Invocation to Patanjali is a chant that is often used to open an Iyengar Yoga class, or before chanting the Yoga Sutras. It is a way of honouring Patanjali, once of the ancient forefathers of the yogic tradition. The Iyengar tradition in particular is grounded in the teachings of 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.

This can be translated as:
“With palms folded together,
I bow respectfully to Patanjali, the best of sages,
Who dispels the impurities of the mind with Yoga,
Of speech through grammar, and of the
body by means of medicine.”

 

 

Patanjali

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.
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