Surya Namaskar

 SURYA - NAMASKARAM

 

The Surya - Namaskaram or offering prostrations to the Sun is practised in the early morning or evening, facing the Sun. The Sun is supposed to be the deity for health and long life. The Surya - Namaskaram evolves a unique method of effecting perfect synthesis of culture of body, mind and spirit. A harmonious development of the body and mind enables a person to fulfill one’s ambitions and live a fruitful and happy life here in this world.

 The Surya - Namaskaram is combined process of pranayama and yoga Asanas.

 

PRAYER TO THE SUN

     "OM Suryam Sundara lokanathamamritham

     Vedaantha saram shivam,

     Jnaanam Brahmamayam Sureshamamalam

     Lokaika Chittham Swayam;

     Indraaditya naraadhipam Suragurum

     Trailokya choodamanim,

     Brahma Vishnu Shiva Swarupa hridayam

     Vande Sadaa Bhaskaram".

 

Meaning :

  I  always adore Surya, the Sun, the beautiful Lord of the World, the immortal, the quintessence of the Vedanta, the auspicious, the absolute knowledge, of the form of Brahman, the Lord of the gods, ever pure, the one true consciousness of the world itself, the Lord of Indra, the gods and men, the preceptor of the gods, the crest jewel of the three worlds, the very heart of the forms of Brahma, Vishnu and      Shiva, the giver of light.

 II  Then repeat the twelve names of the Lord by turning around (or mentally) for each Namaskarams

The twelve names are:

  1.          OM Mitraya Namaha     (Prostration to Surya, who is affectionate to all)

 2.          OM Ravaye Namaha      (Prostration to Surya, who is the cause for change)

 3.          OM Suryaaya Namaha  (Prostration to Surya, who induces activity)

 4.          OM Bhaanave Namaha (Prostration to Surya, who diffuses light)

 5.          OM Khagaaya Namaha  (Prostration to Surya, who moves in the sky)

 6.          OM Pushne Namaha      (Prostration to Surya, who nourishes all)

 7.          OM Hiranya garbhaaya Namaha             (Prostration to Surya, who contains everything)

 8.          OM Marichaaye Namaha            (Prostration to Surya, who possesses rays)

 9.          OM Adityaaya Namaha (Prostration to Surya, who is God gods)

10.         OM Savitre Namaha       (Prostration to Surya, who produces everything)

11.         OM Arkaaya Namaha    (Prostration to Surya, who is fit to be worshipped)

12.         OM Bhaskaraaya Namaha          (Prostration to Surya, who is the cause of lustre)

Thus, Surya - Namaskaram provides the foundation for the magnificent all-round culture of body, mind and spirit, which is essential for every human being.

Ayur Mantra

 

Ayur Mantra from the Taittiriya Aranyaka IV.2

A mantra for health and nourishment.
It can be practised with the ancient art of nyasa, a type of mudra practice, where the placing of the mantra on or around the body is said to be beneficial to the nourishment and protection for the psyche.

Sunday class 6/28/2020

Upavishta Marichayasana - Twist
Vajrasana
Vajrasana - Urdhvahasta - Utthita Ardha chandrasana
Inhale - Exhale

Surya Namaskar - With twist in Bhujanasana
Parivtitta Parshva Konasana
Virabhadrasana 1 and 2
Dynamic bridge - Awareness of jalandhara bandha
Viparita Karani
Breath awareness, engaging the base of the rib cage 

Joyful moments:

• Sharing the practice on Saturday morning
• Having Rajul ji in the class and the activity to reflect Yajna spirit. Whn all of us come together the outcome is very close to what needs to be accomplished.
• Amita asking me to teach yoga for CHYKS
• Sriram ji sharing the yoga article where all the consolidated work that is going on in India is summarized by Dr.Anand Bhavnani
• Attending Karma Yoga lectures
• Thankful for the lunch 
• Planning for the workshop
• Arun's certification
• Sharing the meal with Amritha without TV or Radio :)

Surya Namaskar

Reflections on Surya Namaskar

On Saturday - Dhiren ji talked about, looking at the fireworks Sun produces everyday. That reminded me of the story of the CEO, every time he sees the penny, He looks at it to remind himself of " In God we trust".

Everytime, we do Surya namaskar as a way to remind our self of the Sun as the giver of this life.

In Chapter 4, Lord Krishna says - He has given the karma yoga first to Vivasavan, who is the Sun, who work on the principle of Karma yoga.
- Doing one's duty
- Doing it in the spirit of yajna
- Doing it without attachment.

We see all these principles reflected clearly in the actions of Sun.

Poems I read while on vacation to Utah

The Birth Of A Stone by Kwang-kyu Kim, South Korea, Translated by Brother Anthony

in those deep mountain ravines
I wonder if there are stones
that no one has ever visited?
I went up the mountain
in quest of a stone no one had ever seen
from the remotest of the times

Under ancient pines
on steep pathless slopes
there was a stone
I wonder
how long
this stone all thick with moss
has been
here?

Two thousand years? Two million? Two billion?
No
Not at all
If really till now no one
has ever seen this stone
it is only
here
from now on
This stone
was only born
the moment I first saw it

Far And Close - Gu Cheng, translated by Edward Morin

You
Look a while at me,
Look a while at cloud.

I feel
You are far away while looking at me,
So very close while looking at the cloud.