The sun provides and maintains life on Earth. Our ancestors first acknowledged and revered the Sun. The Mantra of Surya Namaskar is an appreciation pose offered to the Sun. It involves twelve yoga poses or asanas that signify the cycles of the Sun which run approximately twelve and a quarter years. If your system is maintained, then your cycle will be in harmony with the solar cycle. The Mantra of Surya Namaskar helps to inhabit this harmony between your physical cycle and that of the Sun.
The Mantra of Surya Namaskar includes a few chants that accompany the Surya Namaskar. These chants bring harmony in body, breath, and mind. As the practice starts being integrated into your body, you will start seeing your benefits. When chanted with sincere gratitude, these mantras can take your lives to an enhanced spiritual level.
Om Bhaanve Namah, this chant means ‘One who brings light’. This chant brings in a sense of gratitude to the Sun for providing us with light and making life possible on earth. Om Suryaya Namah means ‘Dispeller of darkness’. It helps us worship the Sun for all that it gives.
A Spiritual Approach to Surya Namaskara
The Mantra of Surya Namaskara also known as the Sun Salutation is the welcome of the day and it is not merely an exercise but it is a prayer. It dates back to ancient Indian sources and the exercise is believed to bring the performer in touch with solar energy, which is healthy for the body, soul and mind.
- Chanting and Mantras: The Mantra of Surya Namaskara sometimes includes chanting and invoking the deities that are encompassed by the sun. This adds a relaxation aspect to the practice as the practitioner does not have to pay much attention to the physical movements of the practice.
- Mind-Body Connection: Chanting the mantra of Surya Namaskara also develops a positive attitude of mind and body coordination. The purpose of breathing exercises is to maintain the focus in the moment and control one’s mental state while practicing. This results in becoming relaxed and tranquil from within.
- Energy Flow: From a religious point of view, it is said that Surya Namaskara helps to activate the energy of prana in the body. The series of poses allows the flow of energy to run through the body and balance the chakras or energy centers.
- Sun Worship: Surya Namaskara is basically an adoration of the Sun and therefore, it is a sun-worshiping technique. The sun is adored in different cultures and is considered the giver of life and energy. In this way, through such practice one pays his respect to the sun in the hope that he can get the strength and energy of the sun.
- Spiritual Growth: Surya Namaskara provides an opportunity to open one’s soul and makes one spiritual if he/she practices it often. It can enable one to develop attributes of behavior like discipline, patience, and gratitude among others. To this effect, establishing a relationship with the divinity via the sun makes the life of a practitioner meaningful.
Benefits of Sun Salutation Mantras
- Om Mitraya Namah: Brings focus on the notion of the sun being a friend that will eradicate intolerance.
- Om Ravaye Namah: Cherishes the sun and its importance to the health of humans and societies.
- Om Suryaya Namah: Praise the sun as the one that awakens activity.
- Om Bhanave Namah: Points to the sun as the symbol of illumination
- Om Khagaya Namah: Recognizes the sun as the one who moves through the sky
- Om Pushne Namah: Hails the sun as the giver of nourishment.
- Om Hiranyagarva Namah: Respect of the sun to the distributor of light who nourishes like a mother.
- Om Marichaya Namah: Identifies the sun as the one who bakes into transformation — growth.
- Om Adityaya Namah: The sun is paid tribute for being the son of Aditi, the cosmic mother.
- Om Savitre Namah: Reveres the sun to represent the light to simulate everything.
- Om Arkaya Namah: You appeal to the general saying hello to the sun with all of its goods and services.
Surya Namaskar 12 Mantras Steps & Meaning
| Step No. | Pose (Asana) | Mantra | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pranamasana | Om Mitraya Namah | Salutations to the friend of all |
| 2 | Hasta Uttanasana | Om Ravaye Namah | Salutations to the shining one |
| 3 | Padahastasana | Om Suryaya Namah | Salutations to the one who induces activity |
| 4 | Ashwa Sanchalanasana | Om Bhanave Namah | Salutations to the one who illuminates |
| 5 | Dandasana | Om Khagaya Namah | Salutations to the one who moves through the sky |
| 6 | Ashtanga Namaskara | Om Pushne Namah | Salutations to the giver of strength and nourishment |
| 7 | Bhujangasana | Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah | Salutations to the golden cosmic self |
| 8 | Adho Mukha Svanasana | Om Marichaye Namah | Salutations to the lord of the dawn |
| 9 | Ashwa Sanchalanasana | Om Adityaya Namah | Salutations to the son of Aditi, the cosmic mother |
| 10 | Padahastasana | Om Savitre Namah | Salutations to the stimulator of everything |
| 11 | Hasta Uttanasana | Om Arkaya Namah | Salutations to the one worthy of praise |
| 12 | Tadasana | Om Bhaskarya Namah | Salutations to the provider of knowledge |
How to remember sun salutation mantras?
Break it down: Split increases the mantra of surya namaskar into smaller sections which you can manage with ease. For instance, rather than attempting to memorize the whole word “Om Mitraya Namah,” first attempt to remember “Om Mitra” and then “Namah.”
Use mnemonics: People should be advised to link the mantras with easier-to-remember images or words in order to enhance memory recall. For instance, it is possible to condition the element, “Mitra”, with the planned picture of a friend.
Repeat and practice: The more you will practice the particular mantras, the realization of how they can be recalled will come easier. Perhaps, the best way of doing this is by rehearsing and chanting them time and again either individually or in a group of other people.
Record yourself: Repeat the mantras call aloud and listen to the call often in a day. It can be useful for you to become more acquainted with the sounds of the mantras and rhythms of the mantras.
Connect with the meaning: Sometimes knowing the meaning of mantras can help to remember it. Spend a day and think about what kind of qualities and attributes are described by each of the mantras.
How Surya Namaskar is incorporated into our online yoga classes?
Warm-up: Surya Namaskar is used in the warm-up section of the online yoga classes as it is very effective. It works to raise levels of heartbeats, stimulate the muscles, and get the body ready for some of the tough poses.
Flow Practice: Surya Namaskar is generally practiced in Vinyasa yoga where sequences of movements are done multiple times to form a smooth sequence. This can be quite a dilemma, but useful, and engaging as it develops strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Sun Salutation Variations: Teachers might also decide to come up with a certain number of Surya Namaskar; this can be Surya Namaskar A, B, C, or any other that might be deemed appropriate depending on the intensity of the workout that is required or the simplicity as might be needed.
How Surya namaskar is incorporated into our Yoga Retreats?
Daily Practice: Sun salutations constitute one of the common activities in any yoga vacation and are most times done twice or thrice daily. It’s a best practice to begin with as it will help to create the right atmosphere for the rest of the retreat days.
Intensive Workshops: A few centers can even have specific theme-based courses in Surya Namaskar where concepts related to its different forms, impacts, and concerns regarding spirituality are trained and buds.
Personalized Guidance: Excellent points of corrections and adjustments for Surya Namaskar can be given to the participants by the retreat instructors during the exercise regimen.
How Surya Namaskar is incorporated into our offline yoga classes?
Core Sequence: Like online classes, Surya Namaskar is the core sequence in offline yoga classes as well. That allows it to be scalable, meaning that it can fit into an exercise program on just about any level from beginner through intermediate up to hardcore.
Group Practice: While taking part in a group practice session, participants flow through Surya Namaskar together further enhancing community and energy.
Instructor Guidance: Offline class meanwhile allows the instructor to correct and observe (alignment technique)
