Study the Sanskrit text and the translation associated with the beginning of practice.
Ashtanga Yoga · Chanting Reference
The chants that open and close the practice.
Read the traditional Ashtanga Yoga opening and closing mantras, follow their translations, and practice the pronunciation alongside Krista’s teaching videos.
A traditional reference
The words become more familiar through repetition.
This page gathers the opening and closing mantras used in the traditional Ashtanga Yoga practice in one clear place. Read the Sanskrit, study the translation, and return to the videos whenever you want to hear the pronunciation and cadence again.
You do not need to memorize everything before beginning. Use this as a study companion and allow familiarity to develop gradually through practice.
Read the Sanskrit closing prayer and its translation in a calm, uncluttered format.
Hear Krista teach the opening and closing chants with step-by-step support.
Begin the practice
Opening Mantra
Read the Sanskrit opening mantra alongside its English translation.
Om vande gurunam caranaravinde sandarsita svatma sukhava bodhe nihsreyase jangali kayamane samsara halahala moha santyai abahupurusakaram sankha cakrasi dharinam sahasra sirasam svetam pranamami patanjalim Om
Meaning of the Opening Mantra
Om
I pray to the lotus feet of the supreme guru
Who teaches knowledge, awakening the great happiness of the self-revealed.
Who acts like the jungle physician
Able to remove the delusion from the poison of conditioned existence.
To Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, white in color with a thousand radiant heads (in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta), human in form below the shoulders, holding the sword of discrimination, a wheel of fire representing infinite time, and the conch representing divine sound to him, I prostrate.
Om
Close the practice
Closing Mantra
Read the Sanskrit closing mantra alongside its English translation.
Om svastiprajabhyah paripalayantam nyayena margena mahim mahisah gobrahmanebhah subhamastu nityam lokas samastah sukhino bhavantu Om
Meaning of the Closing Mantra
Om
May prosperity be glorified.
May rulers of the world with law and justice.
May divinity and erudition be protected
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
Om
Listen and chant along
Practice the pronunciation with Krista.
These two teaching videos support the opening and closing mantras with spoken guidance, pronunciation, rhythm, and explanation.
Opening Mantra
Learn the Opening Prayer
Follow the words, pronunciation, and cadence of the traditional opening chant.
Closing Mantra
Learn the Closing Chant
Practice the closing mantra step by step and explore the meaning behind the words.
Chanting at The Yoga Shala
Tradition carried through practice.
Chanting is learned through listening, repetition, and shared practice. These moments reflect how the mantras live within the Ashtanga tradition.
Learn through practice
Tradition becomes meaningful through experience.
At The Yoga Shala, Ashtanga is taught with individualized guidance in a warm, encouraging, non-dogmatic environment. Beginners and experienced practitioners are supported at the pace appropriate for their body and practice.
