Surya Puja | puja.today

Surya Puja holds great significance in Hinduism, as it symbolizes the worship of the primary source of light and life. The Sun is considered the sustainer of all beings on Earth, and worshiping it is believed to strengthen one's connection to this vital force. The puja is a way to express gratitude to Surya Dev for sustaining life, ensuring good health, and bestowing vitality. It is also seen as a way to harmonize with the natural world, as the Sun is the central figure in many cosmic and astrological phenomena. By honoring the Sun, devotees align themselves with cosmic order, seeking balance and well-being in their lives.

Enhances Physical Health: Regular practice of Surya Puja is believed to improve overall health, particularly by boosting immunity, promoting vitality, and enhancing digestive and cardiovascular functions.
Promotes Mental Clarity: Worshiping the Sun God can lead to greater mental clarity, focus, and concentration, as it is said to stimulate the mind and improve cognitive abilities.
Spiritual Growth: Surya Puja helps in the purification of the mind and soul, fostering spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the self.
Attracts Prosperity: Performing Surya Puja is believed to attract wealth, success, and abundance in one's life by invoking the blessings of Surya Dev.
Improves Relationships: The puja is thought to bring harmony and understanding in personal relationships, as it fosters positivity and goodwill.
Removes Obstacles: Worshiping the Sun God can help remove obstacles in life, ensuring a smoother path toward achieving goals and aspirations.
Balances Doshas: In Ayurvedic traditions, Surya Puja is said to balance the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), promoting overall well-being and harmony in the body.
Astrological Benefits: Surya Puja is particularly beneficial for those with weak or afflicted Sun in their astrological charts, helping to mitigate negative effects and enhance favorable outcomes.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Perform Surya Puja

Performing Surya Puja is a sacred ritual that should be done with devotion and a pure heart. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you perform this puja effectively:

1. Preparation

Cleanse Yourself: Begin by taking a bath early in the morning, preferably before sunrise, to purify your body and mind.
Wear Clean Clothes: Dress in clean, preferably white or light-colored clothing, which symbolizes purity.
Find a Suitable Place: Choose a location where you can see the rising Sun, preferably facing east. It could be on your terrace, in your garden, or near a window that faces the east.
Gather Necessary Items: You will need a copper vessel (Kalash) filled with clean water, red vermilion (Kumkum), rice grains (Akshata), flowers (preferably red or yellow), a small amount of jaggery or sugar, and a red cloth. You may also use a Surya Yantra if available.

2. Offer Arghya to the Sun

Fill the Kalash: Fill the copper vessel with clean water. You may add a few grains of rice, flowers, and a small amount of jaggery to the water.
Stand Facing East: Stand facing the Sun with your hands holding the Kalash.
Chant the Surya Mantra: Recite the Surya Mantra, such as "Om Suryaya Namah" or the Gayatri Mantra, while slowly pouring the water from the Kalash, letting it flow from your hands toward the Sun. This offering is known as Arghya.
Repeat the Arghya: Offer Arghya three times to the rising Sun while chanting the mantra.

3. Perform the Puja

Light a Diya (Lamp): Light an oil or ghee lamp in front of the Sun. Place it on a small altar or a clean surface facing the east.
Apply Tilak: Apply a Tilak of red vermilion (Kumkum) on your forehead, symbolizing the Sun's energy.
Offer Flowers: Offer fresh flowers to the Sun God by gently placing them in front of the lamp or altar.
Offer Prasad: Place a small amount of jaggery or sugar on a clean leaf or plate as an offering to Surya Dev.
Chant Mantras: Recite Surya Mantras or the Aditya Hridayam, a powerful hymn dedicated to Lord Surya, to invoke his blessings.
Circumambulation (Pradakshina): If possible, perform three circumambulations (Pradakshina) around the altar or the place where you offered Arghya, keeping the Sun to your right side.

4. Conclude the Puja

Pray for Blessings: Fold your hands in prayer, seeking the blessings of Surya Dev for health, prosperity, and well-being.
Distribute Prasad: After the puja, share the Prasad (jaggery or sugar) with your family members or consume it yourself as a token of divine blessing.
Express Gratitude: Conclude the puja by expressing gratitude to the Sun God for his life-sustaining energy and divine grace.

5. Daily Practice (Optional)

Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation): Incorporate the practice of Surya Namaskar, a sequence of yoga postures, into your daily routine. This is often done after the puja as it enhances the benefits of the ritual by harmonizing the body and mind with the Sun's energy.
Regular Offerings: You may continue to offer Arghya to the Sun every morning, even if you don’t perform the full puja daily. This practice alone is highly beneficial and spiritually uplifting.

By following these steps with devotion and sincerity, you can perform Surya Puja effectively, inviting the blessings of Surya Dev into your life.

Here is a powerful Surya Mantra (Sun Mantra) that is commonly chanted for invoking the blessings of Surya, the Sun God, for health, vitality, and success:

Om Suryaya Namaha
(ॐ सूर्याय नमः)
Meaning: "Salutations to the Sun."

For more depth and potency, you can chant the longer version of the Surya mantra:

Om Hrim Hrim Suryaya Namaha
(ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं सूर्याय नमः)
Meaning: "Salutations to the Sun, who is the essence of life and energy."

Another popular and more elaborate mantra dedicated to Surya is:

Om Ghrini Suryaya Namaha
(ॐ घृणिः सूर्याय नमः)
Meaning: "Salutations to the shining Sun."

Chanting these mantras during sunrise or facing the east is considered especially auspicious and is believed to bring health, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment.