Sanskrit Chants for Yoga Class

Opening Prayer – DHANA SLOKAS – Gajananam

In the Sivananda tradition, at the beginning of any class, lecture, or personal sadhana, we usually chant the Dhyana Slokas. This helps to tune the mind to the Divine in its different aspects. It helps to remove the tamasic-rajasic ego influence, and makes us feel more like the instruments of God that we are.

Gajananam Bhutaganadi Sevitam
Kapitta Jambu Phala Sara Bhakshitam
Uma Sutam Shokavinasha Karanam
Namami Vigneshvara Pada Pamkajam

[I prostrate myself before the lotus feet of Vigneshwara (Ganesha), the son of Uma, the cause of destruction of sorrow, who is served by the host of Bhuta – ganas (angels), who has the face of an elephant, who partakes of the essence of kapittha and jambu fruits.]

Shadananam Kumkuma Raktavarnam
Mahamatim Divya Mayura Vahanam
Rudrasya Sunam Surasainya Natham
Guham Sadaham Sharanam Prapadye

[I always take refuge in Guha of 6 faces (Subramanya) who is of deep red colour like kumkuma, who possesses great knowledge, who has the divine peacock to ride on, who is the son of Rudra(Siva) and who is the leader of the army of the devas (gods, angels.)]

Ya Kundendu Tushhara Hara Dhavala
Ya Shubra Vastravrita
Ya Vina Varadanda Mantita Kara
Ya Sveta Padmasana
Ya Brahmaachyuta Sankara Prabhritibhir
Devai Sada Pujita
Sa Mam Patu Saraswati Bhagavati
Nishyeha Jatyapaha

[May the Goddess Saraswati, who wears a garland white like the kunda-flower, the moon and the snow, who is adorned with pure white clothes, whose hands are ornamented with the vina and the gesture of blessings, who is seated on a white lotus, who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and other gods, who is the removed or all inertness and laziness, protect me]

Om Namah Sivaya Gurave
Sat-Chid-Anada Murtaye
Nishprapanchaya Shantaya
Sri Sivanandaya Te Namaha
Sri Vishnu Devanandaya Te Namaha

[Salutations to Gura Siva who is the embodiment of Existence – Knowledge – Bliss Absolute, in whom worldliness does not exist, who is ever peaceful. Salutations to Sivananda, Salutations to Swami Vishnudevananda]

Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye
Shive Sarvatha Sadhike
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri
Narayani Namostute
Narayani Namostute
Om shanti shanti shanti

[I salute the three-eyed Divine Mother Narayani, who brings auspiciousness and who fulfills all the desires of the devotee (both spiritual and Material). Om Peace Peace Peace]

MAHA MRITUNJAYA MANTRA –
OM TRYAMBHAKAM MOKSHA MANTRA

The Om Trayambhakamis a life-giving Mantra. Life is very complex and accidents are an everyday affair. This Mantra supposedly wards off death by snake bite, lightening, and accidents of all kind: motor, cycle, water, air, etc. It also has great curative effect for diseases. It should be repeated before any travel. It is also a Moksha Mantra and bestows liberation. It is a Siva Mantra. The Mantra should be repeated 3, 9, 27 or 108 times. Especially on one’s birthday, repeat this Mantra as many times as possible, 108 is really recommended especially on Big birthdays like 21, 40, 50 etc. This chanting invokes really positive life force andwill bestow health, long life, peace, prosperity and liberation.

Om Tryambhakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat (repeat x3)

[Om – we worship the three-eyed
one (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings, may he liberate us from death for the sake of Immortality even as a cucumber is severed from its bondage (to the creeper]

Om Sarvesham Svasti Bhavatu
Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu
Sarvesham Purnam Bhavatu
Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu

[Om – may auspiciousness be unto all
May peace be unto all
May fullness be unto all
May prosperity be unto all]

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niramayaah
Sarve Bhadrani Pasyantu
Ma Kaschid-Dukha-Bhag-Bhavet

[Om – may all be happy
May all be free from disabilities
May all look to the good of others
May none suffer from sorrow]

Asato Ma Sat Gamaya
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor-Ma Amritam Gamaya

Om Purnamadah Purnamidam
Purnat Purnamudachyate
Purnasya Purnamadaya
Purnameva Vashishate
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

[Om – lead me from the unreal to the Real
From Darkness to light
From mortality to Immortality
Om – that is whole, This is whole, from the whole the whole becomes manifest
From the whole when the whole if negated, what remains is again the whole
Om peace peace peace

(when class runs short on time, we sometimes just chant this last verse, purnamidam….)

Universal Prayer
A wonderful prayer matching in some ways tge format of the Lord’s Prayer but including a lot of hindu teachings, as well as more yogic concepts like Satchidananda.

O Adorable Lord of Mercy and Love,
Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.
Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.
Thou art Satchidananda.
Thou art Existence, Knowledge and Bliss Absolute.
Thou art the Indweller of all beings.
Grant us an understanding heart, equal vision,
Balanced mind, faith devotion and wisdom.
Grant us inner spiritual strength
To resist temptation and to control the mind.
Free us from egoism, lust, anger, greed, hatred and jealousy.
Fill our hearts with Divine Virtues.
Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms.
Let us ever remember Thee.
Let us ever sing Thy glories.
Let Thy name be ever on our lips.
Let us abide in Thee for Ever and Ever.
Om Bolo Sat Guru Sivananda Maharaja Ki! Jai!
Om Bolo Vishnu Devananda Maharaja Ki! Jai