Äyuṣya-Sūktam is a prayer to the Lord to bless us with long life.

After all, whatever a person desires to

achieve can be achieved only in this human life. The incarnation of animals and devatās are only bhoga-
śarīra and not karma-śarīra. The possibility of complete longevity by puruṣārtha - self-effort, the full term
of life is achieved by specific prayer such as Äyuṣya-Sūktam.
The Sūktam has nine mantras praying for long life. The prayer is addressed to various deities such as
Brahmā, Śiva, the Sun, and all the celestials who are guardians of the universe.
Äyuḥ = all facets of mental and physical health and nourishment, and thus is the purpose of this Sūktam.
Äyuṣyam = Promoting long healthy prayerful Dhārmic life in every auspicious way. This is the motive and
spirit in which you can listen to or chant this mantra.
All mantras/sūktam cannot be used for homam (fire-ritual). Thankfully, Äyuṣya-Sūktam can be/is used in
performing ‘Äyuṣya-homam’. It is/can be performed on one’s nakṣatra-birthday. The whole ritual could be –
Gaṇapati-Pūjā/homam, Navagraha-homam, Mahā-mṛtyuñjaya-homam, Bhāgya-sūktam, and Äyuṣya-
homam’. If four Ṛtviks (Priests) are performing, each may offer 27 oblations to make a total of 108 oblations
for ‘Äyuṣya-homam’.
In the absence of fire-ritual, simple chanting can be done.
***

AiÉÆà §æºÁä §æºÀät †GdÓºÁgÀ ¥ÁæuÉʲêgÀB PÀÈwÛªÁ‡¸ÁB ¦…£ÁQà |

F±Á£ÉÆà zÉêÀ¸Àì £À D†AiÀÄÄzÀðzsÁvÀÄ vÀ¸ÉäöÊ dĺÉÆÃ«Ä ºÀ«†µÁ WÀÈ…vÉãÀ | (1)
Brahmā (the Creator) was born from the breath (prāṇa) of Brahman. Pinākī (Śiva) attired in elephant skin,
and wielding His Pināka (weapon) arose out of His head. I pray to Brahmā, Pinākī (Śiva), and Viṣṇu (Iśāna)
for long life by offering ghee as oblation.

«¨sÁædªÀiÁ£À¸Àìj†gÀ¸Àå ªÀÄzsÁåzÉÆæÃZÀªÀiÁ£ÉÆà WÀªÀÄðgÀĆaAiÀÄð DUÁvï |

¸À ªÀÄÈvÀÄå¥Á±Á£À¥À£ÀÄzÀå WÉÆÃgÁ¤ºÁAiÀÄĵÉÃuÉÆà WÀÈvÀ†ªÀÄvÀÄÛ …zÉêÀB || (2)
Agni, who is fiery bright, and who provides warmth (to sustain life), arose from the effulgent chest of
Brahman. May Agni release us from the dreadful noose of death (cycle of birth and death). I offer my
oblation of ghee.

§æºÀäeÉÆåÃw§æðºÀä¥À†wßõÀÄ UÀ¨sÀðA AiÀĪÀiÁzÀzsÁvÀÄàgÀÄgÀƆ¥ÀA d…AiÀÄ£ÀÛªÀiï |

¸ÀĪÀ£ÀðgÀA¨sÀUÀæºÀªÀÄPÀðªÀÄZÀðA vÀªÀiÁAiÀÄĵÉà ªÀzsÀðAiÀiÁ†ªÉÆà WÀÈ…vÉãÀ || (3)
The radiance of Brahman gave birth to the victorious golden-orbed Sun. May Sun grant us long life. I offer
my oblation of ghee to Him.

²æAiÀÄA ®Të÷äêÀiË¥À¯Á†ªÀÄ«ÄâPÁA UÁA µÀ¶×ÃA ZÀ AiÀiÁ«Ä£ÀÝç ¸ÉÇ£ÉÃvÀÄåzÁºÀÄB |

vÁA «zÁåA §æºÀäAiÉÆä†UïA ¸ÀÄgÀÆ…¥Á«ÄºÁAiÀÄĵÉà vÀ¥ÀðAiÀiÁ†ªÉÆà WÀÈ…vÉãÀ || (4)
I offer ghee as oblation to Goddess Lakṣmī, as the embodiment of treasure of knowledge, whose source is
Brahman, and who is addressed by six names - Śrī, Lakṣmī, Aubalā, Aṃbikā, Gām, and Indrasenā. May She
grant us long life.
zÁSÁëAiÀÄtå¸ÀìªÀðAiÉÆÆ£Àå¸ÀÄìAiÉÆãÀå¸ÀìºÀ¸Àæ±ÉÆà «±ÀégÀƆ¥Á «…gÀÆ¥ÁB |
¸À¸ÀÆ£ÀªÀ¸Àì¥ÀvÀ†AiÀĸÀìAiÀÄÆxÁå EºÁAiÀÄĵÉÃuÉÆà WÀÈvÀ«Ä†zÀA dÄ…µÀ£ÁÛªÀiï || (5)
I offer ghee as oblation to Dākṣāyaṇī, the Universal Mother (Daughter of Dakṣa), and all the gods and
celestials who are her descendants. May they grant us a long life.

¢ªÁåUÀuÁ §ºÀÄgÀƇ¥ÁB ¥ÀÄgÁuÁ DAiÀÄÄaÒzÉÆà £ÀB ¥ÀæªÀĆxÀߣÀÄÛ …«ÃgÁ£ï |

vÉèsÉÆåà dĺÉÆÃ«Ä §ºÀĆzsÁ WÀÈvÉãÀ ªÀiÁ £ÀB …¥ÀæeÁUïA jÃjµÉÆà †ªÉÆÃvÀ …«ÃgÁ£ï || (6)
I offer ghee as oblation to the divine Gaṇas and their various forms (bahurūpā), so that they remove all
obstacles, which come in the way of our long life. May those divine Gaṇas protect our valiant children.

KPÀB ¥ÀÄgÀ¸ÁÛzÀå E†zÀA §¨sÀƪÀ AiÀÄvÉÆà §¨sÀƪÀŨsÀÄðªÀ£À†¸Àå …UÉÆÃ¥ÁB |

AiÀĪÀÄ¥ÉåÃw ¨sÀĪÀ£ÀUïA ‡¸ÁA¥ÀgÁ…AiÉÄà ¸À £ÉÆà ºÀ«WÀÈðvÀ«ÄºÁAiÀÄćµÉÄvÀÄÛ …zÉêÀB || (7)

ªÀ¸ÀÆ£ÀÄæzÁ憣Á¢vÁå£ÀägÀĆvÉÆÄxÀ ¸ÁzsÁå£ÀȨsÀÆ£ÀåSÁë£ÀΣÀÞªÁðUï±ÀÑ ¦vÀñ†Uï±ÀÑ …«±Áé£ï |

¨sÀÈUÀÆ£ÀÜ÷ì¥ÁðUï±ÁÑYÂÎgÀ†¸ÉÆÄxÀ ¸ÀªÁð£ï WÀÈvÀUïA ºÀÄvÁé ¸ÁéAiÀÄĵÀå«ÄºÀ †AiÀiÁªÀÄ …±À±Àévï || (8)
Brahman who existed all alone (before the creation) brought forth many gods and celestials (the Vasus, the
Rudras, the Ädityas, the Maruts, the Sādhyas, the Ṛbhus, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Pitṛs, Bhṛgus, the Nāgas, the
Aṅgirases), to protect and help people in need. I offer ghee as oblation to the Absolute Being, all gods, and
celestials and pray for long life.

«…µÉÆÚà vÀéA …£ÉÆà C†£ÀÛ…ªÀıÀꆪÀÄð AiÀÄZÀÒ ¸ÀºÀ£ÀÛ÷å |

¥Àæ …vÉà zsÁ†gÁ ªÀÄ…zsÀıÀÄÑ…vÀ G†xÀìA zÀĺÀæ…vÉà C†TëvÀªÀiï || (9)
O Lord Viṣṇu! I offer my oblations to You by incessant and melodious chanting of the mantras. Kindly be
with us, and bestow upon us, abiding happiness and long life.

NA ±Á…¤Û±Áê…¤Û±ÁꆤÛB ||
Om Peace Peace Peace