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For the chapter from the holy text Taittirīya Āranyaka, see
Surya namaskara chapter.
Surya Namaskara (IAST: Sūrya namaskāra) or Sun Salutation (lit.
"salute to the sun"), is a common sequence of Hatha yoga asanas. Its
origins lie in a worship of Surya, the Hindu solar deity. This
sequence of movements and poses can be practised on varying levels
of awareness, ranging from that of physical exercise in various
styles, to a complete sadhana which incorporates asana, pranayama,
mantra and chakra meditation.
The physical base of the practice links together twelve asanas in a
dynamically performed series. These asanas are ordered so that they
alternately stretch the spine backwards and forwards. When performed
in the usual way, each asana is moved into with alternate inhalation
and exhalation (except for the sixth asana where the breath is held
in external suspension). A full round of Surya namaskara is
considered to be two sets of the twelve poses with a change in the
second set to moving the opposite leg first through the series.
Proponents of the use of Surya namaskara as part of the modern yoga
tradition prefer to perform it at sunrise, which the orthodox
consider to be the most 'spiritually favorable' time of the day. |
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Origins
Main article: Surya Namaskar Origins
Vedas
There are numerous references to praising the Sun to enhance good
health and prosperity, in the Vedas. Some of these Vedic hymns were
incorporated into Nitya Vidhi (Daily mandatory routine for a Hindu).
These daily procedures were termed Surya Namaskara (literally
translates as "sun salutations"). Physical prostration to Sun,
showing complete surrender of oneself to God, is the main aspect of
these procedures. The forms of Surya Namaskar practiced vary from
region to region. Two such popular practices are Trucha Kapla
Namaskarah and Aditya Prasna.
Puranas
Aditya Hridayam [1] [2] is another ancient practice which involves
surya namaskar. It is a procedure of saluting The Sun, taught to Sri
Rama by Sage Agastya, before his fight with Ravana. It is described
in the "Yuddha Kaanda" Canto 107 of Ramayana.
Old English References
Early English publications record some of the ancient ways of sun
salutation. In "A Catalogue raisonnée of oriental manuscripts" [3].
(Year: 1860, Page 246) Rev. William Cooke Taylor, noted that a short
book with 71 leaves with "Tricha calpa vidhi" from "Aditya Puranam"
was preserved. He describes the vidhi as "Modes of rendering homage
to Sun, with praise and spells; the object being health or delivery
from disease". He further notes the presence of Arghya Pradana,
Surya Stotaram, Aditya dvadasa namam - 12 names of the Sun according
to the monthly signs of zodiac, Surya Narayana cavacham,
Saurashtacshari mantram, and many other elaborate rituals as the
part of the vidhi. In Page 148 of the same book he describes a
shorter version called "Laghu tricha kalpa vidhi".
Practice
* Surya Namaskara, like most yogasanas must be performed only on an
empty stomach. Therefore there must be a gap of at least two hours
after eating and before performing the namaskara. It is generally
practiced in the morning before breakfast or in evening.[4]
* Surya Namaskaras are performed on a mat, not on the floor.
* In some traditions, 12 Surya Namaskaras are performed at one
practice. If starting that practice for the first time, it is
generally started with fewer (3 to 6) Namaskaras per day, and then
gradually increased to 12 Namaskaras in a week's time.[5]
* Shavasana is practiced at the end of practice for rest.
Shavasana is practiced to take rest after Surya namaskara
* Breathing (pranayamas) is synchronized with asanas as mentioned in
the table below.
* Mantras are pronounced at start of each Surya namaskara as
mentioned in table below.
* There are a total of 8 different postures in the sequence of 12
posture changes of Surya namaskara. Some asanas are repeated twice
in the same cycle of a Surya Namaskara.
* Practice of yoga postures (asanas) generally follows a surya
namaskara practice. [6]
* In a traditional Hindu context, Surya Namaskara is always
performed facing in the direction of the rising (east)or setting
(west) sun.
* As per the scriptures one who performs the Surya Namaskaras daily
does not get poor in a thousand births. [7]
Series summary
Surya namaskar.ogg
Play video
Video
Asana Breath Images
1 Pranamasana
(Prayer pose) exhale 1Pranamasana.JPG
2 Hasta Uttanasana
(Raised Arms pose) inhale Suryathon4.jpg
3 Hastapaadasana
(Standing Forward Bend pose) exhale Fb1.jpg
4 Aekpaadprasarnaasana
(Equestrian pose) inhale Students doing yoga.jpg
5 Dandasana
(Four-Limbed Staff Pose) exhale
Adho Mukha Dandasana-Plank Pose.jpg
6 Ashtanga Namaskara
(Salute with the Eight Limbs pose) suspend 6Ashtanga Namaskara.JPG
7 Bhujangasana
(Cobra pose) inhale Suryathon2.jpg
8 Adho Mukha Svanasana
(Downward-Facing Dog) exhale Suryathon6.jpg
9 Ashwa Sanchalanasana
(Equestrian pose) inhale Students doing yoga.jpg
10 Uttanasana
(Standing Forward Bend pose) exhale Fb1.jpg
11 Hasta Uttanasana
(Raised Arms pose) inhale Suryathon4.jpg
12 Pranamasana
(Prayer pose) exhale 1Pranamasana.JPG
Mantras to pronounce and chakras
The following mantra is pronounced at the beginning of Surya
Namaskara practice:
om dhyeyaḥ sadā savitra maṇḍala madhyavartī nārāyaṇa sarasijā
sanasanni viṣṭaḥ
keyūravāna makarakuṇḍalavāna kirīṭī hārī hiraṇmaya vapura
dhṛtaśaṁkha cakraḥ
(ॐ ध्येयः सदा सवित्र मण्डल मध्यवर्ती नारायण सरसिजा सनसन्नि विष्टः
केयूरवान मकरकुण्डलवान किरीटी हारी हिरण्मय वपुर धृतशंख चक्रः) [8]
There are certain chakras corresponding to each asana (posture).
Attention is being brought to them when performing Surya Namaskara.
It's recommended to synchronize postures, breath, mantras and bring
attention to certain chakras when performing Surya Namaskara.It
needs complete devotion.
The following mantras are pronounced in each posture:
Mantra Chakra Asana (posture)
Seed Salutation
1 om hrām (ॐ ह्रां) om mitrāya namaḥ (ॐ मित्राय नमः) Anahata (Heart)
Pranamasana (Prayer pose)
2 om hrīm (ॐ ह्रीं) om ravaye namaḥ (ॐ रवये नमः) Vishuddhi (Throat)
Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms pose)
3 om hrūm (ॐ ह्रूं) om sūryāya namaḥ (ॐ सूर्याय नमः) Swadhisthana
(Bottom of the abdomen) Hastapaadasana (Standing Forward Bend pose)
4 om hraim (ॐ ह्रैं) om bhānave namaḥ (ॐ भानवे नमः) Ajna (Forehead)
Aekpaadprasarnaasana (Equestrian pose)
5 om hraum (ॐ ह्रौं) om khagāya namaḥ (ॐ खगाय नमः) Vishuddhi
(Throat) Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)
6 om hraḥ (ॐ ह्रः) om puṣṇe namaḥ (ॐ पूष्णे नमः) Manipura (Solar
plexus) Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute with the Eight Limbs pose)
7 om hrām (ॐ ह्रां) om hiraṇya garbhāya namaḥ (ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः)
Swadhisthana (Bottom of the abdomen) Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
8 om hrīm (ॐ ह्रीं) om marīcaye namaḥ (ॐ मरीचये नमः) Vishuddhi
(Throat) Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)
9 om hrūm (ॐ ह्रूं) om ādityāya namaḥ (ॐ आदित्याय नमः) Ajna
(Forehead) Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
10 om hraim (ॐ ह्रैं) om savitre namaḥ (ॐ सवित्रे नमः) Swadhisthana
(Bottom of the abdomen) Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend pose)
11 om hraum (hj ह्रौं) om arkāya namaḥ (ॐ अर्काय नमः) Vishuddhi
(Throat) Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms pose)
12 om hraḥ (ॐ ह्रः) om bhāskarāya namaḥ (ॐ भास्कराय नमः) Anahata
(Heart) Pranamasana (Prayer pose)
13 om śrīsavitrasūryanārāyaṇāya namaḥ (ॐ श्रीसवित्रसूर्यनारायणाय नमः)>
Anahata (Heart) Pranamasana (Prayer pose)
14 om maata-pitryubhyaam namo namah
The following mantra is pronounced at the end of Surya Namaskara
practice:
ādityasya namaskāran ye kurvanti dine dine
āyuḥ prajñā balam vīryam tejasteśān ca jāyate
(आदित्यस्य नमस्कारन् ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने
आयुः प्रज्ञा बलम् वीर्यम् तेजस्तेशान् च जायते) [9]
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