Candranamaskāra – the moon salutation

“Candra” means moon, “namaskāra” means greeting or worship.

The light of the moon is a reflection of the sun – just as our spirit, our ego and our mind are mirrors of eternal consciousness. In this sense, the moon is a gateway to individuality, to the self. Honoring the moon means honoring the spirit, the ego and the self. By turning to the moon, looking at it lovingly, penetrating it with consciousness and accepting it, we bring it back into the light. When we turn to our dreams, they transform. When we enter the night, it becomes day.

The Viśuddhi chakra stands for the transformation of the spirit. It is the space where the self expands fully in the cosmos, where the light of the moon and the stars become one. This is why we also honor the energy of viśuddhi with the moon salutation – we find healing in our dreams, enter the silence of meditation and immerse ourselves in the vastness of eternity.

In Kundalini Yoga

In Kundalini Yoga, you can recite the mantras of the Aṣṭa Mātṛkās, the eight divine mothers, before each moon salutation. They represent the powers of the soul, which expand and contract in the eight phases of the moon. Where the mother is, there is Shakti.

The mantras of the Aṣṭa Mātṛkās are:

New Moon – Cāmuṇḍā

Oṁ Hrīṁ Cāmuṇḍāyai namaḥ – Death, Ego dissolution.

Waxing Crescent – Brāhmaṇī

Oṁ Aiṃ Brāhmaṇyai namaḥ – Divine wisdom, creative beginning

First Quarter – Kaumārī

Oṁ Klīṁ Kaumāryai namaḥ – Warrior maiden Courage, action

Waxing Gibbous – Vaiṣṇavī

Oṁ Śrīṁ Vaiṣṇavyai namaḥ – Protection, stability, harmony

Full Moon – Maheśvarī

Oṁ Hūṁ Maheśvaryai namaḥ – Light, Fullness, expanded consciousness

Waning Gibbous – Indrāṇī (Aindrī)

Oṁ Krīṁ Aindryai namaḥ – Sovereignty, royalty self-worth

Last Quarter – Vārāhī

Oṁ Glauṁ Vārāhyai namaḥ – Purification, truth grounding

Waning Crescent – Narasimhī

Oṁ Kṣraum Narasiṁhyai namaḥ – Fierce protection, wild dance, shadow

Practice at least 8 rounds – or a multiple thereof.

This moon salutation, in whatever form you practise it, is dedicated to the goddess.

We teach two variants:

Deep breathing

Before each round, you can invoke one of the eight mothers – the Aṣṭa Mātṛkās, which symbolize the phases of the moon. Place your hands together in front of your heart and recite the respective mantra at least three times.

Then you can practise the moon salutation in two ways:

• One complete breathing cycle per posture: inhale as you go in, exhale as you stay.
• One breath per posture: inhale when changing into the posture, exhale during the next transition.

Move slowly. The nourishing state of mind lies between waking and dreaming – let yourself fall into this transitional space. This is where transformation takes place.

With Bhrāmarī

In this variation, which comes from transformational Hatha Yoga and is also closely linked to Kundalini Yoga, we invoke the nourishing aspect of the moon.

Each posture is gently assumed with the inhalation and deepened with the exhalation. And with each exhalation, you allow the Bhrāmarī vibration to resonate in your body.

Bhrāmarī is the sacred sound that opens the gateway to Brahman. It dissolves the mind in the cosmic.

Bhrāmarī is also the goddess who appears as a swarm of bees – sweet as nectar, she carries away all worries and melts the mind in the ocean of nectar.

Before you begin, sit quietly in Vajrāsana and invoke the Goddess – as Soma, the cosmic nectar:

Oṁ Śrīma Candrāya Soma-Somāya Namaḥ

The positions at a glance:

Vajrāsana – lightning pose

Sit relaxed on your heels. Place your hands in front of your heart. Feel the silver light of the moon or recite the mantra.
This posture directs the power of the ‘vajra’ – the thunderbolt – upwards and makes it accessible for your spiritual development.

Śaśāṅkāsana – rabbit posture

From Vajrāsana: arms up, palms forward – then bow forward. Surrender to the moon.

Aṣṭāṅga Namaskāra – Eight-point salute

Slowly come down to the floor with your chin, hands, chest, knees and toes.
Feel how Viśuddhi is activated here.

Ps. If you take one breath per pose, you flow directly from rabbit into cobra – as in the “Beating Cobra” flow(śaśāṅka-bhujaṅgāsana).

Bhujaṅgāsana – Cobra

Glide gently forward, lift yourself upwards, then bend your elbows and open your heart wide backwards.
Look into the vast space – remember Ājñā.

Parvatāsana – mountain

Now push yourself back into the posture of the mountain – powerful and still, like Pārvatī himself.
Breathe slowly and deeply.

Aśva Sañcalanāsana – riding position

In the first moon salutation with the left foot forward (in the next with the right). Fingertips on the floor, palms facing backwards, looking up to the sky.

Ardha Candrāsana – crescent moon

Turn your palms towards each other, raise your arms to the sky.
Imagine you are holding the silver moon disk between your hands.

Pādahastāsana – hands-to-feet posture

From the half moon, slowly bring your hands to your feet and step forward with your back leg.
First bend your knees, gently place your belly against your thighs, then slowly stretch your legs – this will keep your heart open and protected.
Surrender to the night – it brings regeneration.

Hastottānāsana – Stretched arm posture with backbend

Stretch yourself high and far back – your body forms a half moon.
Give the moon your palms – they are gates to your heart through which the light may enter.

Praṇāmāsana – prayer posture

Bring your hands together from the heart. Let the mantra resound once more – as a greeting to the mother, the moon in its healing, regenerating power:

Oṁ Śrīma Candrāya Soma-Somāya Namaḥ

Hastottānāsana

Stretch yourself high and far back once more – open yourself up to the moonlight again.

Pādahastāsana

Gently bring your hands back to your feet. Bend your knees, bring your stomach to your thighs, then straighten your legs again.
Look inwards.

Aśva Sañcalanāsana

Now kick your left leg backwards (left leg on the first pass, right leg on the next).
Find your footing – and your balance.

Ardha Candrāsana

The hands point upwards again, holding the silver moon disk.
Feel carried by the light.

Parvatāsana

Bring your hands to the ground and go back into the mountain – into the power of Pārvatī.

Breathe deeply and consciously.

Aṣṭāṅga Namaskāra

Now lower your knees and chin to the floor and return to the eight-point pose. Keep your elbows close to your chest.
Gaze softly into the distance, not into the floor. Your inner alignment is directed forward – dṛṣṭi towards the horizon.

Bhujaṅgāsana

Lift yourself back up into Cobra – arms long, chest open.

Let your heart guide you.

Śaśāṅkāsana

Back to the bunny position – lie down in the cooling silence of the moon.

Vajrāsana

Straighten up again. Palms facing forward, arms raised once more towards the sky, towards the shining moon.
Then place your hands on your thighs – they will bring the moonlight back with them.

That was a complete round.

Now bring your hands back in front of your heart – and start the next round if you like:

Oṁ Śrīma Candrāya Soma-Somāya Namaḥ

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