Surya Namaskara

For the chapter from the holy text Taittirīya Āranyaka, see Surya namaskara chapter.


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

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.

Salutation Sanskrit Transliteration
1 ॐ मित्राय नमः om mitrāya namaḥ
2 ॐ रवये नमः om ravaye namaḥ
3 ॐ सूर्याय नमः om sūryāya namaḥ
4 ॐ भानवे नमः om bhānave namaḥ
5 ॐ खगाय नमः om khagāya namaḥ
6 ॐ पूष्णे नमः om pūṣṇe namaḥ
7 ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः om hiraṇya garbhāya namaḥ
8 ॐ मरीचये नमः om marīcaye namaḥ
9 ॐ आदित्याय नमः om ādityāya namaḥ
10 ॐ सवित्रे नमः om savitre namaḥ
11 ॐ अर्काय नमः om arkāya namaḥ
12 ॐ भास्कराय नमः om bhāskarāya namaḥ
13 ॐ श्रीसवितृसूर्यनारायणाय नमः om śrīsavitṛsūryanārāyaṇāya namaḥ

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.

References

  1. Indian Express (4 September 2010). Destination Delhi.
  2. Svatmarama 15th century CE, trans. 1992.
  3. Swatmarama 15th century CE, trans. 1915.
  4. http://brihaspati.net/downloads/Gheranda_Samhita_S_C_Vasu.pdf
  5. Sjoman 1999.
  6. Sjoman 1999, p. 53.
  7. Ramaswami 2005, p. 213-219.
  8. Singleton 2012, p. 176.
  9. Medin 2004, p. 9.
  10. Sjoman 1999, p. 50.
  11. Medin 2004, p. 13.
  12. Steiner 2012, p. The Whose Who of the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition.
  13. Sjoman 1999, p. 51.
  14. Medin 2004, p. 7.
  15. Sjoman 1999, p. 53.
  16. Hall 2012, p. Balasahib's 1928 Suya Namaskar.
  17. S.P.Sen, Dictionary of National Biography; Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta 1972 Vols.1–4; Institute of Historical Studies, vol 3, p.307
  18. Pratinidhi 1938, p. 16.
  19. Alter 2000, p. 95.
  20. 1 2 Royal India: A Descriptive and Historical Study of India's Fifteen Principal States and Their Rulers By Katherine H. Diver, Maud Diver, (year 1942)
  21. Alter 2000, p. 99.
  22. Alter 2004, p. 23.
  23. Simhajī 1896, p. 6.
  24. A Catalogue raisonnée [sic] of oriental manuscripts, Rev. William Cooke Taylor, H. Smith, (year 1860, Page 246)
  25. (Editor) Mujumdar 1950.
  26. 1 2 3 Master Murugan, Chillayah (20 October 2012). "Surya Namaskara -Puranic origins of Valmiki Ramayana". Silambam. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  27. sanskrit.safire.com, Aditya Hrudayam with English translation
  28. Translation of Ramayana by Griffith
  29. ""preferable to do suryanamaskar early mornings" http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/health/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1670124
  30. "Surya Namaskara (Salute to the Sun) – Level 3". Yogaindailylife.org. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  31. http://www.geetganga.org/suryanamaskar-mantra-सूर्यनमस्कार-मन्त्र

Sources

External links

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