14/08/2024
One cannot imagine a life without the Surya ( Sun) . All planets rotate around the Surya and get their energy from it. For all living forms too, Surya is the source of Sustenance, Radiance, Strength and Power. Through the Surya Namaskar one can obtain Knowledge, Intelligence and Power. Even science accepts that the Surya rays are capable of preventing diseases in a human. For incurable diseases the Surya Namskar is considered best. In the ancient times the Rishis and Yogis used to worship the Surya and perform its Sadhana for remaining disease free and healthy. It is not just in India the Sun has been worshipped in all around the world all civilizations like Roman, Greek and Egyptian.
Perceiving Divinityâs presence in all of creation, they worshiped all of natureâs aspects as more than just matter. They revered them as personal deities. The River Ganga became known as a goddess of the same name, the Earth as Bhumi, the wind as Vayu, the ocean as Varuna, and fire as Agni.
The sun, especially honored for its role in the sustainment of all life, was worshiped using different names, depending on the qualities one wished to appreciate. Though there were many, the most common evolved into a set of 12 Mantra sounds, used as part of a Divine Practices called Surya Namaskara Mantra . They are:
1-Mitra (âfriend of allâ)
2-Ravaye (âone who is praised by allâ)
3-Surya (âguide of allâ)
4-Bhanave (âbestower of beautyâ)
5-Khagaye (âstimulator of the sensesâ)
6-Pushne (ânourisher of lifeâ)
7-Hiranyagarbhaya (âpromoter of virilityâ)
8-Marichaye (âdestroyer of diseaseâ)
9-Aditya (âinspirator of loveâ)
10-Savitre (âbegetter of lifeâ)
11-Arkaya (âinspirator of aweâ)
12-Bhaskara (âeffulgent oneâ)
Performed at dawn while facing the sun and offering water in the deityâs honor, the practice calls for the sun to provide the strength, nobility, and dignity one needs to overcome lifeâs obstacles. Recognizing not only the spiritual benefits of the practices , but also the physical ones, as the early morning rays indeed proved to have a nourishing effect on the body, the yogis of the time began experimenting with the core concepts of the Surya Mantra, developing a practice that eventually came to be known as Surya Namaskar.
Known famously as âSun Salutations,â Surya Namaskar is now one of the most globally recognized yoga practices. There are a number of variations, but the general sequence flows through a series of 12 postures as follows:
Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)
Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute)
Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold)
Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Low Lunge)
Chaturanga Dandasana (Plank Pose)
Ashtanga Namaskar (Eight-limbed Salute)
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-facing Dog Pose)
Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Low Lunge)
Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold)
Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute)
Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)
Engaging the mind, body, and spirit in a discipline that offers oneâs entire being in gratitude to the sun, Surya Namaskar, on a fundamental level, is simply about connecting us to our natural roots, so we can learn to live in harmony with the world around us. Suryaâs worship, along with many of Hinduismâs other gods and goddesses â despite centering on stories involving astonishing feats â is thus actually rather easy to understand, especially in regards to those who expressed sincere devotion to him.
A sage named Agastya, who noticed Ramaâs exhaustion and wanted to help, descended to the prince during a break in the fight, and taught him a prayer known as Aditya Hridayam, which had the ability to invoke the sunâs power. Following the sageâs instructions, Rama, who is said to have come from a long line of kings descending from Surya himself, swiftly turned toward the sun with a natural affection, and began reciting the hymn.
Immediately experiencing a change in his mind and body, which became infused with Suryaâs spiritual energy, Rama felt incredible strength and happiness. His fatigue gone, he thus took up his bow with renewed enthusiasm, and went on to slay Ravana.
