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Surya Namaskar |
Long long ago, may be six thousand years ago, students of your age
(8 to 20-25 years) took education at the residence of their teacher.
In the Guru-Kul there were students from humble families as well as
from honourable and royal families. The syllabus consisted of all
arts and all types of vocational courses. Scriptures were the
recommended books and the World Citizen was the final aim of
education. In those days ---- just try to reach the past time of six
thousand years before. Try to locate the dear and near persons of
your family in the past. You can remember your grandfather or grand
grandfather. You cant trace the time and persons back for more than
100 or 150 years. But your father knows the name of your ancestor
who lived thousands of years before. The GOTRA of your family and
the PRAWARA OF THE GOTRA both indicate the names of the ancestors
and the teachers, the Guru of the family.
So, in those days, in the Guru Kul, the day started long before
sunrise. And the first session was that of Suryopasana / Surya
Namaskar (Worshipping the Sun God), Sandhya Vidhi and the Gayatri
Japa. Today we are going to learn something about Surya Namaskar. We
are going to learn what, why and how of the Surya Namaskar, step by
step.
Lets pray to the Sun God.
It is early in the morning.
The sun is rising on the horizon.
You have taken bath and you feel fresh and strong.
Take the morning air deep into your lungs.
Refer to Step Ahead to Excellence Warming up exercise.
Stand straight. Be at ease.
Fold your hands in Namaskar Mudra.
There is no muscle tension anywhere on your body.
There is no tension on your head and hair.
No tension on your face forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, ears.
There is no tension on your neck.
Remove the tension, if there is any, on your neck, shoulders,
elbows,
wrists, palms, fingers.
Keep the muscles - of the stomach, abdomen, back - loose.
Relax the muscles of the thighs, knees, ankles, feet, toes etc.
Be at a relaxed position. |
आचम्य प्राणानायम्य ।।
विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णु:।।
अद्यपूर्वोच्चरित एवंगुणविशेषण विशिष्टायां शुभपुण्यतिथौ।।
मम शरीरे आरोग्यता प्राप्त्यर्थं श्रीसवितासूर्यनारायण
प्राप्त्यर्थं
(संख्या) सूर्यनमस्कारान् करीष्ये ।। |
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Aachaman: Open the
palm straight. Keep away the thumb and the
ladyfinger. Close the remaining three fingers and raise them a bit.
A scoop is formed on the palm at the end of
the fingers. Take a spoonful of water in the
scoop. Release the water, from the wrist end of the palm, in
your mouth.
Significance: Surya Namaskar
generates heat and energy. Breathing becomes
deep and hard. Aachaman prevents dry throat and keeps the
throat and food pipe clean smooth and wet.
Pranayam: Controlling the
breathing is called Pranayam. All your
activities, physical-mental, are based on breathing. Inhaling is
absorbing Prana Tatwa / life force in the
body. Air is the carrier of Prana Tatwa /
Cosmic Energy. At this stage take a deep breath and gradually
release it out. Take a longer time to exhale.
This time sense can be easily attained if you
concentrate on the abdomen to breathe out completely.
Significance: This is just a start to control breathing and
to tune it with the body movements to be
performed ahead in the practice of Surya
Namaskar.
Meaning: The name of Lord
Vishnu is repeated thrice Awahan,
Stapana,Wandan (invitation, welcome, worship)
Significance: This body of flesh is the legacy of Lord Vishnu, the
Supreme self, the Paramatma. The meaning of the word Vishnu
is omnipresent - one who is continuously and
simultaneously present as a whole, at all
time, everywhere. Our body is made of five elements the
earth-fire-air-ether-water. The omnipresent entity was there
before the creation of the five elements.
Hence one who created the elements created
our body. We are above the Elements we are the Supeme self,
the Paramatma. In Bhagwad Gita Lord Vishnu Bhagwan says I am
the (seed) source of birth and growth of all
the beings. I am the birth place of all
intellect and courage (Chapter 7 shloka 10) In this way our body in
flesh and blood is the heritage of Him. This call for Lord
Vishnu is just to remind us of this
inheritance. Meaning: The outstanding quality
of Surya Namaskar is that it is in practice
since from time immemorial. On this auspicious day I perform
Surya Namaskar in order to make my body healthy. I undergo this age
old practice in the honour of Lord
SuryaNarayana.
Significance: This is Sankalpa,
the resolution or decision that you are going
to do certain thing. This is done to make your mind alert and to
urge it to give all possible strength to all the parts of the
body, involved in the action, to perform the
activity. The Sankalpa makes your actions
result oriented. It gives desired direction to your tongue, mind and
body.
If you keep on walking, for example, without any goal you will reach
nowhere. Hence Sankalpa is a must before every action.
My parents and grand parents and ancestors have practised
this art of Surya Namaskar. I also must have
done it in the previous lives. Hence
worshipping the Sun God is the part of my body, mind soul. It is the
part of my personality. Whatever is done is
done for Him. It is done in His honour.
Nothing is mine. Everything belongs to him. The possessive sense
of me-my-myself is to be put on regressive mode.
The starting shloka: (The
prayer.) Dhynam ध्येय:
Dheyah sada savitru mandala
madhyawarti
Narayanah sarasijasana sannivistaha
Keyurawan makara kundalawan kiriti
Hari hiranya-maya-vapur-dhruta shankha chakrah. |
ध्येयः सदासवितृ मंडल
मध्यवर्ती
नारायणः सरसिजासनसन्निविष्ट||
केयूरवान् मकर कुंडलवान्
किरीटी
हारी हिरण्यमयवरपुर्धृत शंखचक्र|| |
Oh! Surya Narayana YOU
are the crown glory, carrying shankha chakra in your hands.
YOU are the creator of joy and destroyer of sorrows.
YOU cover the entire universe with the golden twilight.
YOU are the Master, the Provider of the entire universe.
Oh! Sun God make all my efforts as bright and brilliant as the sun
in the solar system. |
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