Opening & Closing Mantras

Ashtanga (Vinyāsa Krama) Yoga Opening Invocation

Sanskrit

वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे
सन्दर्शित स्वात्म सुखावबोधे।
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाने
संसार हालाहल मोह शान्त्यै॥

आबाहु पुरुषाकारं
शङ्खचक्रासि धारिणम्।
सहस्र शिरसं श्वेतं
प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम्॥

Transliteration

Om

Vande Gurūṇāṁ Caraṇāravinde
Sandarśita Svātma Sukhāvabodhe
Niḥśreyase Jāṅgalikāyamāne
Saṁsāra Hālāhala Moha Śāntyai

Ābāhu Puruṣākāraṁ
Śaṅkha Cakrāsi Dhāriṇam
Sahasra Śirasaṁ Śvetaṁ
Praṇamāmi Patañjalim

English Translation

I bow to the lotus feet of the teachers,
Who awaken the insight into the happiness of one’s own true nature.

They act as the jungle physician,
Calming the delusion caused by the poison of conditioned existence.

I prostrate before Patanjali,
Whose upper body is human in form,

Who holds a conch, a discus, and a sword,
And who is crowned by a thousand radiant white serpent heads.

Ashtanga (Vinyāsa Krama) Yoga Closing Chant

Sanskrit

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

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Transliteration

Svasti Prajābhyaḥ Paripālayantāṁ
Nyāyena Mārgeṇa Mahīṁ Mahīśāḥ
Go-Brāhmaṇebhyaḥ Śubham Astu Nityam
Lokāḥ Samastāḥ Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ

English Translation

May all people be protected and nourished.
May those who govern do so with justice and wisdom.

May all beings and all sources of knowledge be blessed.
May all the worlds be happy and free.

Om. Peace, Peace, Peace.

Iyengar (Haṭha) Yoga Opening Invocation

Sanskrit

योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां
मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन।
योऽपाकरोत्तं प्रवरं मुनीनां
पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि॥

आबाहु पुरुषाकारं
शङ्खचक्रासि धारिणम्।
सहस्र शिरसं श्वेतं
प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम्॥

Transliteration

Om

Yogena Cittasya Padena Vācām
Malaṁ Śarīrasya Ca Vaidyakena
Yo’pākarottaṁ Pravaraṁ Munīnām
Patañjaliṁ Prāñjalir Ānato’smi

Ābāhu Puruṣākāraṁ
Śaṅkha Cakrāsi Dhāriṇam
Sahasra Śirasaṁ Śvetaṁ
Praṇamāmi Patañjalim

English Translation

With folded hands, I bow to Patanjali,
The noblest of sages,

Who gave yoga for the serenity of the mind,
Grammar for the purity and clarity of speech,

And medicine for the perfection of the body.

I bow before Patanjali,
Whose upper body is human in form,

Who holds a conch, a discus, and a sword,
And who is crowned by a thousand radiant white serpent heads.

Iyengar (Haṭha) Yoga Closing Chant

Sanskrit

सह नाववतु।
सह नौ भुनक्तु।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Transliteration

Om

Saha Nāvavatu
Saha Nau Bhunaktu
Saha Vīryaṁ Karavāvahai
Tejasvināvadhītam Astu Mā Vidviṣāvahai

Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ

English Translation

May we be protected together.
May we be nourished together.

May we work together with great energy and strength.
May our study be illuminating and fruitful.

May we never be divided by hostility or misunderstanding.

Om. Peace, Peace, Peace.

At first, the mantras may seem out of place in modern life, but chanting creates a shared intention that connects us to a deeper tradition. The opening mantra reminds us that practice is a path to clarity beyond the physical, while the closing chant expands our awareness outward, offering our efforts for the good of all. In a fast-paced world, these simple rituals ground us in stillness, purpose, and community.