The 108 Names of Surya
The oldest surviving Vedic hymns mention Sūrya with particular reverence for the “rising sun” and its symbolism as dispeller of darkness, one who empowers knowledge, the good and all life.
The Mahabharata epic opens its chapter on Surya that reverentially refers to him as the “eye of the universe,” soul of all existence, origin of all life, goal of the Samkhyas and Yogis, and symbol of freedom and spiritual emancipation.
Interestingly, Surya’s synonym Ravi is the root of the word ‘Ravivara‘ or Sunday in the Hindu calendar. In both Indian and Greek-Roman nomenclature for days of the week, the Sunday is dedicated to the Sun.
From The Mahabharata:
The Sun, which is the representation of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, is known by 108 names.
These are the hundred and eight names of Surya of immeasurable energy, as told by the Brahma. These names were disclosed of old by Lord Brahma, the self created, to the illustrious Sakra, and from Sakra to Narada, and from Narada to Dhaumya, and from Dhaumya to the sons of Pritha, the Pandavas.
For the acquisition of prosperity, I bow down to thee, O Bhaskara, blazing like unto gold or fire, who is worshipped of the gods and the Pitris and the Yakshas, and who is adored by Asuras, Nisacharas, and Sidhas.
Dhaumya said to Yudhistira:
Aruna, Sharanya, Karuna-rasa-sindhu, Asmanabala, Arta-rakshaka, Aditya, Adibhuta, Akhila-gamavedin, Achyuta, Akhilagya, Ananta, Ina, Vishvarupa, Ijya, Indra, Bhanu, Indriramandirapta, Vandaniya, Isha, Suprasanna, Sushila, Suvarchas, Vasuprada, Vasu, Vasudeva, Ujjaval, Ugrarupa, Urdhvaga, Vivasvat, Udhatkiranajala, Hrishikesha, Urjasvala, Vira, Nirjara, Jaya, Urudvaya-bhavaroopayukta-sarathi, Rishivandya, Rugghantr, Rikshachakrachara, Rijusva-bhavachitta, Nityastutya, Rikaramatrikavarnarupa, Ujjvalatejas, Rikshadhinathamitra, Pushkaraksha, Luptadanta, Shanta, Kantida, Ghana, Kanatkanaka-bhusha, Khadyota, Lunitakhila-daitya, Satyananda-svarupin, Apavarga-prada, Arta-sharanya, Ekakin, Bhagavat, Srishti-sthityantakarin, Gunatman, Ghrinibhrit, Brihat, Brahman, Eshvaryada, Sharva, Haridashva, Shauri, Dashadiksam-prakasha, Bhakta-vashya, Ojaskara, Jayin, Jagadanandahetu, Janma-mrityu-jara-vyadhi-varjita, Uchchasthana samarudha-rathastha, Asurari, Kamaniyakara, Abjavallabha, Antarbahih prakasha, Achintya, Atmarupin, Achyuta, Amaresha, Para Jyotish, Ahaskara, Ravi, Hari, Paramatman, Taruna, Varenya, Grahanam Pati, Bhaskara, Adimadhyantarahita, Saukhyaprada, Sakalajagatam Pati, Surya, Kavi, Narayana, Paresha, Tejorupa, Hiranyagarbha, Sampatkara, Aem Istarthada, Am Suprasanna, Shrimat, Shreyas, Saukhyadayin, Diptamurti, Nikhilagamavedya, Nityananda
Whoever with fixed attention recited this hymn at sunrise, obtaineth wife and offspring and riches and the memory of his former existence, and by reciting this hymn a person attaineth patience and memory. Let a man concentrating his mind, recite this hymn. By doing so, he shall be proofed against grief and forest-fire and ocean and every object of desire shall be his.
And a person, male or female, that recited this hymn every day in the two twilights (sunrise and sunset) his mind concentrated with ascetic abstraction, obtained every boon he desired, however difficult it may be that he ask for. If he is overtaken by danger, he is delivered from it; and if bound, he is freed from the bonds.
The Names as Mantras:
Here is a list of the 108 names in the form of a mantra along with the meaning. They can be used individually as a mantra practice, or you could recite them all as a long meditation. I especially love #30. When read aloud, in English, this makes an awesome invocation to the Sun!
- 1. Om Arunaya Namah
Adoration to the Reddish Brown one. - 2. Om Sharanyaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who Provides Refuge - 3. Om Karunarasasindhve Namah
Adoration to The Ocean of the Sentiment of Compassion - 4. Om Asamanabalaya Namah
Adoration to The One of Unequalled Strength. - 5. Om Artarakshakaya Namah
Adoration to The Protector from Suffering - 6. Om Adityaya Namah
Adoration to The Sun or The Son of Aditi - 7. Om Adibhutaya Namah
Adoration to The First Being - 8. Om Akhilagamavedine Namah
Adoration to The Knower of All Scriptures - 9. Om Achyutaya Namah
Adoration to Imperishable, The Steady One - 10. Om Akhilajnaya Namah
Adoration to The Knower of Everything - 11. Om Anantaya Namah
Adoration to The Unbounded One - 12. Om Inaya Namah
Adoration to The Strong One - 13. Om Vishvarupaya Namah
Adoration to The One with an All Pervading Form - 14. Om Ijyaya Namah
Adoration to The One to be Revered - 15. Om Indraya Namah
Adoration to Leader of the Gods - 16. Om Bhanave Namah
Adoration to The Bright One - 17. Om Indiramandiraptaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who has Gained the Abode of Indira (Lakshmi) - 18. Om Vandaniyaya Namah
Adoration to The Praiseworthy One - 19. Om Ishaya Namah
Adoration to The Lord - 20. Om Suprasannaya Namah
Adoration to The Very Bright One - 21. Om Sushilaya Namah
Adoration to The Good-Natured One - 22. Om Suvarchase Namah
Adoration to The Brilliant One - 23. Om Vasupradaya Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of wealth - 24. Om Vasave Namah
Adoration to The Deva (The Excellent One) - 25. Om Vasudevaya Namah
Adoration to Krishna - 26. Om Ujjvala Namah
Adoration to The Blazing One - 27. Om Ugrarupaya Namah
Adoration to The One with a Fierce Form - 28. Om Urdhvagaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who Rises Up - 29. Om Vivasvate Namah
Adoration to The One Who Shines Forth - 30. Om Udyatkiranajalaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who Produces a Lattice of Rising Beams of Light - 31. Om Hrishikeshaya Namah
Adoration to Lord of the Senses - 32. Om Urjasvalaya Namah
Adoration to The Mighty One - 33. Om Viraya Namah
Adoration to The Brave One - 34. Om Nirjaraya Namah
Adoration to The Imperishable One - 35. Om Jayaya Namah
Adoration to The Victorious One - 36. Om Urudvayabhavarupayuktasarathaye Namah
Adoration to The One Whose Charioteer has a Form without a Pair of Thighs - 37. Om Rishivandyaya Namah
Adoration to The One Worshipped by Rishis - 38. Om Rugghantre Namah
Adoration to The Destroyer of Disease - 39. Om Rikshachakracharaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who Moves Through the Wheel of Stars - 40. Om Rijusvabhavachittaya Namah
Adoration to The One Whose Mind by Nature is Sincere - 41. Om Nityastutyaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who is Fit to be Praised Always - 42. Om Rikaramatrikavarnarupaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who has the Form of the Letter Rikara - 43. Om Ujjvalatejase Namah
Adoration to The One with a Blazing Brilliance - 44. Om Rikshadhinathamitraya Namah
Adoration to The Friend of the Lord of Stars (the Moon) - 45. Om Pushkarakshaya Namah
Adoration to The Lotus-Eyed One - 46. Om Luptadantaya Namah
Adoration to The One Whose Teeth are Lost - 47. Om Shantaya Namah
Adoration to the one who is Pacified, Calm - 48. Om Kantidaya Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of Beauty - 49. Om Ghanaya Namah
Adoration to The Destroyer - 50. Om Kanatkanakabhushaya Namah
Adoration to The Brilliant Golden Ornament - 51. Om Khadyotaya Namah
Adoration to The Light of the Sky - 52. Om Lunitakhiladaityaya Namah
Adoration to The Destroyer of All Demons - 53. Om Satyanandasvarupine Namah
Adoration to The One Whose Nature is True Bliss - 54. Om Apavargapradaya Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of Liberation - 55. Om Artasharanyaya Namah
Adoration to The Provider of Shelter to the Distressed - 56. Om Ekakine Namah
Adoration to The solitary One - 57. Om Bhagawate Namah
Adoration to The Divine One - 58. Om Srishtisthityantakarine Namah
Adoration to The One Who Makes the Creation, Maintenance, and End - 59. Om Gunatmane Namah
Adoration to The One with Qualities - 60. Om Ghrinibhrite Namah
Adoration to The One Who Possesses Light - 61. Om Brihate Namah
Adoration to The Great One - 62. Om Brahmane Namah
Adoration to The Eternal Brahman - 63. Om Aishwaryadaya Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of Power - 64. Om Sharvaya Namah
Adoration to The One that Injures - 65. Om Haridashwaya Namah
Adoration to The One with Tawny Horses - 66. Om Shauraye Namah
Adoration to The Heroic One - 67. Om Dashadiksamprakashaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who Shines in Ten Directions - 68. Om Bhaktavashyaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who is Attentive to the Devotees - 69. Om Ojaskaraya Namah
Adoration to The Maker of Power - 70. Om Jayine Namah
Adoration to The victorious One - 71. Om Jagadanandahetave Namah
Adoration to The Cause of Joy for the World - 72. Om Janmamrityujaravyadhivarjitaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who is Free from Birth, Death, Old Age, Suffering, etc - 73. Om Uchchasthana Samarudharathasthaya Namah
Adoration to The One Established in a Chariot that Moves with Lofty Steps - 74. Om Asuraraye Namah
Adoration to The Enemy of the Demons - 75. Om Kamaniyakaraya Namah
Adoration to The Fulfiller of Desires - 76. Om Abjavallabhaya Namah
Adoration to The Most Beloved of Abja (Dhanvantari) - 77. Om Antarbahih Prakashaya Namah
Adoration to The One with Inner and Outer Brilliance - 78. Om Achintyaya Namah
Adoration to The Inconceivable One - 79. Om Atmarupine Namah
Adoration to The Form of Atman - 80. Om Achyutaya Namah
Adoration to The Imperishable One - 81. Om Amareshaya Namah
Adoration to The Lord of Immortals - 82. Om Parasmai Jyotishe Namah
Adoration to The Supreme Light - 83. Om Ahaskaraya Namah
Adoration to The Maker of the Day - 84. Om Ravaye Namah
Adoration to The One Who Roars - 85. Om Haraye Namah
Adoration to The Remover (of Sin) - 86. Om Paramatmane Namah
Adoration to The Supreme Being - 87. Om Tarunaya Namah
Adoration to The Youthful One - 88. Om Varenyaya Namah
Adoration to The Most Excellent One - 89. Om Grahanampataye Namah
Adoration to The Lord of Planets - 90. Om Bhaskaraya Namah
Adoration to The Maker of Light - 91. Om Adimadhyantarahitaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who is Solitary in the Beginning, Middle, and End - 92. Om Saukhyapradaya Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of Happiness - 93. Om Sakalajagatampataye Namah
Adoration to The Lord of All Worlds - 94. Om Suryaya Namah
Adoration to The Powerful One, or The Brilliant One - 95. Om Kavaye Namah
Adoration to The Wise One - 96. Om Narayanaya Namah
Adoration to The One Whom Men Approach - 97. Om Pareshaya Namah
Adoration to The Highest Lord - 98. Om Tejorupaya Namah
Adoration to The One with the Form of Fire - 99. Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah
Adoration to The Golden Source (of the Universe) - 100. Om Sampatkaraya Namah
Adoration to The Maker of Success - 101. Om Aim Ishtarthadaya Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of the Desired Object - 102. Om Am Suprasannaya Namah
Adoration to The Very Bright One - 103. Om Shrimate Namah
Adoration to The Glorious One - 104. Om Shreyase Namah
Adoration to The Most Excellent One - 105. Om Saukhyadayine Namah
Adoration to The Bestower of Enjoyments - 106. Om Diptamurtaye Namah
Adoration to The One With a Blazing Form - 107. Om Nikhilagamavedyaya Namah
Adoration to The Knower of All Scriptures - 108. Om Nityanandanaya Namah
Adoration to The One Who is Always Blissful
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