Ashtanga Opening & Closing mantra

The Ashtanga opening mantra is usually called the Vande Gurunam mantra and the Ashtanga closing mantra, Mangala Mantra. These ancient mantras originates from two sources, the yoga Taravalli, as well as a prayer to Patanjali, the composer of the Yoga Sutras.

Vande Gurunam Mantra

Ashtanga Opening mantra

OM

VANDE GURUNAM CHARANAVINDE

I BOW TO THE LOTUS FEET OF THE GURUS,

SANDARSITA SVATMASUKHAVA BODHE

WHO AWAKENS INSIGHT INTO THE HAPPINESS OF PURE BEING,

NISHREYASE JANGALIKAYAMANE

LIKE THE JUNGLE HEALER, WHO BRINGS GREAT WELL-BEING,

SAMSARA HALAHALA MOHASHANTYAI

‘RELIEF FROM DELUSION, THE POISON OF SAMSARA’

ABAHU PURUSAKARAM

THE UPPER BODY HAVING HUMAN FORM,

SHANKACHAKRASI DHARINAM

HOLDING A CONCH, DISCUS AND SWORD,

SAHASRA SIRASAM SVETAM

HAVING A THOUSAND BRANCHED HEADS OF WHITE [LIGHT].

PRANAMAMI PATANJALIM

I BOW TO PATANJALI

OM

Mangala Mantra

Ashtanga Closing mantra

OM

SVASTI PRAJA BHYAHA PARI PALA YANTAM

MAY THE RULERS OF THE EARTH KEEP TO THE PATH OF VIRTUE

NYA YENA MARGENA MAHI MAHISHAHA

FOR PROTECTING THE WELFARE OF ALL GENERATIONS

GO BRAHMANEBHYAHA SHUBAMASTU NITYAM

MAY THE RELIGIONS, AND ALL PEOPLES BE FOREVER BLESSED

LOKA SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU

MAY THE WHOLE OF ALL THE WORLDS BE HAPPY

OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI

OM, PEACE PEACE PEACE