sun salutation sequence integral hatha yoga

One of the means of honoring the sun is through the dynamic asana sequence Surya Namaskar (better known as Sun Salutation). Moreover, since everything that exists originates from the sun, as Alain Danizlou wrote in The Myths and Gods of India, it “must contain the potentiality of all that is to be known.” For the Hindus, the sun is the “eye of the world” ( loka chakshus), seeing and uniting all selves in itself, an image of and a pathway to the divine. That’s why one of Surya’s many other appellations is Savitri (the Vivifier), who, according to the Rig Veda, “begets and feeds mankind in various manners” (III.55.19).

But for thousands of years, the Hindus have revered the sun, which they call Surya, as both the physical and spiritual heart of our world and the creator of all life itself. When we look at our closest star, we may see nothing more than a big yellow ball.

Our primary source of light is, of course, the sun. “Opposition between light and darkness has informed the spiritual world of all peoples and molded it into shape.” “The world begins with the coming of light,” wrote Jungian analyst Erich Neumann in The Origins and History of Consciousness. In many cultures, light has long been a symbol of consciousness and self-illumination. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!

Sun salutation sequence integral hatha yoga