universe! Salutations to the Destroyer of ignorance and gloom, the Supreme Radiance, the Eternal Witness of all worlds!

This Supreme Sovereign dissolves all created beings, and it is He alone who brings them into existence again. He consumes water with His rays, heats the earth, and pours down life-giving rain.

Dwelling deep within the heart of all beings, He remains awake while they sleep. He is verily the sacred fire-sacrifice (Agnihotra) and the ultimate spiritual fruit reaped by the sacrificers.

He is the Holy Vedas, the sacrificial rites, and the spiritual fruits of those rituals. Whatever virtuous actions exist across all worlds—the sovereign Sun (Ravi) is the Lord behind them all.

O Raghava! A person who glorifies this Sun God in times of dire calamity, acute hardship, wilderness, or paralyzing fear never sinks into despair or defeat.

Therefore, worship with one-pointed concentration this God of all gods, the Lord of the Universe! Reciting this hymn three times, you shall triumph in this great battle.

O mighty-armed Rama, in this very moment you shall slay Ravana! Having spoken thus, Sage Agastya departed as he had come.

Hearing this, the immensely radiant Raghava became completely free of grief. Joyous and self-controlled, He held this sacred hymn within His heart with focused devotion.

Gazing upon the Sun and reciting this hymn, Rama attained supreme ecstasy and divine empowerment. Sipping water thrice to purify Himself, the valiant Lord took up His mighty bow.

Beholding Ravana before Him, His soul filled with invincible joy, Rama advanced into combat, firmly resolved with supreme vigor to destroy the demon king.

Then Lord Surya, standing in the midst of the assembly of gods, beholding Rama with overflowing joy and knowing that the annihilation of the king of demons (Ravana) was at hand, proclaimed with great delight: 'Hasten, O Rama! Make haste!'