Surya mandalashtakam

                                                    (The octet on the solar universe)

                                                           Translated by

                                                      P.R.Ramachander

 

(Here is a unique prayer not to the sun but the solar system. Though Sun has been worshipped as God by many religions, possibly this is a unique prayer about the Solar system. I do not know who composed it. Though it is called an octet, actually there are eleven stanzas along with an introductory prayer.)

 

 

 

Nama Savithre jagdekha chakshushe,

Jagat prasoothi sthithi nasa hethave,

Traayimayaya trigunathma dharine,

Virinchi Narayana sankarathmane.             1

 

Salutations to the Sun God,

Who is eye that sees the entire universe,

Who is the cause of birth, upkeep and destruction of the universe,

Who is the soul of the Vedas,

And who is Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma.

 

Yanmandalam deepthikaram visalam,

Rathnaprabham theevramanadhi roopam,

Daridrya dukha kshaya karanam cha,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           2

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is the source of the light,

Which is very wide, shines like gems,

Which is very hot and very ancient,

And destroys sorrows and poverty.

 

Yanmandalam devaganai supoojitham,

Viprai sthutham , bhavana mukthi kovidam,

Tham deva devam pranamami sooryam,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           3

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is worshipped by all devas,

Which is praised by Brahmins,

And Which is the cause of salvation,

And I also salute the God of Gods , the Sun.

 

Yanmandalm jnanaganam thwagamyam,

Trilokhya poojyam trigunathma roopam,

Samastha thejo maya divya roopam,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           4

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is filled with wisdom,

Which is very difficult to reach,

Which is worshipped in all the three worlds,

Which is the soul of the three states,

And which has the ever shining form in entirety.

 

Yanmandalam gudamathi prabodham,

Dharmasya vrudhim kuruthe jananaam,

Yath sarva papa kshaya karanam cha,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           5

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which blesses people with the secret knowledge,

Of the soul  and the concept of Dharma,

And which is the cause of destruction of all sins.

 

Yanmandalam vyadhi vinasa daksham,

Yadrug yaju sama su samprageetham,

Prakasitham yena cha bhoorbhuvaswa,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           6

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is capable of destroying all diseases,

Which is being praised by Yajur, Rik and Sama Vedas,

And which is the cause of light in earth, bhuvar* and suvar* lokas.

       *Among the seven lokas, these are above the earth.

 

Yanmandalam veda vido vadanthi,

Gayanthi yascharana sidha sangha,

Yad yogino yoga jusham cha sangha,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           7

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is being praised by experts in Vedas,

Which is being sung and praised by Sidhas* and Charanas*,

And which is meditated upon by Yogis and learners of yoga.

                     * legendary singers of the heaven.

 

Yanmandalam sarva janeshu poojitham,

Jyothischa kuryadiha marthya loke,

Yath kala kalpa kshaya karanam cha,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           8

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is worshipped by all people,

Which provides light to the earth of men,

Which is the cause of time, eons and their destruction.

 

Yanmandalam viswa srujaam prasidham ,

Uthpathi raksha pralaya prgathbham,

Yasmin jagath samharethe akhilam cha,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           9

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is famous even among progenitors of the universe,

Which is the cause of birth , protection  and deluge,

And which is also the cause of destruction of the universe.

 

Yanmandalam sarva jagathasya vishno,

Athmaa param dhama vishudha thathwam,

Sookshmantharai  yoga padanugamyam,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           10

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is the soul  and the holy meaning,

Of Vishnu who pervades everywhere,

And which can be approached by wise men through yoga.

 

Yanmandalm Veda padhopageetham,

Yad yoginaam yoga padhanu gamyam,

Thath sarva vedam pranamami suryam,

Punathu maam That savithur varenyam.           11

 

 

May I be protected by the solar universe,

Which is being sung by all stanzas of Veda,

Which can be realized by yogis by yogic  methods,

And which is the Sun which is worshipped by all Vedas.

 

Phala Sruthi

Mandalashtakam idham punyam yath padeth sathathan nara,

Sarva papa vishudhatma, suya loke maheeyathe.

 

Benefit of recitation

The man who reads this holy octet of the solar system,

Will get rid of all his sins and will reach the world of the Sun.