Sanskrit mantras and invocations chanted in honour of BKS Iyengar, his Teacher, by Kofi Busia, Yoga Teacher

Each mantra is written in Sanskrit on the left. A transliteration is given on the right. An English translation is then given underneath. If you see gibberish and incomprehensible random characters on your screen, then please follow this link to install the necessary fonts on your system.

gué gayiÇ mÙ \| The Guru G˜yatri Mantra
"Gayatri" means "joy of singing". The traditional Gayatri metre consists of 24 syllables, arranged in three lines of eight. There are hundreds of Gayatris, all of which follow the form given here. By far the most common Gayatri (beginning Om, Bhur, Bhuvah Svaha) is the 'Savitri Gayatri' which honours the Sun. This particular Gayatri is the Guru Gayatri which honours the Teacher. It is chanted three times. Listen to this chant.
` guédevay ivÒhee, äüanNday xImih, tÚae gué> àcaedyat!. ` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>.		Aum gurudev˜ya vidmahe brahm˜nand˜ya dhŸmahi tanno guru× pracoday˜t Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti×
Aum. Let us envision the divine teacher. Let us meditate upon the bliss of the Supreme. May the guru guide us to That. Aum Shanti shanti shanti. Top Next Bottom Index of Mantras

yaegen icÄSy \| Yogena Cittasya (Invocation to Patañjali)
This invocation to Patanjali is the introduction to the Bhoja Vrtti, the commentary on the Yoga Sutras written by Raja Bhoj. It is frequently chanted at the beginning of a yoga class. The first part of the chant salutes Patañjali's achievements as a founding figure in yoga, in grammar, and in ayurvedic medicine. The second part of the chant salutes him for carrying: the conch which sounds the vibrations of the Universe but also awakens us to the coming victory over the world of matter; the wheel which symbolizes the dominion and universal power of wisdom; and the double-edged sword of discriminative understanding which enables us to see duality and cut through it to reveal reality. The reference to '1,000 heads' is to his form as Ananta or Adisesa, the divine serpent that, in biting its own tail, symbolizes endlessness or the circle of eternity from which all possibilities and universes can spring. Please refer to the Patañjali biography for further details Listen to this chant.
` yaegen icÄSy pden vaca<, ml< zrIrSy c vE*ken. yae=pakraeÄ< àvr< munIna<, ptÃil< àa}ilranta=im. Aaba÷ pué;akar<, zŒc³ais xair[<. shö zIrs< Zvet<, à[maim pt}lim!. ` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt> `.		Aum yogena cittasya padena v˜c˜Ð malaÐ þarŸrasya ca vaidyakena yo 'p˜karottaÐ pravaraÐ munŸn˜Ð PatañjaliÐ pr˜ñjalir˜nato 'smi ˜b˜hu puruÿ˜k˜raÐ þaðkha cakr˜si dh˜rinaÐ sahasra þŸrasaÐ þvetaÐ pranam˜mi Patañjalim Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti× Aum
Yoga for bringing quietness of mind; Grammar for eliciting effectiveness of speech; And the healing arts for removing the ailments of the body; He bestowed these things that most illustrious of sages—Patañjali to whom I make reverential obeisance. Spirit rendered into human form; Bearing the conch, the discus and the sword; Adorned with the cobra of one thousand heads—I bow down before Patañjali. Aum shanti shanti shanti Aum. Top Previous Next Bottom Index of Mantras

ySTyKTva \| Yastyaktv˜ (Invocation to Patañjali)
This much less common invocation to Patanjali celebrates him as a manifestation of Siva. As such he is lord of the serpents and snakes -- the king of the Nagas. These serpents are able to live on nothing and arise from nothing which is their refuge and abode. As such, Patanjali fears nothing in this world or that for those things that seem poisonous in this world are a product of the serpents' ability to create all this. Please refer to the Patañjali biography for further details Listen to this chant.
` ySTyKTva êpma*< à-vit jgtae=nekxanu¢hay, àúaI[¬eZaraiZaivR;miv;xrae=nekvKÇ> su-aegI, svR}anàsªit-uRjgpirkr> àItye ySy inTy< , devae=hIZa> s vae=VyaiTstivmltnuyaRegdae yaegyuKt>. ïImTptÃilmhamunye nm>.		Aum yastyaktv˜ r¨pam˜dyaÐ prabhavati jagato 'nekadh˜nugrah˜ya\| prakÿŸõakleþa r˜þirviÿamaviÿadharo 'nekavaktra× subhogŸ\| sarvajñ˜na pras¨tirbhujagaparikara× prŸtaye yasya nityaÐ\| devo 'hŸþa× sa vo 'vy˜t sita vimala tanuryogado yogayukta×\| þrŸmat Patañjalimah˜munaye nama×\|\|
Having forsaken his primordial self-imbued form, he came to this world to offer many blessings. The destroyer of afflictions, he is accompanied by many potent and sinuous snakes of many heads who are endearing to him for he is their guardian. The dispenser of all wisdom he is surrounded by a retinue of serpents which delight him eternally. May you all be blessed by that divine being, with a body pure white and spotless, who is the bestower of yoga, and who is fused with yoga. I respectfully salute that great sage and radiant being, Patañjali. Top Previous Next Bottom Index of Mantras

z< nae imÇ \| Mantra for Removal of Obstacles
This chant is the invocation to Anuvaka I, i.e. Lesson 1, of the section called 'Shikshavalli', 'On Contemplation', of the Taittiriya Upanishad. The spiritual quest can be long and hard, and there are frequent difficulties and obstacles. The purport of the chant is to recognize these and to ask for assistance in removing those impediments; whilst at the same time promising that efforts will be made to focus on the most important task ever at hand -- recognizing the spiritual. Listen to this chant.
` z< nae imÇ> z< vé[>, z< nae -vTvyRma, z< n #NÔae b&hSpit>, z< nae iv:[uéé²m>. nmae ãÒ[e, nmSte vayae, Tvmev àTy]< ãÒais, Tvamev àTy]< ãÒ vid:yaim, \t< vid:yaim, sTy< vid:yaim, tNmamvtu, tÓKtarmvtu, Avtu mam!, Avtu vKtarm!. ` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>.		Aum þaÐ no Mitra× þaÐ Varuõa×\| þaÐ no bhavavatvaryam˜\| þaÐ na Indro B®haspati×\| þaÐ no Viÿõururukrama×\|\| namo Brahmaõe\| namaste V˜yo\| tvameva pratyakÿaÐ brahm˜si\| tv˜meva pratyakÿaÐ Brahma vadiÿy˜mi\| ®taÐ vadiÿy˜mi\| satyaÐ vadiÿy˜mi\| tanm˜m avatu\| tadvakt˜ram avatu\| avatu m˜m\| avatu vakt˜ram\|\| Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti×
May Mitra (the Sun and the giver of energy) be propitious to us; may Varuna (the oceans and waters, which nourish) be propitious to us. May the blessings of the ancestors be with us. May Indra (leader of the gods) and may Brhaspati (sublime teacher of the gods) be with us. May the all-pervading Visnu be with us. Salutations to Brahman. Salutations to Vayu (god of wind). You alone are the perceptible Brahman (the Creator). You alone I shall declare as the perceptible Brahman. I shall declare you as that which is beneficent. I shall declare you as that which is true. May That protect me. May That protect the speaker. Please protect me. Please protect the speaker. Aum shanti shanti shanti. Top Previous Next Bottom Index of Mantras

vedmnUCyacayaR> \| Exhortation to the Student
This celebrated chant is from Anuvaka XI, Lesson (or Chapter) 11, from 'Shikshavalli', 'On Contemplation', of the Taittiriya Upanishad. It is often chanted at schools and universities at the completion of a course of study. Traditionally, the first part of an education in Ancient India was simply to learn the Vedas 'as is'. But their true impact lies behind a mere recitation or knowledge of the words. The Upanishads is the collected lessons of those deeper explanations. The word 'Upanishad' is taken from the Sanskrit meaning 'to be seated near'. This chant begins by saying that once the teacher has taught the Vedas, the students are drawn near and told that that is not the end for there is still more. There is a deeper secret still that must be learned. That secret is the true meaning of the Vedas. It is the underlying mystery of reality. In order to learn it there are still a few things that must de done, and the chant indicates what the students must do to set off on that path of deeper and fuller learning. Listen to this chant.
` vedmnUCyacayaˆR=NtevaisnmnuzaiSt . sTy< vd , xmR< cr . SvaXyayaNma àmd> , AacayaRy iày< xnmaÿTy àjatNtu< ma VyvCDeTsI> , sTyaÚ àmidtVym! , xmaRÚ àmidtVym! , k…zlaÚ àmidtVym! , -UTyE n àmidtVym! , SvaXyayàvcna_ya< n àmidtVym! , dev ipt&kayaR_ya< n àmidtVym! . mat&devae -v, ipt&devae -v , AacayRdevae -v , Aitiwdevae -v. yaNynv*ain kmaRi[ , tain seivtVyain , nae #trai[ . yaNySmak< sucirtain , tain TvyaepaSyain , nae #trai[ . ye ke caSmCDe+ya<sae äaü[a> , te;a< Tvya==sne n àñistVym! . ïÏya deym! , AïÏya=deym! , iïya deym! , ih+ya deym! , i-ya deym! , s<ivda deym! . Aw yid te kmRivicikTsa va v&ÄivicikTsa va Syat! , ye tÇ äaü[a> sMmiRRzRn> , yuKta AayuKta> , AlU]a xmRkama> Syu> , ywa te tÇ vteRrn! , twa tÇ vteRwa>. Awa_yaOyate;u , ye tÇ äaü[a> sMmRiRRzn> , yuKta AayuKta> , AlU]a xmRkama> Syu>, ywa te te;u vteRrn!, twa te;u vteRwa> . @; Aadez>, @; %pdez>, @;a vedaepin;t! , @tdnuzasnm! , @vmupaistVym! , @vmucEtÊpaSym!. ` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>.		Aum vedam an¨cy˜c˜ryo 'ntev˜sinam anuþ˜sti\|\| satyaÐ vada\| dharmaÐ cara\|\| sv˜dhy˜y˜nm˜ pramada×\| ˜c˜ry˜ya priyaÐ dhanam ˜h®tya praj˜tantuÐ m˜ vyavacchetsŸ×\|\| saty˜nna pramaditavyam\| dharm˜nna pramaditavyam\| kuþal˜nna pramaditavyam\| bh¨tyai na pramaditavyam\| sv˜dhy˜ya pravacan˜bhy˜m na pramaditavyam\| deva pit®kary˜bhy˜m na pramaditavyam\|\| m˜t®devo bhava\| pit®devo bhava\| ˜c˜ryadevo bhava\| atithidevo bhava\|\| y˜nyanavady˜ni karm˜õi\| t˜ni sevitavy˜ni\| no itar˜õi\|\| y˜nyasm˜kaÐ sucarit˜ni\| t˜ni tvayop˜sy˜ni\| no itar˜õi\|\| ye ke c˜smacchrey˜Ðso brahm˜n˜×\| teÿ˜Ð tvay˜ ''sane na praþcasitavyam\|\| þraddhay˜ deyam\| aþraddhay˜ 'deyam\| þriy˜ deyam\| hriy˜ deyam\| bhiy˜ deyam\| saÐvid˜ deyam\|\| atha yadi te karmavicikits˜ v˜ v®ttavicikts˜ v˜ sy˜t\| ye tatra brahm˜n˜× sammarþina×\| yukt˜ ˜yukt˜×\| al¨kÿ˜ dharmak˜m˜× syu×\| yath˜ te tatra varteran\| tath˜ tatra varteth˜×\|\| ath˜bhy˜khy˜teÿu\| ye tatra brahm˜n˜× sammarþina×\| yukt˜ ˜yukt˜×\| al¨kÿ˜ dharmak˜m˜× syu×\| yath˜ te teÿu varteran\| tath˜ teÿu varteth˜×\|\| eÿa ˜deþa×\| eÿa upadeþa×\| eÿ˜ vedopaniÿat\| etadanuþ˜sanam\| evamup˜sitavyam\| evamucaitadup˜syam\|\| Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti×\|\|
Having taught the Vedas, the preceptor then proceeds with the ‘post-instruction’. Tell the truth. Be ever righteous. Never neglect your studies. Having offered the desired fee to the teacher, do not cut off the thread of offspring. Never be careless with Truth. Never be negligent regarding what is Correct. Never be negligent about your welfare. Do not neglect your own prosperity. Never forget to study and to disseminate. Never forget your duties to the deities and the ancestors. Become one who treats the mother as divine. Become one who treats the father as a god. Become one who treats the teacher as a god. Become one who gives a guest the hospitality due to a divine being. Those acts that are irreproachable. They are to be undertaken. Not any other kinds of acts. Those acts of ours that are creditable. They are to be performed by you. Not any other kinds of acts. And whoever may be more distinguished amongst the learned. You are to render to them full hospitality—and then remain still. Give with faith. Do not give without faith. Give with enthusiasm. Give with humility. Give with trepidation. Give with sympathy. Then if you ever have any doubts about your due actions or due conduct. Behave—regarding those—as would behave the wise and the learned, of balanced judgement, of experience, objective, calm, given to good deeds, if they were present. Then regarding those who have been wrongly accused. If you ever have any doubts about your due actions or due conduct: then behave—regarding those—as would behave the wise and the learned, of balanced judgement, of experience, objective, calm, given to good deeds, if they were present. This is the command. This is the advice. This is the secret instruction of the Vedas. In this way should one conduct oneself through life. These things being so, then let it ever be thus. Aum shanti shanti shanti. Top Previous Next Bottom Index of Mantras

vNde guuê[a< \| Vande Gurunam 'I Honour the Teachers'
This quite well-known mantra is also often chanted before a yoga practice. It honours the ancient tradition of enlightened and illuminated sages who, as teachers, have preserved and handed on the great knowledge of liberation to those who have followed them. 'Carana' is usually translated as 'feet', but can also refer to a wandering celestial minstrel. Thus these are the teachers who travel everywhere to ensure that their knowledge is accessible to all. Their feet are of lotuses to indicate that they are venerated sources of instruction. It is they who teach seekers to apprehend the Self within (svatma), which brings joy and contentment (sukha). 'Jangali' means 'jungle' or 'impenetrable forest' and refers to the thicket of deeds and actions that intervene between us and the Light. The 'kayamane' is a small thatched hut in which a recluse lives, free from worldly ties and working patiently for knowledge. The word 'samsara' refers to the cycle of existence. It is made up from 'sam' (together with) and 'sara', which comes from the verbal root 'sri' and means 'setting in motion' or 'running along after'. Samsara is constant activity and the deeply hidden habit of and desire for existence. Samsara perpetuates 'moha', the great illusion of being. Halahala is the poison of the universe and binds us to existence. As kalakuta it was drunk by Siva to save the universe at the time of the churning of the ocean. It is why Siva is frequently depicted with a blue throat. From all this, the teachers deliver santi or peace. It is chanted three times. Listen to this chant.
` vNde guê[a< cr[arivNde s<dizRtSvaTmsuoavbaexe, in>ïeyse ja¼ilkaymane s<sarhalahlmaehzaNTyE. ` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt> `.		Aum vande gur¨õ˜Ð caraõ˜ravinde saÐdarþita sv˜tma sukh˜vabodhe ni×þreyase j˜ðgalik˜yam˜ne saÐs˜ra h˜l˜hala moha þ˜ntyai Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti× Aum
I honour the teachers with their two lotus feet; who have revealed to me the joy that is mine; most excellent sages, my refuge in the dark impenetrable thicket; who bring peace from the poison and illusion seeking ever to exist. Aum Shanti shanti shanti Aum. Top Previous Next Bottom Index of Mantras

svR kLyai[ àawRna \| Entreaty for Beneficence of All Beings
This is one of a set of well-known and auspicious mantras jointly called 'Sarva Kalyana Prarthana' or 'entreaties for the beneficence of all beings'. These mantras recognize the connectedness of all, and that our own prosperity -- especially the spiritual variety -- cannot really come without seeking also to increase that of those around us. It is chanted three times. Listen to this chant.
` sveR;a< SviSt -vtu, sveR;a< zaiNt-Rvtu. sveR;a< pU[R— -vtu, sveR;a< m¼l< -Rvtu. ` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>.		Aum sarveÿ˜Ð svasti bhavatu sarveÿ˜Ð þ˜ntirbhavatu sarveÿ˜Ð p¨rõaÐ bhavatu sarveÿ˜Ð maðgalaÐ bhavatu Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti×
May all have good fortune. May all attain peace. May all become Whole. May all be blessed. Aum shanti shanti shanti Aum. Top Previous Bottom Index of Mantras

Please note that a new mantra, the Aditya Hrdayam, was added to this little collection on December 23rd., 2005. Please go here to listen to it. Thank you.