Karuna Yoga Vidya Peetham Bangalore

A classical Sun Salutation to Restore Your Body and Soul

Surya Namaskara

Surya Namaskara is a well-known technique within the yogic practices. Its versatility and application make it one of the most useful methods to induce a healthy, vigorous and active life and at the same time prepare for spiritual awakening and the resultant expansion of awareness. Surya Namaskara, meaning “salutation to the sun
”, can be seen as a form of worship of the sun, amend all that it represents on the micro and macrocosmic levels. In yogic terms this indicates that the practice of Surya Namaskara awakens the solar aspects of man’s nature and releases this virtual energy for the development of higher awareness. This can be realized by the practice of Surya Namaskara each morning as well as being fine way to pay tribute to the source of creation and life.

Surya is sun. Namaskara is to name, to greet. Surya Namaskara is Sun Salute. This vinyasa is traditionally practiced in the morning before sunrise. It is invigorating and good for digestion. If the postures are donebetween jumping’s, the fast movements and quick change in position ensure freedom of movement, creating agility and flexibility and improving blood circulation. The dull brain becomes active and the brooding mind gets refreshed.

Surya Namaskara

There are twelve positions in classical Surya Namaskara. Twenty-five such Namaskaras form one avrtti(frequency). Surya Namaskara must be performed preferably in an open and airy place. Perform Surya Namaskara slowly without exerting too much or panting and puffing. There is one Mantra for each of the twelve Namaskäras- there by you also recites the 12 names of Sun.

Procedure: In the first position of Surya Namaskara contemplate the virtues of

Lord Surya with concentrated mind and feel that you are the friend of everybody and have friendship with every creature on the earth. Immersing yourself with these feelings stand erect stretching your hands, neck and all other parts of your body. Stretching both of your arms, touch your thighs with palms and inflate the chest and point your vision on the tip of the nose. This is a position of attention.

Benefits: Disorders of the skin and waists are corrected; the back and the legs become strong. Focusing of the vision on nose helps to control the mind. It is an easy and effective way of attaining good health and development of personality for the students. Meditating with concentrated mind enhances confidence.

1st Step: Pranamasana (Prayer pose)

Mantra: aum hram mitraya namah|

Concentration: Heart centre (Anahata).

Procedure: Stand erect with your chest out, feet together, knees pulled up and thighs tight like in Täòäsana. Bring your hands forward, in front of your chest as if in prayer, elbows straight and not drooping.

Benefits: Good for the diseases of the throat and voice is enhanced. Both mind and body become healthy.

2ndStep: Hasta utthanasan (Raised arms pose)

Mantra: aum hrim ravaye namah|

Concentration: Neck centre (Visuddhi)

Procedure: On inhale, stretch your arms up over your head, palms still together. Then arching back as far as you can go, stretch with your arms apart for next pose.

Benefits: Both the shoulders and the food pipe (Esophagus) get exercise and diseases related to them are corrected. Eyesight is also improved.

3rdStep: Padahastasana (Hand to foot pose)

Mantra: aum hrum suryaya namah|

Concentration: Root of spinal column (Svadhisthana).

Procedure: While exhaling, swing down from the hips keeping your upper body and torso straight. Without bending the knees place your hands on either sides of your feet flat on the mat, head as close to your knees as possible.

Benefits: Disorders of the belly and digestive system are corrected. The chest and hands become stronger and you become well balanced, beautiful and good looking. Diseases of the feet and fingers are also corrected.

4th Step: Asva Sancalanasan (Equestrian pose)

Mantra: aum hraim bhanave namah|

Concentration: Eyebrow Centre (Ajna).

Procedure: Inhale, bring the right foot to the back of the mat on the toes like a lunge. Using your finger tips for support and the left leg at a right angle start bending the extended leg at the knee towards the floor and look up.

Benefits: The posture stretches the small intestine and the seminal vesicles. Hence this posture helps in correcting the constipation and diseases of the liver. Thinness of the semen is also corrected. Diseases of the throat are also corrected.

5thStep: Dandasan (Plank pose)

Mantra: aum hroum khagyaa namah|

Concentration: Neck Centre (Vishuddhi).

Procedure: Retain your breath and extend your left leg back on your toes side by side, your right without moving the position of your hands and leg at all. Palms flat on the mat, keep your spine straight and elbows locked. Do not let your head or hips drop. It should look like you are about to do a push up.

Benefits: One gets relief from the pains – especially of arms, legs and the knees. Bulging waist is trimmed and it is good for the abdominal disorders.

6thStep: Astanaga Namaskar (Salute with eight parts or points)

Mantra: aum hrah pusne namah|

Concentration: Behind Navel (Manipura).

Procedure: Exhale, bending your elbows towards your body and going down as low as you can at the shoulders while keeping the rest of your body perfectly stiff exactly like a push up. Once down near the floor, bend and drop your knees, chest and forehead to the ground lightly touching in that order.

Your hips and pelvic should still be raised. Eight points should be touching the floor in this step- forehead, chest, and two palms, both knees and both feet.

Benefits: This posture makes the arms strong. If ladies perform this Asana before getting pregnant, the breast fed babies could be saved from the attacks of many diseases.

7th Step:Bhujangasana(Cobra pose)

Mantra: aum hram hiranyagarbhyay namah|

Concentration: Root of spinal column (Svadhisthana).

Procedure: Inhale, while swinging your body forwards, straightening your arms, stretching your shoulders upwards and lowering your hips down to the ground. Lift your chest upward and arch your back and look up towards the ceiling.

Benefits: Tones up the body and the back muscles and improves the eyesight. Corrects all kinds of disorders related to the reproductive system, corrects the irregularities in females menstrual cycles. Blood circulation is also improved.

8th Step: Parvatasana(mountain pose)

Mantra: aum hrim maricaye namh|

Concentration: Neck Centre (Vishuddhi).

Procedure: Exhale and without moving your hands and feet, tuck your toes and raise your hips and backside up. Elongate the spine and straighten the knees, spreading the fingers evenly push down from your forearms and try to put your heels down to the ground pushing back the thighs. Let your head hang and try lowering your shoulder blades to broaden the collarbone.

Benefits: One gets relief from the pains – especially of arms, legs and the knees. Bulging waist is trimmed and it is good for the abdominal disorders.

9th Step: Asva Sancalanasan

Mantra: aum hrum adityaya namah|

Concentration: Eyebrow Centre (Ajna).

Procedure: Inhale, bring the right foot to the back of the mat on the toes like a lunge. Using your finger tips for support and the left leg at a right angle start bending the extended leg at the knee towards the floor and look up.

Benefits: The posture stretches the small intestine and the seminal vesicles. Hence this posture helps in correcting the constipation and diseases of the liver. Thinness of the semen is also corrected. Diseases of the throat are also corrected.

10th Step: Padahastasana (Hand to foot pose)

Mantra: aum hraim savitre namah|

Concentration: Root of spinal column (Svadhisthana).

Procedure: While exhaling, swing down from the hips keeping your upper body and torso straight. Without bending the knees place your hands on either sides of your feet flat on the mat, head as close to your knees as possible.

Benefits: Disorders of the belly and digestive system are corrected. The chest and hands become stronger and you become well balanced, beautiful and good looking. Diseases of the feet and fingers are also corrected.

11th Step: Hasta utthanasan (Raised arms pose)

Mantra: aum hroum arkyaa namah|

Concentration: Neck Centre (Visuddhi).

Procedure: On inhale, stretch your arms up over your head, palms still together. Then arching back as far as you can go, stretch with your arms apart for next pose.

Benefits: Both the shoulders and the food pipe (Esophagus) get exercise and diseases related to them are corrected. Eyesight is also improved.

12th Step: Pranamasana

Mantra: aum hrah bhaskaraya namah|

Concentration: Heart Centre (Anahata).

Procedure: Exhale and return back to Tadasana. Stand erect with your chest out, feet together, knees pulled up and thighs tight like in Tadasana. Bring your hands forward, in front of your chest as if in prayer, elbows straight and not drooping.

Benefits: Good for the diseases of the throat and voice is enhanced. Both mind and body become healthy.

Then come back to the 1st position and repeat the full round once more. Our ancients used to do 25 rounds of Surya Namaskaras, called one avrutti.

Benefits of Surya Namaskara Mantra

The mantras chanted while performing the Surya Namaskara generate minute vibrations in the body which helps and corrects functioning of all systems and glands in the body. The whole Surya Namaskara process tones up the functioning of all systems in the body like sensory, Respiratory, Circulatory, Digestive and Nervous systems. Balanced state of mind and concentration and wide Memory powers also result.

 

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