Mantras

Ashtanga Yoga Opening Prayer

I bow to the two lotus feet of the (plurality of) Gurus,

which awaken insight

Into the happiness of pure Being, which are the absorption into joy,

The jungle physician eliminating the delusion

Caused by the poison of samsara (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 a human form, holding a conch shell (divine sound),

A wheel (a discus of light or time) and a sword (discrimination).

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.

Opening Chant translated by R Freeman