Surya
Mitra — the friend (Surya name 1 of 12)
ॐ मित्राय नमः
Oṁ Mitrāya Namaḥ
Simple reading: Om mit-raa-ya na-mah
About this mantra
Mitra — 'the friend' — opens the twelve names: before the sun is power or splendour, it is the one companion that has never missed a morning. In the Vedas, Mitra is the god of friendship and kept promises, witness of pacts; greeting the dawn by this name greets the day as an ally.
Meaning
Om, salutations to Mitra — the friend of all. The first light is honoured as friendship itself: the sun shines on every being unasked, and asks nothing back. Bowing to Mitra, the reciter begins the practice by promising the day that same steady goodwill.
When to recite it
One of the twelve names of the Surya Namaskar cycle — recited one per posture at sunrise, or counted together as a Sunday (Ravivar) jaap. Begin with Mitra when the day involves other people — new partnerships, the mending of a friendship, meeting someone difficult with goodwill.
Word by word
- ॐoṁ
- the primordial sound
- मित्रायmitrāya
- the friend of all beings
- नमःnamaḥ
- I bow, salutations
Source: Sūrya Namaskāra mantra sequence (traditional twelve names of Sūrya)