Aṣṭāṅga Opening & Closing Mantras
Aṣṭāṅga Yoga traditionally has both an opening chant and a closing chant. Because of Yoga’s ancient roots, chants are offered in Sanskrit, and their meaning is said to be universal as Sanskrit is the language of the heart.
Chanting acts to shift the consciousness of the individual practicing the chant to a higher level of vibration. This in turn brings us closer to our Source or Higher Self – the aspect of ourselves that remains eternal – and leaves the practitioner filled with peace and feeling calm and centred.
Aṣṭāṅga Opening Mantra
The Opening Prayer is a blessing of gratitude offered to the lineage of yoga teachers and their students who have enabled this ancient practice to survive through thousands of years so that we can experience its benefits today.
The recitation of this mantra cleanses the energy of the space we have chosen to practice yoga, as well as preparing the mind, body and emotions for the forthcoming Ashtanga sequence.
Aṣṭāṅga Opening Mantra
PHONÉTIQUE
Auṁ
vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde
sandarśita svātma sukhāva bodhe |
niḥ-śreyase jaṅgali-kāyamāne
saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāṁtyai ||
ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ
śaṁkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam |
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ
praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
Auṁ
Auṁ
I bow to the Lotus feet of the Supreme Gurus who teach the good knowledge, showing the way to knowing the Self, awakening great happiness; who is the doctor of the jungle, able to remove the poison of the ignorance of conditioned existence.
To Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, white in color with 1000 radiant heads (in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta), human in form below the shoulders holding a sword (discrimination), a wheel of fire (discus of light, representing infinite time), and a conch (Divine sound) – to him, I prostrate.
Auṁ
Aṣṭāṅga Closing Mantra
The Closing Prayer brings the practice to a peaceful end; sealing in the work done and offering to the world the physical and emotional efforts of our practice. That way, we create, practice after practice, a better world, through sharing the seeds of compassion and peace.
Aṣṭāṅga Closing Mantra
PHONÉTIQUE
Auṁ
svasti-prajā-bhyaḥ pari-pāla-yaṁtāṁ
nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ |
go-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham-astu nityaṁ
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino-bhavaṁtu ||
auṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Auṁ
Auṁ
Let Prosperity be Glorified
Let Rulers rule the world with law & justice
Let divinity and erudition be protected
Let all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may our actions contribute to that happiness and freedom for all.
Auṁ