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.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner
Yoga Mantra Collection
ॐ |
oṃ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
oṃ
oṃ
particle
Om
Om (oṃ).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Om.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
Yoga Mantra Collection
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे संदर्शितस्वाअत्मसुखावबोधे |
vande gurūṇāṃ caraṇa-aravinde; saṃdarśita-sva-ātma-sukha-avabodhe | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
vande
1st person singular medial present
verbal root
ich verneige mich
gurūṇām
genitive plural
substantive masculine
der Lehrer
caraṇa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
des Fußes
aravinde
accusative dual
substantive neuter
die beiden Lotusse
saṃdarśita
karmadhāraya-compound past participle passive
previx
verbal root
enthüllt
sva
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
eigen
ātman
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
des Selbst
sukha
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
beglückend
avabodhe
lokative singular
substantive masculine
in der Erkenntnis, im Erwachen
I bow (vande | 1p sg med pres) before the two foot-lotuses (caraṇa-aravinde | acc du) of the teachers (gurūṇām | gen pl), [which] reveal the blissful awakening to one's own Self (saṃdarśita-svātma-sukha-avabodhe | loc sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
I bow before the teachers' lotus feet, which reveal the blissful recognition of one's own Self.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
Yoga Mantra Collection
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाने संसारहालाहलमोहशान्त्यै ||1.2||
niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāne; saṃsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai ||1.2|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
niḥśreyase
dative singular
niḥśreyas
substantive neuter
zum höchsten Wohlergehen
jāṅgalikāyamāne
lokative absolutus singular masculine present participle medial
jāṅgalikāya
verb
während er wie ein Arzt wirkt
saṃsāra
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
des Weltenlaufs
hālāhala
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive neuter
des Hālāhala-Gifts
moha
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
der Verblendung
śāntyai
dative singular
substantive feminine
zur Befriedung, zur Heilung
[It acts] for the highest well-being (niḥśreyase | dat sg) like a physician (jāṅgalikāyamāne | loc absl sg), for the pacification of delusion, the Hālāhala poison of worldly existence (saṃsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai | dat sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Like a physician, they heal delusion, the deadly poison of worldly existence, and lead toward the highest well-being.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
Yoga Mantra Collection
आबाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासिधारिणम् |
ā-bāhu-puruṣākāraṃ; śaṅkha-cakrāsi-dhāriṇam | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
ā
avyayībhāva-compund
previx
bis zu
bāhu
avyayībhāva-compund
substantive masculine
den Armen
puruṣa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
des Menschen, menschlich
ākāram
accusative singular
substantive masculine
die Gestalt
śaṅkha
dvandva-compound
substantive masculine
Muschelhorn
cakra
dvandva-compound
substantive neuter
Diskus
asi
upapada-compound
substantive masculine
Schwert
dhāriṇam
accusative singular masculine
adjective
tragend
[I honor] the one whose upper body has human form (ābāhu-puruṣa-ākāram | acc sg) and who bears a conch, discus, and sword (śaṅkha-cakra-asi-dhāriṇam | acc sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
I honor Patañjali's human form, bearing conch, discus, and sword.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
Yoga Mantra Collection
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ||2.2||
sahasra-śirasaṃ śvetaṃ; praṇamāmi patañjalim ||2.2|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
sahasra
dvigu-compound
numeral
tausend
śirasam
accusative singular masculine
substantive neuter
tausendköpfig
śvetam
accusative singular masculine
adjective
strahlend weiß
praṇamāmi
1st person singular aktive present
previx
verbal root
ich verneige mich
patañjalim
accusative singular
substantive masculine
Patañjali
I bow (praṇamāmi | 1p sg act pres) before the thousand-headed (sahasra-śirasam | acc sg), radiant-white (śvetam | acc sg m) Patañjali (patañjalim | acc sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
I bow before Patañjali, radiant white and thousand-headed.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
Yoga Mantra Collection
ॐ |
oṃ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
oṃ
oṃ
particle
Om
Om (oṃ).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Om.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

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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 ›

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