RESOURCES
Ashtanga Yoga opening mantra
The Ashtanga Yoga opening mantra is chanted at the beginning of the practice. It is an expression of gratitude that marks the start of the session and creates a space for reflection.
vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde sandarśita svātma sukhāva bodhe
niḥśreyase jāṅgali kāyamāne saṁsāra hālāhala moha śāntyai
ābāhupuruṣākāraṁ śaṅkha cakrāsi dhāriṇaṁ
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjaliṃ
I bow to the lotus feet of the Supreme Guru
Which awaken insight into the happiness of pure Being,
Which are the refuge, the jungle physician,
Which eliminate the delusion caused by the poisonous herb of conditioned existence.
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, a wheel and a sword.