Traditionally, the sun salutation is an act of full devotion to the Lord Sun himself – the one that is the permanent source of wisdom and light that dispels the darkness of night, and the darkness of our ignorance. Each of the 12 movements of the sun salutation are done with recitation of the mantra, and each mantra is a representation of an aspect of the sun. The next time you do a sun salutation, bring into your mind and heart the meaning of what you are doing and why – that the practice is not just a ‘warm up’, but an expression of the highest devotion to non-duality itself. The mantras below are shortened versions of the surya mantras. Even if you do not recite the mantras while your practice, consider their meaning as you worship with breath and movement.
MANTRAS
Om Mitrāya Namaha – salutations to the universal friend
Om Ravaye Namaha – salutations to the shining one
Om Sūryāya Namaha – salutations to the one who induces activity
Om Bhānave Namaha – salutations to the one who illumines
Om Khagāya Namaha – salutations to the one who moves thru space
Om Pūshne Namaha – salutations to the giver of strength and nourishment
Om Hiranya Garbhāya Namaha – salutations to the golden cosmic self
Om Marīchaye Namaha – salutations to the bringer of the dawn
Om Ādityāya Namaha – salutations to the son of Aditi, the cosmic mother
Om Savitre Namaha – salutations to the stimulating power of the sun
Om Arkāya Namaha – salutations to the one who is fit to be praised
Om Bhāskarāya Namaha – salutations to the one who leads to enlightenment
