12 Names of Surya
The twelve names of Surya, the Sun, said with Surya Namaskar: each a short mantra of Om, one of his names, and Namah, I bow, from Om Mitraya Namah to Om Bhaskaraya Namah. In English letters and Devanagari, with what each name means.
Each name shows another side of the Sun: the friend of all, the one who moves through the sky, the nourisher, the golden womb, the son of Aditi, the maker of light. Chant every name with Om before it and Namah after it. Reciting from memory? Hide the meaning.
The twelve names, Mitra to Bhaskara
- Name 1
ॐ मित्राय नमः ।
Om Mitraya Namah
To Mitra, the friend of all.
सबके मित्र, मित्र को नमन।
- Name 2
ॐ रवये नमः ।
Om Ravaye Namah
To Ravi, the radiant one, whose name Sunday, Ravivar, carries. Some read it from a root meaning to sound.
तेजस्वी रवि को नमन, जिनके नाम पर रविवार है।
- Name 3
ॐ सूर्याय नमः ।
Om Suryaya Namah
To Surya, who sets all things moving.
सबको गति देने वाले सूर्य को नमन।
- Name 4
ॐ भानवे नमः ।
Om Bhanave Namah
To Bhanu, the shining one, who spreads light.
प्रकाश फैलाने वाले, चमकते भानु को नमन।
- Name 5
ॐ खगाय नमः ।
Om Khagaya Namah
To Khaga, who moves through the sky.
आकाश में चलने वाले खग को नमन।
- Name 6
ॐ पूष्णे नमः ।
Om Pushne Namah
To Pushan, who nourishes all.
सबका पोषण करने वाले पूषा को नमन।
- Name 7
ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः ।
Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah
To Hiranyagarbha, the golden womb from which all things come.
स्वर्णिम गर्भ हिरण्यगर्भ को नमन, जिससे सब कुछ उत्पन्न होता है।
- Name 8
ॐ मरीचये नमः ।
Om Marichaye Namah
To Marichi, the ray of light.
प्रकाश की किरण, मरीचि को नमन।
- Name 9
ॐ आदित्याय नमः ।
Om Adityaya Namah
To Aditya, the son of Aditi.
अदिति के पुत्र आदित्य को नमन।
- Name 10
ॐ सवित्रे नमः ।
Om Savitre Namah
To Savitr, who brings all things forth.
सबको उत्पन्न करने वाले सविता को नमन।
- Name 11
ॐ अर्काय नमः ।
Om Arkaya Namah
To Arka, who is worthy of worship, the shining ray.
पूजा के योग्य, चमकती किरण अर्क को नमन।
- Name 12
ॐ भास्कराय नमः ।
Om Bhaskaraya Namah
To Bhaskara, the maker of light.
प्रकाश करने वाले भास्कर को नमन।
How to recite it
- When · At sunrise, facing east, after the arghya, the water poured to the rising Sun, and with Surya Namaskar, in which the twelve names are said in turn.
- How · Say each name slowly, aloud or softly: Om, the name, then Namah, I bow.
- How many times · Once through all twelve is one round.