THE TWENTY ONE NAMES OF SURYA

Subhashitham : 028

 Reciting the name of Sri Rama three times is considered equivalent to reciting the entire Vishnu Sahasra Nama. Similarly, there is a shortened version of Surya sahasranama, containing 21 names of Surya considered equivalent to the entire thousand names , recommended by Surya himself :

वैकर्तनो विवस्वांस्च मार्ताण्डो भास्करो रवि: I  लोकप्रकाशक: श्रीमान् त्रैलोक्य चक्षु: ग्रहेस्वर: II
लोकसाक्षी त्रिलोकेश: कर्ता हर्ता तमिस्रहा   तपनस्तापन: चैव शुचि: सप्तास्ववाहन: II
गभस्ति हस्तो ब्रह्माच सर्वदेव नमस्कृत: II  ( This sloka is even  considered suitable for Japa )
Vaikarthano Vivasvaamscha Maarthando Bhaskaro Ravi: II  Loka prakaasaka: Srimaan Thrailokya chakshu: Grahesvara:  II  Loka sakshi  Thri lokesa:  Kartha Hartha Thamisraha Tapana: Taapana: chaiva Suchi: Sapta asva vaahana:   II Gabhasti hasto Brahmaa cha Sarva deva namaskruta: II
The twenty one names and their meaning  are  given below : ( Please note there are many deeper inner meanings associated with these names , which are beyond the scope of this blog )
1. विकर्तन:-  ( vikartana: ) One who destroys obstacles or danger
2. विवस्वान्- ( vivasvaan ) one who is shining forth
3. मI र्ताण्ड: - (Marthanda: )  Lord of the mortal world
4. भास्कर: -  ( Bhaskara: )   Creator of Light or illumination
5. रवि:        -  (Ravi: )    one who is brightness
6. लोकप्रकाश:   -  ( Loka Prakaasa: )  one who brightens the whole world
7. श्रीमान्  -  ( Srimaan )  One who is blessed with all kinds of wealth
8. लोकचक्षु: -  ( Loka chakshu: ) One who gives vision to all beings in the world
9. ग्रहेश्वर: - ( Grahesvara: )  Lord of the nine planets
10. लोकसाक्षी -  ( Loka saakshi )  Witness of all happenings in the world
11. त्रिलोकेस्वर: -  (Thri Lokesvara: ) Lord of the three worlds
12. कर्ता  - (Kartha ) Benefactor of the world
13. हर्ता  -  (Hartha ) Eliminator of sins of people
14. तमिस्रहा – ( Thamisrahaa ) Destroyer of Darkness
15. तपन: - ( Thapana: ) Himself burning all the time
16. तापन:  - (Thaapana: ) Scorcher of others
17. शुचि: - (Suchi: )  one who is pure
18. सप्तास्ववाहन: - ( Saptha asva vaahana: )  One who has a vehicle driven by seven horses
19. गभस्ति हस्त: - (Gabhasti hastha: ) One whose hands are rays
20. ब्रह्मा -  (Brahmaa ) Creator
21. सर्व देव नमस्कृत – ( Sarva eva namaskruta: ) One who is praised byalldevatas

In the bhagavad Gita we have Sri Krishna mentioning that he is Vishnu amongst the twelve Adithyas:
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् |
ādityānām ahaṁ viṣhṇur jyotiṣhāṁ ravir anśhumān
BG 10.21: Amongst the twelve sons of Aditi I am Vishnu; amongst luminous objects I am the sun.
The sun is given twelve names according to its position in the twelve Zodiac signs throughout the year. The names are Dhatr,Aryaman,Mitra,Varuna,Indra,Vivasvat,Pusan,Parjanya,Amsa, Bhaga,Tvastr and Vishnu.

Sri Krishnaya thubyam nama: