Aditya Hridayam
॥ आदित्यहृदयम् ॥
What is the Aditya Hridayam?
Aditya Hridayam is a 31-verse Sanskrit hymn to Surya, the Sun God, taught by Sage Agastya to Sri Rama on the battlefield of Lanka just before his final duel with Ravana, praising the Sun as the source of strength, victory and every form of divine power.
In the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, an exhausted Sri Rama stands facing Ravana on the field at Lanka when the sage Agastya arrives with a battlefield secret: the Aditya Hridayam, the Heart of the Sun, a hymn that names Surya as the living form of every god and every force that holds the world together.
Aditya Hridayam Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
Roman transliteration is shown first with the Devanagari beneath. Tap ‘Meaning’ under any verse for a plain-English explanation.
tato yuddhapariśrāntaṃ samare cintayā sthitam |
rāvaṇaṃ cāgrato dṛṣṭvā yuddhāya samupasthitam
ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् ।
रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्
Meaning
Beholding Sri Rama standing on the battlefield, exhausted from the long war and absorbed in deep anxiety, with Ravana standing directly before him, fully armed and prepared for combat.
daivataiśca samāgamya draṣṭum abhyāgato raṇam |
upāgamyābravīd rāmam agastyo bhagavāṁs tadā
दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् ।
उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः
Meaning
The blessed and glorious Sage Agastya, who had arrived with the assembled Devas to witness this decisive encounter, approached Sri Rama and addressed him thus.
rāma rāma mahābāho śṛṇu guhyaṃ sanātanam |
yena sarvān arīn vatsa samare vijayiṣyase
राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् ।
येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि
Meaning
O Rama, O Rama, mighty-armed hero, listen to this eternal and secret teaching. By knowing this, my child, you shall conquer every one of your enemies in battle.
ādityahṛdayaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvaśatruvināśanam |
jayāvahaṃ japen nityam akṣayyaṃ paramaṃ śivam
आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ।
जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम्
Meaning
This sacred hymn, the Aditya Hridayam, destroys every enemy, brings victory, and grants imperishable, supreme auspiciousness. It should be recited daily by the devoted seeker.
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam |
cintāśokapraśamanam āyurvardhanam uttamam
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।
चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम्
Meaning
This hymn is the most auspicious of all auspicious things. It destroys every sin, calms anxiety and grief, and is the finest means of extending life and vitality.
raśmimantaṃ samudyantaṃ devāsuranamaskṛtam |
pūjayasva vivasvantaṃ bhāskaraṃ bhuvaneśvaram
रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् ।
पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम्
Meaning
Worship Vivasvan, the Lord of the Universe, crowned with brilliant rays, rising in magnificent glory, bowed to with reverence by both the Devas and the Asuras.
sarvadevātmako hyeṣa tejasvī raśmibhāvanaḥ |
eṣa devāsuragaṇāṃl lokān pāti gabhastibhiḥ
सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः ।
एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान्पाति गभस्तिभिः
Meaning
He is the embodiment of all the gods together, full of radiance, and he nourishes all creation through his rays. With his beams of light he protects the worlds, the Devas and the Asuras alike.
eṣa brahmā ca viṣṇuśca śivaḥ skandaḥ prajāpatiḥ |
mahendro dhanadaḥ kālo yamaḥ somo hyapāṃ patiḥ
एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः ।
महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः
Meaning
He is Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer, Skanda, Prajapati, mighty Indra, Kubera the lord of wealth, Time itself, Yama the lord of death, the Moon, and Varuna the lord of the waters.
pitaro vasavaḥ sādhyā hyaśvinau maruto manuḥ |
vāyur vahniḥ prajāḥ prāṇa ṛtukartā prabhākaraḥ
पितरो वसवः साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः ।
वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाः प्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः
Meaning
He is the Pitris, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the twin Ashvini Kumaras, the Maruts, Manu, the Wind, Fire, the life-breath within every creature, the maker of the seasons, and the supreme light-giver.
ādityaḥ savitā sūryaḥ khagaḥ pūṣā gabhastimān |
suvarṇasadṛśo bhānur hiraṇyaretā divākaraḥ
आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान् ।
सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः
Meaning
He is Aditya, son of Aditi; Savita, the animating force of the cosmos; Surya; Khaga, traveler of the sky; Pusha, the nourisher; Gabhastiman, holder of mighty rays; golden as fine gold; Bhanu, the radiant one; Hiranyareta; and Divakara, the maker of the day.
haridaśvaḥ sahasrārciḥ saptasaptir marīcimān |
timironmathanaḥ śambhus tvaṣṭā mārtāṇḍa aṃśumān
हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् ।
तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान्
Meaning
He rides green steeds and carries a thousand rays, drawn by seven horses, filled with light, the dispeller of every darkness, bestower of happiness, the divine craftsman of creation, Martanda, and the supremely radiant one.
hiraṇyagarbhaḥ śiśiras tapano bhāskaro raviḥ |
agnigarbho’diteḥ putraḥ śaṅkhaḥ śiśiranāśanaḥ
हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः ।
अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः
Meaning
He is Hiranyagarbha, the golden cosmic womb, cool by night yet the supreme source of heat, the illuminator, the traveler of the sky, the one who carries fire within, the son of Aditi, the pacifier, and the destroyer of cold.
vyomanāthas tamobhedī ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-pāragaḥ |
ghanavṛṣṭir apāṃ mitro vindhyavīthī-plavaṅgamaḥ
व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुस्सामपारगः ।
घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः
Meaning
Lord of the sky, piercer of every darkness, master of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas, the cause of heavy rain, friend of the waters, and the swift traveler across the vast expanse of the Vindhya range.
ātapī maṇḍalī mṛtyuḥ piṅgalaḥ sarvatāpanaḥ |
kavir viśvo mahātejā raktaḥ sarvabhavodbhavaḥ
आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलः सर्वतापनः ।
कविर्विश्वो महातेजा रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः
Meaning
He radiates intense heat, appears as a great orb, is death itself to his enemies, tawny in hue, the warmer of all things, the all-seeing seer, the universal one, immensely brilliant, red like passion, and the source from which all existence arises.
nakṣatra-graha-tārāṇām adhipo viśva-bhāvanaḥ |
tejasām api tejasvī dvādaśātman namo’stu te
नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः ।
तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते
Meaning
Lord of every star, planet and constellation, creator and sustainer of the whole universe, the most brilliant among the brilliant. O Sun who manifests in twelve divine forms, salutations to you.
namaḥ pūrvāya giraye paścimāyādraye namaḥ |
jyotirgaṇānāṃ pataye dinādhipataye namaḥ
नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः ।
ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः
Meaning
Salutations to the Eastern Mountain of sunrise. Salutations to the Western Mountain of sunset. Salutations to the lord of all luminaries and heavenly bodies, and to the lord of every day.
jayāya jayabhadrāya haryaśvāya namo namaḥ |
namo namaḥ sahasrāṃśo ādityāya namo namaḥ
जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः ।
नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः
Meaning
Salutations, salutations to Victory itself. Salutations to the bestower of victory and auspiciousness, to the one with tawny horses. Salutations, salutations to the one with a thousand rays. Salutations, salutations to Aditya.
nama ugrāya vīrāya sāraṅgāya namo namaḥ |
namaḥ padmaprabodhāya mārtāṇḍāya namo namaḥ
नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः ।
नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्ताण्डाय नमो नमः
Meaning
Salutations to the fierce and powerful one, to the heroic one, to the swiftly moving one. Salutations to the awakener of the lotus. Salutations, salutations to Martanda.
brahmeśānācyuteśāya sūryāyādityavarcase |
bhāsvate sarvabhakṣāya raudrāya vapuṣe namaḥ
ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यायादित्यवर्चसे ।
भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः
Meaning
Salutations to the lord of Brahma, Shiva and Achyuta, to the Sun who carries the effulgence of Aditya, to the radiant one who consumes all things, to the one who wears the formidable, Rudra-like cosmic form.
tamoghnāya himaghnāya śatrughnāyāmitātmane |
kṛtaghnaghnāya devāya jyotiṣāṃ pataye namaḥ
तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने ।
कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः
Meaning
Salutations to the dispeller of darkness, the destroyer of cold, the vanquisher of enemies, the one of boundless spirit. Salutations to the punisher of the ungrateful, the divine one, the lord of every light.
taptacāmīkarābhāya haraye viśvakarmaṇe |
namas tamo’bhinighnāya rucaye lokasākṣiṇe
तप्तचामीकराभाय हरये विश्वकर्मणे ।
नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे
Meaning
Salutations to him who glows like molten gold, to Hari who removes sin, to Vishvakarma the cosmic architect. Salutations to the destroyer of darkness, the luminous one, the eternal witness of the whole universe.
nāśayatyeṣa vai bhūtaṃ tadeva sṛjati prabhuḥ |
pāyatyeṣa tapatyeṣa varṣatyeṣa gabhastibhiḥ
नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः ।
पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः
Meaning
This Lord dissolves all beings and then brings them back into existence. With his rays he draws up water, radiates fierce heat, and sends down life-giving rain upon the earth.
eṣa supteṣu jāgarti bhūteṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ |
eṣa evāgnihotraṃ ca phalaṃ caivāgnihotriṇām
एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः ।
एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम्
Meaning
He stays awake and fully conscious within every creature even while they sleep. He himself is the sacred Agnihotra fire offering, and he is also the fruit gained by the one who performs it.
vedāśca kratavaścaiva kratūnāṃ phalam eva ca |
yāni kṛtyāni lokeṣu sarveṣu paramaḥ prabhuḥ
वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च ।
यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्वेषु परमः प्रभुः
Meaning
He is the Vedas themselves. He is the sacrificial rites, and he is the fruit of those rites. He is the supreme ruler over every action performed in every world.
enam āpatsu kṛcchreṣu kāntāreṣu bhayeṣu ca |
kīrtayan puruṣaḥ kaścin nāvasīdati rāghava
एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च ।
कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव
Meaning
O Raghava, whoever praises and recites this hymn in extreme distress, in a difficult passage of life, in a fearsome forest, or in moments of great fear, that person will never falter or lose heart.
pūjayasvainam ekāgro devadevaṃ jagatpatim |
etat triguṇitaṃ japtvā yuddheṣu vijayiṣyasi
पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम् ।
एतत्त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि
Meaning
Worship him with single-minded focus, the God of gods, the Lord of the universe. Recite this hymn three times with devotion, and you will win every battle you face.
asmin kṣaṇe mahābāho rāvaṇaṃ tvaṃ vadhiṣyasi |
evam uktvā tadāgastyo jagāma ca yathāgatam
अस्मिन्क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि ।
एवमुक्त्वा तदागस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम्
Meaning
O mighty-armed Rama, at this very moment you shall slay Ravana. Having said this, Sage Agastya left in the same way he had arrived, disappearing as quickly as he had come.
etat śrutvā mahātejā naṣṭaśoko’bhavat tadā |
dhārayāmāsa suprīto rāghavaḥ prayatātmavān
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा ।
धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान्
Meaning
Hearing this, the radiant Sri Rama was instantly freed from all sorrow. Filled with quiet joy, the self-controlled Raghava held the hymn deep within his heart.
ādityaṃ prekṣya japtvā tu paraṃ harṣam avāptavān |
trirācamya śucirbhūtvā dhanurādāya vīryavān
आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान् ।
त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्
Meaning
Gazing at the Sun in the sky, Sri Rama recited the hymn and felt a surge of supreme joy and strength. Sipping water three times to purify himself, the valorous Rama took up his bow.
rāvaṇaṃ prekṣya hṛṣṭātmā yuddhāya samupāgamat |
sarvayatnena mahatā vadhe tasya dhṛto’bhavat
रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत् ।
सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत्
Meaning
Seeing Ravana before him, Sri Rama advanced into the final battle with a fearless and joyful heart, resolved with the whole of his strength to bring about Ravana's end.
atha ravir avadan nirīkṣya rāmaṃ muditamanāḥ paramaṃ prahṛṣyamāṇaḥ |
niśicarapatisaṃkṣayaṃ viditvā suragaṇamadhyagato vacas tvareti
अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः ।
निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति
Meaning
Then the Sun God, standing among the assembled Devas, looked upon Sri Rama with deep delight, knowing that the end of Ravana, the king of night-stalkers, was now certain, and spoke a single word: hasten.
What Does the Aditya Hridayam Mean?
The hymn opens as pure theology. Agastya tells Rama that Surya is not one deity among many but the single form behind them all: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Indra, Yama, Varuna, the Vasus and the Ashvins are named one after another as different faces of the same solar light. A long string of names follows, Aditya, Savita, Bhaskara, Martanda, Hiranyagarbha, each one a separate way the old texts describe the Sun’s power to warm, to feed, to measure the seasons and to keep every creature alive.
From verse fifteen onward the tone shifts from description to direct address. Rama is told to bow to the Sun as lord of the eastern and western mountains, ruler of every star and planet, the one who both dissolves and recreates all beings with his rays. This is the section most devotees chant slowly, since each line is its own short salutation and can be repeated on its own for a quick daily practice.
The final third returns to the battlefield. Agastya promises that reciting the hymn three times will bring victory, Rama takes up his bow with a clear mind, and the Sun himself, watching from among the gods, urges him on with a single word, hasten. Read this way, the Aditya Hridayam is as much a lesson in composure under pressure as it is a hymn of praise, which is why it gets chanted before exams, court dates and any contest that calls for a steady head.
How Do You Chant the Aditya Hridayam?
- Face the rising Sun – stand or sit facing east at sunrise, ideally right after a bath
- Offer Arghya – pour a little water toward the Sun as a simple offering before you begin
- Recite all 31 verses – chant slowly and clearly, keeping attention on the meaning rather than speed
- Repeat three times for a specific need – Agastya's own instruction to Rama was three repetitions before a decisive event; one careful recitation is enough for daily practice
What Are the Benefits of Chanting the Aditya Hridayam?
Every benefit listed here comes from the hymn’s own verses, not from later commentary.
- Victory over obstacles: the hymn was given to Rama specifically to defeat Ravana, and devotees today recite it before exams, interviews, legal matters and other contests that call for a decisive outcome
- Release from old sins: verse five states plainly that the hymn clears accumulated wrongdoing, offering something like a fresh start
- Relief from anxiety and grief: Rama himself was in a state of dread when he first heard it, and the hymn names calming anxiety and sorrow as one of its direct effects
- Strength and long life: regular recitation is traditionally linked to steadier vitality, sharper eyesight and a longer, healthier life
- Composure under pressure: the Sun's own qualities of confidence and clear-headed radiance are said to pass to whoever chants with sincerity
- Protection in a crisis: verse twenty-five promises that anyone who calls on this hymn in danger, in a difficult forest, or in genuine fear will not lose their footing
Where Does the Aditya Hridayam Come From?
The Aditya Hridayam appears in the Yuddha Kanda, the War Book, of the Valmiki Ramayana, placed at sarga 105 in most editions and numbered 107 in a few regional recensions. Sri Rama has been fighting for days and is visibly worn down when the sage Agastya, who has come with a company of Devas to watch the final battle, steps forward and offers him this teaching instead of a weapon. It is one of the few moments in the epic where a hymn, rather than an army or a celestial weapon, turns the outcome of a war.
Because it sits inside a narrative rather than a standalone Vedic collection, the hymn carries its own built-in account of what it does: the text tells us Rama recited it, felt his exhaustion lift, and went on to kill Ravana that same day. That story is a large part of why it is still recited before high-stakes moments, students before results, professionals before interviews, anyone facing a fight they cannot avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone recite the Aditya Hridayam, including women?
Yes. The hymn carries no restriction by gender or background. Anyone can recite it, and it is chanted widely by women for health, strength and general protection.
How many times should the Aditya Hridayam be recited?
Agastya told Rama to recite it three times before the decisive battle. For ordinary daily practice, reciting it once with full attention is enough; save the triple recitation for a specific need, an exam, a hearing, a hard decision.
What is the best time to chant it?
Sunrise, while facing east toward the rising Sun. Chanting as the Sun actually comes up ties the words to what you are looking at, which many people find makes the practice easier to keep up.
Is the Aditya Hridayam connected to Surya Namaskar?
Yes, loosely. Both are ways of honoring the Sun, one through movement and one through words. The twelve postures of Surya Namaskar are often linked to the twelve solar forms named in verse fifteen, so people sometimes practice the two together.
Why does the hymn call the Sun the form of every god?
It reflects an old habit in Vedic thought of collapsing many powers into one visible source. The Sun is the one divine force everyone can actually see and feel each day, so it became a natural stand-in for the idea that all the gods are ultimately expressions of a single reality.
What does the name Aditya Hridayam actually mean?
Aditya means the Sun, son of the goddess Aditi. Hridayam means heart or innermost core. Put together, the name comes to something like the Heart of the Sun, the essential secret at the center of solar worship.
॥ ॐ सूर्याय नमः ॥