Opening & closing chants.
Guru Dhyanam, Patanjali Vandana and the Mangala Mantra. Recited at the beginning and end of every Mysore Ashtanga practice.
Guru Dhyanam.
A salutation to the lineage of teachers and to Patanjali, the codifier of yoga. Chanted as the first sound of a practice, in steady descending phrases.
I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus, who awaken the joy of the self within. They are the jungle physicians who calm the delusion of the poison of worldly existence.
To Patanjali, the great sage, half-human in form down to his arms, holding the conch, the discus and the sword, white in colour and with a thousand heads, I bow.
Mangala Mantra.
The closing prayer of the Ashtanga sequence. A wish for the well-being of all beings, for just rulers, for the protection of those who serve, and for the happiness of every person in every realm.
May all be well with humankind. May the leaders of the earth protect, in every way, by keeping to the right path. May there be eternal good for those who serve. May all the realms be happy. May Guru be with you.
May Guru be with you.
Download the printable prayer
A clean, printable PDF of the full Ashtanga opening and closing chants. Devanagari with IAST transliteration. Use it for your own practice at home or in your shala.