About this reading
Twelve names of Surya introduce the traditional imagery of light, nourishment and the movement of the sun.
This is a name invocation collection. The explanations below are concise reading aids, rather than a complete word-by-word translation. Recitation traditions can differ.
Original text and meaning
1. मित्राय
ॐ मित्राय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ mitrāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya revered as Mitra.
2. रवये
ॐ रवये नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ ravaye namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya revered as Ravi.
3. सूर्याय
ॐ सूर्याय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ sūryāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya, the sun deity.
4. भानवे
ॐ भानवे नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ bhānave namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya as the radiant Bhanu.
5. खगाय
ॐ खगाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ khagāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya who moves across the sky.
6. पूष्णे
ॐ पूष्णे नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ pūṣṇe namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya associated with nourishment as Pushan.
7. हिरण्यगर्भाय
ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ hiraṇyagarbhāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya invoked as Hiranyagarbha.
8. मरीचये
ॐ मरीचये नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ marīcaye namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya associated with rays of light.
9. सवित्रे
ॐ सवित्रे नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ savitre namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya invoked as the impelling Savitr.
10. अर्काय
ॐ अर्काय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ arkāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya revered as Arka.
11. आदित्याय
ॐ आदित्याय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ ādityāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya as Aditya.
12. भास्कराय
ॐ भास्कराय नमः ।
Roman reading: Oṃ bhāskarāya namaḥ .
Meaning: Salutations to Surya as Bhaskara, the giver of light.
Reading and repetition
- Read the text slowly and understand its meaning first. You may begin with one name or one prayer.
- Sit comfortably and repeat at a natural pace. Clear, attentive reading matters more than a count; no number is prescribed for every reader.
- Roman text is a reading aid. It does not encode Vedic pitch accents or replace instruction in your recitation tradition. Follow appropriate guidance for a formal ritual.
- The accompanying artwork is a symbolic devotional depiction. Use it to connect the name being read with its subject.
Text reference
Consult the Sanskrit text reference
The collection uses selected names and short traditional texts. The explanations and reading guidance above were written for this collection.
