Ashtanga Opening Mantra
The Ashtanga Opening and Closing Mantra (great audio from Purple Valley Ashtanga) are chanted in the beginning and end of each Ashtanga Guided and Mysore class. It's a part of every Ashtanga practice. It’s a mantra that gives thanks to the Teachers who have come before us to teach us and give us the yoga practice… which has survived thousands of years… and of course, help us yogis center ourselves, setting our intentions for the practice.
It is non-religious and open to all who seek calm & clarity in the practice. It is good to know, but absolutely not mandatory to chant in class.
It is important to know the meaning of the words in Sanskrit (the ancient language of Yoga from India) and its transliteration. Whatever it may be... if you want to gain clarity, focus, etc. in the practice, chanting is a good way to start.
Just by chanting OM is an amazing way to start!
OM ॐ
वने गुरणां चरणारिवने
सनिशर तसातसुखावबोधे।
vande gurūṇāṃ caraṇāravinde
sandarśitasvātmasukhāvabodhe
I worship the lotus feet of the gurus,
Which awaken the joy of seeing the Self,
िनःशेयसे जङिलकायमाने
संसारहालाहलमोहशांतै।।
niḥśreyase jaṅgalikāyamāne
saṃsārahālāhalamohaśāntyai
Beyond comparison, the jungle physicians,
pacifying the poisonous delusion of samsara.
आबाहपुरषाकारं
शंखचकािसधािरणम्।
ābāhupuruṣākāraṃ
śaṃkhacakrāsidhāriṇam
An upper body in human form,
Holding a conch shell, discus, and sword,
सहसिशरसं शेतं
पणमािम पतञिलम्।।
sahasraśirasaṃ śvetam
praṇamāmi patañjalim
Thousand-headed, white,
I bow to Patañjali.
OM ॐ
सिस पजाभः पिरपालयंतां
नायेन मागेण मही महीशाः ।
svasti prajābhyaḥ paripālayantāṃ
nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṃ mahīśāḥ
May all humankind be well.
May rulers protect the earth through
righteousness and the proper path.
गो - बाहणेभः शुभम्असुिनतं
लोकाः समसाः सुिखनः भवनु।।
go - brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham astu nityaṃ
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhinaḥ bhavantu
May there be everlasting good fortune for all
beings (cattle and priests).
May all worlds be happy.
ॐ शािनः शािनः शािनः
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om Peace Peace Peace