HISTORY |
Since times Immemorial Sun Worship was a central and integral part of religious practice on the Indian subcontinent. This is evident in the presence of Konarak and Arasavelli (A.P.) sun temples, the Gayatri Mantra (prayer recited by Brahmins and other “twice-born” initiates while facing the morning sun), and many other rituals and symbols that till today cut across all caste and class boundaries in India.
Sun salutations involving prostrations facing the sun are documented by early historians but their exact composition and relationship to today's Surya Namaskar is not clear. Today, we can observe distinct and major differences between ritual Surya prostrations as performed by Brahman priests and popular yogic Surya Namaskar. However, both involve bowing before the sun, and invoking the sun within and without for health and expansion of consciousness.* |
1600’s
1900's |
Samarth Ramdas (1608-1681) respected Guru of the great Marathi martial hero Shivaji, develops a muscular style Sun prostration to train troupes in defending against the Muslim invasion. There is no evidence of any yogic connection at its inception although many of the asanas that make up this version of Surya Namaskar are listed in early yogic texts.
The invocation of the sun has been a central theme in the history of armed struggle throughout the world, including the horrible misuse and maligning of the swastika by Hitler. In fact, the swastika is one of the most ancient and universal sun symbols on the planet. In India it stands for life, power and energy (sakti) and shows up everywhere, in temples, rituals and even decorative adornment, as a symbol of "auspiciousness" (good luck and fortune). Sri Bhawanrao Pant Pratinidhi, the Raja of Aundh (1868-1951,) a small state in Maharashtra, modifies Ram Das’ Surya Namaskar for fitness and health and publishes a book on Surya Namaskar in Marathi in 1908, triggering a spreading of the practice throughout his state and eventually, all of India. In 1929 the Rajah publishes Surya Namaskars (Sun-Adoration) For Health, Efficiency & Longevity in English, and other related publications follow. This begins the spread of Surya Namaskar on a global level. It develops into the world's most famous "yoga" exercise as other teachers of hatha yoga within India develop their own variations. |
TODAY
|
Today,
Surya Namaskar’s status as the world’s most famous yoga exercise
presents a unique opportunity for harnessing the subtle and spiritual
dimensions of this practice globally. Traditionally the practice of Surya
Namaskar has involved an individual “sankalpa” or intention for achieving
a specific goal or purpose. Surya Namaskar for World Peace as a movement affirms that if a
critical mass of people around the world dedicate their daily
practice of Surya Namaskar to world peace, it will bear subtle yet tangible
positive results for the entire planet. Please join us.
* for an excellent and detailed discussion of the history of Surya Namaskar see: ORIGINS OF SURYA NAMASKAR |