Tag: Sun

Aditya Udayam

It is a nice coincidence that I am writing two blogs in the same week on the same subject viz. Sun (Aditya). One is Aditya Hridayam (The heart of the Sun) in the Spiritual Category & the other Aditya Udayam (Sun Rise) in the Photography/Travel Category.

In one of my earlier blogs (Springing Eastern Sun – PANY 2019 on 01 Aug 2019) I had posted photographs of Sun during my visit to Pennsylvania and Newyork. After my return to my base, I have been continuing my reverence for the Sun and never failed to capture its graceful rise to dispel the darkness in us.

Here is a fascinating video taken from my apartment roof top recently. Look at the impact that the Sun brings out in the form of dazzling colors, brightness, clarity and the ambience. The serenity is aided by the background music in the Rag Bowli (courtesy VK Raman, the eminent flautist).

iPhone X has an amazing camera which syncs with my reverence in its true spirit. Enjoy this video at

Aditya Hridayam Verses 4-25 Prelude

The Sun—the heart of our solar system—is a yellow dwarf star, a hot ball of glowing gases.

Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest particles of debris in its orbit. Electric currents in the Sun generate a magnetic field that is carried out through the solar system by the solar wind—a stream of electrically charged gas blowing outward from the Sun in all directions.

The connection and interactions between the Sun and Earth drive the seasons, ocean currents, weather, climate, radiation belts and aurorae. Though it is special to us, there are billions of stars like our Sun scattered across the Milky Way galaxy.

With a radius of 432,168.6 miles (695,508 kilometers), our Sun is not an especially large star—many are several times bigger—but it is still far more massive than our home planet: 332,946 Earths match the mass of the Sun. The Sun’s volume would need 1.3 million Earths to fill it.

(Ref: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/sun/in-depth/)

I never get tired of seeing the Sun rise and the Sun set. Everyday I try and make it a point to watch the Sun Rise & Sun set. I am amazed at the splash of colors and contrast that Sun provides. I was fortunate to watch the Sun Rise from my apartment roof top on one fine morning. I have posted the video in the Photography Section of my blog.

Now, let us read carefully the above description of the Sun particularly on its critical role in the universe and relate them to the Verses that will follow on Sunday. From Verse 4 to Verse 25, Sage Agasthya brings out through his praise for Aditya, the features and characteristics of the Sun and its importance. One can see the striking similarity between the century old views to the scientific description. No wonder you will see temples for the Sun God in several States of India such as Orissa, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh , Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Aditya Hridayam

Preamble

The Dictionary Definition of resilience is “ the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after defamation caused especially by compressive stress “ or “ the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change “. American Psychological Association defines it as a “ process of adapting well in the face of adversity “.

Resilience is always built through learning, not acquired as a gift. Harvard Business School professor Bill George in his book “ Discover your true North “ highlights the method of “revisiting your crucibles”, viz our earlier trials and tribulations to draw from our inner strengths and lessons learnt. This however is a post facto process. We survived the storm and then we realised that we survived. We use the learning in the next storm not knowing whether it helps or not.

In the thick of the adverse situations most of the times, we need someone to confirm to us that we have what it takes to be resilient. We long for help. Ancient Indian history brings out several such adverse situations where the Principal Character derives his/her inner strength through the advice from a either friend or a philosopher or guide. Arjuna in the Indian epic Mahabharata finds Lord himself as Krishna to help him with “Bhagwad Gita” to launch the successful war against the Kauravas.

On many occasions, Nature’s manifestations themselves will provide the necessary impetus to us to recharge ourselves and have a go at the challenges that we face. If such manifestations are explained by an eminent Philosopher/Saint/Guru at the adverse situation, then it is an accelerator for rejuvenation.

This is exactly the theme of my next series of blogs on “Aditya Hridayam” by the diminutive ancient Hindu Sage Agasthya where we will see how Lord Rama finds his inner strength to defeat the Lankan King Ravana on hearing the manifestations of Aditya (The Sun) in the other epic of Sage Valmiki’s “Ramayana”.

Again a word of caution – As a novice, I am neither an expert in languages nor have adequate knowledge of religion/spirituality. I am just a mind seeker.

Note: Based on the feedback received on my earlier blogs, I have added meaning of Sanskrit words & the meaning of the Verse in English. Needless to say that I haven’t put any effort in these two additions as they are reproduced with courtesy from the information available in books and the Worldwide web!

True to the Indian name “Bhanu” for Sun & Sunday, I will try and update this blog every Sunday

Springing Eastern Sun – PANY 2019

Ever since I started my early morning walk in India several years ago, I have been an ardent devotee/follower of an important element of Nature – Fire represented by the Sun (Aditya or Soorya as we call it). Reciting the famous Sanskrit Verses (Aditya Hrudayam) and taking photos of the Sun using my iPhone is my near daily routine.

Here is an important verse from the Sloka.

आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ।

जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥४॥

Aaditya-Hrdayam Punnyam Sarva-Shatru-Vinaashanam |

Jaya-[A]avaham Japen-Nityam-Akssayyam Paramam Shivam ||4||

Aditya – Sun

Hridayam – heart

PuNyam – sacred

Sarva – all

Shatru – enemies

Vinashanam – destruction

jaya = victory

Avaham = giving, bestowing, producing, bringing forth

japa: = chanting prayers [japet = should chant/recite]

nityam = daily/forever/always

akshayyam = eternal

paramam = highest, greatest [superlative]

shivam = prosperity, well-being, happiness, blessed

Over the years that we have been traveling to the USA, this is the first time that we have visited during the Spring/Summer. Needless to say that this was a “Sun” given opportunity to interact with Him and listen to His language of expression. During my travel across in Pennsylvania and Newyork States this Spring, He was kind enough to provide me ample opportunities for interactions.

Springing Eastern Sun (PANY 2019 – depicting photos from PA & NY) is the gist of my interactions with Sun.

I deem it as His Blessings.

Music Courtesy: Flute by the Carnatic Legend Dr N. Ramani in Raga Sivaranjani.

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