All posts in this series
- Aditya Hridayam – Introduction
- Aditya Hridayam – Part 3
- Aditya Hridayam – Part 2
- Aditya Hridayam – Part 1
*This series is based on the book Aditya Hridayam-Suryaradhana, a textual form of the discourses given by the renowned Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmuka Sharma Garu on Aditya Hridaya and Surya Tatva. For everyone to understand the underlying meaning of each shloka, Brahmasri elaborates, taking reference from the Vedas, Puranas, Agamas, and Kavyas. This reminds us of how the Srimad Bhagavatam is described as the sweet ripened fruit (galitam phalam) produced by the tree of the Vedas and after delving into the series one would find the Aditya Hridayam to be rightfully nectarine.
We think the Aditya Hridayam is merely a collection of letters, words, or sentences that give us merit (punya). Still, if we perceive its essence, we understand that a depth of knowledge is packed in the form of a powerful Mantra by Agastya Maharshi.
Aditya Hridayam starts near the end of the Yuddhakand of Valmiki Ramayana. One may conclude at first glance that Adityajii is mentioned only here but on closer inspection, we find him in multiple places.
We find such a reference quite early on in the Ramayana where Sage Vishwamitra wakes up Sri Rama so that he fulfills his duties.
कौसल्यासुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते । उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्त्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् ॥
Translates to: “O Rāma, the noble son of Kausalyā! The Sandhyā of the East commences. O! best of men (Purushottama)! Wake up, the daily duties have to be performed.”
To commoners like us, this verse is quite self-explanatory but this is not so in the case of our Rishis.
The perception of the divinity of Sri Rama is observed not only by Vishwamitraji but also by Sage Vashista and all sages engaged in penance (Tapas).
अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।1.19.14।।
वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिता:।
Translates to: “I know Rama who is a great soul, true to his prowess, and also Vasishta of great lustre, and these other sages who have been steadfast in asceticism also know.”
Vishwamitraji understood the essence (paratatva) form of Sri Rama as Gayatri Devi which is not surprising when one learns that he is a seer (Drashta) of the Gayatri mantra himself. With such insight, Vishwamitraji takes him from his home so that he can fulfill his duties using yagna protection as a starting point. While pursuing this task they end up taking some rest and in this context during dawn, Sri Rama is woken up by Sage Vishwamitra as it is a demerit (paap) to sleep during such a period, and along with this, one has to practice the respective rites towards the deities and seeing that Gayatri Maa is Sandhya Devi, it seems as if none other than he was suitable to expound on this.
This verse still has further meaning as Vishwamitraji, knowing who Sri Rama truly is, invokes his divine essence despite his appearance and actions akin to a human to fulfill his reason for taking this avatar.
पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते, कर्त्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् presents the Aditya Hridayam in a subtle manner which we got some insight through the general shloka in relation to Sandhya Devi which will be made more clear as the series progresses.
We shall continue in the next part as to why Sri Rama was given instruction (Upadesh) by Agastya Maharishi for the Aditya Hridayam.
*Note- The original discourse and the written text centered around it, is in Telugu. I have paraphrased and translated the text, and attempted to elaborate, based on my understanding.