Surya Namaskara

Namaste sun salutation

Sculpture depicting the 12 asanas of Surya Namaskara A in Terminal T3 at IGIA Airport, New Delhi, India, created by Nikhil Bhandari.^[1]

Sun Salutation practised in an Indian school

Indian Navy personnel perform Surya Namaskar on board INS Sunayna on International Yoga Day 2015.

Surya Namaskara (Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार, IPA: [suːrjɐ nɐmɐskɐːrɐ]; IAST: Sūrya Namaskāra) is a common sequence of asanas. Its origins lie in India where its large Hindu population worships Surya, the Hindu solar deity. This sequence of movements and asanas 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. It is often the beginning vinyasa within a longer yoga series. Sūrya Namaskāra may also refer to other styles of "Salutations to the Sun". The Sun Salutation is regularly practised in many Indian schools.

History

Ancient

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the oldest known hatha yoga text does not mention "Surya namaskar" but mentions a sūrya-bhedana (sun-piercing) kumbhaka (II, 44 and 48–50)^[2][3] while the Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā mentions sūrya-bheda kumbhaka (58–59).^[4] The oldest documented book with clear depictions of asanas is the Sritattvanidhi, though there is no mention of Surya namaskar in the text, it does describe the asanas "Sarpasana" (Bhujangasana), "Gajasana" (Adhomukh Swannasan), "Uttanasana" and series of asanas done in tandem, similar to Sūrya Namaskāra.^[5].

Mysore

Incidentally the translator of the ancient Sritattvanidhi., Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, was also responsible for arranging for Sri. T. Krishnamacharya to teach yoga at Yogaśālā in Mysore sometime around 1930.^[6] Sri. T. Krishnamacharya's teachings are largely responsible for the modern version of Sūrya Namaskāra as seen in modern day Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and the Visesha Vinyasa Sun Salutation subroutine from Vinyasa Krama Yoga,^[7] as well as a host of other popular forms of yoga.^[8] K. Pattabhi Jois claims to have taught exactly as he had learned from Krishnamacharya,^[9] though other than personal testimony, there seems to be no other evidence as to the precise content of Krishnamacharya's teachings.^[10] While Krishnamacharya's specific sources for his yoga teachings are unclear, it is said that he learned from Ramamohana Brahmachari in the Himilayan Mountains (perhaps Muktinath where his son has visited,^[11] but certainly somewhere near the Gandaki River in Nepal) beginning in 1916;^[12][13] however, the source of his teaching (at the Mysore Yogashala or otherwise) is not otherwise documented. Krishnamacharya's son attests to his father having developed some of his teachings himself.^[14] There is the possibility that he may have been influenced by the Mysore Palace Gymnastics Tradition.^[15]

Raja of Aundh

Another indication as to the origins of Sūrya Namaskāra is the 1928 Indian publication of "The Ten Point Way of Health"^[16] by Raja Bhavan Rao Srinivas ("Bala Sahib"), Pant Pratinidhi of Aundh (1868–1951; Raja of Aundh 1909–1947),^[17] followed by later publication in England in 1938.^[18] The Raja claims to have practised the series as a child. And some sources report that only after extensive practice and analysis (and potentially modification) himself did he finally publish the book.^[19] Thus, the true origin of the series remains unclear, though it has to be noted that Raja of Aundh, himself never claimed to have invented Surya Namaskar. Further he actually stressed on the ancient origins of this procedure.^[20] He helped in popularising surya namaskar as a simple physical exercise for all round development of an individual in India. He introduced it in schools as a form of education and encouraged even the ordinary man to be physically fit by performing surya namaskar every day.^[20][21] Still, how exactly Sūrya Namaskāra came to be included in the yogic practices of Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga remains unclear.^[22]

Other references

Other sources which cite early use of Surya Namaskar are A Short History of Aryan Medical Science from 1896, which claims that in India "there are various kinds of physical exercise indoors and outdoors. But some of the Hindus set aside a portion of their daily worship for making salutations to the Sun by prostrations. This method of adoration affords them so much muscular activity that it takes to some extent the place of physical exercise".^[23]

Early English publications record some ancient methods of sun salutation; however, they do not seem to be related to the modern Sūrya Namaskāra as seen in Yoga practice today. In "A Catalogue raisonnée [sic] of oriental manuscripts",^[24] 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".

Historically it is widely believed in the state of Maharashtra that Shivaji Maharaj, Sage Samarth Ramdas and the Marathas have performed Sūrya Namaskāra as a physical exercise to develop able bodies.^[25] This may be related to vyayama ("physical exercise" in Sanskrit) being traditionally influenced by spirituality. Many physical practices have ingrained spiritual values in them. In addition spiritual training is considered as a part of physical training from ancient times in India.

Valmiki Ramayana

Aditya Hridayam^[26][27][28] is another ancient practice which involves a variation of Sūrya Namaskāra. It is a procedure of saluting The Sun, taught to Rama by Sage Agastya, before his fight with Ravana. It is described in the "Yuddha Kaanda" Canto 107 of Ramayana.

There are in total 124 names praising the Sun in the whole procedure. The names in verses 10 – 13,^[26] the names in bold are the names used in the present day popular Surya Namaskar are present in these verses given below:

" Aditya, Savita, Surya, Khaga, Pushan, Gabhastiman, Suvarnasadrisa, Bhanu, Hiranyaretas, Divakara, Haridasva, Sahasrarchish, Saptasapti, Marichiman, Timironmathana, Sambhu, Twashta, Martanda, Ansuman, Hiranyagarbha, Sisira, Tapana, Bhaskara, Ravi, Agnigarbha, Aditiputra, Sankha, Sisiranasana ".

In verse 15 – 20,^[26] salutations to Sun are described. An example from the 15th verse is:

नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः। तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन् नमोऽस्तु ते॥ १५॥

Nakshatra grahataaraanaam adhipo vishva bhaavanah. Tejasaamapi tejasvii dvaadashaatman namostute, verse 15

He is the lord of stars, planets and all constellations. He is the origin of everything in the universe and is the cause of the lustre of even the brilliant ones. Salutations to Thee who is the One being manifest in the twelve forms of the Sun.

Practice

Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms pose)

Shavasana is practised to take rest after Surya namaskara

• Surya Namaskara, like most asanas, is recommended to be performed on an empty stomach. Therefore some recommend a gap of at least two hours after eating and before performing the namaskara. It is generally practised in the morning before breakfast or in evening.^[29]
• Shavasana is practised at the end of practice for rest.
• Pranayama is synchronised with asanas.
• Mantras can be pronounced at the start of each Surya namaskara. Bījas (seeds) or the 12 mantras specific to each asana can also be chanted while performing each asana. The 12 specific mantras, though, repeated mentally instead.
• Chakras are points-of-focus, when performing asanas.
• There are a total of 8 different asanas in the sequence of the 12 asana changes of Surya namaskara. Some asanas are repeated twice in the same cycle of a Surya Namaskara.
• In a traditional Hindu context, Surya Namaskara is performed facing in the direction of the rising (east) or setting (west) sun.
• According to the scriptures one who performs the Surya Namaskaras daily does not get poor in a thousand births.
• There are 5 ways in which breathing should be done during Surya Namaskar.

The following lists Surya Namasakar A. Other variations including Surya Namasakar B exist.

Series

Step	Asana	Breath	Images	Chakra	Position	Bīja
						Sanskrit	Transliteration
1	Pranamasana	exhale		Anahata	Heart	ॐ ह्रां	om hrāṁ
2	Hasta Uttanasana	inhale		Vishuddhi	Throat	ॐ ह्रीं	om hrīṁ
3	Hastapaadasana	exhale		Swadhisthana	Sacrum	ॐ ह्रूं	om hrūṁ
4	Aekpaadprasarnaasana (one foot back, lift head, hands often on earth )	inhale		Ajna	Third eye	ॐ ह्रैं	om hraiṁ
5	Adho Mukha Svanasana / parvatasana	exhale		Vishuddhi	Throat	ॐ ह्रौं	om hrauṁ
6	Ashtanga Namaskara	suspend		Manipura	Solar plexus	ॐ ह्रः	om hraḥ
7	Bhujangasana	inhale		Swadhisthana	Sacrum	ॐ ह्रां	om hrāṁ
8	Adho Mukha Svanasana	exhale		Vishuddhi	Throat	ॐ ह्रीं	om hrīṁ
9	Ashwa Sanchalanasana (opposite foot forward from 4, hands often on earth )	inhale		Ajna	Third eye	ॐ ह्रूं	om hrūṁ
10	Uttanasana	exhale		Swadhisthana	Sacrum	ॐ ह्रैं	om hraiṁ
11	Hasta Uttanasana	inhale		Vishuddhi	Throat	ॐ ह्रौं	om hrauṁ
12	Pranamasana	exhale		Anahata	Heart	ॐ ह्रः	om hraḥ

Mantras

12 Surya Namaskaras are practised per cycle.

In the table, the following first 12 mantras corresponds to the 12 asanas in Surya Namasakara and can also be chanted or repeated mentally during the performance of each corresponding asana.^[30][31] They can also be pronounced at Pranamasana.

The following mantra is pronounced at the beginning of a Surya Namaskara cycle:

ॐ ध्येयः सदा सवित्र मण्डल मध्यवर्ती नारायण सरसिजा सनसन्नि विष्टः

केयूरवान मकरकुण्डलवान किरीटी हारी हिरण्मय वपुर धृतशंख चक्रः
om dhyeyaḥ sadā savitra maṇḍala madhyavartī nārāyaṇa sarasijā sanasanni viṣṭaḥ

keyūravāna makarakuṇḍalavāna kirīṭī hārī hiraṇmaya vapura dhṛtaśaṁkha cakraḥ

The following mantra is pronounced at the end of a Surya Namaskara cycle:

आदित्यस्य नमस्कारन् ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने
आयुः प्रज्ञा बलम् वीर्यम् तेजस्तेशान् च जायते

ādityasya namaskāran ye kurvanti dine dine
āyuḥ prajñā balam vīryam tejasteśān ca jāyate
For those who salute the sun every day,

life expectancy, conscious, strength, courage and vital power shall grow.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Surya Namaskar.

• Surya Namaskar Origins
• Surya
• Hatha yoga
• List of asanas

References

Sources

External links