सूर्याष्टकम्
Surya Ashtakam
Eight traditional verses of salutation to Surya Dev.
आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं प्रसीद मम भास्कर। दिवाकर नमस्तुभ्यं प्रभाकर नमोऽस्तु ते॥१॥
Salutations to the primordial radiant Lord; O maker of the day and source of light, be gracious.
सप्ताश्वरथमारूढं प्रचण्डं कश्यपात्मजम्। श्वेतपद्मधरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥२॥
I bow to Surya, powerful son of Kashyapa, riding a seven-horsed chariot and holding a white lotus.
लोहितं रथमारूढं सर्वलोकपितामहम्। महापापहरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥३॥
I bow to the red-hued rider, ancestor of the worlds and remover of grave wrongdoing.
त्रैगुण्यं च महाशूरं ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरम्। महापापहरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥४॥
I bow to the mighty Lord present through the three qualities and the powers of creation, preservation and transformation.
बृंहितं तेजसां पुञ्जं वायुराकाशमेव च। प्रभुं च सर्वलोकानां तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥५॥
I bow to the expanding mass of radiance, present as air and space and sovereign of all worlds.
बन्धूकपुष्पसङ्काशं हारकुण्डलभूषितम्। एकचक्रधरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥६॥
I bow to the one-charioted deity, red as the bandhuka flower and adorned with garland and earrings.
तं सूर्यं जगत्कर्तारं महातेजःप्रदीपनम्। महापापहरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥७॥
I bow to the creator and illuminator of the world, whose great light dispels darkness.
तं सूर्यं जगतां नाथं ज्ञानविज्ञानमोक्षदम्। महापापहरं देवं तं सूर्यं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥८॥
I bow to the Lord of the worlds, giver of knowledge, wisdom and liberation.
Meaning & context
The verses praise Surya as radiant, life-giving, universal and a source of knowledge.