Religion:Surya Namaskār

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Sculpture of the 12 asanas of one form of Surya Namaskar[lower-alpha 1] in Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi.[1]

Surya Namaskar (Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार IAST: Sūrya Namaskār), Salute to the Sun or Sun Salutation, is a practice in yoga as exercise incorporating a sequence of some twelve gracefully linked asanas.[2][3] The asana sequence was first recorded as yoga in the early 20th century, though similar exercises were in use in India before that, for example among wrestlers. The basic sequence involves moving from a standing position into Downward and Upward Dog poses and then back to the standing position, but many variations are possible. The set of 12 asanas is dedicated to the Hindu God Surya. In some Indian traditions, the positions are each associated with a different mantra.

Variant sequences called Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutation) have also been created.

Etymology and origins

Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi provided this double-page guide to Surya Namaskar at the back of his 1928 book The Ten-Point Way to Health: Surya Namaskars as well as in the body of the text, stating that it could be removed for use without damaging the text of the book.[4][5]

The name Surya Namaskar is from the Sanskrit सूर्य Sūrya, "Sun" and नमस्कार Namaskār, "Greeting" or "Salute".[6] Surya is the Hindu god of the sun.[7] This identifies the sun as the soul and source of all life.[8] Chandra Namaskar is similarly from Sanskrit चन्द्र Chandra, "moon".[9]

Indian tradition connects the 17th century saint Samarth Ramdass with Surya Namaskar exercises, without defining what movements were involved.[10]

Ancient but simpler sun salutations such as Aditya Hridayam, described in the "Yuddha Kaanda" Canto 107 of the Ramayana,[11][12][13] are not related to the modern sequence.[14]

The anthropologist Joseph Alter states that Surya Namaskar was not recorded in any Haṭha yoga text before the 19th century.[15]

In the 1920s, Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi, the Rajah of Aundh, (1868–1951; in office 1909-1947) popularized and named the practice, describing it in his 1928 book The Ten-Point Way to Health: Surya Namaskars.[4][5][16][17] At that time, Surya Namaskar was not considered to be yoga, and its postures were not considered asanas; the pioneer of yoga as exercise Yogendra wrote criticising the "indiscriminate" mixing of sun salutation with yoga as the "ill-informed" were doing.[5] It has been asserted that Pant Pratinidhi invented it,[18] but Pant stated that it was already a commonplace Marathi tradition.[19]

The yoga scholar-practitioner Norman Sjoman suggested that Krishnamacharya, "the father of modern yoga",[20][21] used the traditional and "very old"[22] Indian wrestlers' exercises called dands (Sanskrit: दण्ड daṇḍ, a staff), described in the 1896 Vyayama Dipika,[23] as the basis for the sequence and for his transitioning vinyasas.[22] Different dands closely resemble the Surya Namaskar asanas Tadasana, Padahastasana, Caturanga Dandasana, and Bhujangasana.[22] Krishnamacharya was aware of Surya Namaskar, since regular classes were held in the hall adjacent to his Yogasala in the Rajah of Mysore's palace.[24] His students K. Pattabhi Jois,[25] who created modern day Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga,[26] and B. K. S. Iyengar, who created Iyengar Yoga, both learnt Surya Namaskar and flowing vinyasa movements between asanas from Krishnamacharya and used them in their styles of yoga.[24]

The historian of modern yoga Elliott Goldberg writes that Vishnudevananda's 1960 book Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga "proclaimed in print" a "new utilitarian conception of Surya Namaskar"[27][28] which his guru Sivananda had originally promoted as a health cure through sunlight. Goldberg notes that Vishnudevananda modelled the positions of Surya Namaskar for photographs in the book, and that he recognised the sequence "for what it mainly is: not treatment for a host of diseases but fitness exercise."[27]

Description

Sun Salutation at a public yoga event in Katni, India

Surya Namaskar is a sequence of around twelve yoga asanas connected by jumping or stretching movements, varying somewhat between schools. In Iyengar Yoga, the basic sequence is Tadasana, Urdhva Hastasana, Uttanasana, Uttanasana with head up, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Chaturanga Dandasana, and then reversing the sequence to return to Tadasana; other poses can be inserted into the sequence.[6]

In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, there are two Surya Namaskar sequences, types A and B, as follows:[29]

The type A sequence is Pranamasana, Urdhva Hastasana, Uttanasana, Phalakasana (high plank), Chaturanga Dandasana, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana and back to Pranamasana.[29]

The type B sequence (differences marked in italics) is Pranamasana, Utkatasana, Uttanasana, Ardha Uttanasana, Phalakasana, Chaturanga Dandasana, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Virabhadrasana I, repeat from Phalakasana onwards with Virabhadrasana I on the other side, then repeat Phalakasana through to Adho Mukha Svanasana (a third time), Ardha Uttanasana, Uttanasana, Utkatasana, and back to Pranamasana.[29]

A typical[lower-alpha 2] Surya Namaskar cycle is:

1Pranamasana.JPG
1: Pranamasana		 75px
2: Hasta Uttanasana		 3Uttanasana.JPG
3. Uttanasana
1Pranamasana.JPG
12: back to 1		 4godhapitham (l‘iguane).JPG
4. Anjaneyasana
2Urdva Hastasana.JPG
11. Hasta Uttanasana

5adho mukha shvanasana.JPG
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana
3Uttanasana.JPG
10. Uttanasana		 6Ashtanga Namaskara.JPG
6. Ashtanga Namaskara
4godhapitham (l‘iguane).JPG
9. Anjaneyasana,
opposite foot		 100px
8. Adho Mukha
Svanasana		 7urdhva mukha shvanasana.JPG
7.Urdhva Mukha
Shvanasana

Mantras

In some yoga traditions, each step of the sequence is associated with a mantra. In traditions including Sivananda Yoga, the steps are linked with twelve names of the God Surya, the sun:[30]

Step (Asana) Mantra (name of Surya)[30] Translation[30]
Tadasana ॐ मित्राय नमः Om Mitrāya Namaḥ affectionate to all
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ रवये नमः Om Ravaye Namaḥ cause of all changes
Padahastasana ॐ सूर्याय नमः Om Sūryāya Namaḥ who induces all activity
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ भानवे नमः Om Bhānave Namaḥ who diffuses light
Parvatasana ॐ खगाय नमः Om Khagāya Namaḥ who moves in the sky
Ashtanga Namaskara ॐ पूष्णे नमः Om Pūṣṇe Namaḥ who nourishes all
Bhujangasana ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः Om Hiraṇya Garbhāya Namaḥ who contains everything
Parvatasana ॐ मरीचये नमः Om Marīcaye Namaḥ who possesses raga
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ आदित्याय नमःOm Ādityāya Namaḥ God of Gods
Padahastasana ॐ सवित्रे नमः Om Savitre Namaḥ who produces everything
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ अर्काय नमः Om Arkāya Namaḥ fit to be worshipped
Tadasana ॐ भास्कराय नमः Om Bhāskarāya Namaḥ cause of lustre

Indian tradition associates the steps with Bījā ("seed" sound) mantras and with five chakras (focal points of the subtle body).[31][32]

Step (Asana) Bījā mantra[32][31][lower-alpha 3] Chakra[32] Breathing
Tadasana ॐ ह्रां Om Hrāṁ Anahata (heart) exhale
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ ह्रीं Om Hrīṁ Vishuddhi (throat) inhale
Padahastasana ॐ ह्रूं Om Hrūṁ Swadhisthana (sacrum) exhale
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ ह्रैं Om Hraiṁ Ajna (third eye) inhale
Parvatasana ॐ ह्रौं Om Hrauṁ Vishuddhi (throat) exhale
Ashtanga Namaskara ॐ ह्रः Om Hraḥ Manipura (solar plexus) suspend
Bhujangasana ॐ ह्रां Om Hrāṁ Swadhisthana (sacrum) inhale
Parvatasana ॐ ह्रीं Om Hrīṁ Vishuddhi (throat) exhale
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ ह्रूं Om Hrūṁ Ajna (third eye) inhale
Padahastasana ॐ ह्रैं Om Hraiṁ Swadhisthana (sacrum) exhale
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ ह्रौं Om Hrauṁ Vishuddhi (throat) inhale
Tadasana ॐ ह्रः Om Hraḥ Anahata (heart) exhale

Variations

Inserting other asanas

Many variations are possible. For example, In Iyengar Yoga the sequence may intentionally be varied to run Tadasana, Urdhva Hastasana, Uttanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Lolasana, Janusirsasana (one side, then the other), and reversing the sequence from Adho Mukha Svanasana to return to Tadasana. Other asanas that may be inserted into the sequence include Navasana (or Ardha Navasana), Paschimottanasana and its variations, and Marichyasana I.[6]

Chandra Namaskar

Variant sequences named Chandra Namaskar, the Moon Salutation, are sometimes practised; these were created late in the 20th century.[34] One such sequence consists of Tadasana, Urdhva Hastasana, Anjaneyasana (sometimes called Half Moon Pose), a kneeling lunge, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Bitilasana, Balasana, kneeling with thighs, body, and arms pointing straight up, Balasana with elbows on ground, hands together in Anjali Mudra behind the head, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana, Urdhva Hastasana, Pranamasana, and Tadasana.[35] Other Moon Salutations with different asanas have been published.[34][36][37]

As exercise

The energy cost of exercise is measured in units of metabolic equivalent of task (MET). Less than 3 METs counts as light exercise; 3 to 6 METs is moderate; 6 or over is vigorous. American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association guidelines count periods of at least 10 minutes of moderate MET level activity towards their recommended daily amounts of exercise.[38][39] For healthy adults aged 18 to 65, the guidelines recommend moderate exercise for 30 minutes five days a week, or vigorous aerobic exercise for 20 minutes three days a week.[39]

Surya Namaskar's energy cost ranges widely according to how energetically it is practised, from a light 2.9 to a vigorous 7.4 METs. The higher end of the range requires transition jumps between the poses.[lower-alpha 4][38]

Muscle usage

A 2014 study indicated that different asanas activated particular groups of muscles, varying with the skill of the practitioners, from beginner to instructor. The eleven asanas in the Surya Namaskar sequences A and B (of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga) were performed by beginners, advanced practitioners and instructors. The activation of 14 groups of muscles was measured with electrode on the skin over the muscles. Among the findings, beginners used pectoral muscles more than instructors, whereas instructors used deltoid muscles more than other practitioners, as well as the vastus medialis (which stabilises the knee). The yoga instructor Grace Bullock writes that such patterns of activation suggest that asana practice increases awareness of the body and the patterns in which muscles are engaged, making exercise more beneficial and safer.[40][41]

In culture

The scholar of religion Shreena Niketa Gandhi notes that some Christians in America, such as St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Minnesota, name the asana sequence "Son Salutation", transferring the object of devotion from Surya (God of the sun) to Jesus (the son of God), in a practice they call "Yogadevotion".[42]

The founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, K. Pattabhi Jois, stated that "There is no Ashtanga yoga without Surya Namaskara, which is the ultimate salutation to the sun god."[43]

In 2019, a team of mountaineering instructors from Darjeeling climbed to the summit of Mount Elbrus and completed Surya Namaskar there at 18,600 feet (5,700 m), claimed as a world record.[44]

Notes

  1. ↑ Incorporating Ashtanga Namaskara in place of Caturanga Dandasana
  2. ↑ As shown in the Indira Gandhi Airport sculpture, above.
  3. ↑ The Bījā mantras are sounds, not translatable words.[33]
  4. ↑ Haskell, curious about the wide range of METs in Surya Namaskar, repeated the study (Mody) which gave the highest value; using "transition jumps, and full pushups", he obtained "agreement" with 6.4 METs.[39]

References

  1. ↑ "Destination Delhi". Indian Express. 4 September 2010. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/destination-delhi/677151. 
  2. ↑ Carol Mitchell (2003). Yoga on the Ball. Inner Traditions. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-89281-999-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=b8Xgqsbp_6oC. 
  3. ↑ Jane MacMullen (1988). Yoga Journal: Ashtanga Yoga. September/October. Active Interest. pp. 68–70. https://books.google.com/books?id=cfUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Pratinidhi, Pant (1928). The Ten-Point Way to Health | Surya Namaskars. J. M. Dent and Sons. pp. 113–115 and whole book. https://pdfslide.net/documents/surya-namaskara-1928-the-ten-point-way-to-health-by-shrimant-balasahib-rajah-of-aundh.html. "The ten positions of a Namaskar are repeated here and may be detached without damaging the book. The pages are perforated for easy removal." 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Singleton 2010, pp. 180–181, 205–206.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mehta 1990, pp. 146-147.
  7. ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 343. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA343. 
  8. ↑ Krishan Kumar Suman (2006). Yoga for Health and Relaxation. Lotus. pp. 83–84. ISBN 978-81-8382-049-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=ijWWEl5ktccC&pg=PA83. 
  9. ↑ Sinha, S. C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18. 
  10. ↑ Hindu Vishva. 15. 1980. p. 27. https://books.google.com/books?id=fR41AAAAIAAJ. "Sri Samarath Ramdas Swami took Surya Namaskar exercises with the Mantras as part of his Sadhana." 
  11. ↑ Murugan, Chillayah (13 October 2016). "Surya Namaskara — Puranic origins of Valmiki Ramayana in the Mumbai Court order on Surya Namaskar for Interfaith discrimination and curtailment of fundamental rights". http://www.milligazette.com/news/14834-mumbai-order-on-surya-namaskar-interfaith-discrimination-and-curtailment-of-fundamental-rights. Retrieved 13 Oct 2016. 
  12. ↑ sanskrit.safire.com, Aditya Hrudayam with English translation
  13. ↑ Translation of Ramayana by Griffith
  14. ↑ Mujumdar 1950.
  15. ↑ Alter 2004, p. 23.
  16. ↑ S. P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography; Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta 1972 Vols. 1-4; Institute of Historical Studies, Vol 3, page 307
  17. ↑ Alter 2000, p. 99.
  18. ↑ Alter 2004, p. 163.
  19. ↑ Singleton 2010, p. 124.
  20. ↑ Mohan, A. G.; Mohan, Ganesh (29 November 2009). "Memories of a Master". Yoga Journal. http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2590. 
  21. ↑ Anderson, Diane (9 August 2010). "The YJ Interview: Partners in Peace". http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2605. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Sjoman 1999, p. 54.
  23. ↑ Bharadwaj, S. (1896). Vyayama Dipika | Elements of Gymnastic Exercises, Indian System. Bangalore: Caxton Press. pp. Chapter 2. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Singleton 2010, p. 175-210.
  25. ↑ Donahaye, Guy (2010). Guruji: A Portrait of Sri K Pattabhi Jois Through The Eyes of His Students. USA: D&M Publishers. ISBN 978-0-86547-749-0. 
  26. ↑ Ramaswami 2005, pp. 213-219.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Goldberg 2016, pp. 329–331.
  28. ↑ Vishnudevananda 1988.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Hughes, Aimee. "Sun Salutation A Versus Sun Salutation B: The Difference You Should Know". https://www.yogapedia.com/sun-salutation-a-versus-sun-salutation-b-the-difference-you-should-know/2/11269. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Surya Namaskara". 2011. http://sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection&section_id=1233. Retrieved 19 July 2019. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Omar, Shazia (27 December 2016). "Sonic salutations to the sun". Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/lifestyle/kundalini-rising/sonic-salutations-the-sun-1335877. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Hardowar, Radha (June 2018). "Surya Namaskar". Shri Surya Narayan Mandir. http://shrisuryanarayanmandir.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SURYA-NAMASKAR.pdf. 
  33. ↑ Woodroffe, Sir John (2009) [1919]. ŚAKTI AND ŚĀKTA ESSAYS AND ADDRESSES ON THE ŚĀKTA TANTRAŚĀSTRA (3rd ed.). Celephaïs Press. p. 456. https://epdf.pub/sakti-and-sakta.html. "ŚAKTI AS MANTRA intoned in the proper way, according to both sound (Varṇ a) and rhythm (Svara). For these reasons, a Mantra when translated ceases to be such, and becomes a mere word or sentence. By Mantra, the sought-for (Sādhya) Devatb appears, and by Siddhi therein is had vision of the three worlds. As the Mantra is in fact Devatā, by practice thereof this is known. Not merely do the rhythmical vibrations of its sounds regulate the unsteady vibrations of the sheaths of the worshipper, but therefrom the image of the Devatā, appears. As the Bṛ had-Gandharva Tantra says (Ch. V):— Śrinu devi pravakṣ yāmi bījānām deva-rūpatām Mantroccāranamātrena deva-rūpam prajāyate." 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Ferretti, Andrea; Rea, Shiva (1 March 2012). "Soothing Moon Shine: Chandra Namaskar". https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/moon-shine. 
  35. ↑ Mirsky, Karina. "A Meditative Moon Salutation". https://yogainternational.com/article/view/a-meditative-moon-salutation. Retrieved 23 July 2019. 
  36. ↑ Venkatesan, Supriya. "Moon Salutations". Yoga U. https://www.yogauonline.com/yoga-practice-tips-and-inspiration/moon-salutations-cultivating-lunar-nectar-and-tapping-your-softer. Retrieved 23 July 2019. 
  37. ↑ Tomlinson, Kirsty. "Moon Salutation sequence". https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/practice/moon-salutation-sequence. Retrieved 23 July 2019. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Larson-Meyer, D. Enette (2016). "A Systematic Review of the Energy Cost and Metabolic Intensity of Yoga". Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 48 (8): 1558–1569. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000000922. ISSN 0195-9131. PMID 27433961.  The review examined 17 studies, of which 10 measured the energy cost of yoga sessions.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Haskell, William L. (2007). "Physical Activity and Public Health". Circulation 116 (9): 1081–1093. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.185649. ISSN 0009-7322. PMID 17671237. 
  40. ↑ Ni, Meng; Mooney, Kiersten; Balachandran, Anoop; Richards, Luca; Harriell, Kysha; Signorile, Joseph F. (2014). "Muscle utilization patterns vary by skill levels of the practitioners across specific yoga poses (asanas)". Complementary Therapies in Medicine 22 (4): 662–669. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2014.06.006. ISSN 0965-2299. 
  41. ↑ Bullock, B. Grace (2016). "Which Muscles Are You Using in Your Yoga Practice? A New Study Provides the Answers". https://www.yogauonline.com/yoga-anatomy/which-muscles-are-you-using-your-yoga-practice-new-study-provides-answers. Retrieved 22 July 2019. 
  42. ↑ Gandhi, Shreena Niketa (2017). Yoga in Popular Culture | Controversies and Conflicts (3rd ed.). University of California Press. pp. 342–343. ISBN 978-0-520-29144-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=vxKwDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA342. 
  43. ↑ "Surya Namaskar in the words of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois". https://empowerpeace.typepad.com/empowerpeace/2010/07/surya-namaskar-in-the-words-of-sri-k-pattabhi-jois.html. Retrieved 20 July 2019. 
  44. ↑ "Suryanamaskar and Yoga Atop of Mountain Summit (18600 Feet)". 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191003185629/http://www.worldrecordsindia.com/2019/10/suryanamaskar-and-yoga-atop-of-mountain-summit-18600-feet/. 

Sources

  • Alter, Joseph S. (2000). Gandhi's Body: Sex, Diet, and the Politics of Nationalism. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-812-23556-2. 
  •  ———  (2004). Yoga in modern India : the body between science and philosophy. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-11874-1. OCLC 53483558. 
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  • Mehta, Silva; Mehta, Mira; Mehta, Shyam (1990). Yoga: The Iyengar Way. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-0863184208. 
  • Mujumdar, Dattatraya Chintaman (Editor) (1950). Encyclopedia of Indian Physical Culture: A Comprehensive Survey of the Physical Education in India, Profusely Illustrating Various Activities of Physical Culture, Games, Exercises, Etc., as Handed Over to Us from Our Fore-fathers and Practised in India. Good Companions. 
  • Ramaswami, Srivatsa (2005). The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-1-56924-402-9. https://archive.org/details/completebookofvi00rama. 
  • Singleton, Mark (2010). Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice. Oxford University Press. pp. 180–181, 205–206. ISBN 978-0-19-974598-2. 
  • Sjoman, Norman E. (1999) [1996]. The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (2nd ed.). Abhinav Publications. ISBN 81-7017-389-2. 
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External links




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