99% PRACTICE

1% THEORY

prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpatti-bhyām ॥2.47॥

Practice is mastered by relaxation of effort, lessening the tendency for restless breathing, and promoting the identification of oneself as living within the infinite breath of life.

Ashtanga Yoga Mantras

“This prayer is for the whole world, not just for ourselves. Chanting it will help us to always be humble. Mantra is for our well being – that is all. It is not a religion to chant. Yoga has no religion, it is for self transformation.”

R. Sharath Jois

Opening mantra

ॐ
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे संदर्शितस्वात्मसुखावबोधे.
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाणे संसारहालाहलमोहशान्त्यै.
आबाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासिधारिणम्.
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम्.
ॐ

OM
vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde saṁdarśita-svātma-sukhāvabodhe.
niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāṇe saṁsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai.
ābāhu-puruṣākāraṁ śaṅkha-cakrāsi-dhāriṇam.
sahasra-śirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjalim.
OM

I bow to the lotus feet of the Gurus
The awakening happiness of one’s own Self revealed,
Beyond better, acting like the jungle physician,
Pacifying delusion, the poison of Samsara.
Taking the form of a man to the shoulders,
Holding a conch, a discus, and a sword,
One thousand heads white,
To Patanjali, I salute.

(listen here)

Closing mantra

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

svasti-prajābhyaḥ paripālayantāṁ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ ।
go-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham-astu nityaṁ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu ॥
oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

May all be well with mankind
May the leaders of the earth protect in every way by keeping to the right path
May there be goodness for those who know the earth to be sacred
May all the worlds be happy

(listen here)