The Mantras of Surya Namaskar

I had a great question from Moon of I am (she has a great blog, you should check it out) but the answer is quite detailed so I thought I would write it in a post instead. The question relates to my earlier post today which shows the mantras associated with Surya Namaskar (sun salutations).  Namaha simply means salutation and Om has no direct meaning, but is a root sound, sometimes referred to as the sound of creation. Surya is the sun god and each part of the sun salutation has a separate mantra that gives thanks to some aspect of the sun god.They are:Om Mitraya Namaha ~ Light of universal friendshipOm Ravaya Namaha ~ Light of compelling radianceOm Suryaya Namaha ~ Dispeller of darkness and ignoranceOm Bhanave Namaha ~ Shining principleOm Kaghaya Namaha ~ All pervading lightOm Pushne Namaha ~ Light of mystic fireOn Hiranyagarabhaya Namaha ~ Golden colored one, healing goldOm Marichaye Namaha ~ Light obvious and subtle as at dusk and dawnOm Aditaya Namaha ~ Light of the sage, an aspect of Vishnu (Vishnu is a deity)Om Savitre Namaha ~ Light of enlightenmentOm Arkaya Namaha ~ Light that removes afflictionsOm Baskaraya Namaha ~ Brilliance, the light of intelligenceThe Sanskrit mantras are typically very beautiful. They somehow get into your soul even when you don't know what they mean. The language is very poetic when translated too, although I can't say that the translations that we hear are accurate. You usually find several interpretations for the same Sanskrit phrase. Likely they all come close though.