Ashtanga Invocation

This mantra is typically done prior to an Ashtanga yoga practice or class. It is in recognition of the multitude of teachers that have come before us and acknowledging Patanjali in particular for his composing the Yoga Sutra.

om

vande gurunam charanaravinde
sandarsita svatmasukhava bodhe
nishreyase jangalikayamane
samsara halahala mohasantyai

abahu purusakaram
shankachakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim
om

Translation:
I bow to the lotus feet of the guru(s)
who awaken insight into the happiness of pure Being,
who is the final refuge, like the jungle physician,
who eliminates the delusion caused by the poisonous
herb of samsara [conditioned existence].

I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads
[in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta]
and who has, as far as his arms,
assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell [divine sound],
a wheel [discus of light, representing infinite time]
and a sword [discrimination]. om