The Planet Sun is entirely indispensable and pivotal to the well-being of all beings, the existence of Planet Earth and scores of natural phenomena occurring incessantly. The glory of the sun is mellifluously expounded in 31 Sloka-s known as Aditya Hrdayam from Sarga-105 in Yuddhakanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Maharsi Agastya had infused fresh enthusiasm in Rama when He was weary of the battle with Ravana in Sri Lanka by advising Him to recite the Strotra every day. Every attribute of the sun inspires veneration for the divine energy, rise to a higher level of existence and an innate urge to be a conservator of nature. Elevation of the inner state of mind through neuro-transmitters like Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins has been scientifically established to be co-related with sunlight.

ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् । रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्टवा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥1॥

दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् । उपगम्याब्रवीद् राममगरत्यो भगवांस्तदा ॥2॥

Distinguished Maharsi Agastya who had arrived accompanied by Deva-s to observe Rama’s duel with Ravana who was approaching Him to strike as Rama stood cogitative and exhausted in the battlefield after the combat, so said to Him thus. (1-2)

राम राम महाबाहो श्रृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् । येन सर्वानरीन् वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसे ॥3॥
आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् । जयावहं जपं नित्यमक्षयं परमं शिवम् ॥4॥
सर्वमंगलमांगल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वधैनमुत्तमम् ॥5॥

“O Rama ! O Mahabaho ! listen to the mystical, sanctified and eternal veneration known as Aditya Hrdaya, supremely benevolent O’ Vatsa ! by the strength of which you may vanquish all your foes with finality in the battlefield, poised to win, extirpate all felonies, dissolve entire disquietude, fear and vexation as well as to prolong lives.” (3-5)

रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् । पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥6॥
सर्वदेवतामको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः । एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥7॥
एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः । महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥8॥
पितरो वसवः साध्या अश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः । वायुर्वन्हिः प्रजाः प्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥9॥
आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गर्भास्तिमान् । सुवर्णसदृशो भानुहिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः ॥10॥
हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् । तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भूस्त्ष्टा मार्तण्डकोंऽशुमान् ॥11॥
हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनोऽहरकरो रविः । अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शंखः शिशिरनाशनः ॥12॥
व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋम्यजुःसामपारगः । घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवंगमः ॥13॥
आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिंगलः सर्वतापनः । कविर्विश्वो महातेजा रक्तः सर्वभवोदभवः ॥14॥
नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः । तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन् नमोऽस्तु ते ॥15॥

“Worship Bhaskara who governs the world as the deity of the universe, embellished with effulgent rays, rising from the horizon to brighten, adored by Deva-s and Asura-s alike. Glorious and resplendent, he embodies all Deva-s, sustains all Deva-s, Asura-s and nourishes inhabitants of all worlds with his rays. He is Brhma, Visnu, Siva, Skanda, Prajapati, mighty Indra, Kubera, Kala, Yama, Soma and Varuna. Indeed, he is Pitra-s, eight Vasu-s, Sadhya-s, twin Asvina-s, Maruta-s, Manu, Vayu, Agni, Prana, creator of seasons and provider of light. He is the son of Aditi, Surya–Deva who transverses the heavens, encircled by a golden orb and myriad rays brightening all directions as creator of days.

He is all-pervasive, resplendent, destroyer of darkness, a beautiful golden-hued spectacle to behold. Resplendent with infinite rays, annihilator of darkness, benevolent with bliss and prosperity, alleviator of miseries, with seven stallions, yoked to his chariot, he is an infuser of life. He is omni-existent and all-pervasive blessed with immeasurable and innumerable rays. He is Hiranyagarbha, born in the golden womb of Aditi. He is the destroyer of chill and morbidity. As Ravi, he is the carrier of fire and Samkha, dissolves ignorance and oblivion. He is the deity of heavens, governs Akasa, preeminent in three Veda-s i.e. Rg, Yaju and Sama, and causes profound rains being espouser of water. He rapidly traverses his course during Daksinayana, south of Vindhya and dwells in Brhama Nadi. Circular in contours and golden-hued, he is immensely resplendent and kinetic. As the provider of warmth and vitality, initiates entire activity, life and death. Omniscient, sustainer of the entire universe and activities, he is the annihilator of all”. (6-15)

नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः । ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥16॥
जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः । नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥17॥
नम उग्राय वीराय सारंगाय नमो नमः । नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय प्रचण्डाय नमोऽस्तु ते ॥18॥
ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूरायदित्यवर्चसे । भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥19॥
तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने । कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः ॥20॥
तप्तचामीकराभाय हस्ये विश्वकर्मणे । नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥21॥

Naman to the presiding Deva of dawns and dusks rising from eastern mountains and setting western ones. Naman to the Deva of all astral bodies and brightness of days. O’ Deva of thousands of rays, son of Aditi, bestower of victory and prosperity! Naman to you. Naman unto you who owns horses of different hues to carry him. Naman unto you O the valiant one, master of senses. Naman to you O’ the mystical Pranava! Naman to you O’ the hellacious one, the awakener of Anahata! Naman to the Deva of Brhma, Visnu and Mahesa. Naman to Surya, the deity of the sun, resplendent in the orb, devourer of all and manifesting as Rudra. Naman to the slayer of darkness, chill, foes and ingratitude with extant immeasurable, the prime one to brighten the universe. Naman to you, resplendent like gold, devourer of darkness, eradicator of ignorance and cosmic Saksi of all beings. Naman to you O Visvakarma! creator of the universe and splendour incarnate. (16-21)

नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तमेव सृजति प्रभुः । पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥22॥
एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः । एष चैवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम् ॥23 ॥
देवाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च । यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्वेषु परमप्रभुः ॥24॥
एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च । कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥25॥
पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम् । एतत् त्रिगुणितं जप्तवा युद्धेषु विजयिष्ति ॥26॥

He alone creates, sustains, nurtures and decimates all beings. He irradiates water to heat up and then to fall as rain. Ensconced in all beings, he ever remains conscious even while beings remain in slumber. Being Agnihotra himself, he is sacred fire as well as proceeds attained by worshippers. He comprises of all Deva-s, their Yajna-s and proceeds thereof. He is the deity of all actions committed by all beings. O Raghava! anyone reciting his glories whether in dire straits, in the wilderness, in agony shall never be mortified. Adore this Deva of the universe, adored by all other Deva-s with your inner being centred on him. Reciting this Strotram three times, one is reckoned victorious in battles. (22-26) 

अस्मिन् क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं जहिष्यसि ।एवमुक्त्वा ततोऽगस्त्यो जगाम स यथागतम् ॥27॥
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा, नष्टशोकोऽभवत् तदा । धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान् ॥28॥
आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वेदं परं हर्षमवाप्तवान् । त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥29॥
रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा जयार्थे समुपागमत् । सर्वयत्नेन महता वृतस्तस्य वधेऽभवत् ॥30॥
अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः । निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥31॥

O Mahabaho! you shall mortify Ravana right at this moment. Having said so, Maharsi Agastya left as much as he had arrived. Having listened to him highly accomplished Raghava was immediately relieved of His anguish and His grave apprehensions sublimated. Profoundly gratified, He retained it in His memory, ready to chant Aditya–Hrdayam. Having consecrated Himself through Acamam, He gazed at the solar orb and recited the Strotram thrice with devotion. Galvanized into battle mode, He lifted His bow supremely focused on Ravana, advanced towards him determined to slay with His entire capability at His command for an intense combat. The slaying of Ravana now being perceived as imminent, surrounded by Deva-s Aditya looked at Rama and joyously proclaimed, “Act now. Don’t delay.” (27-31) 

Image source: IndiaDivine.org