सूर्य नमस्कार्
SŪRYA NAMASKĀR
Salutations to Sūrya, Sun Principle
In the modern yoga world, Sūrya Namaskār is often referred to simply as Sun Salutation and practiced primarily as a physical warm-up. However, in traditional systems, the sun is not seen merely as a celestial body, but as a sacred expression of Divinity—Sūrya Deva. In Vedic Monism (nondualism), Puruṣa, the Supreme Consciousness or Super Soul, is said to have become Sūrya (Sun Principle), thereby manifesting our solar world of sentiency and life.
In the Kaula Tantric tradition, the Sūrya Namaskār sequence consists of twelve precise movements (āsanas), each aligned with one of twelve mantras. More than just a workout, this sequence is a meaningful practice that connects the body, breath, and spirit with the deeper forces of nature and the universe.
The structure and mathematics of the traditional Sun Salutation derive from the Vedas (e.g., Trucha [त्रुच] verses), and incorporate āyurvedic principles, including the guṇas (the fundamental qualities of nature: sattva, rajas, and tamas) and the doṣas (the three bio-energetic forces: vāta, pitta, and kapha).
When a person integrates knowledge (jñāna) with yogic practices and has cultivated meditation (dhyāna) then Sūrya Namaskār will be done as an expression of a fully integrated and realised tantric yogi. In this state, the practice is performed with profound reverence and devotion—an offering to the Divine Sūrya, whose radiant presence sustains all life and gives meaning to our existence.
At Shri Kali Ashram, students are given the opportunity to practice Sūrya Namaskār in its original depth and spirit. Through this immersive study, you can uncover the true purpose of the practice: to awaken and embody the creative impulse, both in the vast macrocosm and within your own being.
Mandala of the Sun God Sūrya
(Public Domain, The Met)
