Tag: Surya

Aditya Hridayam Verse 11-15

Verse 11

हरिदश्वस्सहस्रार्चिस्सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् ।
तिमिरोन्मथनश्शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥११॥


Harid-Ashvas-Sahasra-Arcis-Sapta-Saptir-Mariicimaan |
Timiro[a-U]nmathanash-Shambhus-Tvassttaa Maartaanndda Amshumaan ||11||

Meaning of Sanskrit Words

harita = of green color

ashva: = horse

(haridashva: = He who has green horses)

sahasra = thousand (also to mean ‘large numbers’)

arci: = ray of the sun

(sahasrArci: = having massive number of rays)

sapta = seven

sapti: = horse

marIci: = ray of the sun

marIcimAn = one who is filled with rays

timira: = darkness

unmathana: = tearing/shaking off

(timirOnmathana: = remover of darkness)

shambhu: = auspiciousness

tvaShTA = (literally) to peel, make thin, remove

(here, decrease of sufferings)

aNda: = egg (here, primordial egg)

mArtaNda: = mArta aNda: = egg infused with mortality/life

anshu: = ray

anshumAn = one with rays

Meaning of the Verse

He is omnipresent who pervades all with His thousands of rays (that symbolize his hands).

He rides a chariot with seven green horses (symbolizing the sense organs). He is the dispeller of darkness (ignorance). He is the incarnation of auspiciousness and mitigator of ills, and is

the source of life in the form of a mundane cosmic egg

Meaning in Tamil

பசுமைநிறை புரவிஏழுபூண் ரதமேறி

ஆயிரம் கரங்கள் நீட்டி துயர் நீக்கி

உலகிருள் நீக்கி மங்கள திருஉருவாகி

உயிர்மூலமெனும் இம்மை அண்டமாகி

உலகாள்வான் எங்கும் நிறை ஆதவன்

Here is the link to the incident in Mahabharat where Lord Karna offers prayers to the Sun God before removing his Kavach (inborn Protective Armor). The lyrics & picturisation of this song exactly describes this para in Tamil

https://youtu.be/sGLw1FRIStQ

—————————————————————

Verse 12

हिरण्यगर्भश्शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः ।

अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खश्शिशिरनाशनः ॥१२॥

hiraNyagarbha: shishirastapanO bhAskarO ravi:

agnigarbhO aditE: putra: sha.Nkha shishiranAshana:

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

hiraNyam = gold

garbha: = born from

shishira: = cold

tapana: = heat; sun

bhAs = light, brightness; bhAskara: = the one causing it; sun

ravi: = sun

agnigarbha: = pregnant with fire

aditi: = free, boundless; here, refers to Aditi, the mother of

the devAs; hence the sun is also called Adityaa

putra: = son

sha.Nkha: = conch; drum; here, precious?

shishiranAshana: = remover of cold

Meaning of the Verse

The Sun is the one born from the golden egg, the remover of darkness, bearer of fire, son of Aditi, and the destroyer of cold.

Meaning in Tamil

பொன் அண்டப்பிறப்போன் பனித்திவலைவிலக்கி வெப்பஒளிக்கதிராவான்

அழற்பிழம்போன் அதிதிபுதல்வன் சங்கமுழங்கி குளிரதனை விரட்டிடுவான்

———————————————————————

Verse 13

व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुस्सामपारगः ।

घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः ॥१३॥

vyOmanAtha: tama: bhEdI ruk yaju: sAmapAraga:

ghanavruShTirapAm mitrO vindhya vIthI plavangama:

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

vyOma: = sky, atmosphere

nAtha: = ruler

tama: = darkness

bhEdI = destruction, annihilation [bhEdiram = thunderbolt]

rugyajussAmapAraga: = master of Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas

ghana = dense, firm, heavy

vruShTi: = rain [vruShTibhU: = frog]

apAm = water

vindhya = Vindhya mountains (deccan)

vIthI = road, way (vIthi: also)

plava = swimming, floating, jumping

plava.Ngama: = coarsing, movement [also means a monkey, frog]

Meaning of the Verse

He is the ruler of the skies, remover of darkness, master of the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama), from whom come heavy showers of water, and who coarses in his way across the Vindhya mountains

Meaning in Tamil

இருளகற்றும் வானாளோன் மும்மறை வித்தகன் கனமழை

நீர்பொழியக் காரணமாவான் விந்தியமலைவீதி உலாவோன்

—————————————————————

Verse 14

आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलस्सर्वतापनः ।

कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तस्सर्वभवोद्भवः ॥१४॥

AtapI maNDalI mrutyu: pi.Ngala: sarvatApana:

kavirvishvO mahAtEjA raktassarvabhavOdbhava:

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

AtapI = heating; causing pain

maNDalI = round, circular

mrutyu: = death

pi.Ngala: = yellowish, brownish “tawny” color

sarvatApana: = burning/distressing everything

kavi: = wise man, sage; poet

vishva: = universal; soul

mahAtEjA = great lustre, brilliance

rakta: = red

sarvabhava: = everything that exists

udbhava: = creator

Meaning of the Verse

He is heat-causing, circular, death, tawny, and all destroying. He is the all-knowing, extremely shining, red colored, creator of everything that exists.

Meaning in Tamil

மாள் விளை வெப்பமிகு கோள்வீதியுடை பழு–

மஞ்சள் நிற அனைத்தெரிக்கும் ஆற்றலுடையான்

உலகாளும் மெய்யறியோன் மாகதிரொளிச்சிவந்தோன்

உளயாவும் உயிரினங்களனைத்தும் படைவினையான்

————————————————————

Verse 15

नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः ।

तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥१५॥

nakshatra grahatArANAm adhipO vishvabhAvana:

tejasAm api tejasvI dvAdashAtmannamOstutE

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

nakshatram = star; constellation

graha: = planet (as understood in those times); seize, grab

tArA = star

…tArANAm = Among the stars, planets and constellations

adhipa: = ruler, king [= adhipati:]

vishva: = soul; universal [vishvam = world; Vishnu]

bhAvana: = creator

tEjas = brilliance; sharpness; prowess

dvAdasha = twelve (dvi adika dasha)

Atman = inner form

nama: = salutations

astu = let it be

tE = to you (“tubhyam” is also valid)

Meaning of the Verse

He is the controller of stars, constellations and planets,
the creator of everything that exists, most brilliant among
everything splendid. Oh God, who appears in twelveforms (the months of the yr), all my salutations be to you.

In other words, He is the presiding Deity of Constellations (Nakshatras), Planets(Graha) and Stars (Tara), and conceives the whole Universe in his mind (i.e. his scope of influence is universal). He has more Energy of Splendour (Tejas) than even the most Energetic; Salutations to You who has twelve Atmans (i.e. 12 Adityas – Varuna, Mitra, Aryama, Bhaga, Amshuman, Dhata, Parjamya, Tvashtha, Vishnu, Pushya, Vivasvan),

Meaning in Tamil

விண்மண்டலம் கோள் விண்மீன் அனைத்திற்கும் முதல்வோன்

அவன் விளைசெயலன்றோ புவிவிண் அடங்கும் இப்பிரபஞ்சம்

ஒளிமயத்துஒளிமயமாய் பன்னிரு இறைவடிவாய் பரஞ்ஜோதியாய்

படர்ந்திருக்கும் பரம்பொருளான பகலவனடி யான் பணிந்தேன்

——————————————————————-

Aditya Hridayam Verse 7-10

Verse 7

सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येषः तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः ।

एष देवासुरगणान् लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥७॥

sarvadevAtmakO hyESha tEjasvI rashmibhAvana:

ESha devAsuragaNAn lokAn pAti gabhastibhi:

Meaning of the Sanskrit words

sarva deva Atmaka: = all the devAs’ embodiment/real nature/form

hi ESha: = indeed, this [sUryA]

tEjasvI = bright, sharp

rashmi bhAvana: = creator/cause of His rays

ESha: = this [AdityA]

devA asura = devAs and asurAs

gaNa: = group/collection [gaNA: = plural; gaNAn = used in object sense]

lokAn = all the worlds [used in an object form here]

pAti = sustains/takes care [pAti: = master, husband; pAlanam = take care

comes from this root]

gabhasti: = rays/beams of light [gabhastibhi: = by His rays]

Meaning of the Verse

Indeed, He is the real form (embodiment) of all devAs, bright, and creator of His rays.

He sustains the groups of devAs and asurAs and their worlds by His rays.

Meaning in Tamil

கருத்துருவமன்றோ ஆதவன் அனைத்து தேவரினத்தின்

கதிரொளி படைத்துக்காப்பான் தேவ அசுர கணங்களை

——————————————————————-

Verse 8

एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः ।

माहेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमस्सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥८॥

ESha: brahmA ca vishnushca shiva: skanda: prajApati:

mahEndrO dhanada: kAlO yama: sOmO hyapAm pati:

Meaning of the Sanskrit words

ESha: = He

brahmA ca vishnu: ca shiva: ca = the trinity

skanda: = shivA’s son

prajApati: = Lord of all creatures

mahA indra: = great Indra (Lord of Celestial Beings)

dhanada: = Kubera (Lord of Wealth)

kAla: = Lord of Time

yama: = Lord of Death

soma: = moon, nourisher (Moon God)

hi = indeed

apAm pati: = Varuna (Lord of Waters)

Meaning of the Verse

He is indeed Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajaapati, Indra, Kubera,

Kaala, Yamaa, Soma, and Varuna.

Meaning in Tamil

அயனும் மாயவனும் அழழேந்தியும் அவனே

அறுமுகனும் ஆக்குபவனும் அவனே

காலமும் காலனும் அவனே

இந்திரனும் சந்திரனும் அவனே

பொன்னரசனும் பொழிமழையரசனும் அவனே

(அறிந்திடுவாய் இராமா)

—————————————————————

Verse 9

पितरो वसवस्साध्याः ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः ।

वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राणा ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥९॥

pitarO vasava: sAdhyA hi ashvinOu marutO manu:

vAyu: vahni: prajAprANa R^itukartA prabhAkara:

Meaning of the Sanskrit words

pitara: = revered spirit of dead/manes

vasava: = (8) gods who attend to indrA [vasu: – singular] 8 Vasus

sAdhyA: = (12) yogIs

hi = indeed

ashvinOu = (2) physicians in devaloka: ( Ashwini kumaras)

maruta: = (49) more gods

manu: = another god

vAyu: = wind god

vahni: = agni, fire-god

prajAprANa = air that sustains life

R^itukartA = creator of seasons

prabhAkara: = producer of light

Meaning of the Verse

Indeed He is the Pitrs, Vasus, Sadhyas, Ashwins,

Maruts, Manu, Vayu, Agni, life-breath, source of

seasons and light in the universe.

Meaning in Tamil

முன்னோரும் முனியோரும் இறையோரும் இறையோரின்

மருத்துவரும் இயற்கையின் ஐம்புலன்களும் அவனே

பருவ காலங்களும் பகலொளி படைப்போனும் அவனே

————————————————————

Verse 10

आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान् ।

सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेतो दिवाकरः ॥१०॥

Aditya: savitA sUrya: khaga: pUShA gabhastimAn

suvarNasadrushO bhAnur hirenyaretaa divAkara:

Meaning of the Sanskrit words

Aditya: = son of aditi [srimad bhAgavatam has great

details on lineages]

savitA = creator/generator/inspirer (of senses)

sUrya: = sun

khaga: = moving/flying in the air; here it is the sun;

it is also used to mean “bird”

pUShA = nourisher [pUSh dhAtu has the meanings of

nourish, to grow, increase; pOShanam is a noun

form]

gabhastimAn = owner of rays of light

suvarNasadrusha: = like (sadrusha:) pearls (suvarNa:)

[golden, sparkling]

bhAnu: = brilliant

Hirenyareta = fertility seed (rEtA) of the world (vishva)

divAkara: = maker (-Akara:) of days (diva:)

Meaning of the Verse

He is the son of Aditi, the inspirer/creator of senses, the sun,

the traveller in the heavens, sustainer, possessor of

rays, golden, brilliant, and the cause of the universe

and creator of day.

Meaning in Tamil

புலன் ஐந்தும் ஊக்குவிப்போன் அதிதிஅன்னையின் புதல்வன் அவன்

வான் உலவிப்பேணி உலகூட்டமளித் திகழொளிக்கதிரவன் அவன்

பொன் ஒளியினால் இயலுலகுக்கு கருவான வித்தவன் பகலவன் அவன்

Aditya Hridayam Verses 4-6

Verse 4

आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ।

जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥४॥

Aaditya-Hrdayam Punnyam Sarva-Shatru-Vinaashanam |

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

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

AdityahR^idayam = this is the first and only time the name of this shlokam is mentioned by agastyA. It literally means the “Heart of sUryabhagavAn”

pUNyam = sacred (adjective for AH)

sarva = all

shatru = enemies [in the third, agastyA calls the same “sarvAn arIn”]

vinAshanam = destruction

jaya = victory

Avaham = giving, bestowing, producing, bringing forth

[several mantrAs will invoke a deity and say “… AvAhayAmi”; bhayAvahaH =producing fear; kleshAvahaH = causing pain/distress]

japa: = chanting prayers [japet = should chant/recite (preranA/request

form)]

nityam = daily/forever/always

akshayyam = eternal

paramam = highest, greatest [superlative]

shivam = prosperity, well-being, happiness, blessed

Meaning of the Verse

The Holy Aditya Hridayam gives victory, eternal and greatly blessed and is the destroyer of enemies. One should chant it always.

Meaning in Tamil

ஆதவன் புகழ் மந்திரம் புனிதம் அனத்துப்பகையழி வென்றிடும்

அனுதினம் உரைத்தல் அளிக்கும் நிலையான அதி புகழ் வளம்

——————————————————-

Verse 5

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।

चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम् ॥५॥

Sarva-Manggala-Maanggalyam Sarva-Paapa-Prannaashanam |

Cintaa-Shoka-Prashamanam-Aayur-Vardhanam-Uttamam ||5||

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

sarva ma~ngala = of all the blessings

mAngalyam = the blessing/auspicious (it is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious)

sarva pApa = of all sins

praNAshanam = annihilation/destruction [the root “nAsha:” gives rise to several things that have the “perishable” flavor – nAshanam, vinAshanam, nAshtA, nAshTika: (someone who lost

something)]

cintA = anxiety/fear [it is literally “thought”/”worry”]

shOka = sadness/grief

prashama: = calmness/pacification (indicates here – “cooling down” or removing sadness and anxiety]

Ayu: = lifespan

vardhanam = increasing/enlarging

uttamam = most appropriate/best/ultimate

Meaning of the Verse

[Aditya Hridayam] is the best blessing of all blessings, the destroyer of

all sins, and causes the removal of anxiety, grief and most suitable for

facilitating logevity.

Meaning in Tamil

கதிரவனொளி நல்வாழ்விற்கு நல்வாழ்வாய் சகலபாவ வினைகளழிக்கும்

பதற்றமிகு கவலை நீக்கி அமைதியுடன் நீடூழி வாழ வழிவகுத்திடுமன்றோ

—————————————————-

Verse 6

रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् ।

पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥६॥

Rashmimantam Samudyantam Deva-Asura-Namaskrtam |

Puujayasva Vivasvantam Bhaaskaram Bhuvane[a-Ii]shvaram ||6||

Meaning of Sanskrit Words

rashmi: = beam/ray of light [rashmima = sun; rashmimantam = haloed with rays, possessed of rays, crowned with rays]

samudyantam = having risen up [in the morning] [udaya: = to rise, samudaya: = to rise (in a good manner), samudyata =raised, lifted up]

devAsura = devAs and asurAs

namaskrutam = namas + krutam [namas = bowing/salutation, krutam = doing it; namaskaranam is the nominal verb form]

pUjayasva = agastyA is addressing rAmA here and saying “You Worship!”

vivasvantam = AdityA [vivasvat = brilliant/shining one; vivasta/vivasvAn = sun; vaivasvatA is the current Manu, son of sUryA]

bhAskaram = sun [bhAs = light, brightness; it also has a meaning of

“revealing, making clear” and light surely does that. The word “bhAshyam” has this same root; kara = to do, create; bhAskaram = the one that creates light]

bhuvana Eshvaram = ruler of the worlds [bhuvana refers to all the worlds; Esh = possessor, owner; Eshvaram = master, lord]

Meaning of the Verse

Pay respects to the risen sUryA, crowned with rays of light, who is most fitting to be worshipped, who is the ruler of all the worlds, who is the creator of light, who is brilliant, and venerated by the devAs and asurAs.

Meaning in Tamil

அண்டங்கள் அனைத்தாளும் ஆதவனை

விண்ணோர் வணங்கும் வெய்யோனை

பூரண நல்உதயமாகும் கதிரொளியவனை

பூசித்திடுவாய் புனிதமுடன் இராமனே

———————————————————————-

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 Verses 1-3

Verse 1

ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् ।

रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥१॥

tatO yuddha parishrAntam samarE cintayAsthitam

rAvaNam cAgratO dR^iShTvA yuddhAya samupasthitam

Meaning of Sanskrit words

tata: – Then (at that very time)

yuddham – battle

parishrAnti: – exhaustion/fatigue

samara: – battle(-field)

cintayA – in the middle of a thought

sthitam – staying/standing

rAvaNam – ravana (used as an object of the sentence)

ca – and

agrata: – in front of

dR^iShTvA – on seeing (Dhrusti – seeing)

yuddhAya – for the battle

Sam-upa-sthitam – standing prepared (‘Sam’ – popular prefix to indicate correctness/propreity – in this case, ravana is standing, correctly prepared to fight)

Meaning of the Verse

When Lord Rama (implicit subject of the sentence) is standing absorbed in thought, on the battlefield, as He is exhausted by the fight till now; seeing Ravana facing Him (in front of Him) duly prepared for the fight…

Verse 2

दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् ।
उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः ॥२॥

daivatai: ca samAgamya draShTum abhyAgatOraNam

upAgamya: abravIt rAmam agastyO bhagavAn R^ishi:

Meaning of Sanskrit Words

daivatai: – with Devas

ca – and

sama-Agamya – arriving (at the same time) [Sam is prefixed for

‘simultaneously’] Aagaami is come, Aagamya is coming

draShTum – to see/witness [dR^iShTi: = sight]

abhyAgata: – he who had come

raNam – battle

upAgamya: – approaching [Agamya – coming, upa – near => to come near]

abravIt – spoke (past tense)

rAmam – Sri Rama

agastyO

bhagavAn – “blessed” is one of the meanings

R^ishi: – sage

Meaning of the Verse

The ‘Blessed’ Sage, Agastya, who had come to see the battle with the Devataas, on approaching Sri Rama, spoke…

Verse 1 & 2 – Tamil Version

சரிநிகர் சமமென நின்ற இலங்கையன் எதிரே

புரிபோர் விளை சோர்வுடன் சிந்தனைநடு நின்ற

கோசலைமைந்தனை நோக்கி தேவரினம் சூழ

போர் காண களம் வந்த குருமுனி சென்றுரைத்தான்

Verse 3

राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् ।
येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥३॥

rAma rAma mahA bAhO shrunu guhyam sanAtanam

yEna sarvAn arIn vatsa samarE vijayiShyasi

Meaning of Sanskrit Words

rAma – Agastya is talking to Raama directly, and addresses him “Hey Raama,

the Great-Shouldered Rama”

mahA – Great, mighty

bAhO – Shoulder

shrunu – listen [the word Shruthi has the same root]

guhyam – secret [Hindi word “Gupt” comes from this]

sanAtanam – forever, unending, eternal [as in Sanaathana Dharma]

[In fact, in AH, you will find several words for the same – akshaya,

nitya, shAshvatasya]

yEna – With which [ya: + Ena = yEna; ya: = whom/which, Ena = by/with]

sarvAn – all [used as an object here]

arIn – enemies [Krishna is “murAri” since he was the enemy of the demon

murA; kEsava since he killed the demon Kesi]

vatsa – child [Agastya addresses Rama as a child here]

samarE – on the battlefield

vijayiShyasi – You will win [vijayasi = You win; vijayAmi = I win;

vijayiShyAmi = I will win]

Meaning of the Verse

This stanza is a direct address from Agastya to Rama :

Hey Rama, the Great-Shouldered Rama, Listen to the eternal secret,

With which, Over all the enemies, Hey Child, You will win on the

battle-field!

Verse 3 – Tamil Version

தோள்வலி மிகுராமா கேளாயோ அழியாநிலையுடை மறைசெய்தி

அதன்வழி நடப்பின் அடைவர் அனைத்துப்பகைமீது உறுதிவெற்றி

இப்போர்களத்தில் உன் வெற்றி உறுதி பால ராமனே கவலைதவிர்

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