- Shanti Mantra
- Shanti Mantra II
- Patanjali Mantra
- AY Opening Mantra
- AY Closing Mantra
- Gayatri Mantra
- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
- Shanti Mantra III
- Shanti Mantra IV
- Guru Mantra
Mantras have a major significance in Yoga philosophy. They have been in use since the period of the Vedas and are prevalent still. One characteristic that makes Mantras applicable in all time periods is their energy in different levels of vibrations.
Mantras create a positive and favourable atmosphere around us for all the activities that we do. They bless us through the power of sound and language. Mantras create the vibrations and send them out in the universe so all the energies from gross to subtle are unified.
What are Mantras in Yoga?
Mantras in yoga are Sanskrit terms or groups of words that contain power in itself to transform body and mind that can be manifested by repetitive chanting.
Every mantra activates some or other parts of the body. Mantra yoga is a separate branch of yoga that includes chanting of potential syllables, verses, or Vedic hymns. The repetitive chant of a mantra or word or phrase, which we generally do during meditation, is called Japa. They help in lifting yourself on the spiritual ladder and in turn expand your awareness.
The source of Mantra is the sound of creation. When we utter a Mantra, we essentially integrate ourselves with the process of creation itself. Hence, a mantra is not just a group of words or sounds, it is something we strive to become in the presence of the all-encompassing universe.
That is why yoga Mantras are powerful ways of taking your yoga practice to the next level. They are generally chanted at the beginning and at the end of the class. However, some Mantras can also be chanted in between the sequences.
10 Sanskrit Yoga Mantras
There is a huge range of Mantras that are chanted as prayers in yoga sessions. This article discusses 10 Mantras that are commonly used in yoga sessions.
1. Shanti Mantra
The literal meaning of Shanti is peace. Shanti Mantras are the prayers done for the purpose of peace.
There are 5 Shanti mantras chanted throughout the yoga sessions or while reciting religious rituals or discourses. These mantras are taken from Upanishads. The purpose of chanting the Shanti mantras is to calm the mind of the reciter and the people listening to him/her.
Just as its name sounds chanting the Shanti mantra spread calming vibes in the environment and is believed to remove any obstacles that may come in the task being started.
Oṃ saha nāv avatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai
tejasvi nāv adhītam astu Mā vidviṣāvahai |
Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Shanti Mantra Meaning
OM
1. May God protect us both together (Teacher and Student),
2. May God nourish/energize (bhunaktu) us both together,
3. May we work (karva) together with vitality and energy (vīryaṃ),
4. May our study (adhitam) be enlightening (tejasvi), not giving rise to hostility (vidviṣāvahai) (which may arise due to lack of understanding and knowledge)
5. OM, peace (śāntiḥ) (in me), peace (in nature), peace (in divine forces).
Om Sahana Vavatu mantra is taken from the Taittiriya Upanishad and often chanted before studying Vedic texts. In modern times, you can chant this mantra before starting any sacred ritual, eating your meal, studying, and starting or ending your yoga asanas.
The purpose of this mantra is to invoke the supreme power’s protection and support in meaningful learning, harmony between the student and teachers, and instilling a sense of joy in the learner’s heart. Chanting Shanti three times, in the end, describe peace on all 3 levels; internal, environmental, and one beyond that, which is driven by fate.
If you want to chant this mantra before or after a yoga class, it can be chanted by the teacher and the student together.
2. Shanti Mantra II
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niraamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Shanti Mantra II Meaning
OM
1. May we all (sarve) be happy (sukhinah)
2. May all be (bhavantu) free from illness (niraamayaah)
3. May all see (pashyantu) what is auspicious (bhadraanni)
4. May no one (maa kashcid) suffer in any way (duhkha bhag bhavet)
5. OM, peace (śāntiḥ) (in me), peace (in nature), peace (in divine forces).
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah mantra’s source is unclear, however, it has been said that it is taken from the Vedas. Similar mantras also tend to appear in Garuda Purana, Itihāsa Samuccaya and Vājasaneya Saṁhitā.
It can be chanted at the beginning or end of any ritual, ceremony, studying, yoga, meditation, or any other auspicious work. Since you are asking for wellness and prosperity for each living being, anyone can chant this mantra to promote solidarity and righteousness.
When repeated, this mantra can fill you with compassion and loving-kindness since it represents an unselfish mindset of well-being for all life forms, not just humans.
Even this Mantra ends with Om and 3 Shantis, signifying peace on all three levels of existence.
3. Patanjali Mantra
Yogena chittasya padena vacham
Malam sharirasya cha vaidyakena
Yopakarottam pravaram muninam
Patanjalim pranjaliranato’smi
Patanjali Mantra Meaning
1. He who purifies the impurities of the Mind (chittasya) by Yoga (yogena), speech (vacham) by grammar (padena)
2. He who purifies the impurities (malam) of the body (sharirasya) through medical science (vaidyakena)
3. He who is an expert in removing (yopakarottam) the impurities, to that most excellent (pravaram) of Munis (muninam)
4. I bow down with folded hands (pranjaliranato’smi) to sage Patanjali (Patanjalim).
Patanjali mantra was written as an invocation to sage Patanjali by Raja Bhoj in the introduction to the Bhoj Vritti, which contains the commentary on Yoga Sutras by Raja Bhoj.
The Patanjali Mantra is chanted as a tribute to sage Patanjali. His role in the area of yoga was predominant and thus practitioners chant this mantra before beginning the yoga asana class. This Mantra lays the gratitude and inspiration for our yoga practice.
It brings more seriousness to your practice when you also try to visualize sage Patanjali while uttering the words.
Please note that, unlike the Shanti mantras, the Patanjali Mantra is specifically chanted before beginning the practice of the yoga postures. While chanting this, you are also honouring the teachers who have passed down their knowledge from generation and made it available to the masses.
4. Ashtanga Yoga Opening Mantra
Om
Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde
Sandarshita Svatma Sukava Bodhe
Nih Shreyase Jangalikaayamaane
Samsara Haalahala Mohashantyai
Abhahu Purushakaram
Shankhacakrsi Dharinam
Sahasra Shirasam Shvetam
Pranamami Patanjalim
Om
Ashtanga Yoga Opening Mantra Meaning
OM,
1. I bow to (vande) the lotus feet (charanaravinde, where charana means feet and ravinde means lotus) of our great teachers (gurunam)
2. Who uncovers (sandarshita) our true self (svatma) and awakens happiness (sukava bodhe)
3. Like a Shaman in the Jungle (jangalikaayamaane) he brings complete (nih) well-being (shreyase). (In ancient times, it was thought that the shamans of the jungle were the best doctors as they had immense knowledge about medicinal plants)
4. He can even heal (shantyai) the most awful poison (haalahala) of conditioning (samsara) and illusion (moha).
1. The upper body (abhahu) of human shape (purushaakaram),
2. Carrying a mussel horn (shankha), a discus (cakr) (chakra that represents infinity) and a sword (asi) (representing the power of differentiation)
3. Having 1000 (sahasra) bright heads (shirasam),
4. I bow...