Surya Mantra in Sanskrit: 108 Names of Sun God

Reviewed by Acharya Ravi Teja, Jyotish Acharya & Vedic Priest, Tirupati — as of May 2026. Use the birth chart calculator to see how this plays out in your personal Vedic chart.

Surya — the Sun — is the one deity in the Vedic tradition who is directly and visibly present to the devotee at every moment of daylight. Every other deity is approached through ritual, through image, through the inner vision of meditation. Surya alone stands before the worshipper without intermediary. The Chandogya Upanishad (3.19) declares Surya to be the visible Brahman — "Adityo Brahma" — the solar disc as the manifest form of the Absolute. The Rig Veda opens with Agni and returns repeatedly to Surya, but it is the Savitri Gayatri (Rigveda 3.62.10) that the tradition selected as the supreme solar mantra, recited by initiated Hindus at sunrise, noon, and sunset since the Vedic age. The fullest and most complete hymn to Surya in Sanskrit literature is the Aditya Hridayam — the Heart of the Sun — found in Valmiki's Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, Chapter 107. When Rama stood exhausted before the unconquerable Ravana, the divine sage Agastya appeared and taught him the Aditya Hridayam. Rama recited it three times, gained the strength of the Sun, and then slew Ravana. That narrative context encodes the mantra's primary function: it gives victory, strength, and clarity when the devotee faces an enemy or obstacle that appears invincible.

> Quick Answer: The primary Surya mantra is the Gayatri (Rigveda 3.62.10), addressed to Savitri, the solar deity who generates spiritual illumination. The most complete Surya hymn is the Aditya Hridayam (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 107), a 31-verse hymn that gives strength, victory, and health. The 108 names of Surya come from the Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva.

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The Savitri Gayatri is the foundation of all Surya practice. It is the mantra received into the student's consciousness at the time of Upanayana (the sacred thread ceremony) and is the mantra that the Dvija (twice-born) is required to recite three times daily throughout life.

Devanagari: ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

Transliteration: OM BHUR BHUVAH SVAH TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT

Word-by-word meaning: 1. OM — the pranava, primordial sound 2. BHUR — the earth-plane (physical existence) 3. BHUVAH — the mid-plane (vital/pranic existence) 4. SVAH — the celestial plane (mental/spiritual existence) 5. TAT — that (referring to the ultimate reality) 6. SAVITUR — of Savitri (the solar deity as the generator; SAVI = to generate, produce) 7. VARENYAM — most worthy of worship, the best, the choicest 8. BHARGO — radiance, luminosity, the purifying light 9. DEVASYA — of the divine one 10. DHIMAHI — we meditate upon (first-person plural optative of DHI, to contemplate) 11. DHIYO — intellects, understanding, the faculty of discernment (DHI = buddhi) 12. YO — who 13. NAH — our 14. PRACHODAYAT — may inspire, may impel, may direct (optative, a prayer-wish)

The complete meaning: "OM — we meditate upon the radiant light of the divine Savitri, who pervades the three worlds (earth, sky, heaven). May that light inspire and direct our intellects."

The Gayatri is a 24-syllable mantra in the Gayatri metre (three lines of 8 syllables each). The Vishvamitra hymns of Rigveda Mandala 3 are primarily in this metre, and Savitri (the solar deity of generation and divine energy) is Vishvamitra's chosen deity. The Savitri is distinct from the Aditya (the twelve solar aspects) — Savitri specifically refers to the creative, life-giving function of solar energy, not merely the visible sun.

The Surya Gayatri (specifically addressed to Surya rather than Savitri) is a different mantra used in Surya puja: "OM ADITYAYA VIDMAHE BHASKARAYA DHIMAHI TANNO SURYAH PRACHODAYAT"

> Quick Answer: The Gayatri mantra (Rigveda 3.62.10) asks the solar deity Savitri to illuminate and direct the intellect. It is recited three times daily (sunrise, noon, sunset) by initiated practitioners. For Surya-specific puja, the Surya Gayatri "OM ADITYAYA VIDMAHE..." is used in addition to the Savitri Gayatri.

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The Aditya Hridayam contains 31 verses. These eight are the most powerful and most frequently recited:

Verse 1 — Introduction by Agastya: ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् । रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥ "Then, seeing Rama exhausted from battle, standing in contemplation, with Ravana before him ready to fight again, the divine sage Agastya arrived."

Verse 2 — Agastya's command: आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् । जयावहं जपेन्नित्यम् अक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥ "This Aditya Hridayam is sacred, destroys all enemies, brings victory, is inexhaustible, supremely auspicious — recite it always."

Verse 3 — All the gods reside in Surya: सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः । एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥ "He is the soul of all the gods; he is luminous, the maker of rays. With his beams he protects the worlds of gods and demons alike."

Verse 5 — The Adityas (twelve solar aspects): एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः । महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥ "He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajapati; he is Mahendra (Indra), Kubera, Kala (time), Yama, Soma, and the lord of waters."

Verse 11 — The healing verse: हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् । तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥ "He has green horses, a thousand rays, seven horses, is radiant. He removes darkness (disease), is auspicious, the fashioner of bodies, the egg of existence (Martanda), full of beams."

Verse 21 — Triple recitation instruction: एतत्त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसे । अस्मिन्क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि ॥ "Having recited this three times, you will be victorious in battles. At this very moment, O mighty-armed one, you will slay Ravana."

Verse 28 — Salutation to Surya: नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः । ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥ "Salutations to the eastern mountain (where the Sun rises), salutations to the western mountain (where he sets); salutations to the lord of the luminaries, salutations to the master of the day."

Verse 31 — The concluding verse of power: आदित्यहृदयस्येदं प्रोक्तं सर्वशत्रुनाशनम् । अधो विश्रम्य लघुत्वं च कर्तव्यं देवमानवैः ॥ "This Aditya Hridayam, which destroys all enemies, should be recited by gods and men alike for peace, lightness of being, and strength."

> Quick Answer: The eight most important Aditya Hridayam verses establish that Surya contains all the gods within himself (verse 5), that he removes disease and darkness (verse 11), and that triple recitation guarantees victory over obstacles (verse 21). The Aditya Hridayam is not a petition — it is a recognition of solar omnipotence.

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The 108 names of Surya (Surya Ashtottara Shatanamavali) are drawn from the Mahabharata's Anushasana Parva (Chapter 6), where Yudhishthira asks Bhishma to teach him the names of the Sun. These are the ritual names — each is preceded by "OM" and followed by "NAMAH" in worship:

1. Surya — the Supreme Luminous One; the name comes from SUR (light/brilliance) 2. Archana — the One who is worshipped 3. Bhaskara — maker of light (BHAS = light, KARA = maker) 4. Ravi — the one who illuminates all; from RAVI (Sanskrit root for motion/heat) 5. Vivasvat — the brilliant/shining one; ancient Vedic name of the Sun 6. Aditya — son of Aditi (the goddess of infinite space/sky); the solar deity 7. Savitri — the generating/vivifying one; solar energy as creator 8. Arka — radiance, beam of light; the sun as a source of energy 9. Divakara — maker of the day (DIVA = day, KARA = maker) 10. Devadhideva — the god above all gods 11. Prabhakara — maker of radiance/glory 12. Vibhavasu — one who shines with wealth of light 13. Martanda — born from an egg (MARTA = mortal/dead, ANDA = egg; the cosmic egg) 14. Mihira — the sun in Iranian/Vedic tradition; the one who illuminates 15. Heli — the one who moves in the sky; related to Greek Helios, confirming the Indo-European solar root 16. Brahma — the creator aspect; Surya as the creator of the day 17. Taruni — the young, vigorous one at sunrise 18. Tapana — the one who generates heat; the burning sun 19. Chitrabhanu — the one with dappled/variegated rays (CHITRA = varied, BHANU = light) 20. Vishvakarma — the architect of the universe; Surya is the cosmic craftsman 21. Sahasramsu — the one with a thousand rays (SAHASRA = thousand, AMSU = ray) 22. Tejasam Rasi — the mass/treasury of brilliance 23. Hiranyagarbha — the golden womb (the solar disc as the womb of creation; from Rigveda 10.121) 24. Punarvasu — the one who restores vitality and good fortune 25. Hayagriva — the horse-headed one; Surya's chariot is pulled by seven horses; in some traditions Surya himself takes horse form 26. Karmasakshin — the witness of all karma; the all-seeing quality of the Sun 27. Vedakarta — the creator of the Vedas; the Vedas are solar revelation in the Vedic cosmology 28. Vedanga — the limb of the Vedas; Jyotish (astronomy/astrology) is called Veda's eye 29. Vedavahana — the carrier/vehicle of the Vedas 30. Sarvadevamaya — the one who contains all gods within himself (echoed in Aditya Hridayam verse 5) 31. Prabhavishnu — the pervading radiance 32. Grahanam Pati — the lord of all the planets (grahas); Surya is the king of the nine grahas in Jyotish 33. Nabhasthita — the one situated in the sky (NABHA = sky/space) 34. Brahmaputra — son of Brahma; in certain Puranic genealogies, Surya is counted among Brahma's emanations 35. Vedanta Vit — the knower of the end/essence of the Vedas (Vedanta) 36. Chandrama — he who contains the moon; in the Vedic system, the Moon's light is the Sun's reflected light

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37. Lokabandhu — the friend/kinsman of all worlds 38. Trilokanatha — lord of the three worlds 39. Suryadeva — the divine sun 40. Tamonasha — the destroyer of darkness (TAMAS = darkness, NASHA = destruction) 41. Rijuvrata — the one of straight/righteous vows 42. Naikarupi — the one of many forms; Surya takes 12 forms (one for each month) 43. Devashreshtha — the best/foremost among the gods 44. Anandakar — the maker of bliss 45. Sahishnu — the patient/enduring one; the sun's constancy 46. Ugratejase — one of fierce/intense radiance 47. Sureshadhipa — lord of the chief gods 48. Dipta — the blazing/shining one 49. Svetaashva — the one with white horses; in some accounts, Surya's horses are white (purity of light) 50. Jagadvishruta — celebrated throughout the world 51. Charushman — the one of beautiful radiance 52. Kapila — the reddish-golden one; the color of the rising and setting sun 53. Taptakanchanasannibha — resembling molten gold; the color of the noon sun 54. Indrashakti — the power of Indra; Surya and Indra are closely associated in the Rigveda 55. Padmanabha — lotus-navel; in the integrated Puranic cosmology, Surya is connected to Vishnu's lotus-navel origin 56. Mahatejas — the great radiance 57. Rohitashva — the one with red/bright horses 58. Dharmashakshi — the witness of dharma 59. Kaladhyaksha — the presiding officer of time; Surya governs time in Vedic cosmology 60. Grahashresta — the foremost among the planets 61. Dvadashashri — the twelve-formed one (DVADASHA = twelve; the 12 Adityas) 62. Aditi Putra — son of Aditi; the classic Vedic title of the Adityas 63. Mahabhaga — the greatly fortunate one 64. Daksha — the skilled/capable one 65. Krodha — the fierce/wrathful one (Surya's heat as a destructive force) 66. Urja — energy/vitality itself 67. Hari — the golden one; also the one who removes (sin); shared name with Vishnu indicating solar-Vishnu integration 68. Shambhu — the auspicious one; shared with Shiva, indicating solar-Shaiva integration 69. Tvashtra — the craftsman/fashioner; Surya as the one who shapes physical forms 70. Sarvabhuta Bhavana — the one in whom all beings exist/arise 71. Shishiranamasha — the destroyer of cold/winter (SHISHIRA = winter/cold, NASHA = destruction) 72. Tamoghna — the slayer of darkness

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73. Varuna — the cosmic overseer; Surya as the all-seeing, all-encompassing deity 74. Savitr — the generating/vivifying form (same as Savitri; here as a separate name) 75. Prabhu — the lord, the master 76. Vishvavyapin — the one who pervades the universe 77. Lokasakshin — the witness of all worlds (the all-seeing quality) 78. Trilokeshvara — the lord of the three worlds 79. Vagishvara — the lord of speech; Surya's illumination of knowledge 80. Ashvadhyaksha — the master of horses (his seven-horsed chariot) 81. Saptashva — the seven-horsed one; the seven horses represent the seven colors of light/the seven days of the week 82. Saptasapti — another name for the seven-horsed one 83. Maheshvara — the great lord; shared title with Shiva 84. Sarvada — the giver of everything 85. Chakrachara — the one who moves in a circle; the sun's circular path 86. Vikartana — the one who cuts away; specifically, who cuts away sins and darkness 87. Gabhastiman — the one full of rays/beams (GABHASTI = ray of light) 88. Brahmadhama — the abode of Brahman 89. Paramatma — the Supreme Self; Surya as Brahman in solar form 90. Vikartin — the modifier/shaper of creation 91. Diptamurti — the radiant form/image 92. Sukshmakaya — the one with a subtle body 93. Tejonidhana — the treasury of radiance 94. Shaktimat — the one possessed of power/shakti 95. Manomaya — the one made of mind; consciousness as solar in nature 96. Anandamayi — the blissful one 97. Saptarchishman — the one with seven flames 98. Ameyatma — the immeasurable self 99. Tejomaya — the one made of/consisting of radiance 100. Hiranyarupa — the golden form 101. Hiranyatejase — the one of golden radiance 102. Padmabhava — arisen from the lotus; the sun appearing from the horizon as a lotus appearing from water 103. Mahavishnu — the great Vishnu; the Aditya-Vishnu integration in the Puranic system 104. Vedavit — the knower of the Vedas 105. Sukhadayaka — the giver of happiness and comfort 106. Tapasvin — the one who practices tapas (austerity/heat); the sun's heat is sacred austerity 107. Tapasam Prabhava — the source/power of all tapas 108. Sarva Devamaya — containing all the gods within himself; the circular return to the declaration of the Aditya Hridayam

> Quick Answer: The 108 names of Surya from the Mahabharata's Anushasana Parva cover every aspect of solar function: Bhaskara (light-maker), Grahanam Pati (lord of planets), Kaladhyaksha (lord of time), Karmasakshin (karma's witness), and Paramatma (Supreme Self). Each name is a doorway into a specific quality of solar energy.

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The Sunday dawn practice is the foundation of Surya upasana (solar devotion). It has three components: Surya Arghya, Surya Namaskar, and japa.

Surya Arghya — The Water Offering

The Surya Arghya (water offering to the Sun) is performed at sunrise on Sundays and ideally every morning. The practitioner stands facing east, holds a copper vessel (tambra patra — copper conducts solar energy in Vedic and Ayurvedic science) filled with pure water mixed with red sandalwood powder and red flowers (hibiscus or red lotus). The water is poured in a thin stream so that the rising sun's rays are seen through the arc of falling water. While pouring, the following mantra is recited:

"OM SURYAYA NAMAH OM ADITYAYA NAMAH OM BHASKARAYA NAMAH"

The Arghya is offered three times. The Dharmashastra texts (Apastamba Dharmasutra, Vishnu Dharmasutra) prescribe this as a daily obligatory act for householders.

The Surya Namaskar Mantra Sequence

The classical Surya Namaskar (12-posture sun salutation) is accompanied by 12 mantras, one per posture. These are the Surya's 12 monthly names:

1. OM MITRAYA NAMAH (posture 1 — Pranamasana/standing prayer) 2. OM RAVAYE NAMAH (posture 2 — Hasta Uttanasana/raised arms) 3. OM SURYAYA NAMAH (posture 3 — Uttanasana/forward bend) 4. OM BHANAVE NAMAH (posture 4 — Ashwa Sanchalanasana/lunge) 5. OM KHAGAYA NAMAH (posture 5 — Dandasana/plank) 6. OM PUSHNE NAMAH (posture 6 — Ashtanga Namaskara/eight-point bow) 7. OM HIRANYAGARBHAYA NAMAH (posture 7 — Bhujangasana/cobra) 8. OM MARICHAYE NAMAH (posture 8 — Adho Mukha Svanasana/downward dog) 9. OM ADITYAYA NAMAH (posture 9 — Ashwa Sanchalanasana/lunge return) 10. OM SAVITRE NAMAH (posture 10 — Uttanasana/forward bend return) 11. OM ARKAYA NAMAH (posture 11 — Hasta Uttanasana/raised arms return) 12. OM BHASKARAYA NAMAH (posture 12 — Pranamasana/standing prayer return)

This sequence of 12 names covers one full solar year — the twelve months of Surya's movement through the zodiac. Performing 12 rounds of Surya Namaskar with these mantras is equivalent to a full-year salutation compressed into one practice session.

> Quick Answer: The Sunday dawn protocol consists of Surya Arghya (pouring water through a copper vessel at sunrise with "OM SURYAYA NAMAH"), followed by 12 rounds of Surya Namaskar using the 12 monthly solar names, followed by japa of the Surya Ashtottara (108 names). Total practice time: 30-45 minutes.

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In Vedic astrology (Jyotish), Surya (Sun) governs the soul (Atma), father, authority, government, health (specifically the heart, right eye in men, left eye in women, and bones), and one's capacity for leadership and self-expression. When Surya is afflicted in the birth chart, these specific conditions arise:

Signs of an afflicted Sun in the birth chart: 1. Sun in Libra (its debilitation sign — neecha) 2. Sun conjunct Rahu (creates an eclipse-like effect, called Graha Yuddha — planetary war, specifically Surya-Graha) 3. Sun conjunct Saturn (bitter enemies in Jyotish; indicates conflict with father, authority issues, delayed career) 4. Sun in the 12th, 6th, or 8th house without beneficial aspects

Mantra-based remediation protocol:

For debilitated or afflicted Sun, the prescribed remediation sequence is:

1. Sunday sunrise: Surya Arghya with the Surya Ashtottara (108 names) — 40 days minimum 2. Daily: Aditya Hridayam recitation once (3 times on Sundays) 3. Japa: "OM HRIM HRAUM SURYAYA NAMAH" — the Surya beeja mantra japa, 7,000 repetitions total or 108 daily for 66 days (the classical Sun number in Vedic numerology is 6 and 1; 7 is the number of Sun's horses; 7,000 japa completes the Sun's remediation cycle)

The Muhurta Chintamani and Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra both document that Surya's gemstone (the Ruby/Manikya) and Surya mantra work synergistically — the mantra activates the gem's resonance. Without the mantra component, the gem alone carries only partial remedial benefit.

> Quick Answer: For an afflicted Sun (debilitation in Libra, conjunction with Rahu or Saturn, placement in the 8th or 12th house), the three-part remedy is: Sunday Surya Arghya, daily Aditya Hridayam recitation, and 7,000 repetitions of the beeja mantra "OM HRIM HRAUM SURYAYA NAMAH."

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