Chapter 73 - Mode of worshipping the Sun (sūrya-pūjā or arcana)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. O Skanda! I shall describe the (mode of) worship of Sun [i.e., sūrya-pūjā or arcana] preceded by the assignment (of letters) on the body. After having contemplated as “I am the Sun [sūrya]”, one should worship by offering waters (arghya).

2-4. It (should be conceived) as filled with red colour with the drop (of water) drawn to the forehead. After having worshipped it and after making the protective covering with the limbs of the sun-god, that water should be sprinkled on the materials of worship and the sun-god should be worshipped (remaining) facing the east. (One should recite) the syllables oṃ aṃ (hṛdayāya etc. and worship Daṇḍi and Piṅgala (attendants of the sun) respectively at the right and left sides of the entrance. (Salutations should be made to the gaṇa saying) aṃ gaṇāya on the northeast. The preceptor (should be worshipped) in the south-east and the lofty seat (of the deity) should be worshipped in the middle of the altar.

5. One should worship vimala, sāra, parama and sukha, (the rays of the sun), which are to be worshipped in the directions south-east (and should be conceived as) strong as the lion and of the colours of white, red, yellow and blue.

6-8. One should worship (the essences of the energies of the lord) rā-diptā (radiant), ra-jayā (victorious), ru-bhadrā (auspicious), re-vibhūti (prosperity), rai-vimalā (pure), rai-amoghā (profound), rau-vidyut (lightning), in the (quarters) east etc. inside the lotus (shaped diagram). The seat of the sun would be at the centre (established by the syllable) raṃ. One should invoke the sun and worship his form with the six-syllabled (mantra) oṃ haṃ khakholkāya. One should assign the sun-god after having meditated upon the altar with the folded hands lifted to the forehead.

9. One should invoke the god (with the mantra) hrāṃ hrīṃ sa and salutations to the sun-god [sūrya], showing the mudrā. One should offer him perfume etc. and show the bimbamudrā^[1].

10. One should show the padmamudrā^[2] and the bilvamudrā^[3] (to the god) in all directions commencing with the southeast. Oṃ aṃ salutations to the heart. (Salutations) to sun on the head.

11. Bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ! Obeisance to the lord of celestials in the tuft of hair in the south-west, huṃ to the armour in the north-west, hāṃ to the eyes at the centre.

12. Va! (salutations) to the weapons in the east etc. Then one should show mudrās. Dhenumudrā (fingers folded in the shape of a cow) to the heart etc., The Goviṣāṇa mudrā^[4] should be shown to the eyes.

13-14. The trasanī (the dreadful) should be added to the mantra of the weapon and obeisance should be made to the planets (as follows)—soṃ salutations to the Moon, buṃ salutations to Mercury, bṛṃ to Jupiter, bhaṃ to Venus, aṃ to Mars, saṃ to Saturn, raṃ to Rāhu and keṃ to Ketu (to be done) in the petals (of the lotus) commencing with the east. The perfumes etc. (should be offered) with the khakholka mantra.

15. Having recited the principal mantra, water of oblation from the water-vessel should be offered to the sun-god. Then the worshipper should sing the glory of the lord, pay obeisance to him with his face turned away and say “Pardon me, (taking leave of thee)”.

16-17. One should mentally merge the five component principles in the fundamental one with the syllable phaṭ. The sun-god should be conceived as identical with lord Śiva in the lotus of the heart. One should offer light to the lord as a garland made of the solar rays. One gets everything by thus worshipping and contemplating the sun-god or by oblation unto fire in his honour.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Intertwining of fingers representing a form.

[2]:

Intertwining of fingers representing a lotus.

[3]:

Intertwining of fingers in a particular way.

[4]:

Formation of fingers representing the horn of a cow.