Brief History of Surya Namaskar

 

Surya namaskar has ancient origins in the Vedic period in India, where the sun was worshipped as the deity Surya. It evolved from physical prostrations and rituals performed at dawn to honor the sun's energy, with Vedic hymns incorporated into daily routines. While the exact origins are debated, this practice has been documented in ancient texts like the Rig Veda and was later popularized in the 1920s by the Rajah of Aundh. 

Ancient origins

Vedic roots: The practice traces its roots to the Vedic period (c. 1500-1000 BCE), where the sun was revered as Surya Dev, the source of life, vitality, and enlightenment.

Ritualistic prostrations: Early forms involved physical prostrations and rituals performed at dawn to greet the sun, often accompanied by mantras and gestures.

Incorporation into daily routines: Some Vedic hymns were incorporated into daily obligatory rituals (Nitya Vidhi) for the welfare of the individual, leading to the term "Surya Namaskar" or "sun salutations".

Mythological connection: A popular myth links the practice to the god Hanuman, who was taught the Vedas by the sun and performed Surya Namaskar as a gesture of gratitude to his teacher. 

Later developments

Regional variations: The specific forms of Surya Namaskar varied by region and school.

Modern popularization: In the 1920s, Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi, the Rajah of Aundh, helped popularize the practice, describing it in his 1928 book The Ten-Point Way to Health: Surya Namaskars.

Integration into yoga: Surya Namaskar was integrated into modern yoga practices as a powerful sequence to enhance physical and mental well-being. 

Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutation, has ancient roots in Indian tradition as a spiritual practice dedicated to the sun and gradually evolved into the physical yogic sequence that is common today.

Ancient Origins

The earliest forms of Surya Namaskar can be traced back to the Vedic period (over 3500 years ago), when rituals honoring the sun involved chanting 132 passages and a physical prostration at sunrise. These were devotional acts rather than sets of physical postures.

Early Modern Revival

In the early 20th century, the practice began to be systematized as a sequence of postures. The Raja of Aundh, Bhawanrao Pant Pratinidhi, is credited with popularizing the modern Surya Namaskar in the 1920s. He published a book about the practice and urged its adoption for both health and spiritual benefits.

Integration with Yoga

Leading yoga figures like Swami Sivananda and T. Krishnamacharya in the 1930s and onward integrated Surya Namaskar with asana practice—emphasizing its use for physical health, mindfulness, and spiritual upliftment[5][7][9]. Krishnamacharya’s influence led to Surya Namaskar being taught as part of yogic tradition, making it a dynamic flow of postures combined with breath and meditation.

Contemporary Practice

Today, Surya Namaskar is considered a complete routine for harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit, and remains an important element of both physical fitness and spiritual practice in yoga worldwide.

Surya Namaskar’s journey spans from Vedic ritual to a modern global wellness phenomenon, with key contributions from Indian royals and yoga gurus in the past century.