Invocation of Sage Patanjali

 
The invocation of sage Patanjali is recited prior to the beginning of class and/or at the beginning of your personal practice. As students develop their practice, they also begin to learn the invocation and recite along with our teachers.

yogena cittasya padena vācāṁ
Yoga for bringing quietness of mind; grammar for eliciting effectiveness of speech

malaṁ śarīrasya ca vaidyakena
And the healing arts for removing the ailments of the body

yo’pākarottaṁ pravaraṁ munīnāṁ
He bestowed these things that most illustrious of sages—

patañjalim prāñjalirānato’smi
Patañjali to whom I make reverential obeisance.

ābahu puruṣākāraṁ
Spirit rendered into human form

śaṅkha cakrāsi dhāriṇaṁ
Bearing the conch, the discus and the sword

sahasra śīrasaṁ śvetaṁ
Adorned with the cobra of one thousand heads—

pranamāmi patañjalim
I bow down before Patañjali.

hari aum