Sun Mantras

Ashwa sanchalanasana

4. Om Bhanave Namaha
(Salutations to he who illumines)

The sun is the physical representation of the guru or teacher, who removes the darkness of our delusions, just as the darkness of the night is removed with every dawn. In the fourth position, ashwa sanchalanasana, we turn our face towards this illumination and pray for an end to the dark night of ignorance.

Parvatasana

5. Om Khagaya Namaha
(Salutations to the one who moves through the sky)

It is the sun's daily movement through the sky which is the basis of our measurement of time, from the earliest use of a sun dial to the sophisticated devices used today. In parvatasana, we offer obeisances to the one by whom time is measured, and pray for progress in life.

Ashtanga namaskara

6. Om Pushne Namaha
(Salutations to the giver of strength and nourishment)

The sun is the source of all strength. Like a father, he nourishes us with energy, light and life. We offer respects in ashtanga namaskara by touching all the eight corners of our body to the ground. In essence we are offering our whole being in the hope that he may bestow mental, physical and spiritual strength and nourishment upon us.

Bhujangasana

7. Om Hiranya Garbhaya Namaha
(Salutations to the golden cosmic self)

Hiranya Garbha is also known as the golden egg, resplendent as the sun, in which Brahma was born as the manifestation of Self-existence. Hiranya Garbha is the seed of causality, thus the whole universe is contained within Hiranya Garbha in the potential state prior to manifestation. In the same way, all life is potential in the sun, which represents the great cosmic principle. We offer respects to the sun in bhujangasana, the seventh position, praying for the awakening of creativity.