Dear Sri Lakshmanan Swamin: The following is from Paragraph 53 of "Yuddha KhaaNDam" from my forthcoming book - "Pearls of wisdom from Srimad Ramayanam" =================================================================================================== "53. AADITYA HRIDAYAM Agastya saw Rama steeped in the thought as to how he could defeat Ravana. He initiated Rama in “Aaditya Hridayam”, a prayer to the ancestor of “Surya-kula”, Surya (Sun God) (Sargam 107) IMPORTANT NOTE: In some Ramayana kOsams, this Sargam does not appear nor has been commented upon by some commentators like uTaari, probably because this runs repugnant to the Paratvam of Narayana, who is the Lord of Surya himself. uTaari has a count of only 130 Sargams while with this Sargam, it would work out to 131 Sargams" =================================================================================================== Then, why did Rama recite it? The answer is that Rama belonged to "Surya Vamsam". The Sun god being an ancestor of his, paying obeisance to his ancestor was incumbent on him especially because Rama (though he was Bhagavaan himself) had taken a human form (aatmaanam Maanusham manyE) and a Kshatriya is required to pay obeisance to such dEvatas. In fact, we find him offering prayers to Kula deivam and Vana dEvatas while exiting in exile. It should, however, be remembered that he did not do "Vandanam" seeking "mOKsham" and he had no need to do so, as he himself was the ONE and ONLY "mOkshapradan" But, there is an alternate view why it can be recited by others for the following reasons: 1. Even those precluded from reciting the Vedas are recommended to read / recite Itihaasas and PuraaNas. "Srimad RamayaNam" is an Itihaasa and therefore, Aaditya Hridayam which forms part of it can be recited by such folk also. This is akin to ladies reciting "Sri VishNu Sahasranaamam" which forms part of another "itihaasa" and the "Phala Sruthi" specifically mentions the fruits of recitation accruing to all including Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and even Sudras" 2. Aaditya is a demigod whose antharyaami (indweller) is Sriman Narayana and the prayer if offered only with this view (NOT for seeking mOKsham, it seems to have been permitted. The only things that a Prapanna should scrupulously guard against are - 1. Doing Vandanam to Devataantaras in the belief that they can grant “mOKsham" and 2. Bhaagavata Apachaaram (which includes Achaarya Apachaaram which in the words of Bhagavad Ramanuja is an "Asahya Apachaarm" (intolerable offence) Therefore, those who have done "Prapatti" and strictly follow the injunctions connected therewith do not recite "Aadtiya Hridayam". Hope this clarifies. Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy =====================================================================================
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