Surya Namaskar Origins

Surya Namaskar is a well-known Yoga series. The practice supports development of the koshas, or temporal sheaths, of the subtle body The practice is an integral part of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system.

Vedic origins

There are numerous references of praising the Sun for the purpose of good health and prosperity, in Vedas. Some of these Vedic hymns were incorporated into Nitya Vidhi (Daily mandatory routine for a Hindu) for the well being of an individual, through salutations to the Sun. These daily procedures were termed as Surya Namaskara (literally translates as "sun salutations"). Physical prostration to Sun, showing complete surrender of oneself to God, is the main aspect of these procedures. The forms of Surya Namaskar practiced vary from region to region. Two such popular practices are Trucha Kapla Namaskarah and Aditya Prasna.

Trucha Kalpa Namaskarah

Trucha Kalpa Namaskarah has its origins in Rig Veda. [Rugvediya Nitya Vidhi, Bharatiya Sanskruti Kosh, Vedashastrottejak Sabha, Pune.] . Each Mantra in Veda is called a “rucha”. Group of three rucha is called as Trucha. “Trucha Kalpa Namaskarah” is a method of performing Surya Namaskar using three ruchas from the Veda.

Sankalp

You make a resolution [Sankalp] in the beginning, that you are doing this act of performing ‘sūrya namaskār’ by praying to the Sun, requesting him to give you good health and strength to work hard.

dhyāna mantra

Then dhyāna mantra is recited / chanted.

"Verse:"

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IAST|śukeṣume harimāṇaṃ ropaṇākāsu dadhmasi

IAST|atho hāridraveṣume harimāṇaṃ ni dadhmasi |

IAST|udaghādayamādityo viśvena sahasā saha

IAST|dviṣantaṃ mahyaṃ randhyan mo aham dviṣate radham |
Reference: http://www.sanskritweb.org/rigveda/rv01.pdf

Translation of the three ruchas

Book – 1, HYMN L.

11 Rising this day, O rich in friends, ascending to the loftier heaven,

Surya remove my heart's disease, take from me this my yellow hue.

12 To parrots and to starlings let us give away my yellowness,

Or this my yellowness let us transfer to Haritala trees.

13 With all his conquering vigour this Aditya hath gone up on high,

Giving my foe into mine hand: let me not be my foeman's prey.

Reference: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01050.htm