Sunday 15 January 2012

fatwa against Surya Namaskara(Sun salutation)


The huge furore of some people and a Fatwa against yoga came  as a shock to me and i am sure many more must have felt the same. The way some people have given Yoga a religious and political colour and branding it unislamic is totally unwarranted , nothing but intolerance .I watched the debate on National Television and to my surprise,according to one gentleman " Surya Nanmaskara" was worship of Sun,which  is not allowed in their religion,where as its a mere exercise to strengthen  the core .Wanted to tell him, Yoga is Indian and has got nothing to do with any religion .

Surya Namaskara, known in English as Sun Salutation , is a common sequence of Hatha yoga asanas. . This sequence of movements and poses can be practised on varying levels of awareness, ranging from that of physical exercise in various styles..
The physical base of the Practice links together twelve asanas in a dynamically performed series. These asanas are ordered so that they alternately stretch the spine backwards and forwards. When performed in the usual way, each asana is moved into with alternate inhalation and exhalation (except for the sixth asana where the breath is held in external suspension). A full round of Surya namaskara is considered to be two sets of the twelve poses with a change in the second set to moving the opposite leg first through the series.
Some proponents of the use of Surya namaskara as part of the modern yoga tradition prefer to perform it at sunrise, which is considered to be the most  favorable  time of the day does not mean offering prayers to the Sun .

photo credit Kulkarni's Surya Namaskara

8 comments:

  1. What to do with such ignorant people ! finding reasons with religions
    DeepaK

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  2. We should be thankful to people who raise such objections, as they are opportunities for us to smile during these otherwise challenging times. Compassion and not anger is the only answer to religious fundamentalism.

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  3. deepak honestly we cant do much about it:(
    subhorup lol..very well said compassion is the only answer to relegious fundamentalism

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  4. The variety of subjects that you cover- from social issues to history to romantic poetry- the speed with which you post them, the justice you do to each of the subjects....simply amazing! Coming to this post you have explained Surya namaskara in a simple, easy to understand manner.

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  5. Giving everything a political colour by fundamentalists is still understandable, but when national media takes it up to create more muck and blow it up and political parties jump into the fray, it gets a little overwhelming. Is there no end to vote bank politics?

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  7. hariharan thank u for ur kind words..i think this is 1of the best complimnts i have ever recieved for my blogs
    cybernag its true...vote bank politics are really frustrating,and watchn news evryday u tend to realise what all these politicians can do for votes..
    shekkhar well said

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  8. You are very true.
    I appreciate your concern.
    No one can live without surya.
    Thinking surya in mind and
    exhibiting namaskar in certain postures
    helps a lot to mind and body both.
    What is the harm,I don't understand.
    If you think light,positiveness of light
    would come to you,If you think rubbish,
    you would smell rubbish only.

    Thanks to you Alka ji,for your positive thinking.

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