Wednesday 13 November 2019

Surya Upanishad,Atharva Veda - Lyrics with Meanings


Suryopanishad - Atharva Veda


Video: Suryopanishad by my students and me 

OM bhadraM karNebhiH shR^iNuyaama devaaH
bhadraM pashyemaakshha-bhir-yajatraaH

O Gods ( devaaH ) ! May we listen ( shR^iNuyaama ) with our ears ( karNebhiH ) what is auspicious ( bhadraM ) and good.

O Gods ( yajatraaH ) ! May we see ( pashyema ) with our eyes ( akshabir ) what is auspicious and good.

O God ! May we sing Your praises

sthirair-a~Ngi-stushhTuvaa(gm)-sas-tanuubhiH
vyashema deva-hitaM yadaayuH

May we glorify ( stushhTu-vaa(gm) ) You.

May we enjoy ( vyashema ) with out strong limbs ( sthirair-a-Ngai ) and bodies ( tanuubhiH ) the lifespan ( yad-aayuH) bestowed on us so that it is spent in harmony ( hitaM - benefit ) with nature ( deva - God ; every aspect of nature is worshiped as God in the Vedas ).

svasti na indro vR^iddhashravaaH
svasti naH (f) puushhaa vishva-vedaaH

May Indra,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ), strength - both physical and mental,and vsatness ( vRiddha ) of hearing ( shravaaH) which will enable clarity of thought and intelligence.

May Puusha ( Sun ), the omniscient ( vishvavedaaH ) One, grant auspiciousness ( svasti )

svasti nastaarkshhyo arishhTanemiH
svasti no bR^ihaspatir-dadhaatu
OM shaantiH shaantiH shaantiH

May Taarkshya ( Garuda ) who fights poisonous snakes,and ArishhTanemiH , who removes obstacles and grants protective armour,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ). May Brihaspati ( the Supreme Teacher ) grant ( dadhaatu ) us auspiciousness ( svasti ) and success in our study. Peace, peace, peace - Peace to the body, mind and soul.

OM atha suurya-atharvaa~Ngi-rasaM vyaakhyaasyaamaH

Now ( atha ) we shall expound ( vyaakhyaasyaamaaH ) the essence ( rasaM) of the Atharva Veda in relation to the Sun.

bramhaa R^ishhiH
gaayatrii chhandaH
aadityo devata
haMsaH so.ahamagni-naaraayaNa-yuktam biijam
hR^llekhaa shaktiH

The seer ( R^ishhiH) is bramhaa ; the metre ( chhandaH ) is Gayatri ; the deity ( devataa ) is the Sun ( aadityo ).

The basic sounds ( biijam - seed ) for the entire chant are - haMsah,sohaM,agni and naaraayaNa. ( So Ham is also the sound of our breath - So when inhaling and Ham when exhaling.The meaning of SoHam is - I am THAT ( absolute consciousness which is expressed as Lord Surya in this Upanishad )

The Shakti ( Power ) to this Upanishad is the extension of the sound hr,which means the spiritual heart ( hrdaya ).Hrllekhhaa = Hr + lekha = line.

viyadaadi-sarga-saMyuktaM kiilakam
chaturvidha-purushha-artha siddyarthe viniyogaH

The Kiilakam ( pin or key ) for this Upanishadic mantra is the manifest creation from ether

viyat-adi-sarga - Viyat = primordial ether
aadi = pertaining to creation
samyuktam = together with

A kilakam is like a key which unlocks the potential contained within a mantra.

This Upanishad is chanted for attaining the four human goals ( chaturvidha-purushhaartha) of righteousness,wealth,desire for noble causes and liberation.

shhaT-svaraaruuDhena biijena
shhaDa-Ngam raktaambuja samsthitaM
sapta-ashva-rathinaM hiraNya-varNam
chaturbhujaM padma-dvayaa.abhayavarada hastaM 
kaalachakra-praNetaraaM 

The six ( shhaT ) limbs consists of the seed ( biijena ) with six vowels added.
Lord Surya Narayana ( Sun God ) is mounted on the chariot ( rathinaM) that is set in red ( rakta ) lotus and drawn by seven horses ( sapta-ashva ) - which could represent the 7 wavelengths that make up light / 7 days of the week

He is golden-hued ( hiraNya-varNaM ) ; has four arms ( chaturbhujaM ) and holds two lotuses ( padma-dvayaa ).

His hand ( hastaM ) is raised in blessing ( abhaya-varada) and for granting the boon of fearlessness.

He is the impeller of the wheel of time ( kaala-chakra ).

shrii-suurya-naaraayaNam ya evam veda
sa vai braamhaNaH

Indeed ( vai ) , only ( evam ) one ( ya ) who knows ( veda ) the Lord ( described above ) is a learned person ( braamhaNaH )

OM bhuur-bhuvaH suvaH
tat savitur-vareNyam bhargo devasya dhiimahi
dhiyo yo naH ( f) prachodayaat

We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three realms ( gross - bhuur ) , ( subtle - bhuvaH ) , and ( causal - suvaH )

The most exalted ( vareNyam ) Divine is the source of all the three worlds.We meditate ( dhiimahi ) upon the Divine Light of the Sun.

May the Lord fertilize ( prachodayaat ) our ( naH ) intellect such that our intelligence blossoms into wisdom and we get illumined.

suurya aatmaa jagatas-tasthushhash-cha 
suuryaad-vai khalvimani bhuutaani jaayante
suuryaad-yaGYag (f) parjanyo.annam-aatma

The Sun ( suurya ) is the inner self ( aatma ) of the world ( jagat ) ,both animate and inanimate.

Indeed ( vai ) , the beings ( bhuutani ) and the fire sacrifice ( yaGYah ) arise ( jaayante - born ) from the Sun ( suuryaad ).

Rain ( parjanyo),food (annam ) and the Self ( aatmaa ) arise from the Sun.

namaste aditya
tvameva pratyaksham karma kartaasi

Salutations ( namaste ) to the Sun ( aaditya ).
You alone ( tvameva ) are the doer ( kartaasi ) of all actions ( karma ).

tvameva pratyakshm bramhaasi
tvameva pratyaksham vishhNurasi
tvameva pratyaksham rudro.asi
tvameva pratyaksham r^Igasi
tvameva pratyaksham yajurasi
tvameva pratyaksham saamaasi

You are the manifestation ( pratyaksham ) of the Creator ( bramhaa )
You are (asi) the manifestation of the protector ( vishhNu)
You are the manifestation of the destroyer ( rudro )
You are the manifestation of Rig Veda ( r^Ig )
You are the manifestation of the Yajur Veda ( yajur )
You are the manifestation of Sama Veda ( saama )

tvameva pratyaksham-atharvaasi
tvameva sarvaM chhando.asi

You are the manifestation of the Atharva Veda ( atharva )
You are the basis for all Vedas ( chhando - also refers to Vedic metres )

aadityaad-vaayur-jaayate
aadityaad-bhuumir-jaayate
aadityaad-aapo-jaayante
aadityaad-jyotir-jaayate
aadityaad vyoma disho jaayante
aadityaad devaa jaayante
aadityaad-veda jaayante

From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayate )  Air ( vaayu )
From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayate )  Earth ( bhuumir ) 
From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) Water ( aapo )
From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayate ) light ( jyotir )
From the Sun (aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) the directions ( disho )
From the Sun (aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) the Gods ( devaa )
From the Sun (aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) the Vedas ( vedaa ) 

vaa eshha etanmaNDalam tapati
asaavaadityo bramhaa
aadityo.antaH-karaNa-mano-buddhi-chitta-ahankaaraaH

The Sun shines ( tapati ) on this sphere ( maNDalam - the earth ).This Sun is the Supreme Consciousness ( bramhaa )

The Sun,representing the illumined intellect,is the basis of our inner self ( antaH-karaNa),the mind ( mano ) , intellect ( buddhi ),consciousness ( chitta ) and ego ( ahankaaraaH )

aadityo vai vyaanas-samaano-daano.apaanaH (f) praaNaH

Verily (vai), The Sun ( aadityo ) is the basis of the five vital life-breaths  - vyaana,samaana,udaana,apaana and praaNa.

aadityo vai shotra-tvak-chakshuu-rasana-ghraaNaaH

The Sun is the basis of our five organs of perception or cognition,i.e., hearing ( shrotra ), touch ( tvak ) , sight ( chakshuu) , taste ( rasana ) and smell ( ghraaNaaH )

aadityo vai vaak-paaNipaada-paayuupasthaaH

The Sun is also the basis of our five organs of action , i.e.,tongue ( vaak-speech ), hands ( paaNi ) , legs ( paada ) , excretory organ ( paayu ) and organs of generation ( upasthaaH).

aadityo vai shabdasparsha-ruupa-rasa-gandhaaH
aadityo vai vachaana-daanaa-gamana visargaanandaaH
aanandamayo viGYaanamayo viGYaanaghana aadityaH

Verily ( vai ) the Sun powers our five abilities of perceiving sound ( shabda ),touch ( sparsha ) ,sight ( ruupa-form ) , taste ( rasa ) and smell ( gandhaaH ).

The Sun is the basis of joy ( aanandaaH ) we experience during chanting ( vachana - speech ) and during the pauses ( visarga ) in the flow ( gamana-movement ) of the chant.

The Sun is the basis of our intellectual ( viGYaanamayo ) and bliss ( aanandamayo ) sheaths.

namo mitraaya bhaanave mR^ityormaa paahi
bhraajishhNave vishva-hetave namaH

I bow ( namo ) to the shining ( bhaanave ) Sun ( mitraaya ) who can release ( paahi-protect ) me ( maa ) from death ( mR^ityor ).

suuryaad-bhavanti bhuutani suuryeNa paalitaani tu

O Resplendent One ! ( bhraajishhNave ) You exist for the welfare ( hetave ) of the whole world ( vishva ).

All are born ( bhavanti-become ) due to the Sun and all are protected ( paalitaani ) by Him.

suurye layaM praapnuvanti yaH 
suuryaH so.ahameva cha

O Sun ! May I acquire the opportunity ( praapnuvanti ) to merge ( layaM ) with You who is the embodiment of Soham

chakshurno devaH savitaa chakshurna uta parvataH
chakshur-dhaataaa dadhaatu naH

He is the God of vision and Highest source ( savitaa ) of sight ( chakshur-vision ).Please grant ( dadhaatu ) us ( naH ) the right vision.

aadityaaya vidmahe sahasra-kiraNaaya dhiimahi
tannaH suuryaH (f) prachodayaat

May we know ( vidmahe ) or realise the Sun ( aadityaa ).May we meditate ( dhiimahi ) upon the innumerable ( sahasra-thousand ) rays ( kiraNaaya ) of the Sun.

May He fertilize ( prachodayaat ) our ( naH ) intellect such that our intelligence blossoms into wisdom and we get illumined.

savitaa purastaat-savitaa pashchaattaat-savitottaraattaat

Savita- the source of all life-is in the front ( purastaat ) of us
Savita - the source of all life - is behind ( pashchaat ) and above ( uttaraat ) us.

savitaadharaattaat-savitaa naH

Savita - the source of all life - is below ( adharaat ) of us ( naH ).

suvatu sarvataati(gm) savitaa no raasataaM dhiirgham-aayuH

May He enfold us ( no ) from all sides and grant us a long life ( dhiirgham-aayuH )

omityekaaksharaM bramhaa
ghR^iNiriti dve akshare
suurya ityakshara-dvayam
aaditya iti triiN-yaksharaaNi

bramhaa is the one syllabled ( ekaaksharaM) OM
ghR^iNi has two syllables ( dve akshare )
suurya is also two syllabled ( akshara-dvayam )
aaditya has three ( triinNy ) syllables ( aksharaaNi )

etasyaiva suuryasya-ashhTa-aksharo manuH

Thus,this is the mantra of eight ( ashhTa) syllables ( aksharo ).

The formulae is: oM ghR^iNiH suurya aaditya

yaH sadaa-haraharjapati sa vai braamhaNo bhavati sa vai braamhaNo bhavati

Verily ( vai),he ( sa) who chants ( japati ) this always ( sadaa ) becomes ( bhavati ) a learned person ( braamhaNo ).

suuryaabhi-mukho japtvaa mahaa-vyaadhi bhayaat-pramuchyate

When one chants ( japtvaa ) this upanishad while facing the Sun ( suuryabhi-mukho) , he is released from major diseases ( mahaa-vyaadhi ).

alakshhmir nashyati

His poverty ( alakshmiir ) is destroyed ( nashyati )

abhakshhya bhakshhaNaat puuto bhavati
agamya-agamanaat puuto bhavati

He becomes ( bhavati ) free from the sins of consuming ( bhaksha ) undesirable ( abhakshya ) food ( for all senses ) and going to undesirable ( agamya ) places ( sexual misconduct )

patita saMbhaashhaNaat puuto bhavati
asat saMbhaashhaNaat puuto bhavati

He becomes free from the sins of conversing ( saMbhaashhaNaat ) with people who bring us down ( patita ) and of speaking the untruth ( asat ).

madhyaahne suuryaabhi-mukhaH (f) paThet
sadyotpanna-paJNcha-mahaapaataka-kaat-pramuchyate

At midday ( madhyaahne),when one contemplates ( paThet-studies ) on this hymn facing the Sun ( suuryabhi-mukhaH ), he ( sa ) is released ( pramuchyate ) from the five ( paJNcha ) great sins ( mahaa-paata )

saishhaa saavitriiM vidyaaM na kinchidapi na kasmaichit-prashamsayet

One should not impart this knowledge of the Sun ( saavitriiM vidyaaM ) to anyone ( kasmaichit ) who is not  (na) honourable ( prashamsayet - praiseworthy ), on any account ( kinchidapi ).

ya etaaM mahaa-bhaagaH (f) praataH (f) paThati sa bhaagyavaan jaayate

When one contemplates ( paThati - studies ) this hymn at dawn ( praataH ) he becomes fortunate ( bhaagyavaan ).

pashuunvindati
vedaarthaM labhate

He gets live-stock ( pashuu) and attains ( labhate ) the essence of the Vedas ( vedaarthaM)

trikaala-metaj-japtvaa kratushata-phalam-avaapnoti
hastaaditye japati sa mahaa-mR^ItyuM tarati sa mahaa-mR^ItyuM tarati ya evaM veda

When one recites ( japtvaa ) during the three periods ( trikaala -dawn,noon and dusk ),he gets the fruit ( phalam) of a hundred ( shata ) sacrifices.

Only by chanting ( japati ) and knowing ( veda ) tis hymn to the Sun,he ( sa) conquers ( tarati-crosses ) death ( mR^tyuM)

ityupanishhat 

Thus ( iti),says the Upanishad.

OM bhadraM karNebhiH shR^iNuyaama devaaH
bhadraM pashyemaakshha-bhir-yajatraaH

O Gods ( devaaH ) ! May we listen ( shR^iNuyaama ) with our ears ( karNebhiH ) what is auspicious ( bhadraM ) and good.

O Gods ( yajatraaH ) ! May we see ( pashyema ) with our eyes ( akshabir ) what is auspicious and good.

O God ! May we sing Your praises

sthirair-a
~Ngi-stushhTuvaa(gm)-sas-tanuubhiH
vyashema deva-hitaM yadaayuH

May we glorify ( stushhTu-vaa(gm) ) You.

May we enjoy ( vyashema ) with out strong limbs ( sthirair-a-Ngai ) and bodies ( tanuubhiH ) the lifespan ( yad-aayuH) bestowed on us so that it is spent in harmony ( hitaM - benefit ) with nature ( deva - God ; every aspect of nature is worshiped as God in the Vedas ).

svasti na indro vR^iddhashravaaH
svasti naH (f) puushhaa vishva-vedaaH

May Indra,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ), strength - both physical and mental,and vsatness ( vRiddha ) of hearing ( shravaaH) which will enable clarity of thought and intelligence.

May Puusha ( Sun ) , the omniscient ( vishvavedaaH ) One ,grant auspiciousness ( svasti )

svasti nastaarkshhyo arishhTanemiH
svasti no bR^Ihaspatir-dadhaatu
OM shaantiH shaantiH shaantiH

May Taarkshya ( Garuda ) who fights poisonous snakes,and ArishhTanemiH , who removes obstacles and grants protective armour,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ).May Brihaspati ( the Supreme Teacher ) grant ( dadhaatu ) us auspiciousness ( svasti ) and success in our study.Peace,peace,peace - Peace to the body,mind and soul.

Also Read : 

(1) Significance of Surya Upanishad


Adapted from : Vedic Chants,Vols. 1-6 Lalitha Vaitilingam , Nirmala Sekhar

5 comments:

  1. How can I download this information

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. by reciting the upanishad and meditating upon its meaning.

      Delete
  2. Dhanyawad....This is Great gift to Mankind.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very good reciting and pronunciation. Great effort in giving the meaning of the mantra / Surya Atharvashirsha. This will help people to understand the meaning and recite with devotion. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. thank u vinnith sir🙏🙏🙏

    ReplyDelete