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HandWiki. Surya Namaskar. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/36487 (accessed on 02 July 2024).
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Surya Namaskar
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Surya Namaskar (Sanskrit: सूर्यनमस्कार IAST: Sūrya Namaskāra), Salute to the Sun or Sun Salutation, is a practice in yoga as exercise incorporating a flow sequence of some twelve gracefully linked asanas. 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 solar deity Surya. In some Indian traditions, the positions are each associated with a different mantra. The precise origins of Surya Namaskar are uncertain, but the sequence was made popular in the early 20th century by Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi, the Rajah of Aundh, and adopted into yoga by Krishnamacharya in the Mysore Palace, where the Surya Namaskar classes, not then considered to be yoga, were held next door to his yogasala. Pioneering yoga teachers taught by Krishnamacharya, including Pattabhi Jois and B. K. S. Iyengar, taught transitions between asanas derived from Surya Namaskar to their pupils worldwide. Variant yoga sequences such as those called Chandra Namaskar (Moon Salutation) have been created based on the original sequence taught by Pant Pratinidhi.

yoga सूर्यनमस्कार yogasala

1. 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.[1][2]

The name Surya Namaskar is from the Sanskrit सूर्य Sūrya, "Sun" and नमस्कार Namaskāra, "Greeting" or "Salute".[3] Surya is the Hindu god of the sun.[4] This identifies the Sun as the soul and source of all life.[5] Chandra Namaskar is similarly from Sanskrit चन्द्र Chandra, "Moon".[6]

The origins of Surya Namaskar are vague; Indian tradition connects the 17th century saint Samarth Ramdas with Surya Namaskar exercises, without defining what movements were involved.[7] In the 1920s, Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi, the Rajah of Aundh, popularized and named the practice, describing it in his 1928 book The Ten-Point Way to Health: Surya Namaskars.[1][2][8][9] It has been asserted that Pant Pratinidhi invented it,[10] but Pant stated that it was already a commonplace Marathi tradition.[11]

Ancient but simpler Sun salutations such as Aditya Hridayam, described in the "Yuddha Kaanda" Canto 107 of the Ramayana,[12][13][14] are not related to the modern sequence.[15] The anthropologist Joseph Alter states that Surya Namaskar was not recorded in any Haṭha yoga text before the 19th century.[16] 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.[2]

Elliott Goldberg called Vishnudevananda's 1960 sequence (positions 5 to 8 shown) a "new utilitarian conception of Surya Namaskar", rejecting his guru Sivananda's view of it as a health cure.[17] https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1910271

The yoga scholar-practitioner Norman Sjoman suggested that Krishnamacharya, "the father of modern yoga",[18][19] used the traditional and "very old"[20] Indian wrestlers' exercises called dands (Sanskrit: दण्ड daṇḍ, a staff), described in the 1896 Vyayama Dipika,[21] as the basis for the sequence and for his transitioning vinyasas.[20] Different dands closely resemble the Surya Namaskar asanas Tadasana, Padahastasana, Caturanga Dandasana, and Bhujangasana.[20] 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.[22] The yoga scholar Mark Singleton states that "Krishnamacharya was to make the flowing movements of sūryanamaskār the basis of his Mysore yoga style".[23] His students, K. Pattabhi Jois,[24] who created modern day Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga,[25] 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.[22]

The historian of modern yoga Elliott Goldberg writes that Vishnudevananda's 1960 book The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga "proclaimed in print" a "new utilitarian conception of Surya Namaskar"[17][26] 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."[17]

2. Description

Sun Salutation at a public yoga event in Katni, India. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1882052

Surya Namaskar[27] 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.[3]

In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, there are two Surya Namaskar sequences, types A and B.[28] The type A sequence of asanas is Pranamasana, Urdhva Hastasana, Uttanasana, Phalakasana (high plank), Chaturanga Dandasana, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana and back to Pranamasana.[28] The type B sequence of asanas (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.[28]

A typical[29] Surya Namaskar cycle is:

 
1: Pranamasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1284359		 75px
2: Hasta Uttanasana
3. Uttanasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1944922		  

12: Back to 1. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1284359		      
4. Anjaneyasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1310678

11. Hasta Uttanasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1242640		      
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1078702

10. Uttanasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1242640		      
6. Ashtanga Namaskara. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1184792
 
9. Anjaneyasana,
opposite foot. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1310678		 100px
8. Adho Mukha
Svanasana
7.Urdhva Mukha
Shvanasana. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1357269		  

3. 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 Oṃ Mitrāya Namaḥ affectionate to all
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ रवये नमः Oṃ Ravaye Namaḥ cause of all changes
Padahastasana ॐ सूर्याय नमः Oṃ Sūryāya Namaḥ who induces all activity
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ भानवे नमः Oṃ Bhānave Namaḥ who diffuses light
Parvatasana ॐ खगाय नमः Oṃ Khagāya Namaḥ who moves in the sky
Ashtanga Namaskara ॐ पूष्णे नमः Oṃ Pūṣṇe Namaḥ who nourishes all
Bhujangasana ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः Oṃ Hiraṇya Garbhāya Namaḥ who contains everything
Parvatasana ॐ मरीचये नमः Oṃ Marīcaye Namaḥ who possesses raga
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ आदित्याय नमः Oṃ Ādityāya Namaḥ son of Aditi
Padahastasana ॐ सवित्रे नमः Oṃ Savitre Namaḥ who produces everything
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ अर्काय नमः Oṃ Arkāya Namaḥ fit to be worshipped
Tadasana ॐ भास्कराय नमः Oṃ 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[31][32][33] Chakra[32] Breathing
Tadasana ॐ ह्रां Oṃ Hrāṁ Anahata (heart) exhale
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ ह्रीं Oṃ Hrīṁ Vishuddhi (throat) inhale
Padahastasana ॐ ह्रूं Oṃ Hrūṁ Swadhisthana (sacrum) exhale
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ ह्रैं Oṃ Hraiṁ Ajna (third eye) inhale
Parvatasana ॐ ह्रौं Om Hrauṁ Vishuddhi (throat) exhale
Ashtanga Namaskara ॐ ह्रः Oṃ Hraḥ Manipura (solar plexus) suspend
Bhujangasana ॐ ह्रां Oṃ Hrāṁ Swadhisthana (sacrum) inhale
Parvatasana ॐ ह्रीं Oṃ Hrīṁ Vishuddhi (throat) exhale
Ashwa Sanchalanasana ॐ ह्रूं Oṃ Hrūṁ Ajna (third eye) inhale
Padahastasana ॐ ह्रैं Oṃ Hraiṁ Swadhisthana (sacrum) exhale
Urdhva Hastasana ॐ ह्रौं Oṃ Hrauṁ Vishuddhi (throat) inhale
Tadasana ॐ ह्रः Oṃ Hraḥ Anahata (heart) exhale

4. Variations

4.1. Inserting Other Asanas

Many variations are possible. For example, in Iyengar Yoga the sequence may intentionally be varied to run asanas 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.[3]

4.2. 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 the asanas 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] But unlike Surya Namaskar, the Chandra Namaskar is performed during the night.[38]

5. 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.[39][40] 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.[40]

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.[39][41]

6. Muscle Usage

A 2014 study indicated that the muscle groups activated by specific asanas varied 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.[42][43]

7. In Culture

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."[44]

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.[45]

References

  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." 
  2. Singleton 2010, pp. 180–181, 205–206.
  3. Mehta 1990, pp. 146–147.
  4. 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. 
  5. 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. 
  6. 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. 
  7. 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." 
  8. S. P. Sen, Dictionary of National Biography; Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta 1972 Vols. 1–4; Institute of Historical Studies, Vol 3, page 307
  9. Alter 2000, p. 99.
  10. Alter 2004, p. 163.
  11. Singleton 2010, p. 124.
  12. 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. 
  13. sanskrit.safire.com, Aditya Hrudayam with English translation http://sanskrit.safire.com/pdf/ADITYA_TRANS.PDF
  14. Translation of Ramayana by Griffith http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry502.htm
  15. Mujumdar 1950.
  16. Alter 2004, p. 23.
  17. Goldberg 2016, pp. 329–331.
  18. Mohan, A. G.; Mohan, Ganesh (29 November 2009). "Memories of a Master". Yoga Journal. http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2590. 
  19. Anderson, Diane (9 August 2010). "The YJ Interview: Partners in Peace". http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2605. 
  20. Sjoman 1999, p. 54.
  21. Bharadwaj, S. (1896). Vyayama Dipika | Elements of Gymnastic Exercises, Indian System. Bangalore: Caxton Press. pp. Chapter 2. 
  22. Singleton 2010, p. 175-210.
  23. Singleton 2010, p. 180.
  24. 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. 
  25. Ramaswami 2005, pp. 213-219.
  26. Vishnudevananda 1988.
  27. "How to do 12 Surya Namaskar Postures - You Should Practice Every Morning" (in en-US). 2020-03-11. https://yogavinirishikesh.com/12-surya-namaskar-postures-practice/. 
  28. 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. 
  29. As shown in the Indira Gandhi Airport sculpture, above.
  30. "Surya Namaskara". 2011. http://sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=1233. 
  31. 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. Hardowar, Radha (June 2018). "Surya Namaskar". Shri Surya Narayan Mandir. http://shrisuryanarayanmandir.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SURYA-NAMASKAR.pdf. 
  33. The Bījā mantras are sounds, not translatable words.[36]
  34. 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. 
  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. 
  37. Tomlinson, Kirsty. "Moon Salutation sequence". https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/practice/moon-salutation-sequence. 
  38. Mukharjee, Arindam. "Surya Namaskar steps and Benefits". Rishikesh Yoga Teacher Training Center. https://www.rishikeshyttc.com/12-steps-of-surya-namaskar. 
  39. 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. https://dx.doi.org/10.1249%2FMSS.0000000000000922
  40. 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.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1161%2FCIRCULATIONAHA.107.185649
  41. 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.[43]
  42. 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. PMID 25146071.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ctim.2014.06.006
  43. 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. 
  44. "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. 
  45. "Suryanamaskar and Yoga Atop of Mountain Summit (18600 Feet)". 3 October 2019. http://www.worldrecordsindia.com/2019/10/suryanamaskar-and-yoga-atop-of-mountain-summit-18600-feet. 
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