The Sun Salutation: Origin, Benefits & How To

A Sun Salutation, or Surya Namaskar, is a series of specific movements that are synchronised with the breath. This sequence is often the basis for a modern yoga class and each school of yoga has adapted its own version. This recognisable set of postures is a moderately recent invention, though it is derived from thousands of years worth of Sun worship and the practices that inspired.

History & Origin

The sun itself has played a significant role in religions all over the globe. European paganism was preoccupied with nature worship and celebrated the sun’s movements in rituals we see remnants of on days like the Summer Solstice. The Egyptian God Horus personifies the sun itself and similar deities can be seen in the theologies of the Greeks, Aztecs, Celts, Arabians… The sun was valued as the giver of life and was worshipped accordingly.

In the Hindu religion, sun worship is still prevalent to this day and it is through their traditions that Surya Namaskar was most likely developed. Surya or Aditya, the sun god, is a prevalent figure in the ancient Vedic texts, once held in high esteem beside the likes of Vishnu and Shiva. Surya Arghya is a traditional ritual still practised by some Hindus – it involves offering the Sun God water at sunrise, chanting the Gayatri Mantra and bowing in reverence and gratitude. Ravivar Vrat (or Sunday Fasting) is another rite to invoke the Sun God. The devotee performs the Surya Arghya, soaks in a ritual bath and fasts from sunrise to sunset.

The contemporary sun salutation is a physical manifestation of these customs and was arguably born during the turn of the nineteenth century. Global trends began to influence Indian culture and spiritual practices evolved in response to the Western preoccupation with physical exercise. The Rajah of Aundh was one notable individual who popularised sun salutations as a physical practice. He began by encouraging his own citizens to adopt the sequence and went on to introduce it to English academics in the 1930s. This coincided with the revival of Hatha Yoga, a movement fuelled by Sri Krishnamacharya. He worked to meld Surya Namaskar into his physical yoga and is responsible for the dynamic way in which we practice yoga today. It is from his teachings that all forms of vinyasa yoga were born.

Benefits

How to Practice

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