Performing Surya Namaskar at sunrise or sunset aids circulation of blood, giving one a reddish glow like that of the rising or setting sun, explains YOGI ASHWINI
Makar Sankranti marks the change in the movement of the sun; marking its northward movement. To reap maximum benefit of the sun’s energy, you can do a simple kriya, the surya namaskar. “Om Suryay Namah Om, Om Surya Suryajyoti Namah Om.” (salutation to the Sun God)
Creation began with the sound of Om. From Om emerged all sounds, which further manifested into the dimension of colours and the five elements. The reverse process — from elements to colours to sounds to the eternal Om, opens doorways to the shaktis of creation. The closer a shakti is to creation, the closer is its sound to the eternal Om. A Western university recorded the sound of the sun and found it to be a continuous loop of unending Oms. “And sun powers all life on earth. Also, sun has no religion.”
The sun’s energy vibrates at innumerable frequencies manifesting in the physical as various food/prana for various living things like trees, leaves, animals, humans etc.
Our rishis understood the importance of the phenomenal force of the sun and thus gave us the Surya Namaskar, part of Surya Yoga, which allows one to pay salutation to the Sun God, one of the major sources of prana. Prana being the force in the universe, that which is responsible for creation, maintenance and transformation in the physical.
In Surya Namaskar, one draws prana that is the sun’s energy through the five senses called the paanchindriyas. This is very useful in bringing about balance at the levels of the koshas — Annamaya (physical), Pranamaya (pranic), Manomaya (intellect), Vigyanmaya (intuitive) and Ananadmaya (complete bliss) — of an individual, thereby bringing about the sthirta and strength from the core to the periphery.
Surya Namaskar is a complete sadhna, spiritual practice, which comprises 12 asans. Starting with Surya Namaskar, the awareness should always be at the manipurak chakra (located at the navel), which is also the chakra of the sun’s energy. It can be done at only two times — when the sun rises and when it sets, as at these two times the pranic frequency of the sun is most conducive to a human being’s state of balance. Hence, if someone performs Surya Namaskar at these two specific times, the circulation of blood (rudhir) helps the person attain a reddish glow like that of the rising or the setting sun.
Surya Naman or Pranamasana: The very first asan of Surya Namaskar is to pay your salutation to the Sun God, folding both hands and joining the palms at the level of anahad, the heart chakra.
Hasta Utthanasana (raised arms pose): Inhaling, raise your arms above the head, parallel to each other. Bend the head, arms and torso backward.
Padahastasana (hand to foot pose): Exhaling, bend forward, till your fingers or palms touch the floor on either side of the feet. Keeping the legs straight, try touching the knees with your forehead, but do not strain yourself. People with back problems should not over exert or avoid this asan.
Ashwa Sanchalanasana (equestrian pose): Bend the left knee lunging forward, and inhaling stretch the right leg as far behind as possible. Simultaneously, place the palms flat on the ground beside the left foot. Keep the arms straight, such that the entire body weight is supported on both hands, the left foot, right knee and toes of the right foot. Tilt your head backwards, arch your back and eyes in shambhavi mudra (both pupils looking at the centre point of your brows).
Parvatasana (mountain pose): From the Ashwa Sanchalanasana, gently take left foot behind beside the right foot while exhaling. Simultaneously, raise your hips placing both palms flat on the floor. Bring your head between the arms, so that the body forms a triangle. Keep both arms and legs straight in the final position, with your heels placed firmly on the ground and spine straight.
Ashtanga Namaskara (salute with eight parts or points): With your palms already placed flat on the floor, gently using your shoulders, bring the chest and chin to the floor, while keeping the buttocks, hips and abdomen raised on your toes. If this is not possible, first lower the knees, then the chest, and finally the chin. The buttocks, hips and abdomen should be raised.
Bhujangasana (cobra pose): Place your elbows close to the waist, the palms on the floor, next to the chest. Inhale. Gently raise your forehead, followed by the neck, the shoulders, and the upper and middle back such that the navel rests on the ground. Gently tilt the head backward such that the chin is pointing forward. The elbows are raised slightly off the ground and held close to the waist. People suffering from peptic ulcer, hernia, intestinal tuberculosis or hyperthyroidism must not practise this without expert guidance.
From here onwards, we move backwards. From Bhujangasana to Parvatasana (mountain pose). The hands and feet are not moved, instead only the hips are raised and heels lowered firmly on the floor. Moving then to Ashwa Sanchalanasana (equestrian pose), followed by Padahastasana (hand to foot pose), Hasta Utthanasana (raised arms pose) and finally Pranamasana.
Surya Namaskar should only be practised by people who have gone through the basic steps of Yog under the guidance and supervision of a guru. The practice is not suitable for beginners as it requires great degree of poise, flexibility, and strength in the body.
Also absorbing the sun’s prana in this direct way has the effect of phenomenally increasing the absorption of pranic energy in the person’s body. And as our rishis believed that more is not always better and less is definitely not worse, if the capacity of the body to absorb prana is not enhanced, it can cause damage. To enumerate in simple language, if in an appliance of 40 watts we put 100 watts, it blows out. Hence, by the yogic practices like the Sanatan Kriya and Ashtanga Yog, the capacity of the body is increased. This is essential because at the level you are, a state of balance is important.
The writer is the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation and an authority on Vedic Sciences
