SURYANAMASKAR First, the asanas are described then, the mantras and meditations associated

SURYANAMASKAR First, the asanas are described then, the mantras and meditations associated with each asana is explained In this way, Suryanamaskar becomes more than a series of physical 'exercises' and assumes symbolic/solar significance. Namaste! ASANAS: 1. Stand with spine straight, feet close together, palms together in Anjali mudra ("Namaste" gesture), face turned slightly upward. Inhale. Exhale. 2. Inhale as you bring arms upward, in a "V" around your head. Stretch backward, arching back as far as is comfortable with abdominal & buttock muscles contracted. 3. Exhale as you bend forward, keeping head between arms. Keep your knees straight, bend from the waist. Palms on floor to sides of feet. Relax neck and shoulders (if you can't stretch all the way forward at first, as far as you're able). 4. Inhale. Bend knees, lift head so that chin points toward ceiling. Stretch your right leg back, right knee on the floor, palms flat on either side of left foot. 5. *Retain* the breath, as you stretch your left leg back. Toes on floor, legs and body straight--similar to a "push-up" position. 6. Lower body to the floor. Contract abs and raise stomach-- your forehead, chest, knees and toes will be in contact with the floor. Exhale. 7. Inhale up into bhujangasana--Cobra posture. Palms flat on floor, elbows slightly bent, chin pointing upward, spine arched as far as comfortable. 8. Exhale as you lock chin to chest and rise up with palms and feet flat on the floor, bent at hip--your body and the floor form a shape similar to a triangle. 9. Inhale, bend knees, stretch right leg back so that right knee and toes are on floor (similar to #4, but opposite leg). Palms flat on either side of left foot, chin pointing upward. 10. Exhale as you bring right leg forward. Feet together, palms flat on either side of feet. Straighten legs so that you're bent from the hip as in #3. Relax neck and shoulders. 11. Inhale, straighten body, keeping arms in "V" around head. Stretch up and arch back, as in #2. 12. Exhale. Straighten spine. Bring palms together in Namaste. MANTRA/SYMBOLOGY: 1. While in first position, try to "feel" the solar energy, or the light of the sun, pervading you entirely. The Mantra is: "Aum Adi Deva Namah." Adi Deva means, literally, "first god" or "first consciousness of one's divinity." The position, standing straight, facing the sun, hands in Namaste position, represents Purusa, the "pure spirit." (All the mantras should be "said" silently, but "vibrated" as though spoken aloud.) Pronunciation: Ahhhhh-Ooooo-Mmmmmmmm AH-dih Deh-vuh. (Roughly). 2. As you inhale, consciously 'feel' the vital energy filling you. The backward bend is symbolic of one side illuminated, the other side shadowed; as the sun illuminates one-half of the earth while the other remains in darkness; as the soul begins to come into a deeper, but still incomplete awareness of Its divinity. Mantra: Aum Jata Veda Namah. Jata Veda being the wisdom of the Vedas. Aum Juh-Tta Veh-Dah Nah-Mah. 3. As you exhale, the primal creative force is represented by your outbreath. You touch the ground, symbolic of the 'creation' of the earth, matter, the incarnated self. Mantra: Aum Jyoti Mey Linga Namah. Oyeah, I forgot: Namah means both 'name' and 'salutation.' The linga/lingam is the male organ, the symbol of Siva, and the symbol of pure consciousness. Jyoti Mey is pure light or pure 'matter'. The two together represent the male and female creative powers. Consciousness has entered matter. Aum JYO- ttee May Lihn-GAH Nah-Mah. 4. Your foot is on the ground, but not your knee! You immerse yourself deeply in the union of matter and consciousness, while turning your face to the sun. Mantra: Aum Devya Swarupa Namah. Devya is YOUR divinity, or divinity personified in YOU. Swarupa is "form" You recognize your "divine form" although not fully 'feeling' it yet. Aum Deh-VAH-yuh Svah-ROO-puh Nah-Mah. 5. With your body in a straight line, hands and feet on floor, you represent a 'bridge' between the smallest atom and the whole of the Aethyr (micro & macro). Mantra: Aum Ansu Namah. Ansu=smallest particle of matter. Aum Uhn-SHOO Namah. 6. The position represents VIBRATION and ACTION. You are the embodiment of Sakthi! Aum Rajaguna Rupa Namah. Raja=supreme, royal. Rajas=energy, activity. Raja and Rajas are both implied. Rupa means both 'form' and 'beauty.' Also both are implied. Gunas are states of being or feeling the Self. You express your embodiment as Sakthi, the energy that must unite with pure consciousness, and the Beauty within that state. Aum RAH-zhuh-GOO- nuh ROO-puh Namah. 7. Cobra position. You rise to face the sun and bend backwards, having glimpsed your immortal form. Mantra: Aum Amrita Swarupa Namah. Amrita is 'life-giving nectar'; it's also 'immortality.' Your form is immortal; you have the power to give life, you are inspired! Aum Ahm-RITT-uh Namah. 8. You rise up while looking down; forming another bridge, between the conscious realm (symbolized by looking down at the earth) and the realm of the 'absolute.' Again, this is micro/macro, but from a different perspective: dove rather than serpent. Mantra: Aum Usra Swarupa Namah. Ushas=Dawn; Ush=the warmth produced by the first light of Dawn. Usra=the experience of the warmth and the glimpse. You simultaneously assume the form of the experience and the experiencer! Aum OOSH- ruh Namah. 9. Similar to position 4, but this time you're immersing yourself in consciousness rather than matter. Mantra: Aum Hiran Mey Namah! Hiran=gold, golden. Hiran Mey=Pure Gold; that which endures beyond enduring; that which IS. Aum Hih-Runn May Namah. 10. Similar to position 3 but "expiring" rather than "creating"-- the the destruction of that which is not Pure Gold or Pure Self. You submit to your Self, you bow to your Self! Mantra: Aum Akasa Vihari Namah. Aum Ah-KAH-shah Vih-HAH-ree Namah. Akasa=aethyr; also radiant "inner" aethyr. Vihari=void, cave. As the bullshit dies, you embody pure, radiant aethyr. 11. Similar to position 2, but joy and divinity are now illumined, the remainder shadowed. Breathe in--you have 'given birth to' that which endures! Mantra: Aum Adi Teya Namah. Adi Teya=the first 'offspring' of divinity. Aum AH-dih Teh-YUH Namah. 12. Return to first position. The cycle completed. Mantra: Aum MahaVisnu Namah. Maha=great. Visnu=god who represents the principle of preservation (as Brahma is creation and Siva destruction/transcendence). You preserve the purity of Self that remains after the cycles of creation and destruction represented in 2 through 11. Aum MAH-huh VIHSH-nooh Namah. Gee, aren't you SO glad you asked! LOL! [K [K--- TBBS v2.1/NM [K * Origin: Modem Magick /Multi-line/ (619) 447-5010 (1:202/311)