Souram - Worship of Sri Surya or Sun God

Sri Chaaya Survarchalmba Samedha Sri Surya Narayanaya ParaBhrahmane Namaha:

 

Souram, id the branch of the shanmathas, which declares Lord Surya Narayana Swamy as the manifestation of the Nirguna Bhrahman. Not only the Sanathana religion, Vedas insist on the worship of Sun God. Even very old civilizations like the Egyptian civilization(s) have been saying the same. Lord Surya or Sun God, is the one, who is readily available to us & whom we can see physically. Sun is the primary source of energy for all the living organisms in this world. That's why Sun is described as, "Mithra" or friend in the Vedas. He is a true friend to all the living beings in this Universe, as he gives away his light rays or kiranas to the world, to keep them bright. Scientifically, the photons form  Sunlight or Surya Reshmi is the basic source of energy for photosynthesis, by which the plants fix carbon-di-oxide & water into starch. Thos starch particles are being stored as grains (rice, wheat..) or in the roots (potato, sweet potato..). Lord Surya Narayana, is a very generous one as he gives away, all his light rays to the whole world, 12 hours for one part of the world & 12 hours for another part of the world.

Astrologically,  the two ayanams

are based on the movements of Lord Surya. In addition to all the above facts, the basic life routines of the human beings are based on the movements of sun.Various kalams, for doing Devatharchanam, nithya karmanustanam are all based on the positions of Sun.

It is the light from sun, which scatters in the sky, due to which, we see blue, yellow or red colors. The rainbow, which is being called as Indra Dhanu, exhibits the basic color components of Sun light, which gets refracted in the rain water. Man depends on Sun light, for everything. SO, Lord Surya Narayana Swamy is the Pratyaksha Deivam. Moon is a natural satellite for Earth, which absorbs the light from Sun & reflects the same during night time. Both Sun & Moon are described as, the meters of time as, Days & Nights are being calculated by their arrivals. Indian astrology has two kinds of months cycle - the solar months & the lunar months. The Solar months are based on the time Sun, takes to complete a full revolution. The whole, orbit has been divided into sixteen angles,  & each of them is called as a Rashi in Sanskrit.

 

Sri Chaaya Survarchalambha Samedha Sri Surya Narayana Swamy

 

In Vedhas, we find numerous verses, in praise of Lord Surya. That's why Sri Bagavadpada, chose to make Souram, the Pratama Shakha of his six religions. Lord Surya's very form is so, appealing & divine. He appears to be a manifestation of wisdom. Let's see a small snippet of sloka on Lord Surya.

Suryam Sundara Loka Natham Amrutham Vedantha Saram Shivam

Gnanam Bhrahmamayam Suresham Lokaika Chintyam Swayam

Indardithya Nara dhipam Sura Gurum Vande Sada Bhaskaram

Bhano Bhaskara Marthandaha Chanda Rashmi Diwakara:

Description: The above verse, has very in-depth Vedanthic meanings embedded in it. Let's see the Vyakhyanam or explanation for the same.

Suryam : Oh!Lord Surya

Sundaram : The Handsome One

Lokanatham: The king of the whole world!

Amrutham : The medicine, which takes us out of the cycles of life & Death

Vedantha Saram : The basis of all the Vedanths & the Mahavakyas like "Thathvamashi" & "Aham Bhrahma Asmi".

Shivam : The auspicious one!

Nitya Surya namaskara Manthram:

Mithra Ravi Surya Bhanu GhaghaBhoosha HiranyaGarbha Marichith Adithya Savithra Arka Bhaskarebyo Namaha:

Vyakhyanam : The above are the divine names of Lord Surya. These could be uttered in the early morning, at the time of doing, Soorya Namaskaram.

Note : The divine saint, Thiruvalluvar declares the importance of Sun to this world.

Agara Mudhala Ezuthu ellam Adhi Bhagavan

Muthatre Ulagu

Vyakhyanam: Like the sound of the vowel, "A", being the first of  all the languages in this world, the whole world is based on "Adithyan"or "Adhi Bhagavan". Here the saint, makes a mention of Adhi & Bhagavan as they were their parents. It also symbolizes the importance of Lord Surya, to this world as the whole world is dependent upon the beams of light, which he gives to as very generously. The very purpose of Makara Shankaranthi or Thai Pongal, is to thank the Sun God, for his help, to the farmers, who are running their lives, based on Lord Surya. 

In addition to all these above factors, there is a special step in the Sandya Vandanam or Nithya Karmanustana or the Daily ritual, where we offer Arkhya Pradhanam to Lord Surya Narayana. Although the Dwadasha Nama Tharpanam, Navagraha Tharpanam follow that, the very important of Nithya karmanustanam is Arghya Pradanam. All the people, belonging to all the shanmathas do this ritual, which is offering of waters/ prayer to Lord Surya. The manthra for that is none other than the divine Gayathri manthra.

Gayathri Maha Manthram:

Om Bhur Bhuva Suvaha:

Tath Svithru Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi:

Dhiyo yonana Prachodhayath

Sri Shankara Bagavadhpadha, declared Souram as a separate religion, in his Adviatham because of he reason, that Gayathri maha Manthram praises Lord Surya as a manifestation of the Nirguna Bhrahman. Like Lord Surya, the Nirguna Bhrahman is bright, formless & omnipresent. This forms the base for Suryopasana or Souram. let see the meaning of Gayathri Mahamanthra now.

The lokhas are there : Boo lokam, Bhuvar Lokam & Suvar Lokham.

Vyakhyanam :

The actual fact, that's being conveyed through this is that, we all need to meditate the brightness of the Lord, Savitha or Lord Sun, who  initiates our thoughts. Thus, we need to see the root of the thoughts & thus analyse the athma Sthanam, where the thoughts arise. This is going to be the Nirvikalpa Samadhi state, when be become one with that Athma Sthanam. Thus here the Bhrahman is described as Svithru Deva or Lord Sun. There is nothing greater than Gayathri Japam in this world, as it talks about the technique of Athma Sakshathkaram.

There is nothing equivalent to worshipping Lord Surya, as he is a pratyaksha Devatha. He is physically available for us to see & worship. There are lots of diseases, which get cured by his divine graces. In addition to that, he is the prime source of energy for all the living organisms in this world. He is the center of the orbit for all the nine planets. Mythologically, Harichandra, Rama.. are called as Surya Vamshis. 

The famous Adithya Hrudhayam verse, which was taught by the Sage Agasthya, to Lord Rama is very powerful & would grant the boon og "Ista Karya Siddhi". Even today, when people are going for competitions, exams... they chnat this holy verse three times before going, to get the divine graces of  Lord Marthanda.

The PhalaStuthi of this slokam, states the glories of Lord Surya:

Adithya Hrudhayam Punyam Sarva Shatru Vinashanam

Jayavaham Japen Nithyam Akshayyam Paramam Shivam

Vyakhyanam: This verse, is a very holy one, destroys all the shathrus or enemies & brings victory. It also brings all the auspices to the one, who meditates or chants this hymn continuously.

 

Sarvam Sri Chaaya Suvarchalamba Samedha Sri Surya Narayana Swami Padharpanam Asthu

 

1