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Introduction

Surya Namaskar is often practiced with Mantras. Sun Salutation is a practice with prayer. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, Mantras are used for prayer or meditation. मन्त्र (Mantra) is a Sanskrit word that means speaking of a secret or protected word. A Mantra when repeated for a specific number of times becomes a Japa. A Japa is a means of prayer. Since Surya Namaskar is a practice with prayer, we add Mantra to it as a means of prayer to Sun God.

Surya Namaskar Stotra

स्तोत्र (Stotra) is a hymn in praise of a deity. Though it is also a means of prayer, it differs from Mantra. The latter has strict rules attached to it; whereas no rules for the former.

Worship of Sun God was an age-old practice originating back to Vedic times. Gayatri Mantra of Rig Veda is a hymn dedicated to Savitr or Surya, the Sun God.

Also, in the ancient epic Ramayana, we could find that Sage Agastya taught Rama Aditya Hridya Stotra, a hymn in praise of Sun God to get power to destroy Ravana. This hymn is still in practice as a prayer to Sun God in India.

However, Aditya Hridya Stotra is different from Surya Namaskar Mantras.

Surya Namaskar Mantras

Today different types of Surya Namaskar are in practice each having different counts of steps. We may generally classify them into three major styles that include a ten-step style, a twelve-step style, a two twelve-step style that constitutes a half-round.

With respect to Mantras, two types are used in Surya Namaskar Practice. They are Beeja Mantras and Surya Mantras. We describe how these two types of Mantra can be incorporated into different styles of practice.

Sun Salutation Dhyana Sloka

As a rule, every Mantra Japa should start with a Dhyana Sloka pertains to the deity of that Mantra. It is nothing but the meditation on the Mantra deity. If you want to practice Surya Namaskar with Mantras, you should start with the following Dhyana Sloka during the first step with palms in Anjali Mudra. It is enough to chant this once per session during the first round.

Sūryaṃ Sundara-loka-nātham-amṛitaṃ Vedānta-sāraṃ Śhivaṃ,
Jñānaṃ Brahmam-ayaṃ Sureśham-amalaṃ Lokaika-chittaṃ Svayam.
Indrāditya-narādhipaṃ Sura-guruṃ Trailokya-chūḍāmaṇiṃ,
Brahmā-viṣhṇu-śhiva-svarūpa-hṛidayaṃ Vande Sadā Bhāskaram.

If it is difficult to chant the above, you may try this.

Ever I adore Surya, the divine radiance, the Lord of the beautiful world,
the immortal elixir, the essence of Vedanta, the auspicious, 
the very knowledge of Brahman, the divine ruler without impurities,
the conciousness of the universe, the lord of Indra, the stars and humanity, 
the Guru of the gods, the crest-jewel of the three worlds, 
and the heart of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma.

Surya Namaskar Beeja Mantras

Beeja Mantras are seed Mantras or core Mantras endowed with great spiritual powers. Om is the best example of Beeja Mantras. Every deity in Hinduism has a special set of Beeja Mantras. The Beeja Mantras of Sun God are as follows.

S.NoSanskritEnglish
1ॐ ह्रांOm Hram
2ॐ ह्रींOm Hrim
3ॐ ह्रूंOm Hrum
4ॐ ह्रैंOm Hraim
5ॐ ह्रौंOm Hraum
6ॐ ह्:Om Hurrah
7ॐ ह्रां ह्रींOm Hram Hrim
8ॐ ह्रूं ह्रैंOm Hrum Hraim
9ॐ ह्रौं ह्:Om Hraum Hurrah
10ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रूंOm Hram Hrim Hrum
11ॐ ह्रैं ह्रौं ह्:Om Hraim Hraum Hurrah
12ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रूं ह्रैं ह्रौं ह्:Om Hram Hrim Hrum Hraim Hraum Hurrah
Sun Salutation Beeja Mantras

For twelve-step Surya Namaskar, one can use the above Mantras for each step. For the ten-step version, you may chant the above twelve Mantras during the first step with hands in Anjali Mudra. Alternatively, you may chant one Mantra during the first step and continue it for twelve rounds. If you want to perform only six rounds of Surya Namaskar, you may take the first six Mantras. If you perform lesser rounds, you may chant the first twelve or six Mantras during the first step.

Surya Namaskar Mantras With Meaning

There are twelve Surya Mantras. The following are the twelve Surya Namaskar Mantras with meaning. You may refer to this link for correct pronunciation.

1. Om Mitraya Namaha

ॐ मित्राय नमः

Salutations to the one who shows friendliness to all!

2. Om Ravaye Namaha

ॐ रवये नमः

Salutations to the one who is radiant!

3. Om Suryaya Namaha

ॐ सूर्याय नम:

Salutations to the one who dispells darkness!

4. Om Bhanave Namaha

ॐ भानवे नमः

Salutations to the one who is the brightest!

5. Om Khagaya Namaha

ॐ खगाय नमः

Salutations to the one who is all-pervading!

6. Om Pushne Namaha

ॐ पूष्णे  नमः

Salutations to the one who nourishes all!

7. Om Hiranya Garbhaya Namaha

ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः

Salutations to the one who is Gold Colour!

8. Om Marichaye Namaha

ॐ मरीचये नमः

Salutations to the one who has lightening rays!

9. Om Adityaya Namaha

ॐ आदित्याय नम:

Salutations to the son of Adithi, the divine mother!

10. Om Savitre Namaha

ॐ सवित्रे नमः

Salutations to the one who the is cause of all life!

11. Om Arkaya Namaha

ॐ अर्काय नमः

Salutations to the one who is praise-worthy!

12. Om Bhaskaraya Namaha

ॐ भास्कराय नमः

Salutations to the one who gives illumination or wisdom!

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