Aditya Hridaya Stotra
आदित्य हृदय स्तोत्र
✦ Meaning
The Aditya Hridaya Stotra is the hymn to the Sun god that the sage Agastya taught to Lord Rama on the battlefield of Lanka, when Rama stood weary before the unconquered Ravana (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda). It extols Surya as the soul of all worlds, the dispeller of darkness and giver of victory. Reciting it is believed to destroy fatigue, fear and anxiety, and to grant energy, courage and triumph over obstacles.
Origin & Story
Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda (Book of War), Chapter 107 · Sage Valmiki (recorded); taught by Sage Agastya · Ancient (Treta Yuga traditionally; c. 500 BCE scholarly)
On the battlefield of Lanka, Lord Rama faced the mighty Ravana for the final confrontation. Exhausted from prolonged combat and seeing Ravana's seemingly invincible power, Rama stood deep in thought. At that critical moment, Sage Agastya descended from among the watching gods and revealed this ancient secret hymn — the Heart of the Sun (Aditya Hridayam). After Rama chanted it three times, he was filled with radiant energy, picked up his bow, and slew Ravana. The stotra thus represents the moment when divine knowledge transforms despair into certain victory.
✦ As told in scripture
The central miracle of the Aditya Hridaya Stotra is its immediate effect on the battlefield. Lord Rama, who was exhausted, dispirited, and seemingly overpowered by Ravana, was completely transformed after chanting this hymn just three times. He radiated with the energy of the Sun itself and defeated the previously invincible Ravana. In modern times, devotees report remarkable recoveries from chronic illnesses, success in seemingly impossible situations, and the overcoming of deep depression through regular recitation of this stotra — mirroring Rama's transformation from despair to victory.
Listen & Chant Along
Complete Text with Meaning
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ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् । रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥
Tato yuddhaparishrantam samare chintaya sthitam Ravanam chagrato drishtva yuddhaya samupasthitam
Meaning:Then, beholding Rama exhausted by the fight, standing absorbed in worry in the battle, with Ravana come before him ready for war —
दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् । उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः ॥
Daivataishcha samagamya drashtumabhyagato ranam Upagamyabravidramamagastyo bhagavanrishih
Meaning:— the blessed sage Agastya, who had come with the gods to witness the battle, approached Rama and spoke:
राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् । येन सर्वानरीन् वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥
Rama rama mahabaho shrinu guhyam sanatanam Yena sarvanarin vatsa samare vijayishyasi
Meaning:O Rama, mighty-armed Rama, hear this eternal secret by which, my child, you shall conquer all your foes in battle.
आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् । जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥
Adityahridayam punyam sarvashatruvinashanam Jayavaham japennityamakshayyam paramam shivam
Meaning:The holy Aditya-Hridaya, destroyer of all enemies, bringer of victory — chant it ever; it is imperishable, supreme and auspicious.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम् ॥
Sarvamangalamangalyam sarvapapapranashanam Chintashokaprashamanamayurvardhanamuttamam
Meaning:It is the highest good of all that is good, the destroyer of all sin, the queller of anxiety and grief, the bestower of long life.
रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् । पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥
Rashmimantam samudyantam devasuranamaskritam Pujayasva vivasvantam bhaskaram bhuvaneshvaram
Meaning:Worship the radiant one rising on high, honoured by gods and demons alike, the brilliant Vivasvan, the Bhaskara, the nourisher of the worlds.
सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः । एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥
Sarvadevatmako hyesha tejasvi rashmibhavanah Esha devasuragananllokan pati gabhastibhih
Meaning:He is the very soul of all the gods, self-luminous, sustaining all by his rays; with his beams he protects the hosts of gods and demons and all the worlds.
एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः । महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥
Esha brahma cha vishnushcha shivah skandah prajapatih Mahendro dhanadah kalo yamah somo hyapam patih
Meaning:He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda and Prajapati; the great Indra, Kubera, Kala (Time), Yama, the moon (Soma) and Varuna.
पितरो वसवः साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः । वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥
Pitaro vasavah sadhya hyashvinau maruto manuh Vayurvahnih prajaprana ritukarta prabhakarah
Meaning:He is the Pitris, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts and Manu; Vayu, Agni, the breath of beings, the maker of the seasons, the lord of light.
आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान् । सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः ॥
Adityah savita suryah khagah pusha gabhastiman Suvarnasadrisho bhanurhiranyareta divakarah
Meaning:He is Aditya, Savitr, Surya, Khaga, Pushan and the rayed Gabhastiman; golden-hued Bhanu, of golden seed (Hiranyareta), the maker of day.
हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् । तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥
Haridashvah sahasrarchih saptasaptirmarichiman Timironmathanah shambhustvashta martanda amshuman
Meaning:Of tawny steeds, of a thousand rays, drawn by seven horses, of brilliant beams; dispeller of darkness, source of joy, Tvashta, Martanda, of immense splendour.
हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः । अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः ॥
Hiranyagarbhah shishirastapano bhaskaro ravih Agnigarbhoditeh putrah shankhah shishiranashanah
Meaning:Hiranyagarbha, the cooling and the burning, Bhaskara, Ravi; fire-wombed, son of Aditi, the conch-bright, the gentle.
व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुःसामपारगः । घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः ॥
Vyomanathastamobhedi rigyajuhsamaparagah Ghanavrishtirapam mitro vindhyavithiplavangamah
Meaning:Lord of the firmament, render of darkness, master of the Rig, Yajus and Sama; sender of abundant rain, friend of the waters, who courses swiftly over the Vindhya path.
आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलः सर्वतापनः । कविर्विश्वो महातेजा रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः ॥
Atapi mandali mrityuh pingalah sarvatapanah Kavirvishvo mahateja raktah sarvabhavodbhavah
Meaning:The hot-rayed, the disc-formed, Death itself, the tawny Pingala, the all-scorcher; the seer, the universe, of great splendour, the red one, the source of all beings.
नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः । तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Nakshatragrahataranamadhipo vishvabhavanah Tejasamapi tejasvi dvadashatmannamostu te
Meaning:Lord of the stars, planets and constellations, the origin of all; the splendour of all splendours — O twelve-formed one (Dvadashatman), salutations to you!
नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः । ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥
Namah purvaya giraye pashchimayadraye namah Jyotirgananam pataye dinadhipataye namah
Meaning:Salutations to the eastern mountain of rising and to the western mountain of setting; salutations to the lord of the host of lights, the lord of day.
जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः । नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥
Jayaya jayabhadraya haryashvaya namo namah Namo namah sahasramsho adityaya namo namah
Meaning:Salutations to the victorious, to the giver of auspicious victory, to him of tawny steeds; salutations again and again, O thousand-rayed Aditya, salutations!
नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः । नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्ताण्डाय नमो नमः ॥
Nama ugraya viraya sarangaya namo namah Namah padmaprabodhaya martandaya namo namah
Meaning:Salutations to the fierce, the heroic, the far-reaching; salutations to the awakener of the lotus, to Martanda — salutations again and again!
ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यायादित्यवर्चसे । भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥
Brahmeshanachyuteshaya suryayadityavarchase Bhasvate sarvabhakshaya raudraya vapushe namah
Meaning:To Brahma, Ishana and Achyuta in one, to Surya of Aditya's splendour, to the luminous, the all-consuming, to the awesome (Raudra) form — salutations!
तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने । कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः ॥
Tamoghnaya himaghnaya shatrughnayamitatmane Kritaghnaghnaya devaya jyotisham pataye namah
Meaning:To the slayer of darkness, of cold and of foes, of immeasurable soul; to the destroyer of the ungrateful, to the God, the lord of lights — salutations!
तप्तचामीकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे । नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥
Taptachamikarabhaya vahnaye vishvakarmane Namastamobhinighnaya ruchaye lokasakshine
Meaning:Of the hue of molten gold, the fire, the cosmic architect (Vishvakarma); to the dispeller of darkness, to radiance, to the witness of the world — salutations!
नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः । पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥
Nashayatyesha vai bhutam tadeva srijati prabhuh Payatyesha tapatyesha varshatyesha gabhastibhih
Meaning:This Lord destroys all that exists and alone creates it again; he draws up the waters, he scorches, and with his rays he sends down the rain.
एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः । एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम् ॥
Esha supteshu jagarti bhuteshu parinishthitah Esha evagnihotram cha phalam chaivagnihotrinam
Meaning:He stays awake within beings while they sleep, established in all; he is the Agnihotra, its fruit, and the very fire-sacrifice itself.
वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च । यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः ॥
Vedashcha kratavashchaiva kratunam phalameva cha Yani krityani lokeshu sarva esha ravih prabhuh
Meaning:He is the Vedas and the sacrifices, and the fruit of the sacrifices; he is the lord of all the rites performed in the worlds — this Sun is all.
एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च । कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥
Enamapatsu krichchhreshu kantareshu bhayeshu cha Kirtayan purushah kashchinnavasidati raghava
Meaning:Whoever, in distress, in hardship, in the wilderness or in fear, glorifies this Sun — no such person ever comes to ruin.
पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम् । एतत्त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि ॥
Pujayasvainamekagro devadevam jagatpatim Etattrigunitam japtva yuddheshu vijayishyasi
Meaning:Worship with one-pointed mind this God of gods, the Lord of the universe; chanting this thrice, you will be victorious in the battle.
अस्मिन् क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि । एवमुक्त्वा तदाऽगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम् ॥
Asmin kshane mahabaho ravanam tvam vadhishyasi Evamuktva tadagastyo jagama cha yathagatam
Meaning:In this very moment, O mighty-armed one, you shall slay Ravana. Having thus spoken, Agastya then departed as he had come.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा । धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान् ॥
Etachchhrutva mahateja nashtashokobhavattada Dharayamasa suprito raghavah prayatatmavan
Meaning:Hearing this, the greatly-radiant Raghava became free of grief; well-pleased and self-composed, he held it firmly in his mind.
आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान् । त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥
Adityam prekshya japtva tu param harshamavaptavan Trirachamya shuchirbhutva dhanuradaya viryavan
Meaning:Gazing upon the Sun and chanting it, he attained supreme joy; thrice sipping water and becoming pure, he took up his bow.
रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत् । सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत् ॥
Ravanam prekshya hrishtatma yuddhaya samupagamat Sarvayatnena mahata vadhe tasya dhritobhavat
Meaning:Beholding Ravana with a gladdened heart, he advanced for battle, and with all his great effort resolved upon his slaying.
अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः । निशिचरपतिसङ्क्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥
Atha raviravadannirikshya ramam Muditamanah paramam prahrishyamanah Nishicharapatisankshayam viditva Suraganamadhyagato vachastvareti
Meaning:Then the Sun, gazing upon Rama with a gladdened and supremely delighted heart, knowing the destruction of the demon-king to be near, said to him: 'Make haste!'
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Aditya Hridaya Stotra
Destroys all enemies and obstacles as promised by Sage Agastya to Lord Rama
Grants victory in all endeavors and competitions
Removes worry, grief, and mental anxiety
Increases life span and promotes physical health
Purifies the mind and destroys all sins
Provides courage and strength in times of fear and danger
Cures diseases related to the Sun — eyes, heart, and bones
Brings fame, success, and leadership qualities
How to Chant Aditya Hridaya Stotra
Stand facing the rising Sun with folded hands. Recite the stotra with devotion and concentration. Ideally offer water (arghya) to the Sun before beginning. The stotra can be recited three times for maximum benefit. It is especially recommended before any major challenge, examination, or difficult situation — just as Agastya taught it to Rama before his final battle.
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