Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar
Suryashtakam @ omshivam.wordpress.comSurya Namaskar & Surya UpasanaSurya Namaskar is included in the regular routine of prayer and worship. Means it must be practiced regularly. Its greater importance has been described in the scriptures. As per the scriptures, a single day worship of the sun has virtues equivalent to the bestowal presentation of one lakh milk cows. Like worship, Surya Namaskaras too has their own significance. Surya Namaskara means prayer (Vandana) of Lord Surya. Surya Vandana is short. Surya Namaskara is an ancient system of Indian exercise. Stand facing the east at dawn and peacefully chant the mantras to pray Lord Surya and offer red sandals, flowers, rice grains (Akshatas) with water or simply the water alone as ARGHE (libation) and perform Surya Namaskara. This whole process must be performed before the sunrise.Take water in a metal pot and mix all the available veneration materials in it and hold the pot in your fingers alone keeping the thumbs aside and facing the east and chanting the following Mantra offer the libation thrice.EHI SURYA! SAHASTRANSHO! TEJORASHE! JAGATPATEANUKAMPAYA MAM BHAKTYA GRIHANARGHYAM DIVAKARA !Now recite the following Mantra to pray Lord Surya.DHYEYAH SADA SAVITRI MANDALA MADHYAVARTINARAYANAH SARSIJA SANA SANNI VISHTHAH !KEYURVAN MAKAR KUNDALA VAAN KIRITI,HARI HIRANYA MAYA VAPUR DHRIT SHANKHA CHAKRAH ||NAMASKARAThere are twelve positions or a posture involves in Surya Namaskara. With all of these twelve positions, each and every part of the body gets ample execrsie. Surya Namaslara also enhances the vision.Among these twelve positions, ten are Asanas only. The first one and the last one are two positions. All these Asanas and position are very easy to perform and can easily be practised by the people of all ages. Together these twelve positions constitute the process of Surya Namaskara and twenty-five Namaskaras form one Avriti (frequency).Surya Namaskar must be performed at some open and airy place. Perform Surya Namaskara slowly without feeling tired (fatigue) or panting and puffing, changing the feet every time, it must be performed on each of the feet successively.The completely procedure of performing Surya Namaskara is thus: It begins with the Mantras, one each for all the twelve Namaskara. These Mantras are as follows:OM MITRAYA NAMAHOM RAVAYE NAMAHOM SURYAY NAMAHOM BHANAVE NAMAHOM KHAGAYE NAMAHOM PUSHNE NAMAHOM HIRANYA GARBHAYE NAMAHOM MARICHAYE NAMAHOM AADITYAAYA NAMAHOM SAVITRE NAMAHOM ARKAYA NAMAHOM BHASKARAYA NAMAHPOSTURE OF THE FIRST NAMASKARA DAKSHASANAMantra: OM MITRAYA NAMAHProcedure :In the first position of Surya Namaskara contemplate the virtues of Lord Surya with concentrated mind and feel that you are the friend of everybody and have friendship with every creature on the earth. Immersing yourself with these feelings stand erect stretching your hand, neck and all other parts of your body. Stretching both of your arms, touch your thighs with palms and inflate the chest and point your vision on the tip of the point your vision on the tip of the nose. This is a position of attention. Since you stand straight in ‘Daksha’ position hence this posture is named ‘DAKSHASANA’.BENEFITS –Disorders of the skin and waists are corrected, the back becomes strength and new life and vigor are pumped into the legs.Focusing of the vision on nose helps to control the mind.The face becomes gloriousIt is an easy and effective way of attaining good health and development of personality for the students.Meditating with concentrated mind enhances confidence.POSTURE OF THE SECOND NAMASKARA NAMASKARASANA
Mantra : OM RAVAYE NAMAHProcedure :Fold together both of your hands in such a way that that both the thumbs begin to touch your chest. Expand your chest and pull in the belly as far as possible. Look straight ahead. The head, the neck and the body should remain in a straight line. Closing the mouth inhale the breath and hold it inside as far as possible and then expose the breath.BENEFITS :Disease of the throat is corrected and voice is enhanced. Both mind and body become healthy.POSTURE OF THE THIRD NAMASKARAPARVATASANA Mantra : OM SURYAYA NAMAHProcedure : Raising the arms up, stretch whole of your body backward while gazing the sky with open eyes. Ben backward as mush as possible, expand your chest at the same time.BENEFITS :Both the shoulders and the food pipe (Esophagus) get exercise and diseases related to them are corrected. Eyesight is also improved.POSTURE OF THE FOURTH NAMASKARA
HASTAPADASANAMantra : OM BHANAVE NAMAHProcedure : Inhaling the breath through nostrils retain it and bend forward without folding the knees. Ultimately rest both of your palms on the ground and touch your knees with your forehead or the nose and exhale the breath that you held so far with audible sound. If, in the beginning you are unable to rest your palms on the unable to rest your palms on the ground, simply touch the ground with finger and practice slowly.BENEFITS :Disorders of the belly and digestive system are corrected. The chest grows strong, hands too become stronger and your become well balanced, beautiful and good looking.Disease of the feet, fingers are also corrected and new lease of life is pumped in week persons.POSTURE OF THE FIFTH NAMASKARA
EKAPADA PRASARANASANAMantra : OM KHAGAYA NAMAHProcedure : Inhale the breath through nostrils and pull your right leg backward in such a way that the knee and the fingers of the foot touch the ground. Push forward your left leg pressing the abdomen (belly) hard. Then raising your head as high as possible, look upward. Push down the waist and hold the breath and stay in the osture as long as you can.BENEFITS :The posture stresses the small intestine as well as the seminal vesicles and these are stretched. Thus this posture helps in correcting the constipation and diseases of the liver.Thinness of the semen is also corrected.Diseases of the Throat are also corrected.POSTURE OF THE SIXTH NAMASKARA
BHUDHARASANA Mantra : OM PUSHNE NAMAHProcedure : Inhale the breath deeply and hold it and pull both of your legs backward, so that the thumbs of the feet, ankles and knees touch each other. Stabilizing the feet and keeping the head, waist, the back and the elbows in a line bend forward and resting both the palms on the ground keep your body like a bow.BENEFITS :One get relief from the pains specially of arms, legs and the knees, Bulging waist is trimmed and slimmed this posture is like a panacea for the abdominal disorders.POSTURE OF THE SEVENTH NAMASKARA
ASHTANGA PRANIPATASANAMantra : OM HIRANYAGARBHAYA NAMAHProcedure : Holding the breath, rest both of your knees on the ground. Touch the ground with your chest and touch the lower part of the neck with chin. Also touch the ground with the upper part of the forehead and the nose. Please note that the abdomen should not touch the ground. It should be pulled in. Exhale the breath now, Both the hands (palms) must be kept on the sides of the chest (Fig.)BENEFITS :This posture makes the arms strong.If ladies perform this Asana before getting pregnant, the breast fed babies could be saved from the attacks of many diseases.POSTURE OF THE EIGHTH NAMASKARA
BHUJANAGA SANAMantra : OM MARICHAYE NAMAHProcedure : Keeping the legs, palms and knees in Ashtanga prampatasana position, unfolding the arms rise up simultaneously inhaling the breath, push the chest out and bend the waist in circle and backward. Look as much up as possible and exhale the breath. (Fig.)BENEFITS :Removing the dullness invigorates the body and makes the eyes glowing.Correct all kinds of disorders related to male and female reproductive systems, corrects the irregularities in females menstrual cycles.Blood circulation is also corrected thereby increasing the glow on the face.POSTURE OF THE NINTH NAMSAKARA
BHUDHARASANAMantra : OM ADITYAYA NAMAHRepeat the process of Bhudharasana as described in the step six (6)POSTURE OF THE TENTH NAMASKARA
EKAPADAPRASARANASANAMantra : OM SAVITRA NAMAHProcedure : Repeat the process of the fifth Namaskara as described in the step five (5) just reverse the position of the legs.POSTURE OF THE ELEVENTH NAMASKARA
HASTAPADASANAMantra : OM ARKAYA NAMAHRepeat the process described in the fourth Namskara, step four (4).POSTURE OF THE TWELTH NAMASKARA
NAMASKARASANAMantra : OM BHASKARAYA NAMAHProcedure :Standing in the position described in step two repeat the second Surya Namaskara. Thus performing all the postures for Surya Namaskara, each and every parts of the body gets ample exercise whereas the religious significance is also fully met with.Every human being must perform Suyra Namaskara and the anas related to it. By virtue of Surya Namaskara, the poverty of the people is done away with and they remain properous in many births. Results of Surya Namaskara are described thus in our scriptures:ADITYASYA NAMASKARAM YE KURVANTI DINE DINEJANMANTAR SAHASTRESU DARIDRYAM NOPAJAYATE ..Meaning :The man who performs Surya Namaskara daily does not get poor in thousand births. Hence, give Surya Namaskara an urgent place in your daily routine. And like the daily rising of the sun. Surya Namaskara is indeed a daily routine.Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation)Suryanamaskar (Surya Namaskar or surya namaskaram) or sun salutation is a comprehensive rejuvenating exercise that includes yoga asana and pranayama. There are two different methods of surya namaskar. One method has a series of 12 steps and the other has 10 steps.Suryanamaskar can be practiced in the morning and in the evening.The steps included in Surya Namaskar1.Stand facing the sun, with feet held together and hands folded before your chest, as in prayer. Breathe normally. Pranamasana posture.2.Inhale. Raise your folded hands above your head and bend backwards. Hastauttanasana (hasta ustanasana) stage.3.Slowly exhaling, lower your hands to your front and bend forward until your hand is placed on the ground. Take care not to bend your knees at this stage. Padahasthasana stage.

4.Inhale and stretch your right leg backwards as wide as possible, while keeping the hands firmly on ground. The left knee will be between your arms. Look straight in front of you. Ashwa Sanchalasana stage.
5.Exhaling stretch the left leg backwards and place left foot next to the right one. Without bending knees or elbows, raise your hips to form an arch. Parvathasana stage.
6.Exhaling and without bending your knees, lower your body until your nose, forehead, chest and knees touch the ground. Astanga namaskara stage.
7.Inhaling, raise your head slowly and bend backwards. Bhujangasana stage.
8.Exhaling, raise your hips as your head bends forwards. Parvathasana stage as in step 5.
9.Inhaling, bring your right knee to between your arms and place right foot firmly on ground. Ashwa Sanchalasana as in step 4.
10.Exhaling, bring your left foot forward next to your right leg. Padahastasana as in stage 3.
11i.Inhaling, raise your body and take your arms to above your head with hands folded and bend backwards. Hatauttanasana as in step 2.
12.Straighten your body and lower your folded hands to before your chest. Pranamasana as in step 1.
One can practice this in the morning and in the evening while facing the sun. This meditation, breath control and stretching exercise is meant to bring in flexibility to body.
Pregnant women, persons with hernia problems, high blood pressure persons, back ache etc are not advised to practice surya namaskar. Women during their periods are also advised not to practice this.

from urday.com
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Surya Ashtakam[From Samba Puranam]
[Told by Samba who is son of Lord Sri Krishna and Jambavati]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Pantheism has been a very strong part of Hindu relegion. They gave form to the several aspects of nature and worshipped them. Of these, they recognized Sun God as the one who is the primeval cause of nature. They believed worshipping Sun God would clear off all their sins. He was the son of Sage Kasyapa and Adhithi. He rode a huge chariot driven by Aruna. The God of death Yama and the planet Saturn were his sons. This beautiful octet is a prayer addressed to the sun god.

Surya Ashtakam

1
Adhi deva Namasthubhyam,,
Praseeda mama Bhaskara,
Divakara namasthubhyam,
Prabha kara Namosthu they.

Salutations to the primeval God,
Please be kind to me , he who creates the morn.
Salutations to you the creator of day,
Salutations to you the creator of light.

2
Saptha aswa radha roodam,
Prachandam, Kasypathmajam,
Swetha padma dharma devam,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who rides on chariot with seven horses,
Who is the brightest of lights,
Who is the son of Sage Kashyapa,
And who wears the white lotus flower.

3
Lohitham Radha maroodam,
Sarva loka pithamaham,
Maha papa haram devam,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who is reddish brown in colour,
Who rides on a chariot,
Who has created all the worlds,
And who is the god who kills all the sins

4
Trigunyam cha maha sooram,
Brahma Vishnu maheswaram,
Maha papaharam devam,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who is blessed with three fold qualities,
Who is a greatest of heroes,
Who has within himself the great trinity.
And who is the god who kills all sins.

5
Bramhitham teja punjam cha,
Vayu makasa meva cha,
Prubhustwam sarva lokaanam,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who developed by the sparkling ,
Of air , fire and ether,
And who is the lord of all universe.

6
Bandhooka pushpa sankaasam,
Hara kundala bhooshitham,
Eka chakra dharma devam ,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who is as red as the hibiscus flower,
Who wears ornaments of garlands and ear rings,
And who is the god who has one great Wheel[1].

7
Viswesam Viswa karthaaram,
Maha Theja pradheepanam,
Maha papa haram devam,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who is the Lord of all universe,
Who created all the universe,
And who is the God who can destroy all sins.

8
Sri Vishnum jagathaam nadam,
Jnana Vijnana mokshadham,
Maha papa haram devam,
Tham suryam pranamamyaham

My salutations to the Sun God,
Who is the lord of peace,
Who is the Lord of this world
Who showers on us knowledge, science and salvation,
And who is the God who can destoy all sins.

Phala Sruthi

Suryashtakam idham nithyam,
Gruha peeda pranasanam,
Aputhro labhathe puthram,
Daridhro dhanavan Bhaveth.

If one recites daily this octet on Sun God,
The sufferings of his house will vanish,
If he does not have a son will get one,
And if he is poor , he would become wealthy.

Aamisham madhu panam cha,
Ya karothi raver dhine,
Saptha janma bhaved rogi,
Janma janma dharidhratha.

The one who eats meat ,
Or drinks alchholic drinks on Sundays,
Will become sick for seven births,
And would be poor from birth to death.

Sthree thails madhu maamsani.,
Yasth yejathu raver dhine,
Na vyadhi soka dharidhryam,
Surya lokam sa gachathi.

One who forsakes on all Sundays,
Woman oil bath , meat and drinks,
Will never be sick nor sad nor poor.
And would reach the land of sun after death.