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Learn the Ashtanga Yoga Opening Mantra With Me

ashtanag yog opening mantra from theyogimovement.com by Monica Dawn Stone

November 21, 2013 By Monica Stone 6 Comments

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What does the Ashtanga Yoga Opening Mantra Mean?

Why do we chant before practice?

It begins:

I pray to the lotus feet of the supreme guru
Who teaches knowledge, awakening the great happiness of the self-revealed

The supreme Guru represents the practice, God, The Divine, or The Universe – whatever you call it. God is not used as a religious term here, but a universal term for the divine which is within and connects all of us. 

Since The Divine is in all of us, and all encompassing of all things in this world, this is also a symbol of gratitude and thanks to all of the teachers who have brought us this practice. You are a part of The Divine as well, so remember that you are thanking yourself for stepping on the mat and doing the work. 

Who acts like the jungle physician
Able to remove the delusion from the poison of conditioned existence

The jungle represents the monkey mind. It represents all of the mind chatter (vrittis), the crazy stories, and suffering that we create. Samasara is the conditioned existence. This is the act of repeating our patterns that create suffering over and over. 

There are many conditioned beliefs within our conditioned existence which create vrittis that we absorbed from our upbringing.

Example: Your dad left you as a child when you were young. Therefore, as a woman, you continue to get into relationships with men who are unavailable, or you sabotage the relationship because you are expecting him to leave. You don’t even realize you do this because it’s so ingrained.

We believe these things to be true because it’s all that we know, and what we’re used to. Look deeper and you’ll see that there is no absolute truth. 

Our whole human existence is a conditioned belief. The practice is medicine. It acts as a doctor to break you free of these conditioned beliefs that cloud the mind and cause suffering. 

To Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, white in color with a thousand radiant heads (in his form as the divine serpent), 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.

This is actually a second poem, which is an expression of immense gratitude to Patanjali, who documented the yoga sutras. Here, we thank Patanjali and acknowledge the importance and integration that the lessons of the sutras have in the physical practice. 

I hope that gave you a little bit of insight! Chant with me on the video below!

Opening Mantra

 Om

Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde
Sandarshita Svatma Sukava Bodhe
Nih Sreyase Jangalikayamane
Samsara Halahala Mohashantyai

Abahu Purushakaram
Shankhacakrsi Dharinam
Sahasra Sirasam Svetam
Pranamami Patanjalim
Om

 

 
What does the mantra mean to you? What does it represent for you when you chant? 
 
Want to learn more? You can download the audio tracks of the opening & closing mantra.
You’ll memorize it in no time!
 

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Filed Under: Instruction Tagged With: ashtanga, Chanting, Opening Mantra, yoga

Monica Stone

About Monica Stone

Monica is a lover of all things yoga, a vegetarian, an avid tea drinker, and never gets sick of soup and noodle dishes. She teaches yoga, practices daily, and runs a Spiritual Book Club in Orlando, FL. She likes to challenge the strict rules of yoga, and makes it accessible for everyone - especially people who suffer from daily life and work stress.

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Hi! I’m Monica

Monica StoneWell hello there! I'm Monica. I'm a yoga & meditation teacher (and junkie). I teach yoga practices that are quick and effective for the busy person who just needs a few minutes of quiet time in their day. Click around and you'll find quick meditation tips for calming the mind to simple stretches to relieve stress and tension. If you are sick of being intimidated by yoga or just confused by all of the different styles out there - then this page is for you. Yoga helps me daily & I know it will help you too! I'll show you how! Welcome to The Yogi Movement :)

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Testimonials

  • Jaime ShearerJaime ShearerYoga Student Since 2012

    Monica is dedicated to her own practice and the true path of yoga - the one of personal experience - which makes her an outstanding teacher. She is warm and easy to talk with, and she allows the student to have their own experience on the mat. She explains postures and breath in ways that are understandable so that the student "gets it." She makes yoga real and tangible in ways that truly serve the student. Work with Monica. You'll be glad you did.

  • Jacob AbercrombieJacob AbercrombieYoga Student Since 2011

    have always wanted to try yoga, but was always nervous. Monica took that fear away and made me feel like i was the only one in class with a room full of strangers. She is able to work with multiple students during the same move and still make it a personalized class for one.

  • Serena JonesSerena JonesYoga Student Since 2010

    Monica has been a highly influential teacher to me. She creates a safe environment for learning and practice. I have always felt grounded in her classes, and she pushes me beyond my own expectations. She inspires and motivates! I can't imagine my life without sharing a path with her!

  • Angela OrofinoAngela OrofinoYoga Student Since 2011

    Monica is a caring, wise, thoughtful, and talented yoga instructor. She has an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and spirituality of Ashtanga yoga. My previous yoga experience had mostly just been at my local gym. Luckily, last year I found Monica. She has been guiding my practice at least once a week since then. As a newcomer to Ashtanga yoga, Monica made me feel comfortable and had the patience to teach me the basics. She also encouraged me to start an at home practice so that I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of Ashtanga. Monica is always encouraging and lets me know in subtle ways when she feels that I am ready to move deeper into my practice. I feel that the growth in my practice over the last year has been tremendous. Not only do I notice the change in me but others around me do as well. I am so grateful to have found Monica!

  • Sasha TamarSasha TamarYoga Student Since 2012

    I’ve come across many a yoga instructor over the years, but Monica stands out as genuinely amiable, as she glows with an infectious inner light, and highly devoted to and passionate about her practice. Her dedication to Ashtanga as a lifestyle is very clear, and creates for a contagious motivating force. Every time I’ve practiced with her, she eagerly transmits her devotion and passion of Ashtanga and meditation to everyone in class; she makes the most fledgling beginner feel at home, and simultaneously challenges the more advanced students. While I only practice Ashtanga with her, I know she provides therapeutic yoga sessions as well as meditation. And, if her methods of guiding students out of the Ashtanga vigor into the more meditative savasana are indicative of her meditational techniques, I’d recommend her to anyone

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