Sun Mantras

Parvatasana

8. Om Marichaya Namaha
(Salutations to the rays of the sun)

Marich means mirage. In the heat of the desert if one gets to see a big pond of water at a distance it is the heat and the rays of the sun that are forming the image of water. In the same way the sun God is the creator of all types of mirages. He is the creator of illusions, good and bad. Sometimes we have wrong ideas of life, we have wrong desires to fulfill in our life. We work hard to get what we actually don’t want. We sometimes walk on the wrong path of life and our precious time is wasted in vain. We worship the Sun God to save us from the mirage of life.
The word Marich also has another meaning it is the one who makes us aware of sin.
The word Marich also means the power that cures diseases.

Parvat-asan: Breathe out.
The vital point: The Vishudha Chakra.
The colour of the Chakra: Colour of smoke.
Location: At the base of the neck.
Ruling element: Aakash. The Space.
Relation to body: Sound and speech. Ears and speech organs.

Useful to treat and prevent: Swelling (Internal and external), knot in the muscle, wound with pus, pus discharge from eyes pimples and freckles on skin, etc. Relieves the pain of the neck shoulders, arms, ankles, wrists. Gives stress and stretch to all the muscles from ankles to neck. Chemical and physical process of respiration becomes strong and healthy. Result is increase in the body height and health.

Don?t move the position of the feet and the palms. Raise up the middle part of your body.

Form a triangle with the palms waist and feet. Touch the heels to the ground. Put your arms and legs straight. Straighten your elbows and knees. Pull your head towards the knees. Touch the chin to the chest. Fix your eyes on the nose-tip.

Maricha is one of Brahma's sons, just as the rays of light are produced from the sun, but his name also means mirage. For our whole life, we seek after a true meaning of purpose, like a thirsty man who seeks water in a desert, but is fooled by mirages dancing on the horizon produced by the sun's rays.

In the eighth position, parvatasana, we pray for true illumination and discrimination in order to be able to distinguish between the real and the unreal.

Ashwa sanchalanasana

9. Om Adityaya Namaha
(Salutations to the son of Aditi)

The word Aditya means one who has no second. Therefore we can say that the sun is called Aditya because it has no second.

The son of Aditi it is the source of birth and growth of the entire universe. Hence, Aditi is supposed to be the mother (Aaee) of all Gods.

Aditi is the wife of Bruhaspati who is the priest of all the Gods. The sun is the male child of Aditi and Bruhaspati. He is the image of Aditi and Bruhaspati. He is the worthy son of his celestial parents. The Sun God gives to the world whatever he has received from his parents Aditi and Bruhaspati. It is said that he is the true follower of the commandments, customs and traditions as set by his parents. We all are the creation of the Sun God. Bow to the sun God in memory of this divine heritage. Pray to him to give us the power to use this heritage in our daily life.

Ardha-bhujang-asan: Breathe in.
The vital point: The Adnya Chakra.
The colour of the Chakra: Lotus white.
Location: On the forehead between the eyebrows.
Ruling element: Aakash.
Relation to body: Mind.

Useful to treat and prevent: Respiratory diseases, hypertension etc. Thoughts become clear, brain bright concentration sharp.
Result: Intellectual work with confidence. Muscle pains in thighs, knees, calves, ankles are relieved.
Don’t change the position of your palm.

Refer to Aum Bhanave Namah. (Ardha-bhujang-asan.)

Keep the left foot and the palms firm on the ground.Stretch the right leg backwards.

Touch the right knee and toe to the ground.Fold the left knee. (The calf, the back part of the thigh and the last rib of the left chest touching each other.) Keep both the hands straight.

Put your chest out. Lift up the shoulders to touch the head. Push your head backwards.Look towards the sky.

Aditi is one of the many names given to the cosmic mother, Mahashakti. She is the mother of all the gods, boundless and inexhaustible, the creative power from which all divisions of power proceed. The sun is one of her children, or manifestations. In the ninth position, ashwa sanchalanasana, we salute Aditi, the infinite cosmic mother.

Padahastasana

10. Om Savitre Namaha
(Salutations to the stimulating power of the sun)

The Sun God is one who always activates others. He is the symbol of cosmic energy. The chariot of the Sun God is of seven horses. The horses represent the seven days of the week. They also stand for the seven colours of the rainbow. The seven power points in our body have different colours of their own. His work is colourful. It is endless and unlimited combination & permutation of colours. Nobody can pinpoint the exact time when the activities of the Sun God started. The end of His activities is beyond our imagination. The activities he preforms are varied. We can say that he is omnipresent in all and every act. When the sun rises in the sky all the creatures worms, birds and animals start their work. Pray the Sun God to give inspiration and energy to do good deeds.

Hasta-pad-asan: Breath out.
The vital point: The Swadhistan Chakra.
The colour of the Chakra: Sindur / Saffron
Location: At the tip of the spine.
Ruling element: Jal, the water.
Relation to body: Taste. Tongue. Sleep.

Useful to treat and prevent: Urine problems, urine stone, sleeplessness, general debility (weakness). Muscle pain in the back, shoulders, throat, chest, stomach is relieved. Removes cough. Increases appetite. Helps remove gases and toxic material. Sound sleep is the result.

Fix your palms flat on the ground. 
Adjust the big toes and the palms in line.
Keep shoulder distance between the palms. Keep your legs straight and knees straightened.
Touch your chin to the chest.
Touch your forehead to the knees.

Savitre is known as the stimulator, the arouser, and is often associated with Surya who also represents the same posture, padahastasana. Savitre is said to represent the sun before rising, stimulating and arousing man into waking activity, and Surya is said to represent the sun after sunrise, when activity begins. Therefore, in the tenth position, padahastasana, we salute Savitre to obtain the vivifying power of the sun.

Hasta uttanasana

11.Om Arkaya Namaha
(Salutations to he who is fit to be praised)

The meaning of the word Arka is to extract. The sun is the concentrated form of life. HE is the essence of life. HE is the pure extract of how a person should lead his life. HIS is the guiding light that enlightens our path of life. HE is the wisdom of life for us. HE is the model example for us to learn the art of living. The nonstop activity for the welfare of all the living and non-living, without expecting anything in return, is the real light of the Sun God. The Sun God is unaware of HIS enormous and unlimited activities. HE is passive to any result; good or bad, of HIS own actions. HE looks at HIS own actions as a third person. HE doesn’t involve HIMSELF in his action. In fact HE doesn’t think that HE has performed such a huge task. Honey is the essence of flowers. But the flowers are not present in it. In the same way the sun remains absent from HIS actions. In fact the Sun God is the action, the actor and the outcome of the performance. It is very difficult to follow and practice the life of the Sun God. But this is the only way of life to be happy. So worship the Sun God to give you the inspiration to follow HIS precept.

Pranam-asan: Retain your breath. (Kumbhak)
The vital point:
The Anahat Chakra. The colour of the Chakra: Yellow as that of the rising sun. Location: In the centre of the chest.
Ruling element: The wind, Vayu.
Relation to body: Touch. Skin.

Useful to treat and prevent: Nervous breakdown, fits, sensory deprivation etc. The chest cavity is enlarged to inhale more oxygen. The supply of more oxygen to all the cells activates the muscles. The experience of more energy and happiness is the result.

Refer to Aum Mitraya Namah. Pranam-asan. Stand straight. Close the right toe and heel with the left. Put your chest out. Press your shoulders backward and pull them downwards. Keep your eyes on your nose-tip. Hands in namaskar position. Palms closed. Fingers closed at right angle to the ground. Thumb touching the middle part of the chest. Forearms in line with the ground.This is the last position of Surya-Namaskar.

This is the ready position for the next Surya-Namaskar.

Arka means 'energy'. The sun is the source of most of the energy in the world we know. In the eleventh position, hasta uttanasana, we are offering respects to this source of life and energy.

Pranamasana

12. Om Bhaskaraya Namaha
(Salutations to the one who leads to enlightenment)

The word Bhaskar means Prakasah, Tej; one who is Prakashman or Tejaswi. The Sun God ‘ADITYA’ is not God-like  we can confidently say that he is the GOD of the universe. He covers the entire universe with his light. He observes all of your actions and gives you joy and sorrow accordingly. He leads assists and inspires you to do noble works. When you accept his help and perform your work accordingly you are extremely content and satisfied. In order to get this divine happiness and self-satisfaction, bow to the Sun God and perform Surya-Namaskar.

Surya Namaskar is a prayer to the Sun God. It is a prayer to thank God for what you have already received and to express gratitude  for what is in store for us in the future.

A great start to your day is by performing Surya Namaskar. Pray to the Sun God early in the morning before the sunrays enter your house.He is the first visitor of the day to your house.

Namaskar Mudra:
The vital point: The Anahat Chakra.
The colour of the Chakra: Yellow as that of the rising sun.
Location: At the level of the heart.
Ruling element: Vayu, the wind.
Relation to body: Touch. Skin.

Close your palms. (Adnya Chakara)
Put the closed palms in the middle of the forehead.
Keep the shoulder-distance between the elbows.
Complete submission of the body, speech, mind, heart ?
to the Sun God.

In this final salutation we offer respects to the sun as a symbol of the great revealer of all transcendental and spiritual truths. He lights up the pathway leading to our ultimate goal of liberation. In the twelfth position, pranamasana, we pray that this pathway may be revealed to us.