The Names of Sun God - A Hymn From Mahabharata: Suryashtottara Shatanama Stotra Transliteration, Translation and Commentary

This hymn is from the Vana parva of Mahabharata. It was initiated to Yudhistira. (also known as Dharmaputra) by his guru Dhaumya. This is one of the important Hymns praising the son god. This hymn is a collection of important names praising the qualities of the sun god and is called Surya Ashtottara shatanaama Stotra. The hymn comprises of hundred and sixteen names. When one chants this hymn with devotion in the mornings regularly is blessed with the grace of sun god. Chanting this hymn and worshiping Surya Naarayana through it with true devotion increases health, wealth, wisdom and prosperity. In this hymn sun god is praised as the absolute god Brahman who is every god, everyone and everything and so lord Surya is referred to by the names of other gods like Indra, Vayu, Varuna etc he is seen as time, the five elements, the creator, the protector and destroyer, the primary cause of existence of the worlds. Surya Narayana is praised by different names like Aditya, Bhaskara, , Divaakara, Surya, Savita, Ravi etc. The meanings of every name is explained based on the commentaries of Adi Shankara Bhagavathpada, Sayanacharya and Sage Vedavyasa (Shlokas from the puranas)