Surya Namaskar Ritual

[c.smith]

Locally, a Surya Namaskar Yagna is being held between Jan 13 and Jan 28, 2007 to promote yoga and the Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation). Perhaps if it is not already happening globally, we could kick it off here with the same timings. The website link is www.hssus.org/sny

[Arjuna]

Does anyone know when and where did Surya-namaskara (as a well-known nowadays excersize) originate?
I haven't come across even one notion of it in any original yogic texts ascribed to Gorakshanatha.

[sarabhanga]

Namaste Arjuna,

This remains my only suggestion: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=4412&postcount=58

[Arjuna]

Namaste Arjuna,
The well known Surya Namaskara sequence was popularised by Shri B.K.S. Iyengar, and his style of performing various Asanas in a flowing series (treating the practice of Asana more like a dance) seems to come largely from his own inspiration.
I have heard that Iyengar's Guru (Shri T. Krishnama ?) taught him the Surya Namaskara and told him to practise only those Asanas until they were perfected. Iyengar spent only a short time with his Guru, leaving after about 3 years to begin teaching Yoga.
Iyengar Yoga was invented by Iyengar himself, although the popular Surya Namaskara sequence presumably comes from his Guru's tradition.

Namaste Sarabhanga,

Thank U. I also hold the same opinion.
BTW it was told to me (by Stephane Chollet, yoga-france.com) that Krishnamacharya started his yoga teaching upon the order of Maharaja of Maysore, who saw english officers doing gymnastics :). So perhaps all "dynamic yoga" stuff developed under influence of western gymnastics – if this is correct, then it isn't surprising that none of such things are present in authentic yogic texts.

[Vishahara]

Surya Namaskara is well known in Shivananda and Dhirendra Brahmachari yoga schools who has no any connection with T.Krishnamacharya at all. I dont believe that Krishnamacharya made his yoga style from english gymnastics :-) Because gymnastics are very primitive, no connection between breath and exercises, and of course gymnastics of soldiers was much more primitive than even sport gymnastics. Dynamical practice of asana sequence you can find easy in
1. Bharatnatyam and Kathakali indian dance traditions (Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
2 Kerala martial art Kalari Payattu
3 Tibetan type of hatha yoga (Krishnamacharya spent 7 years near Manasarowar lake in Tibet, where was living his hatha yoga Guru RamMohan Brahmachari)

But i think K. took some dynamical exercises from Kalari and Dance because he was south indian.

[sarabhanga]

Namaste,

In the early 1930s, Krishnamacarya developed his “Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga”, drawing on diverse disciplines to develop dynamic sequences aimed at building physical fitness, and using the movements of “Surya Namaskar” to link each asana.



He never crossed an ocean, but Krishnamacharya’s yoga has spread through Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Today it's difficult to find an asana tradition he hasn't influenced. Even if you learned from a yogi now outside the traditions associated with Krishnamacharya, there's a good chance your teacher trained in the Iyengar, Ashtanga, or Viniyoga lineages before developing another style.

Most teachers, even from styles not directly linked to Krishnamacharya ~ Sivananda Yoga and Bikram Yoga, for example ~ have been influenced by some aspect of Krishnamacharya's teachings.

See: Fernando Pagés Ruiz on Krishnamacarya in Yoga Journal (http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/465?page=1)

[Arjuna]

Surya Namaskara is well known in Shivananda and Dhirendra Brahmachari yoga schools who has no any connection with T.Krishnamacharya at all.

Niether of these yoga schools is ancient or even mediaeval. And significantly there is not even one classic yoga text mentioning dynamic sets of asanas incl. Surya-namaskara.
However Kalari indeed may be one of the sources as well, not only english gymnastics :).

[Nuno Matos]

Namaste

" However Kalari indeed may be one of the sources as well, not only english gymnastics."

Indeed Kalari may be one of the main influences of choreographed Hatha yoga in fact the special section of Vyayam ( phisical and energetic conditioning) exercises, which in Kalari are very Hatha yoga like. But now, forgetting pre formations, any one who is on the Asana level when changing stances or positions during a free yoga session does some how is on natural yoga choreography.

[Sahasranama]

Krishnamacharya was very much against adding new elements to yoga and he warned people to keep yoga traditional. He was a very strict and orthodox person. Krishnamacharya's yoga comes from the tradition of Yogi Rama Mohan Brahmachari, who lived in the himalayas. Krishnamacharya has traveled on foot for two and a half months to find Yogi Rama Mohan Brahmachari. After that he studied with him for seven and a half years, from 1916-1924. The vinyasa sequences, moving from posture to posture were recorded in the ancient text, the yoga kuruntha, authered by Vamana Rishi. Unfortunately, due to the quality of the paper, Krishnamacharya could not preserve this document. We only have Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya's words as evidence for this text. According to Krishnamacharya, the practice of Ashtanga Yoga is based on the Yoga Kuruntha. We have to realise that India has had many scriptures from various traditions. A lot of ancient texts have not survived, the sama veda alone had a 1000 brances (shakhas) according to the Vishnu Purana. Today there are only a few of them known and only three branches still have a living tradition of oral transmition, that of kauthuma, rananiya and jaiminiya.

People have disputed the authenticity of Sarvangasana, because it is wan't mentioned in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Many people call the HYP a classical text of yoga and use it as the final word on asana practice. Actually the HYP is a relatively modern text, authered by Svatmarama in the 15th century. Traditionally it was only relevant to the followers of the Natha Pantha. Yoga has a much older tradition. Moving yoga is also not a modern invention based on dance, martial arts or gymanstics. All though, a lot of the modern vinyasas are based on these three self cultivating arts. Vinyasas (moving yoga) have a long history in yoga. Movement (chala) is very important to open the energy pathways. These days vinyasas are still practiced around the himalayas in countries like tibet. Vinyasa yoga has also been spread to China where it was incorporated into qi qong and dao yin. An example are the virgin boy exercises, which is a flowing sequence of yoga postures thaught at the Shaolin temple to young brahmacharis. If we want to know more about the authentic practice of vinyasa, we have to look at the teachings of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. There was know one else from a traditional lineage of yoga teachers who has thaught vinyasas so extensively to the public.

[Jainarayan]

Instead of starting another Surya Namaskar Ritual thread, or adding to the puja thread, I thought I'd ask my questions here.

Firstly, I have no problem understanding the asanas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskara#Practice and
http://comfortinstylemag.com/yoga-and-you/surya-namaskar-the-12-step-sun-salutation/ (http://comfortinstylemag.com/yoga-and-you/surya-namaskar-the-12-step-sun-salutation/)

I may have a flexibility problem and a bit of an "obstruction" in my midsection :rolleyes: but I can do them "after a fashion" to start. In fact, I need to develop flexibility.

My question really centers on the mantras. For example, what is meant by the seed? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskara#Mantras_to_pronounce_and_chakras Is it recited before the mantra? I'm sure I can look up the chakras, as the instructions are to focus on the chakra associated with the particular asana being performed.

[shantiseeker]

Okay, TBTL:
I'm new to Sanatana Dharma, but not the chakra system. I've believed that many years.(though in no way am I an expert) You can Google this to to verify that I'm remotely accurate, but each chakra I believe vibrates to a certain note, so like, CDEFGAB, etc, but then there are the seed sounds (bija? I think)

the seed sound I believe is this
CHAKRA: SEED SOUND
Root: LAM
Sacral:VAM
Solar Plexus:RAM
Heart: YAM
Throat: HAM
Brow/Third Eye:OM
Crown: None I believe

Now this is just me, but I do in fact try to do a yoga pose for each of the chakras, and repeat each seed sound correspondingly. My understanding is that the seed sounds also then help to open their respective chakras.

Others can probably expand on this better, and I guarantee there are excellently thorough bits of information lurking about the internet! Like search terms seed sounds of the chakras or something to that effect. I have info somewhere in a few of my chakra books too, but I happen to know the sounds from practice.

[Jainarayan]

You made me perk up my ears with the CDEFGAB, because I play guitar and bass (love those I IV V progressions. 99.999878% of Rock 'n Roll songs :D).

OK, I get it about the seed sounds (like AIM is the bija for Maa Saraswati) being attached to chakras. I was confused (maybe still am) as to the relationship between the seed sound and the mantra for each chakra. The article says to recite the chakra's mantra, but it also lists the seed.

[shantiseeker]

TBTL
I join you in the confusion between seed sound and mantra because actually, I have an iPhone chakra app. It has an audio and then the written of each chakra's mantra, but I don't see the seed sound with it. I also couldn't begin to recite the mantras by heart, but the iPhone app lists each one. (I have no idea if there is any variation of mantras based on "who" one consults). But for example, this app lists the Root/Muladhara Chakra mantra as:
Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam Siri Wahe Guru.
Each word taken all together it says means "There is one Creator whose name is Truth. Great is the ecstasy of that Supreme Wisdom."
(for example, Ek means one, essence of all; Kar is creation; Sat means truth)
Solar Plexus Chakra for example is just listed as "Hari Har" with explanation that Hari is creation in action; Har is one of the aspects of God-the Creative Infinity. So anyway, that's at least what this app says. So I wonder-does one say the seed sound, and then the mantra? I don't know. And does stating/chanting the mantra then also open the chakra point? Now that one I'm guessing is the case, and that's where others may be able to answer. Now for the notes to play-sounds like you have a great way to make chakra notes! Guess it's a matter of the right octave which I'll bet a Google search will reveal.

[Jainarayan]

Namaste shantiseeker...



I also couldn't begin to recite the mantras by heart

Neither can I, so I cheat and make up laminated cards. :D



So I wonder-does one say the seed sound, and then the mantra? Does stating/chanting the mantra also open the chakra point? I'm guessing that's the case, and that's where others may be able to answer.

Yep, that's my question as well. We'll get an answer soon enough. ;)

[shantiseeker]

Namaste shantiseeker...



Neither can I, so I cheat and make up laminated cards. :D




Yep, that's my question as well. We'll get an answer soon enough. ;)

:D Yes we'll get an answer! I know a few mantras by heart: Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha, and the Maha mantra, as well as Om Namah Shivaya (that one's not too hard to remember, LOL). Plus the one we say in my yoga class (Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavuntu which is not one to the gods), but means "May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

[Jainarayan]

I know the Sarveshaam prayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8xzOzbfxTo but I haven't heard the Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavuntu.

[shantiseeker]

Excellent TBTL-it's neat to know any mantra. I know the Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavuntu from yoga, and if I'm correct, a yoga class venue is where it is frequently said.

[Jainarayan]

Namaste all.


So I wonder-does one say the seed sound, and then the mantra?

I thought I would resurrect this because as I'm moving along, I'd like to begin the Surya Namaskar. I'm still confused about using only the mantra itself, or using the seed with it. There is a recording of the mantras, which do not use the seed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyKuPxR-JP0

I'd also like to know which of these is correct, or if it matters.

http://www.vishuji.org/shivpuja.htm#surnam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskara#Mantras_to_pronounce_and_chakras

[Amala]

Namaste,

These singers have better pronunciation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2l0tadiQHE but they don't include the last part, om śrīsavit.rsūryanārāyaṇāya namaḥ (ॐ श्रीसवितृसूर्यनारायणाय नमः). I have never heard a recording nor seen a site that suggests the seed should be uttered. Have you?

I practice this almost every day, but have not incorperated the mantra into it. Now that I've heard this recording, I will, though! I will simply sing the whole mantra (without seed) all the way through before whereas some people seem to say each name before the pose associated with it. hmmm... How do you plan on doing it?

As for what's the best way to pronounce it, if you can read the wikipedia transliteration, it's actually the standard, representing the actual devanagari sounds. So that one (the second) is the best of the two.






Namaste all.



I thought I would resurrect this because as I'm moving along, I'd like to begin the Surya Namaskar. I'm still confused about using only the mantra itself, or using the seed with it. There is a recording of the mantras, which do not use the seed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyKuPxR-JP0

I'd also like to know which of these is correct, or if it matters.

http://www.vishuji.org/shivpuja.htm#surnam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskara#Mantras_to_pronounce_and_chakras

[Jainarayan]

I'm not quite sure yet what I'll do, but I won't use the seed. I only saw it on that list I posted.

[Nirgundas]

Here's an article that relates the modern surya namaskar to specific rituals with vedic origins, focused on praising Surya. It also points to multiple historical references to prayer/excercise like ceremonies practiced well before Krishnamacharya's time.

http://suryanamaskar.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/origins-of-surya-namaskar.htm

And other documents that indicate the complexity of hatha yoga practiced before Krishnamacharya have been found in the Mysore Library, having been referenced by Krishnamacharya himself. This is discussed in the following article in Yoga Journal which I will also excerpt here:

http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/466

"as the Sritattvanidhi proves, the Mysore royal family's enthusiasm for yoga went back at least a century earlier. The Sritattvanidhi includes instructions for 122 yoga poses, illustrated by stylized drawings of an Indian man in a topknot and loincloth. Most of these poses—which include handstands, backbends, foot-behind-the-head poses, Lotus variations, and rope exercises—are familiar to modern practitioners...This is the first textual evidence we have of a flourishing, well-developed asana system existing before the twentieth century—and in academic systems, textual evidence is what counts...The manuscript points to tremendous yogic activity going on in that time period—and having that much textual documentation indicates a practice tradition at least 50 to 100 years older."

The article also indicates that the breath linked vinyasas were taught to Krishnamacharya by Ramamohan in Tibet. What I take away from this is that The lineage handed down to Jois, Desikachar and Iyengar was one of hybridization between different extant forms of esoteric physical yoga practice. Many traditions in India existed solely through oral tradition, often guru-to-disciple and become difficult to date accurately, as we see with the Vedas.

As often as I hear these claims about european gymnastics inspiring Krishnamacharya, I have not yet seen anyone furnishing evidence of a notably similar gymnastic tradition.