The “opening mantra” is traditionally sung just before starting asana practice.

– – –

vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde sandarśita svātma sukhāvabodhe |

niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāne saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāntyai | |

ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ śaṅkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam |

sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjalim | |

– – –

I bow to the lotus feet of the Guru,

And behold the awakened joy of my own Soul,

The ultimate refuge, the jungle doctor,

Pacifying the poisonous delusions of repetitive existence.

I bow to Patanjali who has assumed the form of a

brilliantly luminous man with thousands of snake heads,

and who bears a conch, a discus, and a sword.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The “closing mantra” (maṇgala mantrāḥ) is sung just after the asana practice is finished.

– – –

svastiprajābhyaḥ paripālayantāṁ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ

gobrāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubhamastu nityaṁ lokāssamastāḥ sukhinobhavantu

oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | |

– – –

Let Prosperity be Glorified

Let Rulers rule the world with Law and Justice

Let Divinity and Erudition be protected

Let People of the whole world be happy and prosperous

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Texts and translations of other mantras sung in Mysore Shala on Lakshmish chanting classes can be found on his website.

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