Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) Yagna -
FAQ
What is Surya
Namaskar?
If
you do only a little Yoga each day, do Surya Namaskar. For people with limited
time, the Surya Namaskar exercises every muscle
and joint while stimulating the body. Surya Namaskar is performed to give
reverence to the internal Sun, the creative force that radiates inside the
body, and the external
Sun, which shines outside the body.
Surya
Namaskar is a series of 10 or 12 poses linked by a continuous flowing motion and synchronized with the
breath. Perform this series every morning and evening, and more if you desire. As always in
Yoga, do it slowly
and consciously.
Let
us spread awareness of Surya Namaskar and Yoga to our near and dear and also
make it a part of life.
What is Surya Namaskar Yagna?
Surya
Namaskar Yagna is associated with Ratha Sapthami and will be conducted every
year around this time.
It
is Suryanamaskar Marathon where an individual will set a goal and practice it
and gradually increase the count per day to reach the goal.
The idea is to complete as many rounds of
Surya Namaskar as possible during
the Yagna period. The duration of the Yagna
is for 6 weeks starting January 1st.
What is Ratha
Sapthami?
Ratha
Sapthami, the day of the sun, comes during this time. Ratha
Sapthami is a festival celebrated on the seventh day of the bright half of the Magh month. The Sun
God is presumed to be arriving in a chariot drawn by seven horses, which represent the seven colors of
the rainbow, and is worshipped on this day.
Significance of Sun
Most
of the ancient cultures worship the Sun. The Greeks called the Sun god Helius, the Romans referred to him as Titan and Hyperoin, the Egyptians
called him Ra (Ra-Atum-Khepri).
In
Mexican culture, he is Kikich Ahau. The Germans call the Sun Sol. In Chinese culture, the Sun
represents YANG (Pingala) and the Moon
represents YIN (Ida), the basis of everything in nature.
What is the target of
the Surya Namaskar Yagna?
250,000
Surya Namaskars.
How
can one register and participate?
Register
by email, Suryanamaskar@yogabharati.org,
or through the web site, www.yogabharati.org/suryanamaskar,
with your name, email address and daily goal (the minimum number of sets you intend to do every
day).
Registration
can be done for individuals or organizations (companies, non-profit, etc.) You
can encourage your colleagues to participate in the event and form a group.
This will give motivation to do more regularly and will eventually make it a
habit.
Corporate and organizations
participation and support
Employees
of a company or members/volunteers of an organization can register and
participate as a group. The total count under that group will be tracked under
that group name. The group which contributes the maximum count will be
recognized and will receive a group award.
New
Year Day Jan 1st, 2010 (Friday)
Start
practicing now. Make it a New Year resolution.
When is the
conclusion?
Jan 22nd, 2010
What is suggested
count per day?
No
limit how much you can do. Listen to your body and stop when you feel
exhausted. Last year, some participants started with 10 and could reach up to
100 per day within a month.
Who can participate?
Open
to public. Anyone with normal health including kids who can perform the
practice.
Place of practice?
At
home, at work, parks, yoga classes and wherever you can.
Is there a fee for the
participation?
No,
the participation is FREE.
Closing ceremony
Awards
and/or trophies will be presented to winners (individuals & organizations).
Basic guidelines
Please
set a realistic, yet challenging, goal for yourself, be committed to your pledge and complete your goal
every week. Make it a New Year resolution to practice Surya Namaskar every day.
Every
day practice ten or twelve steps at a stretch in the morning or evening (preferably in the morning). A
set of 12 counts is considered
as one Surya Namaskar. Please keep count of the number of sets you practice
every day.
Submit
the count on a weekly basis to Yoga Bharati www.yogabharati.org/suryanamaskar.
Gradually
increase the count every day/week.
References:
Please
refer to the following articles, talks, and videos for more information on Surya
Namaskar and Yoga-related topics.
Videos:
Surya
Namaskar Philosophy by N.V.Raghuram
Demonstration:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=198968031165287678&q=surya+namaskar&hl=en
Articles:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2006/02/suryanamaskara.html
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2006/02/suryanamaskara-reg.html
Kundalini and Surya Namaskar:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2006/01/kundalini-and-suryanamaskaras.html
Surya Namaskar Practice:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2005/12/suryanamaskara-practice.html
Annamaya Kosha and Surya Namaskar:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2005/12/annamaya-kosha-and-suryanamaskara.html
Surya Namaskar:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2005/12/surya-namaskaras.html