The Spiritual Meaning of Surya Namaskara
The first time I practiced Surya Namaskara at dawn in Rishikesh, I remember being half-awake, still carrying the heaviness of sleep. My teacher simply said, “Salute the sun as you would salute a beloved friend.” That changed everything for me. From then on, it was no longer just stretching or warming up — it became a greeting, a prayer, and in many ways, a mirror.
Surya — More Than the Sun
In yoga, the word Surya isn’t only pointing to the glowing ball of fire above us. It’s the giver of life, yes, but also the symbol of consciousness and the current of prana that moves through every breath. Without the sun, nothing grows. Without awareness, nothing awakens.
The old texts even call Surya the Atman — the Self, the light inside. The Surya Upanishad says, “The sun is the Self of all, the witness of all.” That means every time we bow in Surya Namaskara, we’re bowing both to the sky and to something shining quietly inside us.
A Story from Myth
There’s a story about young Hanuman that I’ve always loved. One morning, he saw the sun rising — round, glowing, golden — and thought it was a mango. With the innocence of a child, he leapt into the sky to grab it. Of course, he got burned. Later, realizing his mistake, he asked Surya to be his teacher.
This story feels so human to me. We reach for something, we get hurt, we realize our ignorance, and then we return humbly to learn. Isn’t that exactly what happens on the mat some mornings? We try too hard, we stumble, we get scorched by our own effort. And then, if we’re wise, we bow our heads and begin again.
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The Mantras of the Sun
Each posture in Surya Namaskara has a mantra, an invocation of the sun’s qualities. For example:
Om Mitraya Namaha – I bow to the Friend of All.
Om Ravaye Namaha – I bow to the Radiant One.
Om Suryaya Namaha – I bow to the Dispeller of Darkness.
Om Bhaskaraya Namaha – I bow to the Giver of Light.
When I whisper these under my breath while moving, something shifts. The practice stops being “exercise.” It becomes a conversation — almost like each posture is saying, “Help me remember your qualities, help me bring them alive inside myself.”
Meditation in Motion
Sometimes, when breath and movement fall into rhythm, Surya Namaskara feels like meditation. Inhaling, my chest rises as if the sun itself is lifting me. Exhaling, I fold down, as if bowing back to the earth. The mind — usually busy with to-do lists — grows quiet.
I once practiced on the banks of the Ganga at sunrise. The water shimmered, dogs barked somewhere far, and the air smelled of incense from a nearby temple. By the third round, I felt I wasn’t practicing to the sun — I was practicing as the sun. It wasn’t something separate anymore.
Gratitude and Surrender
Every bow in the sequence carries a sense of surrender. I don’t control everything. Life rises and falls, just like the sun. The practice reminds me of humility.
And gratitude — simple gratitude. For the light, for the breath, for one more morning to be alive. The sun shines on all beings equally. Saluting it reminds me to hold the same generosity in my own heart.
Awakening the Inner Sun
The outer sun rises and sets. But yoga speaks of another sun — the inner sun, the Atman — which is constant. Surya Namaskara, when done with awareness, feels like a way of polishing that light so it shines through daily life. Not as some mystical achievement, but as clarity, steadiness, and compassion in the small, ordinary moments.
A Simple Offering
Tomorrow, before beginning your sun salutations, pause for just one extra breath. Dedicate the practice — maybe to someone you love, or to peace in your own heart. Move slowly. Feel the warmth. And at the end, bow your head to your hands and whisper: Om Suryaya Namaha.
Not only to the rising sun above, but to the quiet flame already shining within.
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