Patanjali’s Sacred Invocation to Inner Peace and Freedom

In Ayengar Yoga, every session begins with a profound ritual: the resonance of three Oms followed by the sacred Patanjali chant. This practice sets the tone, weaving sound and spirit into a moment of mindfulness and unity.

The Patanjali chant pays homage to Sage Patanjali, the revered architect of classical yoga. It expresses deep gratitude for his teachings—a guide to physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual liberation. As the author of the Yoga Sutras, a cornerstone of yoga philosophy, Patanjali is celebrated as the father of classical yoga, whose contributions continue to shape the practice worldwide.

B.K.S. Ayengar was deeply inspired by Patanjali, whom he regarded as the ultimate authority on yoga's philosophy and discipline. Ayengar saw yoga as a pathway to freedom, aligning body, mind, and spirit. Patanjali’s timeless teachings fueled Ayengar's rigorous practice and innovative methods, making yoga accessible to all.

Ayengar himself dedicated thousands of hours to chanting and contemplating the sacred Patanjali chant. For him, the three Oms represented a bridge between the cosmos and the self, instilling stillness and focus before practice. This commitment to discipline and mindfulness became his enduring gift to humanity.

This video honors that practice. As you watch and listen to this sacred chant, let it inspire your journey toward freedom, transformation, and the limitless potential that yoga can bring into your life.

Yogena cittasya padena vacam
Malam sharirasya cha vaidyakena
Yopakarottam pravaram muninam
Patanjalim pranjalir anato’smi.

Abahu purushakaram
Shankha chakrasi dharinam
Sahasra shirasam shvetam
Pranamami Patanjalim.

Translation:
I bow with folded hands to Patanjali, the most excellent of sages,
Who removed impurities of the mind through yoga,
Of speech through grammar,
And of the body through medicine.

I salute Patanjali,
Whose upper body has the form of a human,
Who holds a conch and a disc (symbols of divine energy)
And is crowned with a thousand-headed cobra.