Sun Salutations with Chakras Activation

By Vijai Sharma, PhD • May 23rd, 2011 • 18374 Views

Ancients viewed Sun as the visual representation of the Divine on the earth.  Some ancient texts identify Sun as the energetic and creative aspect of Siva and Vishnu, referred to as, “Surya Narayana (Sun God).” Prashnopnishad (1:5) says, “Aditya ha vai Prano,” “Sun indeed is that Prana (the cosmic energy).”  In Vedic astrology Sun represents will power, fame, vitality, courage, power and authority.

Recovering from a major medical condition, I designed a practice routine of Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara) and activation of chakras (energy centers in the body) with energizing visualizations and affirmations of powerful thoughts and feelings.  It’s a practice I have come to love and still continue to practice it regularly for a vigorous and energetic start of the day.

And now I invite YOU to try it. As this practice has done for me, I believe it can revitalize a person in the morning, augment the faculties of concentration and visualization and wake up every cell of the body. The practice targets to stoke the “flames” of internal fire (agni) and energy (prana) across the vital energy centers referred to as, the chakras.  It sets the tone of the day for me with inspiration and prepares me to face any challenges that come my way during the course of the day.

The practice involves visualizing the internal Sun* (your own fountain of energy, light and fire) in various chakras in a specific order and maintaining the visualization in the chakra (dharna) while performing a series of Sun Salutations.  Chanting of Samskrita mantras while coming out of the Sun Salutation is optional. You may instead repeat it silently in your head or, substitute it with a short English phrase to infuse you with energy and inspiration.

*Here onwards, internal sun will be spelled with capital “Sun.”

 The origins of this practice can be traced back to an ancient prayer to Sun, Aditya Hradayam in Valmiki Ramayana. Valmiki Ramayana is one of the two major Indian epics, the other one being Mahabharata estimated to be 2500-3000 years old.  Aditya Hradayam is made of two words, Aditya, another name of sun and Hradayam literally means “heart.”  Aditya Hradayam in this context can mean “Sun in the heart,”  “meditation on Sun,” “prayer of Sun from heart” or, “praying to that Sun which resides in the heart.”  It is the last one that speaks to my heart because it is consistent with the Vedic concept prevalent in...

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Location:  Tennesse, US

Vijai Sharma, PhD, Certified yoga therapist and yoga teacher. Vijai, a life long student of yoga and disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayan cave monastery completed his yoga teacher and yoga therapist training with Gary Kraftsow...