73 - Mode of worshipping the Sun

 The Lord said: 

1. O Skanda! Ishall describe the (mode of) worship of Sun preceded by the assignment (of letters) on the body. After having contemplated as "I am the Sun”, oneshould worship by offering waters (arghya). 

2-4. It (should be conceived) as filled with red colour with the drop (of water) drawn to the forehead. After having worshipped it and after making the protective covering with the limbs of the sun-god, that watershould be sprinkled on the materials of worship and the sun-godshould be worshipped (remaining) facing the east. (Oneshould recite) the syllables om am (hrudayaya etc. and worship Dandi and Pingala (attendants of the sun) respectively at the right and left sides of the entrance. (Salutationsshould be made to the gana saying) am ganāya on the north-east. The preceptor (should be worshipped) in the south-east and the lofty seat (of the deity)should be worshipped in the middle of the altar. 

5. Oneshould worship vimala, sära, parama and sukha, (the rays of the sun), which are to be worshipped in the directions south-east (andshould be conceived as) strong as the lion and of the colours of white, red, yellow and blue. 

. 6-8. Oneshould worship (the essences of the energies of the lord) rä-dipta (radiant), ra-jayā (victorious), ru-bhadrā (auspicious), re-vibhūti (prosperity), rai-vimala (pure), rai-amogha (profound), rau-vidyut (lightning), in the (quarters) east etc. inside the lotus (shaped diagram). The seat of the sun would be at the centre (established by the syllable) ram. Oneshould invoke the sun and worship his form with the six-syllabled (mantra) oṁ ham khakholkāya. Oneshould assign the sun-god after having meditated upon the altar with the folded hands lifted to the forehead. 

9. Oneshould invoke the god (with the mantra) hrām hrimsa and salutations to the sun-god,showing the mudrd. Oneshould offer him perfume etc. andshow the bimbamudra¹. 

1. Intertwining of fingers representing a form.

10. Oneshouldshow the padmamudra² and the bilvamudra³ (to the god) in all directions commencing with the southeast. Om am salutations to the heart. (Salutations) to sun on the head. 

2. Intertwining of fingers representing a lotus.

         3. Intertwining of fingers in a particular way.

11. Bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ! Obeisance to the lord of celestials in the tuft of hair in the south-west, hum to the armour in the north-west, håm to the eyes at the centre. 

12. Va! (salutations) to the weapons in the east etc. Then oneshouldshow mudrās. Dhenumudrā (fingers folded in theshape of a cow) to the heart etc. The Govishāņa mudrā⁴should beshown to the eyes. 

4. Formation of fingers representing the horn of a cow! 

13-14. The trasani (the dreadful)should be added to the mantra of the weapon and obeisanceshould be made to the planets (as follows) -som salutations to the Moon, bum salutations to Mercury, brum to Jupiter, bham to Venus, am to Mars, sam to Saturn, ram to Råhu and kem to Ketu(to be done) in the petals (of the lotus) commencing with the east. The perfumes etc. (should be offered) with the khakholka mantra. 

15. Having recited the principal mantra, water of oblation from the water-vesselshould be offered to the sun-god. Then the worshippershould sing the glory of the lord, pay obeisance to him with his face turned away and say "Pardon me, (taking leave of thee)". 

16-17. Oneshould mentally merge the five component principles in the fundamental one with the syllable phat. The sun-godshould be conceived as identical with lord Siva in the lotus of the heart. Oneshould offer light to the lord as a garland made of the solar rays. One gets everything by thus worshipping and contemplating the sun-god or by oblation unto fire in his honour.