Invocation to Patanjali

Yogena cittasya padena vacam

malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena

yopakarottam  pravaram muninam

patanjalim  pranajaliranato’smi abahu purusakaram

 sankha cakrasi dharinam sahasra sirasam  svetam pranamami patanjalim.

 

Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind, grammar for clarity and purity of speech and medicine for perfection of health.

Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, whose upper body has a human form, whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra.

This is the Invocation to Patanjali, traditionally chanted at the beginning of Iyengar Yoga classes or practice.

Recording and video by Punam Behl, chanting by Sophia Argyris.