Seventy names of the Sun God

[Note: The seventy names of the Sun god are to be Repeated and Arghya offered; The commentary gives interpretations of each name. See previous chapter for context.]

77. (1) Haṃsa (the pure Sattva), (2) Bhānu (the refulgent), (3) Sahasrāṃśu (thousand-rayed), (4) Tapana (blazing), (5) Tāpana (scorching), (6) Ravi (protector of the worlds), (7) Vikartana (whetted for more brilliance), (8) Vivasvān (having special refulgence), (9) Viśvakarman (of universal activity), (10) Vibhāvasu (of fiery nature),

78. (11) Viśvarūpa (of universal form), (12) Viśvakartā (the procreator of the universe), (13) Mārtaṇḍa (present in the insentient Cosmic Egg in the form of Vairāja), (14) Mihira (destroyer of mist), (15) Aṃśumān (having rays), (16) Āditya (Aditi’s son), (19) Aryamān (Triad of Vedas personified), (20) Bradhna (making the universe flourish), (21) Divākara (maker of the day),

79. (22) Dvādaśātmā (having twelve forms), (23) Saptahaya (seven-horsed), (24) Bhāskara (creator of brilliance), (25) Ahaskara (usherer of the day), (26) Khaga (going forth in the firmament), (27) Sūra (one that gives birth to the universe), (28) Prabhākara (illuminator), (29) Śrīmān Lokacakṣuḥ (the glorious one brightening the worlds, the eye of the worlds), (30) Graheśvara (Lord of the Planets),

80. (31) Trilokeśa (the controller of the three worlds), (32) Lokasākṣī (the immanent soul of the world), (33) Tamori (enemy of darkness), (34) Śāśvata (the eternal one), (35) Śuci (sacred), (36) Gabhastihasta (having rays for hands), (37) Tīvrāṃśu (hot-rayed), (38) Taraṇi (redeemer of devotees like a raft across the ocean), (39) Sumahaḥ (of splendid brilliance), (40) Araṇi (the place of maifestation of everything),

81. (41) Dyumaṇi (jewel of the firmament), (42) Haridaśva (green-horsed), (43) Arka (of swift movement, worthy of respect), (44) Bhānumān (possessor of rays), (45) Bhayanāśana (destroyer of fear), (46) Chandośva (having the Metres of the Vedas for horses), (47) Vedavedya (to be realized through the Vedas), (48) Bhāsvān (luminous), (49) Pūṣan (one who nourishes), (50) Vṛṣākapi (showering merit and shaking off sin),

82. (51) Ekacakraratha (having a single-wheeled chariot), (52) Mitra (friendly), (53) Mandehāri (enemy of the demons Mandehas), (54) Tamisrahā (destroyer of pitch darkness), (55) Daityahā (slayer of demons), (56) Pāpahartā (remover of sins), (57) Dharma (sustained, righteousness personified), (58) Dharmaprakāśaka (illuminator of piety),

83. (59) Helika (moving about in the firmament), (60) Citrabhānu (having variegated rays), (61) Kalighna (destroyer of kali, strife), (62) Tārkṣyavāhana (having Tṛkṣa’s i.e., Kaśyapa’s son i.e., Anūru as charioteer), (63) Dikpati (lord of the quarters), (64) Padmininātha (lord of the lotus pond), (65) Kuśeśayakara (having a lotus in the hand), (66) Hari (remover of darkness and sin),

84-89. (67) Gharmaraśmi (hot-rayed), (68) Durnirīkṣya (very painful to look at), (69) Caṇḍāṃśu (hot-rayed), (70) Kaśyapātmaja (son of Kaśyapa).

These seventy names of the Sun-god are meritorious. They are to be used in the dative case with Om in the beginning and namaḥ (obeisance) added afterwards. (For example ‘om mitrāya namaḥ’). Looking every time at the Sun directly, these names should be uttered holding a copper vessel (free from impurities with both the hands). (The vessel is to be filled with water.) The devotee kneels on the ground and fills the waterpot with Karavīra and other flowers mixed with red sandal-paste. Dūrvā grass and raw rice grains should be put into the waterpot. Meditating on him, the devotee offers Arghya to the most esteemed Savitṛ (Sun) god taking the pot up to the head. The eyes and the mind should not be directed elsewhere.

These seventy names are on a par with great esoteric Mantras. At the end of each name, Mantra, the devotee should bow to the Sun-god. This has to be done both at sunrise and at sunset.

90. Performing the holy rite thus, no man shall ever be poor or miserable. He will be rid of all terrible ailments and (even sins) though acquired in the course of many births.

91. Without medicines, without doctors, without following strict regimen (he will be cured). When he dies in due course, he is honoured in the world of the Sun-god.