Ashtakam
Surya Ashtakam
About
An introduction to an eight-verse hymn praising Surya, the sun, linked with Sunday worship and festivals such as Chhath. Wordings vary.
Hymn text
Samba speaks — Salutations to you, the first-born god; Bhaskara, be gracious to me. Salutations to you, O Divakara; homage to you, O Prabhakara.
Seated upon the seven-horsed chariot, fierce, son of Kashyapa, holding a white lotus — that god Surya I bow.
Seated upon the red chariot, the grandsire of all worlds, remover of great sins — that god Surya I bow.
Three-natured, the great hero, Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshvara, remover of great sins — that god Surya I bow.
A growing mass of radiance, himself wind and sky, lord of all the worlds — that god Surya I bow.
Red as the bandhuka flower, adorned with necklace and earrings, riding the one-wheeled chariot — that god Surya I bow.
Surya, maker of the world, kindler of great radiance, remover of great sins — that god Surya I bow.
Surya, lord of worlds, giver of knowledge, wisdom and liberation, remover of great sins — that god Surya I bow.