Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) with Bij Mantras (Seed Syllables)

Time immemorial, Indian thinkers knew the secrete of gaining health through speaking, and through fine arts, they also brought it to the mainstream. Today, it is universally accepted that the vocal cords are part of the body, which was not the case many thousands of years ago, and it also needs an exercise as much as any other part of the body. It needs the same amount of attention, tune up, vigor, consistency, as any other parts do. No one knows better than singers how to take care of their vocal cords.

Since ages, many Indians have benefitted and experienced the wonderfully healing and vitalizing powers, physiological as well as psychic, possessed by the apparently meaningless sound of om also known as ‘Pranava’ and other seed syllables called as the ‘Bij Mantras’. We will discuss these bij mantras in this post. hram (ह्रां), hrim (ह्रिं), hrum (ह्रुं), hraim (ह्रैं) , hraum (ह्रौं), and hrah (ह्रः) are those six bij mantras. By making a loud, clear repetitive sound of these bij mantras, you’re influencing vital organs of your body such as heart, stomach, and brain etc. to gain both, preventative as well as curative effects.

How to pronounce it?

e.g. Om hram Mitray Namah

• Om is pronounced with a prolonged ‘o’ and a prolonged ‘m’
• hram is pronounced as ‘hraaammm’ as all sounds are long
• Open mouth for h and shut it for m
• While uttering the consonant r, the tip of the tongue should strike the upper palate
• Clear and loud pronunciation of Mitraya and Namah

Six bij mantras will be recited for first 6 Surya Namaskar mantras and then it will be repeated for the remaining six as follows.

• ॐ ह्रां मित्राय नम​: oṃ hrām mitrāya nama​; Salutations to the friend of all
• ॐ ह्रिं रवये नम​: oṃ hrīm ravaye nama​; Salutations to one who shines
• ॐ ह्रुं सुर्याय नम​: oṃ hruṃ suryāya nama​; Salutations to one who induces activity
• ॐ ह्रैं भानवे नम​: oṃ hraiṃ bhānave nama​; Salutations to one who illuminates
• ॐ ह्रौं खगाय नम​: oṃ hrauṃ khagāya nama​; Salutations to one who moves quickly
• ॐ ह्रः पुष्णे नम​: oṃ hraḥ puṣṇe nama​; Salutations to one who gives strength
• ॐ ह्रां हिरण्यगर्भाय नम​: oṃ hrām hiraṇyagarbhāya nama​; Salutations to golden cosmic self
• ॐ ह्रिं मरीचये नम​: oṃ hrīm marīcaye nama​; Salutations to lord of dawn
• ॐ ह्रुं आदित्याय​ नम​: oṃ hruṃ ādityāya nama​; Salutations to son of aditi
• ॐ ह्रैं सवित्रे नम​: oṃ hraiṃ savitre nama​; Salutations to stimulating power
• ॐ ह्रौं अर्काय​ नम​: oṃ hrauṃ arkāya nama​; Salutations to one who is fit to be praised
• ॐ ह्रः भास्कराय नम​: oṃ hraḥ bhāskarāya​​ nama​; Salutations to one who leads to enlightenment

What are the benefits*?

• h – Each bija mantra starts with aspirate h and proceeds from heart. Heart vibrates vigorously and pumps out pure blood only.
• r– This consonant is as important as om. Tip of the tongue strikes the upper palate while pronouncing r and vibrates the brain.
• a -The continuous long vowel in hram strengthens the ribs, purges alimentary canal of toxins and drives away lethargy and cleanses the upper portion of the lungs by stimulating them
• m– Each bija mantra end with labial nasal m. Every respiration must be made with nasal. Continuous or prolonged nasal mm helps vibrate and keeps nose and windpipe healthy.
• i – The long vowel stimulates the throat, palate, nose, and upper part of the heart.
• u– The long vowel effectively excites or stimulates the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines and reduces the abdomen.
• ai – The compound vowel stirs up the kidneys
• au – The Compound vowel acts on the rectum, and anus and helps them function normally
• hram -This mantra acts as curative forasthma, bronchitis, and for pre-disposition to tuberculosis
• hrim– Clears the respiratory and digestive passage of phlegm secreted or collected there.
• hrum – Repetition of loud and full sound will help women immensely to cure chronic disorder of the lower region of the abdomen.
• hrah– This mantra vibrates the chest and the throat.

As the new year began with many new resolutions, let’s resolve to keep everyone within our family, friends, etc. healthy with the help of Surya Namaksars with bij mantras.

*Reference: ‘The Ten-Point way to health’ by Shrimant Balasaheb Pandit Pratinidhi – Rajah of Aundh