Collection of Yoga Mantras

A mantra is a sacred verse or sound. Recited or chanted in Saṃskṛt, it symbolically conveys the spiritual dimension of yoga. The word-by-word translations and commentaries will offer you a conscious and profound access to yoga philosophy.

Dr. Ronald Steiner 14.03.2009

The Aṣṭāṅga Yoga Mantra opening the practice

The opening mantra that starts every Aṣṭāṅga practice is a profound part of the tradition. In chanting it, we salute this ancient tradition and Patañjali.

Maṅgala Mantra –The closing mantra of the Aṣṭāṅga practice, which focuses on striving for peace.

With this traditional mantra of peace, we close every Aṣṭāṅga practice. The energy we created throughout the practice is sent into the world in form of love...

Bhadram-Śānti-Mantra

Pattabhi-Jois’s favorite mantra is the Bhadram-Śānti-Mantra. With this mantra we spiritually focus on the Aṣṭāṅga practice in general and on the Sūrya...

Saha Nāvavatu - the teacher and student mantra

This Mantra is at the beginning of the Kaṭha Upaniṣad. It reminds teacher and student to dive in the process of learning together full of enthusiasm and with...

Pūrṇamadaḥ – The Mantra of Fullness

A Śānti-Pāṭha used in several Upaniṣads; in the Vedānta tradition, it expresses undiminished wholeness and fullness.

Mahāmṛtyuñjaya – The Mantra of Victory over Death

From Ṛgveda 7.59.12; this verse honours Rudra and asks for freedom from death.

The Ananta Mantra, Adoration of Ananta, King of the Nāgas

Kṛṣṇamācārya provided each of his students with their own personal mantra to be used at the start of each practice. BKS Iyengar honours Patañjali with these...

Paying homage to Patañjali

Kṛṣṇamācārya provided each of his students with their own personal mantra to be used at the start of each practice. TKV Desikachar honours Patañjali with...

Gāyatrī Mantra – Bowing to Sūrya – the sun

Through the popular and ancient mantra of light, the Gāyatrī mantra from the Vedas, we bow to Sūrya – the sun – and ask for enlightenment.

Pavamāna-Mantra – The Purifying Mantra

From Bṛhadāraṇyaka-Upaniṣad 1.3.28; it leads from the unreal to truth, from darkness to light and from death to immortality.

Brahmārpaṇam – A Prayer before Meals

From Bhagavadgītā 4.24; it understands food, offering, fire and action as expressions of the Absolute.

Rudra Kṣetra – Homage to Śiva

Opens Kṣemarāja’s Śiva-Sūtra-Vimarśinī; it praises Śiva’s consciousness as the vibrating source of non-dual reality.

Illustrations: AI-generated.

Author

Dr. Ronald Steiner

From Ulm

The "Yoga Doc" - Dr. Ronald Steiner is the founder of the AYI method. This method links traditional Ashtanga Yoga with innovative Yogatherapy and living Philosophy. This forms a practice that is personal for each and... more ›