Ayushya Suktam: Divine Chants for a Long, Healthy Life

यो ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मण उज्जहार प्राणैः शिरः कृत्तिवासाः पिनाकी । ईशानो देवः स न आयुर्दधातु तस्मै जुहोमि हविषा घृतेन ॥ १ ॥

विभ्राजमानः सरिरस्य मध्या-द्रोचमानो घर्मरुचिर्य आगात् । स मृत्युपाशानपनुद्य घोरानिहायुषेणो घृतमत्तु देवः ॥ २ ॥

ब्रह्मज्योति-र्ब्रह्म-पत्नीषु गर्भं यमादधात् पुरुरूपं जयन्तम् । सुवर्णरम्भग्रह-मर्कमर्च्यं तमायुषे वर्धयामो घृतेन ॥ ३ ॥

श्रियं लक्ष्मी-मौबला-मम्बिकां गां षष्ठीं च यामिन्द्रसेनेत्युदाहुः । तां विद्यां ब्रह्मयोनिग्ं सरूपामिहायुषे तर्पयामो घृतेन ॥ ४ ॥

दाक्षायण्यः सर्वयोन्यः स योन्यः सहस्रशो विश्वरूपा विरूपाः । ससूनवः सपतयः सयूथ्या आयुषेणो घृतमिदं जुषन्ताम् ॥ ५ ॥

दिव्या गणा बहुरूपाः पुराणा आयुश्छिदो नः प्रमथ्नन्तु वीरान् । तेभ्यो जुहोमि बहुधा घृतेन मा नः प्रजाग्ं रीरिषो मोत वीरान् ॥ ६ ॥

एकः पुरस्तात् य इदं बभूव यतो बभूव भुवनस्य गोपाः । यमप्येति भुवनग्ं साम्पराये स नो हविर्घृत-मिहायुषेत्तु देवः ॥ ७ ॥

वसून् रुद्रा-नादित्यान् मरुतोऽथ साध्यान् ऋभून् यक्षान् गन्धर्वाग्श्च पितॄग्श्च विश्वान् । भृगून् सर्पाग्श्चाङ्गिरसोऽथ सर्वान् घृतग्ं हुत्वा स्वायुष्या महयाम शश्वत् ॥ ८ ॥

yo brahmaa brahmana ujjahaara praanaih' shirah' kri'ttivaasaah' pinaakee . eeshaano devah' sa na aayurdadhaatu tasmai juhomi havishaa ghri'tena .. 1 ..

vibhraajamaanah' sarirasya madhyaa-drochamaano gharmaruchirya aagaat . sa mri'tyupaashaanapanudya ghoraanihaayusheno ghri'tamattu devah' .. 2 ..

brahmajyoti-rbrahma-patneeshu garbham yamaadadhaat pururoopam jayantam . suvarnarambhagraha-markamarchyam tamaayushe vardhayaamo ghri'tena .. 3 ..

shriyam lakshmee-maubalaa-mambikaam gaam shasht'heem cha yaamindrasenetyudaahuh' . taam vidyaam brahmayonigm saroopaamihaayushe tarpayaamo ghri'tena .. 4 ..

daakshaayanyah' sarvayonyah' sa yonyah' sahasrasho vishvaroopaa viroopaah' . sasoonavah' sapatayah' sayoothyaa aayusheno ghri'tamidam jushantaam .. 5 ..

divyaa ganaa bahuroopaah' puraanaa aayushchhido nah' pramathnantu veeraan . tebhyo juhomi bahudhaa ghri'tena maa nah' prajaagm reerisho mota veeraan .. 6 ..

ekah' purastaat ya idam babhoova yato babhoova bhuvanasya gopaah' . yamapyeti bhuvanagm saamparaaye sa no havirghri'ta-mihaayushettu devah' .. 7 ..

vasoon rudraa-naadityaan marutotha saadhyaan ri'bhoon yakshaan gandharvaagshcha pitree'gshcha vishvaan . bhri'goon sarpaagshchaangirasotha sarvaan ghri'tagm hutvaa svaayushyaa mahayaama shashvat .. 8 ..

Verse 1

He who is Brahma,
who revealed the knowledge of Brahman,
who is Pinaki (Shiva, holding the bow),
who cut off the head (symbol of ego and ignorance),

May that Ishana Deva grant us long life.
To Him, I offer oblation with ghee.

Verse 2

The radiant one who shines in the middle of the body,
who glows like inner heat and energy,

May that divine force remove the terrible nooses of death.
May that Deva accept this ghee offering and grant us life.

Verse 3

The divine light of Brahman,
which enters the wombs of the divine mothers,
taking many forms and being born again and again,

That radiant, golden, worship-worthy force
we nourish and strengthen for long life through this offering.

Verse 4

We invoke Shri (prosperity), Lakshmi (wealth),
Ambika (motherly power),
Gau (nourishment),
Shashthi (protector of children), also called Indrasena,

That divine knowledge-born feminine power
we satisfy through this ghee offering for long life.

Verse 5

The daughters of Daksha,
who are the sources of all creation,
who exist in countless forms, beautiful and varied,

Along with their children, companions, and groups,
may they all accept this offering and bless us with long life.

Verse 6

The divine beings of many forms, ancient and powerful,
who have the ability to cut short life,

May they not harm our people or our strength.
To them, I offer ghee in many ways.
Let our lineage and vitality remain protected.

Verse 7

That One who existed first,
from whom the protectors of the world emerged,

Whom every being ultimately reaches after death,
may that Deva accept this offering
and grant us long life here.

Verse 8

We invoke all divine groups—
Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Maruts, Sadhyas,
Ribhus, Yakshas, Gandharvas, and Pitrs,

Also Bhrigus, serpents, Angiras, and all beings,

By offering ghee to all of them,
we continuously strengthen and expand our life.

This is a complete system.

It covers:
– Shiva (control over death)
– Inner life force (prana)
– Creation cycle (birth and rebirth)
– Divine feminine forces (nourishment and protection)
– Ancestral and cosmic beings (lineage and unseen influences)

Life is not maintained by one factor.
It is sustained by alignment with the entire system.

When all forces are respected, nourished, and aligned,
life becomes stable, protected, and extended.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi