Ashtanga Yoga Opening Mantra

The Opening Prayer is an expression of gratitude that we offer to teachers who have been passing this ancient practice so that we can experience its benefits. The mantra prepares the mind and the body for the practice, but it also cleanses the energy of the place of practice.

ॐ
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शितस्वात्मसुखावबोधे ।
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाने संसारहालाहलमोहशान्त्यै ॥
आबाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासिधारिणम् ।
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥

Oṃ

vande gurūnāṃ caraṇāravinde sandarśita-svātma-sukhāvabodhe |
niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāne saṃsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai ||
ābāhu-puruṣākāraṃ śaṅkha-cakrāsi-dhāriṇam |
sahasra-śirasaṃ śvetaṃ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||

Translation

I bow to the lotus feet of the Supreme Teacher/Guru who reveals the happiness of Self-Realisation/Pure being which is beyond any joy we have experienced, who like the jungle physician removes the delusion caused by the great poison (Hala Hala) of conditioned existence (Samsara).
I prostrate before the sage Patanjali, who has thousands of radiant, white heads (as the divine serpent, Ananta) and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell (divine sound), a wheel (discus of light or infinite time) and a sword (discrimination).

 

Ashtanga Yoga Closing Mantra

ॐ
स्वस्ति प्रजाभ्यः परिपालयन्तां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः ।
गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
svasti prajābhyaḥ paripālayantāṃ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṃ mahīśāḥ |
go-brāhmanebhyaḥ śubham astu nityaṃ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu ||
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

May the rulers of the earth keep to the path of virtue
For protecting the welfare of all generations.
May the religious, and all peoples be forever blessed,
May all beings everywhere be happy and free
Om peace, peace, perfect peace
 

 

 

Hatha Yoga class – Opening Mantra

The mantra comes fro the Rig Veda (RV 7.59.12) and it’s name can be translated as the “great death-conquering” mantra. Chanting it offers healing and rejuvenation.

ॐ
त्र्यं॑बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर् मुक्षीय॒ माऽमृता॑त् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
tryaṃbakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam
urvārukamiva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya mā’mṛtā
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

We meditate on the three-eyed Absolute Reality
That permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance.
May we be bestowed with liberation from death for the sake of immortality,
Even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage to the creeper.
 

 

 

Hatha Yoga class – Closing Mantra

Asatoma Sadgamaya is a mantra of peace and it comes from Brihadaranyaka Upanishads (1.3.28). It is used as a prayer in Indian schools, as well as during spiritual/religious gatherings and practices. Reciting these verses brings inner peace and calms the mind.

ॐ
असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
asato mā sadgamaya,
tamaso mā jyotirgamaya,
mṛtyor mā’mṛtaṃ gamaya,
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

Om, from falsehood lead me to truth,
From darkness lead me to the light,
From death lead me to immortality
 

 

 

Hatha/Vinyasa Flow Yoga class – Opening Mantra

Om sahana vavatu is an ancient mantra which comes from Krishna Yajur Veda Taittiriya Upanishad. It is a prayer usually recited before studying sacred scriptures and at the beginning of classes at school. It is considered a peace mantra.

ॐ
सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
saha nāv avatu saha nau bhunaktu
saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai tejasvi
nāv adhītam astu mā vidviṣāvahai |
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

Om. May God protect us both together; may God nourish us both together;
May we work conjointly with great energy,
May our study be vigorous and effective;
May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).
Om! Let there be peace in me!
Let there be peace in my environment!
Let there be peace in the forces that act on me!
 

 

 

Hatha/Vinyasa Flow Yoga class – Closing Mantra

When we chant this mantra, we pray for all, including ourselves. This prayer is really a reminder of our universal self. We pray for peace in the Universe, peace in our hearts, and peace for all living beings.

ॐ
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścidduḥ khabhāgbhaveta
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.
 

 

 

Iyengar Yoga class – Opening/Closing Mantra

This opening prayer is an invocation prayer to the sage Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutras – the principles on the theory and practice of yoga. Sage Patanjali is considered to be the incarnation of the thousand-headed serpent-king Adishesha. By recitng this prayer, we pay our tribute to this great sage.

ॐ
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां।
मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन॥
योऽपाकरोत्तं प्रवरं मुनीनां।
पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि॥
आबहु पुरुषाकारं।
शङ्खचक्रासि धारिणं॥
सहस्र शीरसं श्वेतं।
प्रनमामि पतञ्जलिम्॥

Oṃ
yogena cittasya padena vācāṃ malaṃ śarīrasya ca vaidyakena |
yo’pākarot taṃ pravaraṃ munīnāṃ patañjaliṃ prāñjalirānato’smi |
ābāhu puruṣākāraṃ śaṅkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam |
sahasra śirasaṃ śvetaṃ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||

Translation

Yoga for the psyche, grammar for speech and medicine for impurities of the body.
Coming from the lineage of teachers, to Patañjali I salute.
Up to the shoulders human form, holding conch, disc, sword.
One thousand heads white to Patañjali I salute.
 

 

 

Meditation Class- Opening Mantra

This beautiful mantra emphasises the importance of a peaceful balanced mind. It is very good for stress management.

ॐ
लये सम्बोधये चित्तं विक्षिप्तं शमयेत्पुनः
सकषायं विजानीयात् समप्राप्तम् न चालयेत्

Oṃ
Laye Sambodhaye Chittam Vikshiptam shamayetpunaha
Sakashayam vijaneeyat Sampraptam na chalyet ||

Translation

The mind that is in deep sleep should be awakened and the mind that is distracted should be brought back to tranquillity again.
One should know the mind as passion-tinged, and should not disturb it when it has attained the state of equilibrium.
 

 

 

Meditation Class- Closing Mantra

ॐ
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।

Oṃ
sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścidduḥ khabhāgbhaveta
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.
 

 

 

Pranayama Class – Opening Mantra

The mantra comes from the Prashna Upanishad whose fragments define Prana as life force which vitalizes the body and without which the body would disintegrate. It is important to distinguish breath itself from Prana.

ॐ
प्राणस्येदं वशे सर्वं त्रिदिवे यत् प्रतिष्ठितम्।
मातेव पुत्रान् रक्षस्व श्रीश्च प्रज्ञां च विधेहि न इति ॥

Oṃ
Prāṇasyedaṁ vaśe sarvaṁ tridive yat pratiṣṭhitam |
māteva putrān rakṣasva śrīśca prajñāṁ ca vidhehi na iti ||

Translation

Whatever exists in the three worlds
is all under the control of Prāṇa.
(O Prāṇa) protect us as a mother (protects) her sons;
give us affluence and intelligence.
 

 

 

Pranayama Class – Closing Mantra

ॐ
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

Oṃ
sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu mā kaścidduḥ khabhāgbhaveta
Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |

Translation

May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.
 

 

 

Gayatri Mantra

To open a Hatha Yoga class or before meditation and Pranayama, Gayatri mantra is a sacred chant and is considered to be the essence of the Vedas. It comes from the Rig Veda and is dedicated to the deity of the Sun, Savitur. The mantra expresses gratitude and seeks wisdom and enlightenment.

ॐ
भूर् भुवः सुवः ।
तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरेण्यं॒
भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑धीमहि ।
धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥

Oṃ
bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ
tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasyadhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt

Translation

We meditate on the effulgent glory of the divine Light; may he enlighten our minds.
 

 

 

Suryanamaskar Mantra

Suryanamaskar mantra is a prayer in motion that expresses gratitude and brings harmony to the body, the breath and the mind. The mantra itself is a prayer to Surya, the sun god, whose 12 names are recited. Each name corresponds to a particular asana and is performed along with it. When chanted with sincerity, these mantras can transform the practice into an enhanced spiritual practice.

ॐ मित्राय नमः।
ॐ रवये नमः।
ॐ सूर्याय नमः।
ॐ भानवे नमः।
ॐ खगाय नमः।
ॐ पुषणे नमः।
ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः।
ॐ मरीचये नमः।
ॐ आदित्याय नमः।
ॐ सवित्रे नमः।
ॐ अर्काय नमः।
ॐ भास्कराय नमः।
ॐ श्रीसवित्रसूर्यनारायणाय नमः।

Oṃ mitrāya namaḥ |
om ravaye namaḥ |
om sūryāya namaḥ |
om bhānave namaḥ |
om khagāya namaḥ |
om puṣaṇe namaḥ |
om hiraṇyagarbhāya namaḥ |
om marīcaye namaḥ |
om ādityāya namaḥ |
om savitre namaḥ |
om arkāya namaḥ |
om bhāskarāya namaḥ |
om śrīsavitrasūryanārāyaṇāya namaḥ |

Translation

Salutations to the friend of all
Salutations to the shining one
Salutations to he who induces activity
Salutations to he who illumines
Salutations to he who moves quickly in the sky
Salutations to the giver of strength
Salutations to the golden, cosmic self
Salutations to the Lord of the Dawn
Salutations to the son of Aditi, the cosmic Mother
Salutations to the Lord of Creation
Salutations to he who is fit to be praised
Salutations to he who leads to enlightenment