Surya Namaskar & Chandra Namaskar Associated Mantras & Chakras

Deepening Your Practice with Sound

Initiating movement through sound vibrations can deepen your meditative state, boost your energy, and harmonize your brainwaves and heart rhythm. “It’s refreshing for modern practitioners to experience the power of sound… Moving with mantra is really satisfying,” says Rea. – Yoga Journal 

You may wish to add Aum / Om or other mantras to the movements in your flow. Some ideas include:

• Traditional surya and chandra mantras associated with each pose. (See below.).
• Chant a surya mantra at the start of each round, progressing through all twelve.*
• Chant all twelve mantras at start of Surya Namaskar; practice 2, 4, 6 or 12 times.*
• Chant a bija mantra at the start of each round, or while holding each posture, or four times at the end of each round.*
• Chant six bija mantras at the start of each round, and again during Ashtanga Namskar.*

* These practice approaches are from Janita Stenhouse, Sun Yoga: The Book of Surya Namaskar 2001 p 69

Surya Mantras

The following are traditional surya mantras with Sanskrit translations from multiple sources plus the pose from Surya Namaskar associated with each. To hear them chanted clearly and slowly, see surya mantras in the videos below. The mantras and their progressive order were consistent in all sources we consulted. However, there was variation around which poses were associated with each mantra.

Om Mitraya Namaha

• Salutations to the friend of all
• Who is friendly to all
• Pranamasana or Tadasana

Om Ravaye Namaha

• Salutations to the shining one
• Praised by all
• The shining one, the radiant one
• Hasta Uttanasana or Pranamasana

Om Suryaya Namaha

• Salutations to he who induces activity
• The guide of all
• Who is the dispeller of darkness and bringer of activity
• Uttanasana or Urdhva Hastasana

Om Bhanave Namaha

• Salutations to he who illumines
• The bestower of beauty
• One who illumines, the bright one
• Anjaneyasana or Uttanasana

Om Khagaya Namaha

• Salutations to he who moves quickly in the sky
• Stimulator of the senses
• Who is all-pervading, who moves through the sky
• Adho Mukha Svanasana or Anjaneyasana

Om Pushne Namaha

• Salutations to the giver of strength
• The nourisher of all
• Giver of nourishment and fulfillment
• Ashtanga Namaskara or Plank

Om Hiranya Garbhaya Namaha

• Salutations to the golden, cosmic self
• The creator, Who has golden color brilliance
• Bhujangasana or Ashtanga Namaskara

Om Marichaye Namaha

• Salutations to the Lord of the Dawn
• Destroyer of disease
• Adho Mukha Svanasana or Bhujangasana

Om Aadityaya Namaha

• Salutations to the son of Aditi, the cosmic Mother
• The inspirer, Son of Aditi
• The cosmic divine Mother
• Anjaneyasana or Adho Mukha Svanasana

Om Savitre Namaha

• Salutations to the Lord of Creation
• The purifier
• One who is responsible for life
• Uttanasana or Anjaneyasana

Om Arkaya Namaha

• Salutations to he who is fit to be praised
• The radiant
• Worthy of praise and glory
• Hasta Uttanasana or Uttanasana

Om Bhaskaraya Namaha

• Salutations to he who leads to enlightenment
• The illuminator
• Giver of wisdom and cosmic illumination
• Pranamasana or Urdhva Hastasana

Swami Satyananda Saraswati’s teaching of the mantras and poses end here. Some other sources complete the series as follows:

Om Mitraya Namaha

• The friend of all
• Who is friendly to all
• Tadasana

Om Ravaye Namaha

• Praised by all
• The shining one, the radiant one
• Pranamasana