Brahmā’s Stotra to Śiva for Sūrya

This is the stotra that Bhagavān Brahmā sang with all four of his faces to Bhagavān Śiva (Śaṅkara). He sang it in Brahmaloka to calm Bhagavān Śiva’s anger against Bhagavān Sūrya. It is found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 48, where Bhagavān Kṛshṇa tells it to Rādhādevī.

The setting

Two mighty daitya leaders, Māli and Sumāli, had received strong varas (boons) from Bhagavān Śaṅkara. They had grown very rich and proud. One evening Bhagavān Sūrya was finishing his day’s journey and moving towards the western horizon to set. Māli and Sumāli, drunk with their power, tried to stop night from falling. They used the tejas (radiance) of their own bodies to keep up the daylight.

Bhagavān Sūrya saw this and was enraged at their boldness. He took up his śūla (trident-spear) and struck both asuras. The blow felled Māli and Sumāli to the earth.

Bhagavān Śaṅkara had given these asuras their varas, and he was fond of them as a patron is of his devotees. He heard of the attack on them and was deeply angry. He took up his own śūla and went after Bhagavān Sūrya to destroy him. Bhagavān Sūrya knew that neither his own strength nor anyone else’s could stand against the anger of Bhagavān Śiva. He fled in terror to Brahmaloka and took refuge at the feet of Bhagavān Brahmā.

Bhagavān Śaṅkara followed with his śūla raised and reached Brahmaloka too. He is the ruler (śāsaka) even of Brahmā, and he is kāla (death) to Yama. Bhagavān Brahmā saw the angry Śiva arrive and steadied himself. He sang this stotra with all four of his faces. He appealed to Śiva through the deepest truths of Śiva’s own nature.

The stotra

Brahmā’s stotra praises Bhagavān Śaṅkara with the following names and appeals.

• Dakshayajña-dhvaṃsaka, Jagadguru. Brahmā first calls Śiva the destroyer of Daksha’s yajña and the Jagadguru, the teacher of the world.
• Śaraṇāgata-rakshaka. Brahmā says: “One who has taken refuge in you (śaraṇāgata) deserves your protection. This Sūrya came to me for shelter. By the śaraṇāgata-dharma (the rule of giving shelter) he deserves your grace.”
• Svayaṃ-nirmita Sūrya. This is Brahmā’s central appeal: “O Bhagavān Śiva, Sūrya himself was first made by you. He who stands before you in your anger is your own creation. Will you destroy what you yourself have made?”
• Alpa-prārthanā-santushṭa. Śiva is praised as the great mahānubhāva (noble one) who is quickly pleased by even small prayers and the least worship. Brahmā says: “You are dīna-vatsala, fond of the helpless, and dayā-sāgara, the ocean of compassion.”
• Kāla-rakshaka. He is the protector of time (kāla) in its form of day and night. Brahmā says: “Protect time in its form of night and day (rātra-diva-rūpa kāla). It has now been upset by the pride of these asuras. You yourself are that kāla.”
• Sarvāntaryāmī. He is the one who pervades all things (sarvāntaryāmī), Bhagavān Śiva, who makes, keeps and ends creation (sṛshṭi-sthiti-laya).
• The great paradox. Brahmā says to Śiva: “You yourself made Sūrya. Now you yourself wish to destroy him. In one way you are Brahmā, the creator. In another you are Śesha, the one who holds up all. You are Dharma, Indra and Candra. All these devas tremble before you.”
• Tapas-phala-dāta. The ṛshis and munis who are rich in tapas (austerity) serve Śiva alone. He gives the fruit of tapas (phala-dāta). He is tapas itself, and he is also the fruit of tapas.

Sūrya offered to Śiva

When the stotra was finished, Brahmā brought Bhagavān Sūrya before Bhagavān Śaṅkara. He offered Sūrya to Śiva with his own hands. He placed Sūrya in Śiva’s hands as one who had come for refuge (śaraṇāgata), whom Brahmā himself was commending to Śiva’s care.

Śaṅkara’s anger melted away. His face grew prasanna (calm and kind). He gave Sūrya his āśīrvāda (blessing), because Śiva is bhakta-vatsala (fond of those who give themselves to him in devotion). He bowed to Brahmā, as they honoured each other. Then he went back to Kailāśa. He was satisfied, like one who has been rightly won over. Bhagavān Sūrya had been respectfully given back his place in the order of the world.

The phalaśruti

A person who recites this stotra of Brahmā to Śiva with devotion in a time of danger (āpat-kāle) is freed at once from the following dangers.

• Bhīti (terror). Freedom from whatever fear afflicts the person.
• Bandhana (imprisonment). Release from captivity or bondage.
• Rāja-dvāra (the royal court). Protection in law cases, disputes with the king, or danger from the government.
• Śmaśāna (the cremation ground). Protection in unlucky, dangerous or spiritually perilous places.
• Mahāgni (great fire). Protection when the devotee is threatened by fire.
• Samudra (the sea). Protection when a ship is sinking or a sea voyage is perilous. Even one moment of reciting brings rescue.
• Yuddha (battle). Protection in war.
• Saṃśaya (danger from the above). In any of these cases, merely remembering this stotra brings quick release (vimukti) from the danger. There is no doubt of this.

Sources

• Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 48