Vande Gurunam. 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.

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 Mantra Next Mantra Bottom Index of mantras chanted