Surya Namaskara

Sun worship has been in practice since the Vedic Age when nature Gods were given prominence; there are many references with particular regard to the health benefits of this ritual. The Sun God was considered a ‘pratyaksha devata’ (one who was apparent and seen) and worshipped thus. We get our vitality from the Sun.

In Karma kanda practices there are Nitya or daily ritual which are mandatory, some rituals are optional and some rituals are performed with a view to fulfillment of desires. Many vedic hymns are prescribed along with these rituals and practices. Some of these Vedic hymns are incorporated into Nitya Vidhi through salutations to the Sun which are popularly known as Surya Namaskara (literally translates to “sun + salutations”). 10 to 12 postures are assumed by way of prostrating to the Sun, showing complete surrender of oneself. The forms of Surya Namaskara practiced, vary from school to school. Two such popular practices are Trucha Kalpa Namaskarah and Aditya Prasna. The Puranas, which were written after the Vedas, also have descriptions of sun salutations.

The first chapter of “Yajur Veda, Taittiriya Aranyakam” is also referred to as Surya Namaskar chapter. It is popularly practiced in South India. There are 132 anuvakas in this chapter and serious sadhakas practice recite and perform sun salutations after recitation of every anuvaka.

The practice of Sun Salutation in a typical Yoga session is as a part of warm up, loosening and stretching exercises prior to starting the asana routine. it starts with the recitation of a prayer and meditation on the Dhyana sloka. Then Surya namaskar postures are assumed, synchronizing each posture with a mantra. In some schools, the session ends with a recitation of Teertha Sloka and resting in Shavasana for 5-10 minutes.

Nama mantra of the Surya Namaskar have four sections:

1) Pranavaakshara (Aum)

2) Beejaakshara (hrāṁ, hrīṁ, hrūṁ, hraiṁ, hrāuṁ and hraḥ)

3) Paada from the three ruchas described above[2]

4) Name of ‘The Sun’.

 In total 6 beejakshara, 12 paada (4 paada for each of the 3 ruchas) and 12 names of assigned to the Sun God are used in the creation of nama mantras. The six beejaksharas in the order of their usage are: hrāṁ, hrīṁ, hrūṁ, hraiṁ, hrāuṁ and hraḥ (in the order of the vowels of the Sanskrit language). The 12 names of ‘The Sun’ in the order of their usage are “Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Bhanu, Khaga, Pushan, Hiranyagarbha, Marichiman, Aditya, Savitr, Arka and Bhaskara”. The detailed practice or worship includes the 108 names of the deity Sun.

“Aditya Hrudayam” which is mentioned in Ramayana, explains sun salutation with mantras that are similar to the present day Surya Namaskara. Three slokas from the Aditya Hrudayam have been referenced to highlight this:

आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान्।
सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः॥ (१०)

ādityaḥ savitā sūryaḥ khagaḥ pūṣā gabhastimān

suvarṇasadṛśo bhānurhiraṇyaretā divākaraḥ

Aditya – son of Aditi, one who attract all towards Him

Savitha – one who rules or controls the world

Soorya – one who encourages all, one who is active

Khaga – one who moves in space like a bird

Poosha – one who protects all the worlds

Gabhastiman – one who has bright rays

Suvarnasadrisha – golden coloured

Bhanu – pervaded in all

Swarnareta – radiant round shaped like golden egg

Diwakara – one who is the reason for the brightness of day

हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान्। 
तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान्॥ (११)

Haridaśvaḥ sahasrārciḥ saptasaptirmarīcimān

timironmathanaḥ śambhustvaṣṭā mārtāṇḍa aṃśumān

Surya is described as one who has green horses – green being a symbol of victory; as the one who has thousands / infinite number of rays because of which he is said to be all-pervasive; he is described as one who dispels darkness. He is the lord of the seven lokas; this is represented by the seven horses which draw his chariot. Surya removes the sufferings of all, irrespective of whether they worship him or not and bestows health. He is all pervasive.

हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः। 
अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः॥ (१२)

Hiraṇyagarbhaḥ śiśirastapano bhāskaro raviḥ

agnigarbho’diteḥ putraḥ śaṅkhaḥ śiśiranāśanaḥ

He, the Sun God, is the (golden) source of knowledge and bestows prosperity; He cools down the world with his rain; He bestows heat and warmth. He is the source of light and illumines the intellect; He is praised by everyone; He has fire within himself and again, He is the son of Adithi and Kashyapa; He merges at night and become cool He is the destroyer of the cold, snow and fog.

Prayer from the karika of Isha Upanishad

ॐ हिरण्मयॆन पात्रॆन सत्यस्यापिहितं मुखम् ।
तत् त्वं पूषन्नपावृणु सत्यधर्माय दृष्टयॆ ॥ १५ ॥

Hymn as Romanized text

Om hiraNmayEna pAtrEna satyasyApihitaM mukham |
tat tvaM pUShannapAvRuNu satyadharmAya dRuShTayE || 15 ||

Meaning of the Prayer Hymn:

 (The face of) the Truth is covered by the Golden Orb, like a lid covering a vessel
Oh Sun, please move it aside and allow me to see the truth-principle!

Suryopanishad and Akshyopanishad mention Sun worship. The Suryopanishad states that, “people who worship the sun as Brahman become powerful, active, intelligent and acquire long life. The Akshyopanishad identifies Surya with Purusha, Who assumes the form of the sun with thousands of rays and Who shines for the good of humanity.

Surya namaskara is a set of postures that brings benefit to the body, mind and spirit. When these are done consciously, correctly and with full focus it results in relaxation of the body and mind, healing the individual holistically. The chakras, the physiological functions and systems in a person, the mind and spirit are healed and the person evolves to higher levels of consciousness. Surya namaskara comprises both Prānāyāma and yogasana. In practice however, each school of Yoga follows a different set of asanas. In some schools of yoga the 12 step method is followed.

S.No.	Name of asana	Breathing pattern	Chakra	Beeja and mantra	Meaning
Sthiti	Tadasana with namaskara mudra	normal
1.	Hastauttanasana	Inhale	Vishuddha	Om Hram Mitraya namaH	Salutations to the friend of all
2.	Padahastasana	Exhale	Swadishthana	Om Hrim ravaye namaH	Salutations to one who shines
3.	Ashvasanchalanasana	Inhale	Ajna	Om Hrum Suryaya namaH	Salutations to one who induces activity
4.	Chaturanga Dandasana	Exhale		Om hraim Bhanave namaH	Salutations to one who illuminates
5.	Shashankasana	Exhale and normal breathing	Ajna, Vishuddha, Anahata and Manipura	Om hraum Khagaya namaH	Salutations to one who moves quickly
6.	Ashtanga namaskara	Exhale and Bahya kumbaka	Manipura	Om Hrah pushne namaH	Salutations to one who gives strength
7.	Bhujangasana	Inhale	Swadishthana	Om hram hiranyagarbhaya namah	Salutations to the golden cosmic self
8.	Parvatasana	Exhale	Vishuddha	Om hrim marichaye namah	Salutations to the Lord of Dawn
9.	Shashankasana	Exhale and normal breathing	Ajna, Vishuddha, Anahata and Ajna	Om hrum Adityaya namah	Salutations to son of Aditi
10.	Ashvasanchalanasana	Inhale	Ajna	Om hraim Savitre namah	Salutations to stimulating power
11.	Padahastasana	Exhale	Swadishthana	Om hraum Arkaya namah	Salutations to one who is fit to be praised
12.	Hastauttanasana	Inhale	Vishuddha	Om hrah Bhaskaraya namah	Salutations to one who leads to enlightenment

Mantras are combinations of sounds which are designed to produce a specific effect on the mind and its functioning. The beej mantras are evocative sounds that may not have literal meaning in themselves, but set up powerful vibrations of energy within the body and mind resulting in healing, especially of the exocrine and endocrine systems. The effect of the six beeja mantras:

S.No.	Beej mantra	Effect
	Om	Stimulates brain, heart, stomach
1.	Hrām	Stimulates brain, heart, respiratory organs
2.	Hrīm	Stimulates throat, palate, heart, digestive organs
3.	Hrūm	Stimulates the functioning of liver, spleen, stomach, uterus and intestines
4.	Hraim	Stimulates kidneys
5.	Hroum	Improves the functioning of rectum and anus
6.	Hrah	Tones chest and throat

According to Georg Feuerstein they are known as seed mantras…

“…because they are the sonic seeds planted in the body-mind from which higher consciousness or awareness can sprout in a properly prepared Yoga practioner.  Such sacred germinal sounds play an important role in Tantric ritual but have been known and used since Vedic times.  They are not meaningless but are sonic representations of particular deities or other subtle realities.”

“So, in creating the bija mantra with our body through sound we, in a sense, align ourselves with the vibration of the idea or energy they represent.  It’s about “resonance.”

Surya namaskara practice when done consciously and correctly can heal the body and mind and take the individual to great levels of awareness.”

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[1] Each Mantra in Veda is called a “rucha”. Group of three rucha is called as Trucha. “Trucha Kalpa Namaskarah” is one method of performing Surya Namaskars.

Surya Namaskars are performed by chanting mantras.Mantras are arranged in a specific way. They consist of the three ruchas taken from 1st Mandala, 9th anuvak 50th Sookta in Rig Veda, which are composed in ‘Anushtup Chandas’. Kanva Maharishi has composed them.

[2] in some traditions and when doing in great detail

[3] Article compiled from SVYASA class notes