surya / chandra
Sun / moon
sunbeam / moonray
THE SUN or SURYA
The Sun was formed 4.57 million years ago and is the star at the center of our Solar system - our main support system and giver of life on Earth as we orbit its golden radiance in the mandala of time. Our Sun has been worshipped and reverred since the beginning of humankind. Our days and nights are governed by the presence and absence of the suns rays. The earth rotates on its axis at a 23.5 tilt allowing our 24 hour cycle of day and night. Our rotation and the tilt of the earths axis creates the four distinct seasons The orbit of the Earth around the sun is a celestial motion that takes 365.26 day or our calendar year, - January 3 Perihelion( closest to the sun), March 20/21Equinox, June Solstice 21//22, July 4 Aphelion (furthest from the sun), September Equinox 22/23, and the December Solstice 21/22. These days have been honored for generations by ancient civilizations in the ebb and flow of life between the Sun, the Earth and our Moon.
The sun is thought to govern energy. organization, power, rulership, self integration, spirit, wholeness and will. The sun is also associated with the male/father figure and its masculine attributes. The right side of the body is considered the masculine or solar side as well as the front side of the body. The Manipura Chakra also called the solar plexus is the seat of fire within the body becasue it is considered the chakra of our Lifeforce. Invoking the healing powers of the sun -Yellow in symbolism as well as responsible for our digestion or agni (fire- lightning - Sun) Surya is the name of the ancient Hindu Solar God who dwelt in the body of the sun- described as the husband of dawn -from the Rig Veda and made reference to as the rising sun. In the Sanskrit VEDAS, numerous hymns are dedicated to SURYA/MITRA DEV, the sun personified and Savitr, a solar deity known as "the impeller" asssociated with Surya. The GAYATRI Mantra - one of the most sacred Hindu hymns is dedicated to the Sun and all of its glory. This Mantra is recited at sunrise and sunset to honor the sun - SAVITR- Surya
OM BHUR BHUVAH SVAH ~ O nourishing Sun, solitary traveler, controller, source of life
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM ~ for all creatures, spread your light and subdue your
BHARGO DEVASYA DIMAHI ~ dazzling splendor so I may see your blessed Self.
DHIYOYO NAH PRACODAYAT ~ Even that very Self am I! ~ Isa Upanishad (16)
This is but one translation or rendering.
OUR MOON or CHANDRA
The moon is seen as a female symbol and was worshipped in ancient times as a powerful, nurturing force. It is believed to be linked to the unconscoious and our feminine side. The sacredness of the moon is connected with the basic cycle or rhythm of life. The changing phases of the moon were linked to the rebirth and death seen in seasons, crops and also the female monthly "moon" cycle that controls human fertility.
The moon's phases are Waxing, Waning, Full, New and Gibbous.
Waxing moon is growing larger in the sky moving fromr a narrow crescent just after the new moon towards a full moon. The moon grows from right to left and is called the Right handed Moon.
The Waning moon decreases in size from a full moon back towards a crescent as the New Moon approaches. This Waning moon decreses for right to left and is called the Left Handed Moon. The moons energy is now waning toward its Cresent moon.
The Gibbous phases are between the First Quarter and the Full Moon and then the Full Moon and the Last Quarter when more than half of the disc is illuminated.
The Moon is our guidance to the months of the year as it moves between the sun and the earth every 29.5 days and then starts over as a new room.
The Blue moon occurs when two full moons happen in one month ~ once every 2.7 years. The second moon is thergy called a blue moon. So "Once in a Blue Moon" literally means every 2.7 years.
The Harvest Moon is a Full Moon nearest to the Autumnal Equionox. This moon appears large and btight in the early evening and assists farmers in valuable extra harvesting time.
The Dark Moon occurs when two New Moons occupy the same month. There is no illumination on the earths side and the stars are bright and dominant in the sky.
A lunar eclipse occuse as the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon. This can only occur when the Moon is full. The Moon can seem to magically change color as the earths reflection (earthshine) shadows slowly over the moons surface changing form a bright red to a coppery color.
The crescent moon is considered the sacred symbol of yoga.The moon is representative of the feminine, nurtruing and calming qualities. The Left and posterior part of our bodies are considered feminine. Chandra Namaskar or Full Moon Salutation gives revernece to the strength and importance of the moon. Ardha Chandrasana and Cresent Pose are named from the moon. In Pranayama the new moon brings calmness at the end of the exhalation when APANA is greatest. Full Moon energy is heightened awareness and emotions found at the end of inhalation when PRANA is greatest.
SURYA/CHANDRA
IN Tantrism the self and the world are one. The divine marriage of alchemy (hieros-gamos) is none other than the union of the SUN (the self of the world) and the MOON (the world in the self). Involution and evolution, shining and reflection, progection and introjection, Yin and Yang, Shiva and Shakti.
The Moon is visible to us beacuse of light reflected from the sun. Its monthly motion through the heavens are tantamount in our daily ebb and flow of life.
Sun stands for revelation via self-expression. The Moon reflects your subconscious mind and describes your emotional bias
Interestingly enough the Sun and the Moon appear to be axactly the same size in the sky... which explains the total eclipses of the sun. To the astrologer and ancients this was symbolic of the Sun in equal importance to the Moon in ones life. The exression of your individuality is equally important as the nurturing of your emotional well being. conscious awareness is equal to subconscious motivations.
The Moon plays a role into your inner life and potential path wheras the sun plays a role in your career and culminates with the moon showing the path as a means to that end.
The sun and moon are a team and as the word HA-THA connotates it is the union between these polar opposties that have made life possible on thsi extrraordinary planet. Hatha is the union of the sun and moon. The sun represents the right side of the physical body or the masculine energy and the moon represents the left side of the body.
HATHA - is a merging of the sanskrit words "Ha" and "Tha" meaning sun and moon, two esoteric BIJA (seed) mantras taht have arcane meaning and power.
"Ha" refers to the solar quality or pingala nadi in the subtle body and "tha" represents the mind, lunar chanel or Ida nadi of this energetic body. When the two components are placed together ~ HATHA means " "forceful", implying that powerful work must be done to purify the body. This is done through a potent physical practice of asana (pose) developing an inner calm, poise, strength and balance. A contemplative physical yoga practice of "asana" , pranayama (controlled breathing), purification techniques, relaxation and meditation enhances the union of the pair of opposties together in the pursuit of enlightenment.
Yoga means union, to yoke or to join two things together, hatha yoga is meant to join the solar-masculine and acitve energy with the lunar- feminine and receptive energy producing balance and greater power for an individual. Balancing sun and moon facilitiates the awakening and arising of Kundalini, and thus the awakening of a higher consciousness.
The word "Hatha" literally means forceful in Sanskrit, it is a resilient practice for purification.Yoga is a preparatory stage of physical purification that one practices for higher meditaion.Hatha represents the dual forces and opposing energies: hot/cold, fire/water, yin/yang,male/female,solar/lunar, positive/negative, Shiva/Shakti. Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic path including moral disciplines, physical postures-asanas, purification -shatkriya, poses-mudras, yogic breathing- pranayama and meditation.
Hatha Yoga consists of six limbs called SADANGA Yoga (sad-6 and anga-limb) focused on attaining Samadhi or divine enlightenment. These limbs are defined as :
ASANA ~ physical posture
PRANAYAMA ~ breath control
PRATYAHARA ~ sense withdrawal
DHARANA ~ concentration
DHYANA ~ meditation
SAMADHI ~ experience of unity with God
An significant path of hatha sadhana is awakening Kundalini. A notable accomplishment in hatha yoga is greater flexibility mentally and physically,slenderness of the body, a cheerful yet serene face, enhanced mystical auditory capabilities, brilliant eyes, intuitive control over the BINDU, an increase in digestive fire and purification of the nadis.
The basic text of Hatha Yoga is the HATHAPRADIPIKA by Svatmarama. Hatha Yoga is one of two branches of Yoga that focus on the physical culture, the other being RAJA Yoga; both of these are called Sadhanga yoga. Svatmarama emphasizes there is no Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga without Raja Yoga. Raja Yoga uses asana as a means to and for meditation; it focuses primarily on the four predominant meditative poses:
LOTUS POSTURE ~ padmasana
ACCOMPLISHED POSTURE ~ siddhasana
EASY POSTURE ~ sukhasana
PELVIC POSTURE ~ varjasana
Hatha Yoga utilizes meditative postures as well as multiple cultural postures in its quest of enlightenment.
Raja Yoga is devoid of bandha (extensive blocks) with its Pranayama (breathwork).
Ashtanga Yoga is the yoga of the YOGA SUTRAS written and compiled by Patanjali. It is composed of eight limbs (see above) plus ethical obligations called YAMA and NIYAMA. These eight limbs are a progression in the foundation of yoga as each level provides a benefit in and of itself toward the mastery and evolution of body, mind and spirit. A Yama is a "moral restraint" or rule for living virtuously. The ten yamas according to Swatmarana are:
YAMA and NIYAMA
AHISMA ~ Nonviolence to any living creature, thought, word, or deed. This is the main Yama.
SATYA ~ Truth in though and word
ASTEYA ~ Non stealing or coveting
BRAHMACHARYA ~ Divine conduct, faithful to spouse, cleibate when single, continence
KSHAMA ~ Patience, being present in the here and now
DHRITI ~ Steadfast, perseverence and following a task to completion
DAYA ~ Compassion- being sensitive to all beings
ARJAVA ~ Honesty
MITAHARA ~ moderation of appetite without meat, fish, shellfish, fowl and eggs
SAUCHA ~ Purity of body, mind and speech
PATANJALI 5 YAMA AND NIYAMA
AHISMA ~ non injury
SATYA ~ truthfulness
ASTEYA ~ non stealing
BRAHMACHARYA ~ chastity
APARAGRIH ~ Abstinence from avarice (greed and materialism)
PATANJALIS 5 NIYAMAS
SAUCHA ~ Purity
SAMTOSHA ~ contentment
TAPAS ~ asceticism
SVADHYAYA ~ abstinence from avarice
ISHVARA-PRANIDHANA ~ Devotion to God
In many cultures, light has long been a symbol of consciousness and self-illumination."The world begins with the coming of light," wrote Jungian analyst Erich Neumann in The Origins and History of Consciousness (Princeton University Press, 1995). "Opposition between light and darkness has informed the spiritual world of all peoples and molded it into shape."
Our primary source of light is, of course, the sun. When we look at our closest star, we may see nothing more than a big yellow ball. 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. 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). Moreover, since everything that exists originates from the sun, as Alain DaniŽlou wrote in The Myths and Gods of India (Inner Traditions, 1991), 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.
One of the means of honoring the sun is through the dynamic asana sequence Surya Namaskar (better known as Sun Salutation). The Sanskrit word namaskar stems from namas, which means "to bow to" or "to adore." (The familiar phrase we use to close our yoga classes, namaste—te means "you"—also comes from this root.) Each Sun Salutation begins and ends with the joined-hands mudra (gesture) touched to the heart. This placement is no accident; only the heart can know the truth.
The ancient yogis taught that each of us replicates the world at large, embodying "rivers, seas, mountains, fields...stars and planets...the sun and moon" (Shiva Samhita, II.1-3). The outer sun, they asserted, is in reality a token of our own "inner sun," which corresponds to our subtle, or spiritual, heart. Here is the seat of consciousness and higher wisdom (jnana) and, in some traditions, the domicile of the embodied self (jivatman).Iin essence, a humble adoration of the light and insight of the self, it's essential to practice Sun Salutation in a spirit of devotion and with your awareness turned always inward toward the heart. Make each movement as mindful and precise as possible, especially as you near the end of your rounds, when fatigue can lead to sloppiness.
