The deeper meaning of Surya Namaskar: Sun Salutation

Many yoga classes begin with sun salutations, orSurya Namaskar.The energizing, warming sequence of postures and movements helps warm up the body, prepare it for further asanas and also awaken the mind. Do you practice or teach Surya Namaskar? Do you know where it comes from or what this energizing flow represents? Read on to discover the deeper meaning of sun salutations and the different forms you can choose to practice.

God of the sun

A few thousand years ago, one of the most revered gods in Vedic culture (the culture that is said to have given birth to yoga)Surya,God of the sun. Surya rides across the sky in his chariot drawn by seven horses and is also depicted in Buddhism and Jainism. Surya literally means “sun” and was revered for its life-giving energy and mentioned in ancient Vedic hymns and astrological texts. It is quite clear to understand why Surya was considered a “life giver” since the sun is such an important aspect of life itself. The sun gives energy to our body and mind and also gives the plants and animals around us energy to grow. This life-giving energy is just one of the reasons why Surya was so highly revered and the sun was considered one of the most important aspects of nature to connect with.

Old rituals

When you think of sun salutations today, you can imagine a series of repetitive movements, perhaps practiced rhythmically, dynamically, and in sync with the breath. The very first forms ofSurya NamaskarHowever, it looked – and sounded – completely different! The wordNamaskarrefers to an honorific greeting or 'salutation', so many of these practices were performed at sunrise and she was greeted as she arrived. Sungazing was one of the first forms of honoring and greeting the rising sun, either by looking into the sun's rays (which I definitely donotas this can damage your eyes!), or by looking at the sun through running water. This practice is still common around the world today, although it is safer to sit in front of the rising sun and look at the sky rather than actuallyat theThe sun. Visualize with your gaze the energy of the sun radiating into your body and filling you with new life and vitality for the day.

Another ancient form of Surya Namaskar is simply sunbathing, which has much more depth than it sounds.Of course, the general advice is that prolonged sunbathing is not safe. Therefore, take all necessary precautions and consult a professional if you are concerned about sunbathing.Yoga's "sister science" Ayurveda prescribes sunbathing as part of a balancing and detoxifying regime, promoting its ability to induce sweating and stimulate circulation, as well as allowing the absorption and production of beneficial vitamin D. As a yoga practice, sunbathing was all about allowing the sun's energy to be projected into the physical and subtle body. Sun therapy today orHeliotherapyis used to treat various skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, and getting enough natural sunlight is one of the most important and easiest ways to optimize mood and get your internal clock into a healthy rhythm.

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The next old form ofSurya Namaskaris the chanting of sacred mantras. TheGayatri mantrais traditionally sung to the rising sun to honor and invoke this energy at the beginning of the day. If you can wake up at sunrise, chanting this mantra is a wonderful way to connect with the sun's energy and also serves as a ritual to connect you more deeply with nature. Usinga malacan enhance the meditative quality of the practice and guide you to chant the mantra 108 times, as is considered auspicious.

(link removed)bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ

did savitur vareṇyaṃ

bhargo devasya dhīmahi

dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

– Rigveda 3.62.10

There are many translations of this mantra, but these are some of the most literal and poetic:

“We meditate on the glory of that being who gave birth to this universe; may it enlighten our minds.” Swami Vivekananda

"Let us meditate on this excellent glory of the divine quickening sun. May it enlighten our understanding."Monier Monier Williams

“May we attain this excellent glory ofSavitarthe God: So he can stimulate our prayers.”– Ralph T. H. Griffith

Movement-based practices

As rituals and sequences took center stage in yoga practice and Vedic culture, Surya Namaskar evolved into a movement-based form. The first saw people offering water to the sun to thank it for their own life, the ability to grow food and crops with the spread of agriculture, and often asking the sun to grant healing to those who were sick. These movements included squatting (the yoga posture)Malasana)followed by taking in water and rising to stand with arms outstretched. The movements were probably repeated twelve times, corresponding to the twelve 'solar' signs of the zodiac recognized in ancient Vedic astrology.

With the introduction of Hatha yoga, movement practices became popular with hundreds ofPostures and movement sequences. At the time when Ashtanga Yoga was widespread in India and the West, the three modern forms ofSurya Namaskarwere fully trained, including the classic sun salutations,Surya Namaskar A,andSurya Namaskar B.When it was created, the classic sun salutations were practiced with a different oneMantrafor each of the twelve poses in the sequence. These mantras are said to contain the vibrational energy of the Sun while corresponding to the twelve astrological houses through which the Sun "moves" and are associated with the various qualities and properties of the Sun. One of the most beautiful aspects of chanting these sun mantras in any morning practice is that they reflect qualities that we can also cultivate that day. Next time you roll out yoursYoga matpracticeSurya Namaskar,Perhaps chant these mantras out loud or in your mind and intend to bring some of these enlightening qualities into your day. Learn more about itSurya Namaskar,Books likeSurya Namaskara: A technique of solar vitalizationby Swami Satyananda Saraswati provides insights into the mystical and ancient wisdom of the practice.

Om Mitraaya Namaha:One who is friendly to everyone.

Om Ravaye Namaha: The shining one or the radiant one.

Om Suryaya Namaha:The Dispeller of Darkness, responsible for generating activity.

Om Bhaanave Namaha:One who enlightens.

Om Khagaya Namaha: One who permeates everything.

Om Pooshne Namaha: Giver of nourishment and fulfillment.

Om Hiranya Garbhaya Namaha: One who has a golden glow.

Om Mareechaye Namaha: Light giver with infinite rays.

Om Aadityaaya Namaha: The son of Aditi, the cosmic divine mother.

Om Savitre Namaha: One who is responsible for life.

Om Arkaaya Namaha: One who deserves praise and fame.

Om Bhaskaraya Namaha: Giver of wisdom and cosmic enlightenment.