User:Nvvchar/sandbox/Surya Namaskar Yagna

The Surya Namaskar Yagna is an annual event organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and a part of 15-day Yoga event Yogathan. It is one of premier yogas that is performed in twelve postures, in a sequence, offering prayers to the Sun god. It is observed as a celebratory event by students in all schools in India.

The event was first organised in 2007. During 2013, 18 February was decided to be observed as Surya Namaskar Yagna and the event is reported to have been observed by 20 million students across the length and breadth of the country initiating a very well organized mass exercise. The event was mandated to be observed by the School Education Departments and NGOS in most states of the country.

The yagna was held in many parts of the country to imbibe the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and widely covered by the print and television media.

The Yoga Bharati Organization defined Surya Namaskar Yagna, meaning "Sun Salutations Marathon" and has urged everyone to observe this yoga at the beginning of the new year as a new year resolve for a healthy year ahead.

History
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh first organized this festival in 2007. Since then it became

2013 — 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
The even "Surya Namaskar Yagna" was observed on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Vivekananda on the yoga
Swami Vivekananda during a daily yoga and mediation session, speaking on the general theme of “Give up all sorts of weakness is misery, weakness is death”, elaborated that a yoga session in the morning starting with mantras and Surya Namskar was an essential requirement to obviate this dictum and to achieve integrated development of one’s personality as it would provide the right feeling to the start of the day.

The Vivekananda Kendra Organization appealed to all schools to observe 18 February 2013 to celebrate the 150th Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary in the form of Mass-Suryanamaskar. A CD on Surya Namaskar was also launched for the occasion.

Practice
The Surya Namaskar is a simple physical exercise which involves 12 postures which are practiced under the guidance of a trained teacher. This yoga is also termed as a “technique of solar vitalization”.

This yoga exercise to the Sun god is also performed in the evening at sunset time. The mantra that is recited while performing this yoga is “OM Mitraya namaha” meaning “I salute the friend of All.” The exercise, whether practiced during sun rise or sun set hours, is performed facing the Sun and in a standing posture. Arms raised towards the sky with palms extended towards the front. The arms are raised above the head in order to absorb the Sun’s energy. The thumbs on the hands are held in a hooked form representing the Trimurthi symbol which in Hinduism represents the trinity gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Benefits of this yoga exercise have been cited as enhancement of vitamin D by sun’s rays, better blood circulation, prevention of insomnia, and helping the digestive process.

Controversy
The event was mandated to be observed in all schools in India. However, in Bihar, the Muslim Groups objected to this mandating as they considered yoga as a Hinduism based exercise and prevailed on the Government of Bihar to issue a rider to the mandate stating to make it "optional or voluntary" to obviate minority students from attending this event. However, in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh, the government ignored the objections of the minority group and stated that it should not be treated as religious event; the event was held on 12 January 2103 in Madhya Pradesh when 5 million students are reported to have participated.