As we once again move around the wheel of the year, we are enjoying the lengthening days which will culminate on the Summer Solstice, June 20th. The practice of Surya Namaskar, or
Salutation to the Sun, offers us a way to honor the sun's journey, to
reflect on the many gifts that we receive from the sun, and to welcome its
return to fullness. It is a meditation-in-motion that draws upon the
qualities of our own divine light, connecting with the radiance of our true
Self. This is a practice which is both contemplative and physical, toning
and strengthening our muscles, nourishing our internal organs, awakening
the energy body with prana, and cultivating a sense of devotion and gratitude.
Our practice begins by tuning in to
the breath. Just as the sun moves from emptiness to fullness as it circles from
Solstice to Solstice, and rises and sets from day into night, so moves our
breath--filling, emptying, filling again in this continual, life-sustaining rhythm.
If we add a short retention at the top of the inhale and at the bottom of the
exhale, we mirror the pause of the sun at the Winter and Summer Solstices (the
word "solstice" comes from the Latin sol, meaning
"sun," and stitium, which means "to pause or stop."
The sun appears to linger for a while at the peak of long, light-filled days in
Summer, or in the very short, dark days of Winter, before we can perceive a
slow shift in the length of the days). So as we turn our attention to our
breath, inviting in a pause in fullness and in emptiness, we still the
mind and calm the nervous system, while honoring the rhythm of life.
While taking a few minutes to breathe
deeply, try bringing the hands into Surya Mudra
(the mudra of the sun), which increases the fire (Agni) element in the body.
This mudra creates warmth, preparing us mentally, physically and energetically
for Surya Namaskar.
The twelve sun mantras
Every year the sun passes
through twelve different phases, known in Western astrology as the
Zodiac,, and 'rashis' in Hindu astrology. Each rashi has a specific attribute
or mood, and in each of these twelve moods the sun is given a different name.
These twelve names comprise the twelve Vedic sun mantras, which are to be
mentally repeated in their respective order in conjunction with the twelve
movements of surya namaskara.
These sun mantras are not
merely names of the sun, but every sound syllable contained in them is the
vehicle of a basic, eternal energy (shakti) represented by the sun itself. By
repetition and concentration on these mantras, one's entire mental and subtle
body will be energized.
Although these mantras do
not require intellectual understanding, translation of their meaning is given
below for those who wish to use the mantras as a form of attunement with the
source of spiritual illumination symbolized by the sun.
Here is the sequence of twelve
postures of Surya Namaskar, with the associated mantras:
1. Om Mitraya Namaha
(Salutations to the
friend of all)
Pranamasana: standing with palms joined at the heart center
This first position
embodies the attitude of reverence to the source of all life as we know it. The
sun is regarded as the universal friend, endlessly giving light, heat and
energy to support this and all the other planets. In the scriptures, Mitra is described as
calling us to activity, sustaining earth and sky, and beholding all creatures
without discrimination, just as the early morning sun signals the beginning of
the day's activities, and sheds its light on all life.
2. Om Ravaye Namaha
(Salutations to the
shining one)
Hasta Uttanasana: hands raised to the sky, slightly bending backwards (if
comfortable)
Ravaye means one who
shines and offers divine blessings upon all life. In this position, we are
stretching our whole being upwards, towards the source of light, to receive
these blessings.
3. Om Suryqya Namaha
Uttanasana: Standing forward bend, hands to the floor
(Salutations to the one who induces
activity)
Here the sun is in a very
dynamic aspect as the deity, Surya. In ancient vedic mythology Surya was
worshipped as the Lord of the Heavens, pictured crossing the sky in his fiery
chariot, drawn by seven horses. The seven horses actually represent the
seven rays or emanations of the supreme consciousness, which manifest as the
seven planes of existence, bhu (earthly, material), bhuvar (intermediate,
astral), suwar (subtle, heavenly), mahar (the abode of the devas), janah (the
abode of divine souls who have transcended ego), tapah (the abode of
enlightened siddhas) and satyam (the ultimate truth of reality). Surya
symbolizes the supreme consciousness itself, in control of all these different
planes of manifestation.
4. Om Bhanave Namaha
(Salutations to the one
who illumines)
Ashwa
Sanchalanasana: Low lunge, back
knee rests on mat. fingertips to the
floor
The sun is the physical
representation of the guru or teacher, who removes the darkness of our
delusions, just as the darkness of the night is removed with every dawn. In
this position, we turn our face towards this illumination and pray for an end
to the dark night of ignorance.
5. Om Khagaya Namaha
(Salutations to the one
who moves through the sky)
Plank pose: shoulders over wrists, arms and legs straight, body in one
line.
It is the sun's daily movement
through the sky which is the basis of our measurement of time, from the
earliest use of a sun dial to the sophisticated devices used today. In this
posture, we offer obeisance to the one by whom time is measured, and pray for
progress in life.
6. Om Pushne Namaha
(Salutations to the giver
of strength and nourishment )
Ashtanga Namaskar: knees, chest, chin, hands and balls of feet touch the floor,
buttocks raised.
The sun is the source of
all strength, nourishing us with energy, light and life. We offer respects in ashtanga
namaskara by touching all the eight corners of our body to the ground. In
essence we are offering our whole being in the hope that the sun may bestow
mental, physical and spiritual strength and nourishment upon us.
7. Om Hiranya Garbhaya Namaha
(Salutations to the
golden cosmic self)
Bujangasana: Cobra pose--palms down, under shoulders, chest and torso raised,
with elbows bent.
Hiranya Garbha is also
known as the golden egg, resplendent as the sun, in which Brahma was born as
the manifestation of Self-existence. Hiranya Garbha is the seed of causality,
thus the whole universe is contained within Hiranya Garbha in the potential
state prior to manifestation. In the same way, all life is potential in the
sun, which represents the great cosmic principle. We offer respects to the sun
in this position, praying for the awakening of creativity.
8. Om Marichaye Namaha
(Salutations to the rays
of the sun)
Adho Mukha
Svanasana: Downward-facing dog. Inverted
V, hips high, hands and feet flat.
Maricha is one of
Brahma's sons, just as the rays of light are produced from the sun, but his
name also means mirage. For our whole life, we seek after a true meaning or
purpose, like the thirsty man seeks after water in a desert, but is fooled by
mirages dancing on the horizon produced by the sun's rays. In this position, we pray for true illumination and
discrimination in order to be able to distinguish between the real and the
unreal.
9. Om Adityaya Namaha
(Salutations to the son
of Aditi)
Ashwa Sanchalanasana: Low lunge (whichever leg stepped back now comes forward).
Aditi is one of the many
names given to the cosmic mother, Mahashakti. She is the mother of all the
gods, boundless and inexhaustible, the creative power from which all divisions
of power proceed. The sun is one of her children, or manifestations. In this
position, we salute Aditi, the infinite cosmic mother.
10. Om Savitre Namaha
(Salutations to the
stimulating power of the sun)
Uttanasana: Standing forward bend, hands to the floor
Savitre is known as the stimulator,
the arouser, and is often associated with Surya. Savitre is said to
represent the sun before rising, stimulating and arousing us into waking
activity, and Surya is said to represent the sun after sunrise, when activity
begins. Therefore, in this position, we salute Savitre to obtain the vivifying
power of the sun.
11. Om Arkaya Namaha
(Salutations to the one
who is fit to be praised)
Hasta Uttanasana: hands raised to the sky, slightly bending backwards
Arka means energy. The
sun is the source of most of the energy in the world we know. In this position,
we are offering respects to this source of life and energy.
12. Om Bhaskaraya Namaha
(Salutations to the one
who leads to enlightenment)
Pranamasana: standing with palms joined at the heart center
In this final salutation we offer
respects to the sun as a symbol of the great revealer of all transcendental and
spiritual truths. It lights up the pathway leading to our ultimate goal of
liberation. In this position, we pray that this pathway may be revealed to us.
Finally, we can end our practice in Savasana,
noticing the enlivening effects of Surya Namaskar.
Listen and practice along
with this 16 minute recording:
