Aditya Hridayam is the thirty-one-verse hymn to Surya taught by Sage Agastya to Rama in the Valmiki Ramayana. Devotees recite it for courage, confidence, mental steadiness and focused remembrance of the Sun’s life-giving presence.
Aditya Hridayam in English
Opening Salutation
|| shreeganeshaaya namah ||
tato yuddhaparishraantam samare chintayaa sthitam |
raavanam chaagrato drishtvaa yuddhaaya samupasthitam || 1 ||
daivataishcha samaagamya drashtumabhyaagato ranam |
upaagamyaabraveedraamamagastyo bhagavaanrishih || 2 ||
raama raama mahaabaaho shrinu guhyam sanaatanam |
yena sarvaanareenvatsa samare vijayishyasi || 3 ||
aadityahridayam punyam sarvashatruvinaashanam |
jayaavaham japennityamakshayam paramam shivam || 4 ||
sarvamanggalamaanggalyam sarvapaapapranaashanam |
chintaashokaprashamanam aayurvardhanamuttamam || 5 ||
rashmimantam samudyantam devaasuranamaskritam |
poojayasva vivasvantam bhaaskaram bhuvaneshvaram || 6 ||
sarvadevaatmako hyesha tejasvee rashmibhaavanah |
esha devaasuraganaanllokaan paati gabhastibhih || 7 ||
esha brahmaa cha vishnushcha shivah skandah prajaapatih |
mahendro dhanadah kaalo yamah somo hyapaam patih || 8 ||
pitaro vasavah saadhyaa hyashvinau maruto manuh |
vaayurvahnih prajaapraana ritukartaa prabhaakarah || 9 ||
aadityah savitaa sooryah khagah pooshaa gabhastimaan |
suvarnasadrisho bhaanurhiranyaretaa divaakarah || 10 ||
haridashvah sahasraarchih saptasaptirmareechimaan |
timironmathanah shambhustvashtaa maartaanda amshumaan || 11 ||
hiranyagarbhah shishirastapano bhaaskaro ravih |
agnigarbho'diteh putrah shangkhah shishiranaashanah || 12 ||
vyomanaathastamobhedee rigyajuhsaamapaaragah |
ghanavrishtirapaam mitro vindhyaveethee plavanggamah || 13 ||
aatapee mandalee mrityuh pinggalah sarvataapanah |
kavirvishvo mahaatejaah raktah sarvabhavodbhavah || 14 ||
nakshatragrahataaraanaamadhipo vishvabhaavanah |
tejasaamapi tejasvee dvaadashaatmannamo'stu te || 15 ||
namah poorvaaya giraye pashchimaayaadraye namah |
jyotirganaanaam pataye dinaadhipataye namah || 16 ||
jayaaya jayabhadraaya haryashvaaya namo namah |
namo namah sahasraamsho aadityaaya namo namah || 17 ||
nama ugraaya veeraaya saaranggaaya namo namah |
namah padmaprabodhaaya maartaandaaya namo namah || 18 ||
brahmeshaanaachyuteshaaya sooryaayaadityavarchase |
bhaasvate sarvabhakshaaya raudraaya vapushe namah || 19 ||
tamoghnaaya himaghnaaya shatrughnaayaamitaatmane |
kritaghnaghnaaya devaaya jyotishaam pataye namah || 20 ||
taptachaameekaraabhaaya vahnaye vishvakarmane |
namastamo'bhinighnaaya ruchaye lokasaakshine || 21 ||
naashayatyesha vai bhootam tadeva srijati prabhuh |
paayatyesha tapatyesha varshatyesha gabhastibhih || 22 ||
esha supteshu jaagarti bhooteshu parinishthitah |
esha evaagnihotram cha phalam chaivaagnihotrinaam || 23 ||
vedaashcha kratavashchaiva kratoonaam phalameva cha |
yaani krityaani lokeshu sarva esha ravih prabhuh || 24 ||
enamaapatsu krichchhreshu kaantaareshu bhayeshu cha |
keertayan purushah kashchinnaavaseedati raaghava || 25 ||
poojayasvainamekaagro devadevam jagatpatim |
etat trigunitam japtvaa yuddheshu vijayishyasi || 26 ||
asminkshane mahaabaaho raavanam tvam vadhishyasi |
evamuktvaa tadaa'gastyo jagaama cha yathaagatam || 27 ||
etachchhrutvaa mahaatejaa nashtashoko'bhavattadaa |
dhaarayaamaasa supreeto raaghavah prayataatmavaan || 28 ||
aadityam prekshya japtvaa tu param harshamavaaptavaan |
triraachamya shuchirbhootvaa dhanuraadaaya veeryavaan || 29 ||
raavanam prekshya hrishtaatmaa yuddhaaya samupaagamat |
sarva yatnena mahataa vadhe tasya dhrito'bhavat || 30 ||
atha raviravadannireekshya raamam muditamanaah paramam prahrishyamaanah |
nishicharapatisangkshayam viditvaa suraganamadhyagato vachastvareti || 31 ||
Closing Colophon
|| iti aadityahridayam mantram ||
How to Recite Aditya Hridayam
Choose a clean, quiet place and remember Surya before beginning. Read the opening salutation and all thirty-one verses in narrative order, from Rama’s fatigue through Agastya’s teaching to the closing scene.
After the final line, pause briefly in gratitude or offer a simple prayer for clarity and courage. Verse 26 gives Rama a threefold instruction in battle; this page does not turn it into a mandatory count for everyone.
Choose a suitable morning place
Morning near sunrise is customary for Surya worship. Wash, wear clean clothes if practical and sit or stand where the rising light is visible without staring directly at the Sun. An indoor east-facing place is also suitable.
Offer simple Surya remembrance
Join your hands and remember Surya as the source of light and disciplined action. Where customary and practical, offer clean water as arghya and place a flower or safely lit diya; these are optional aids, not conditions for recitation.
Make a brief intention
A simple sankalp may ask for courage, clarity and steadiness before a demanding responsibility. Recall that Agastya teaches the hymn to Rama when fatigue and concern have arisen before battle.
Read the complete Ramayana passage
Begin with the opening narrative and continue through all thirty-one verses and the closing line. Preserve Agastya's teaching, Surya praise and Rama's response rather than extracting only the central praise verses.
Conclude with gratitude and resolve
After the closing scene, offer pranam to Surya and sit quietly for a moment. Let the recitation lead into the day's duties with attention and determination. If water or another offering was made, conclude it according to household custom.
Traditional Benefits of Aditya Hridayam
In devotional tradition, Aditya Hridayam is recited for courage, confidence, mental steadiness, disciplined action and Surya remembrance. Rama’s movement from exhaustion and concern to renewed resolve makes the hymn especially meaningful before demanding responsibilities.
Verses that speak of victory, long life or removal of sorrow belong to the source’s sacred language. They should not be treated as guarantees of success, health or invulnerability.
Courage when facing difficulty
Rama receives the teaching at a moment of exhaustion before renewed battle. Devotees use this context as a prayerful model for recovering courage when a demanding task cannot be avoided.
Confidence and determination
The narrative moves from concern to firm resolve. Recitation is traditionally associated with acting wholeheartedly after reflection rather than remaining immobilized by doubt.
Mental steadiness
The sequence of Surya names gives the mind a single luminous focus, which devotees use to settle distraction and gather attention before work or worship.
Overcoming fear and despondency
In devotional interpretation, Rama's change of state encourages readers to meet fear, fatigue and discouragement through remembrance, clarity and renewed effort.
Surya devotion and gratitude
The hymn contemplates the Sun through cosmic, theological and life-sustaining imagery. Daily readers may use it to cultivate gratitude for light, time, energy and the order of the day.
Disciplined daily rhythm
Morning recitation can anchor a consistent routine of waking, cleansing, prayer and purposeful action. This is a devotional discipline, not a medical treatment or guarantee of success.
When Is Aditya Hridayam Commonly Recited?
Morning or sunrise is the most common practical choice because the hymn addresses Surya. Sunday is also traditionally associated with Sun worship, though neither a weekday nor exact clock time is imposed by the Ramayana passage.
It may be recited daily, on Sundays, or before a difficult responsibility when courage and focus are needed. Verse 26 tells Rama to recite three times in his immediate battle context; it is not made a compulsory count for every devotee.
English Meaning and Explanation
An opening salutation to Lord Ganesha.
Rama stands in battle, exhausted and absorbed in thought, while Ravana is before him ready to fight.
The sage Agastya, who has come with the gods to witness the battle, approaches Rama and speaks to him.
Agastya tells mighty-armed Rama to hear an ancient and guarded teaching through which he will overcome his enemies in battle.
He calls Aditya Hridayam sacred, destructive of enemies, productive of victory, imperishable and supremely auspicious when recited regularly.
The hymn is praised as the auspiciousness within all auspicious things, a remover of sin, anxiety and sorrow, and a source of long life. These are the source’s devotional claims, not medical guarantees.
Agastya tells Rama to worship the radiant, rising Vivasvan—Bhaskara, Lord of the world—who is honored by gods and asuras.
The Sun is described as the inner reality of all gods, radiant and maker of rays, protecting the worlds of gods and asuras with his beams.
He is identified with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajapati, Indra, Kubera, Time, Yama, Soma and Varuna.
The hymn further identifies him with the ancestors, Vasus, Sadhyas, Ashvins, Maruts, Manu, wind, fire, life-breath, maker of seasons and giver of light.
The verse lists names of the Sun: Aditya, Savita, Surya, Khaga, Pusha, Gabhastiman, golden Bhanu, Hiranyareta and Divakara.
Further names praise him as one with swift horses, a thousand rays, seven steeds, bearer of beams, destroyer of darkness, Shambhu, Tvashta, Martanda and Anshuman.
He is named Hiranyagarbha, Shishira, Tapana, Bhaskara, Ravi, fire-wombed, son of Aditi, Shankha and destroyer of cold.
He is Lord of the sky, piercer of darkness, knower of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas, bringer of heavy rain, friend of waters and traveler of the Vindhya path.
The Sun is praised as heating, orb-shaped, death, tawny, all-burning, seer, universe, greatly radiant, red and source of all becoming.
Salutations to the lord of stars, planets and constellations, nourisher of the universe, brilliance within brilliance and the one of twelve forms.
Salutations toward the eastern and western mountains, to the lord of the hosts of light and ruler of the day.
Repeated salutations to victory, auspicious victory, the one with tawny horses, the thousand-rayed and Aditya.
Salutations to the fierce and heroic one, to Saranga, awakener of the lotus and Martanda.
Salutations to the lord associated with Brahma, Ishana and Achyuta; to Surya of Aditya’s radiance, the shining, all-consuming and fierce form.
Salutations to the destroyer of darkness, cold and enemies, the immeasurable Self, punisher of ingratitude and lord of lights.
Salutations to the one glowing like molten gold, fire, cosmic maker, destroyer of darkness, radiance and witness of the world.
This Lord destroys beings and creates them again; through his rays he draws up water, gives heat and brings rain.
He remains awake among sleeping beings and established within them; he is identified with the fire offering and its fruit.
The Vedas, sacrifices, their fruits and all duties performed in the worlds are said to have Ravi as their Lord.
Agastya tells Rama that one who praises the Sun amid danger, hardship, wilderness or fear will not sink into despair.
Rama is told to worship the God of gods and Lord of the world with one-pointed attention; in this battlefield context, Agastya directs him to recite it threefold for victory.
Agastya declares that Rama will defeat Ravana in that very moment and then departs as he came.
Hearing the teaching, the radiant Rama becomes free from grief, pleased and collected, holding the instruction firmly in mind.
After looking toward Aditya and reciting, Rama feels great joy, performs achamana three times, purifies himself and takes up his bow.
With a glad heart he advances to meet Ravana in battle, firmly resolved to make every effort in the fight.
The Sun, knowing that the lord of the night-roaming beings will be destroyed, looks upon Rama with delight and, standing among the gods, urges haste.
The closing line marks the completion of Aditya Hridayam.
About Aditya Hridayam
Aditya Hridayam appears in the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana. Agastya teaches it to Rama at a moment of fatigue and anxiety before the renewed confrontation with Ravana.
The first three and final five verses are essential narrative framing. Removing them turns a complete Ramayana episode into an isolated praise hymn, so this page retains all thirty-one verses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Devotees traditionally recite it for Surya worship, courage, confidence, mental steadiness and focused action.
Yes. Morning is a common devotional choice, but the source does not make a daily sunrise schedule compulsory.
Verse 26 gives that instruction specifically to Rama in battle; it is not presented here as a universal rule for every reader.
Facing the morning Sun is a common practice, but a simple respectful reading in a clean place does not require an elaborate setup.
It appears in the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, where Sage Agastya teaches it to Rama.
Yes. Read one complete stanza at a time and preserve the narrative order. Careful listening can help with unfamiliar Surya names and compound words.
No. Sunrise is a natural and customary time for Surya worship, but the complete hymn may be read at another calm time when morning recitation is not practical.
No. Arghya is a familiar Surya worship practice, but it is optional for personal stotra reading. A clean place, respectful attention and complete recitation are sufficient.
Its victory language belongs to Rama's battle context and devotional tradition. Readers may seek courage and determination from it, but it does not guarantee a specific worldly result.
Original Sanskrit
Open this optional reference to view the complete unchanged Devanagari text from the Hindi source.
Show original Devanagari text
रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥ १ ॥
उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः ॥ २ ॥
येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥ ३ ॥
जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षयं परमं शिवम् ॥ ४ ॥
चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनं आयुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम् ॥ ५ ॥
पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥ ६ ॥
एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥ ७ ॥
महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥ ८ ॥
वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥ ९ ॥
सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः ॥ १० ॥
तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥ ११ ॥
अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः ॥ १२ ॥
घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथी प्लवङ्गमः ॥ १३ ॥
कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः ॥ १४ ॥
तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १५ ॥
ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥ १६ ॥
नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥ १७ ॥
नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्ताण्डाय नमो नमः ॥ १८ ॥
भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥ १९ ॥
कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः ॥ २० ॥
नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥ २१ ॥
पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥ २२ ॥
एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम् ॥ २३ ॥
यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः ॥ २४ ॥
कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥ २५ ॥
एतत् त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि ॥ २६ ॥
एवमुक्त्वा तदाऽगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम् ॥ २७ ॥
धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान् ॥ २८ ॥
त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥ २९ ॥
सर्व यत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत् ॥ ३० ॥
निशिचरपतिसङ्क्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥ ३१ ॥
