Surya Namaskar as a Form of Worship
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) is much more than exercise - it is a devotional offering of the body to Surya, the Sun God, the visible deity who gives light, health and life. Traditionally each round is performed while chanting one of twelve sacred mantras, each addressing the Sun by a different name.
Chanting the mantras turns the practice into a moving prayer. Each name (Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Bhanu and so on) reveals a quality of the Sun, and saluting all twelve honours him in his fullness. The mantras are best chanted at sunrise, facing the rising Sun.
The First Six Mantras
Each mantra begins with Om, a bija (seed) sound, and ends with Namah (salutations):
1. ॐ मित्राय नमः - Om Mitraya Namah - Salutations to the friend of all. 2. ॐ रवये नमः - Om Ravaye Namah - Salutations to the shining one, cause of change. 3. ॐ सूर्याय नमः - Om Suryaya Namah - Salutations to the one who induces activity and dispels darkness. 4. ॐ भानवे नमः - Om Bhanave Namah - Salutations to the one who illumines, the giver of light. 5. ॐ खगाय नमः - Om Khagaya Namah - Salutations to the one who moves across the sky. 6. ॐ पूष्णे नमः - Om Pushne Namah - Salutations to the nourisher of all beings.
With a bija mantra, the form Om Hram Mitraya Namah, Om Hrim Ravaye Namah and so on is also used; the simple form above is the most common.
The Last Six Mantras
7. ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः - Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah - Salutations to the golden cosmic womb, source of creation. 8. ॐ मरीचये नमः - Om Marichaye Namah - Salutations to the lord of the rays of dawn. 9. ॐ आदित्याय नमः - Om Adityaya Namah - Salutations to the son of Aditi, the boundless one. 10. ॐ सवित्रे नमः - Om Savitre Namah - Salutations to the one who gives life and inspires all. 11. ॐ अर्काय नमः - Om Arkaya Namah - Salutations to the one worthy of praise and worship. 12. ॐ भास्कराय नमः - Om Bhaskaraya Namah - Salutations to the one who gives light and leads to wisdom.
Thus the twelve mantras run from Mitra (friend) to Bhaskara (giver of light), saluting the Sun in twelve aspects across the twelve rounds.
Many add a thirteenth closing mantra: ॐ श्री सवितृ सूर्यनारायणाय नमः - Om Shri Savitra Surya Narayanaya Namah - uniting all the names in praise of Surya-Narayana.
How to Practise with the Mantras
- Best time: At sunrise (brahma muhurta to early morning), facing the rising Sun, ideally on an empty stomach.
- One mantra per round: Chant one of the twelve mantras at the start of each Surya Namaskar round, moving through all twelve in order.
- Mind on the meaning: As you chant Mitraya, Ravaye, Suryaya... recall the quality each name describes - friend, radiance, activity, light.
- Breath and bhava: Sync the postures with the breath and keep a feeling of gratitude to the Sun for light, health and life.
- Sundays and Ratha Saptami are especially auspicious. Even chanting the twelve mantras alone, without the postures, is a beautiful Surya upasana.
This turns a daily routine into worship - the body, breath and voice all offered to the Sun God.
What People Ask Most
How many mantras are there in Surya Namaskar?+
There are twelve mantras in Surya Namaskar, one for each round, from Om Mitraya Namah to Om Bhaskaraya Namah. Each salutes the Sun God by a different name. A thirteenth closing mantra to Surya-Narayana is often added.
What is the first mantra of Surya Namaskar?+
The first mantra is 'Om Mitraya Namah' - salutations to Mitra, the friend of all beings. It is chanted at the start of the first round of Surya Namaskar.
When is the best time to chant the Surya mantras?+
At sunrise, facing the rising Sun, ideally on an empty stomach. Sundays and Ratha Saptami are especially auspicious. The twelve mantras can be chanted with the postures or on their own.
Do the Surya mantras need a bija (seed) sound?+
The simple form (Om Mitraya Namah and so on) is most common and complete on its own. Some traditions add bija sounds such as Hram, Hrim, Hrum before each name; either form is valid when chanted with devotion.
About the author
Acharya Vinaya Kapoor · M.A. Sanskrit, Mantra & Stotra Studies
Acharya Vinaya holds an M.A. in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and writes the mantra and stotra commentary on Vandnaa. Her focus is on accurate pronunciation, traditional context, and helping modern readers connect with classical texts.
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