The sun requires no torch to make it visible. We do not light a candle to see the sun. – Swami Vivekananda

I can feel a sunshine stealing into my soul and making it all summer, and every thorn a rose. – Emily Dickinson

At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun. For in this most beautiful temple, who would place this lamp in another or better position than that from which it can light up the whole thing at the same time. – Nicholas Copernicus

The sun is the self of the stable and moving world. – Rig Veda 1.114.1

Arising from the surrounding darkness, seeing the higher light, we have reached the Godhead, the Divine Sun, the supreme light. – Rigveda 1.50.10

Sun, O nourisher, single seer, controller, power of the Lord of creation, remove your rays and gather up your heat that I may see your most auspicious form. The Purusha (person) that is within the Sun, he am I (Yos au Aditya Purusha, so-ham asmi). – Isha Upanishad 16

The Isha Upanishad ends with a chant to merge in the solar self, which also contains the oldest reference to the So-Ham Mantra. In fact, the great Hamsa or Swan of Yogic thought is originally a Vedic Sunbird. The swan is revered in the Sanskrit scripture, representing the human soul as well as the quality of discernment. The Sanskrit word Hamsa translates to swan and is associated with the natural sound of breath. Ham and Sa represent the inhalation and exhalation.

Thus, indeed that which is the upward chant (Udgitha), that is the primal sound (Pranava). That which is the primal sound, that is the upward chant. That which is the sun (Aditya) beyond is the upward chant. He is the primal sound. He chants OM as he moves. – Chandogya Upanishad I.5.1

Udgitha is defined as the chanting of the mantra Om and Pranava is defined as the life infuser.

The Upanishads tell us that the sun chants OM as it moves in the sky. The sun is not only the source of light but that of sound and mantra as well. Mantra Yoga is rooted in the worship of the sun.

Reference: The Ancient Yoga of the Sun by Vamdev Shastri.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash