Surya Namaskar. Posture n. 12

Posture n. 12 is Namaskar position

Breathing: exhalation
Body: Hands together in front of the chest, body straight yet relaxed
Mantra:   ॐ भास्कराय नमः  Om Bhaskaraya Namaha
              (Prostration to  Him who is the cause of  lustre)

Gold is one of the the most wanted metal in the world. It's yellow, shinning and strong. Any associations? Yes, gold recalls us the Sun: warm and shiny. We decorate temples with gold, bride wears gold jeweleries, kings clothes, furnitures and plates were decorated with gold.
We want our prescious moments and people to shine! When somebody is happy we used to say "You are shining", "Your eyes are shining". And even Louis XIV, french king, absolute monarch were called Sun King, like Sun is essential to earth so he wanted to be essential to France!
We are always wondering to see the sunrise, to see the begining of the day. It's giving energy. Its very powerful time to do asanas, pranayamas or meditation.

Sources: asana photo: Complete Ilustrated Book of Yoga. Swami Vishnudevananada
             sunrise: private photo

 Om Tat Sat
            

Surya Namaskar. Posture number 6

Posture n. 6 is Ashtangasana

Body: Bend your knees, put them on the floor, make a deep curve in your lower back, put the chest and forehead on the mat. Keep your hips up, chest under the hands, the palms are in one line with arms.
Breathing: exhaile
Mantra:  ॐ पुष्णे नम: (Om Pushne Namaha)
              The nourisher of all
              Prostration to Him who nourishes all


This is one of the most obvious thing- Sun is the source of natural nourish: herbs, trees, flowers and then fruits and vegetables. More Sun- more sweetness in fruits, more colours in vegetables. Even single flower blossom will not open in the morning without sun rays. And obviously, with the nourish we begin the day, this is our physical and mental energy.

Om Tat Sat

Surya Namaskar. Posture number 4

The fourth posture is Ashwa Sanchalanasana

Body: The palms stay in the same position as in Padahastasana. Bend left knee. Stretch right leg far backwards. Right foot place on the floor (exterior part touch the ground) as well as the right knee. Pull the loins to the ground. Left knee is between the arms. Look up. 

Breathing: Inhale

Mantra : ॐ भानवे नमः (Om Bhanave Namaha)
              The bestower of Beauty
              Prostration to Him who diffuses Light


"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, and it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness" - according the Bible , the Light was created the second day, just after the earth. The universe is nothing without the light. Light is the knowledge. That's why latin words "fiat lux" often is used as motto in university* or schools. 
The knowledge that we are looking for is different: about us, the world, universe, animals, history etc...The knowledge is the key to better life- more we know (understand)  the world and the Self, easier to decide what to do, where to go. Nobody can confuse you. As long you have the light with you - you know the way, even somebody try to show the wrong way.  Trust your memory and your eyes. 


*for example in University of California

Hari Om Tat Sat

Surya namaskar. Posture number 3

The third position is Pada-hastasana

Body: Bend forward and touch the floor with your hands, fingertips in one line with toes. If you need -bend the knees. Forehead touch the knees. The muscles of stomack are relaxed. Feel the stretching of the back.

Breathing: exhailing

Mantra :  ॐ सूयाय नमः (Om Suryaya Namaha)
                 Prostration to Him who is the Guide of all


In the beginning of the life, this world for everybody is something new, unknown and sometimes it's still incomprehensible enigma. In new places we need somebody to guide us, to shaw the way, to explain how to live. Before the time when differents electronic systems  as gps, compass, or simple watch were discovered the humans used the sun position , the shadows during the day to designate the time, the geographical location and the direction when they need to go. The sun was the guide during the day, in the evening the guide is no more with us, so it was a clear sign that we need to take rest, no more activity, the body should accumulate the energy, the walk without the guide in the night can be dangerous.

Source: "Anathomy Of Hatha Yoga"- H. David Coulter
             "The complete Illustrated book of Yoga" Swami Vishnudevananda