Patanjali Mantra 194s4d

4. Invocation paying respect to Maharishi Patanjali This invocation to Sage Patajali (considered the founder of Yoga) is usually chanted at the beginning of a yoga practice or teaching session to humbly seek his wisdom and guidance. It instils the feeling of total surrender. By acknowledging this great soul we immediately realise how much of a beginner we are. Once this humility is felt, learning is easier and other problems which arise while practicing (mainly concerned with the ego) will be a ffected. It may also be chanted at the end of the session to give thanks. This invocation to Patanjali is the introduction to the Bhoja Vrtti, the commentary on the Yoga Sutras written by Raja Bhoj.

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Yogena cittasya padena vaca Malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena Yopakarottam pravaram muninam Patanjalim pranjaliranato'smi Abahu purusakaram Sankha cakrasi dharinam Sahasra sirasam svetam Pranamami Patanjalim With hands to the heart I respectfully bow down to Patanjali, the noblest of sages. The one, who has removed the impurityies of the mind (citta) by Yoga (yogena), impurities of speech (vacca) by words (pada), and impurities (malam) of the body (sarira) by medicine (vaidyakena) I prostrate before Patanjali, whose upper body has a human (purusa) form (karam), whose arms hold a conch (sankha) and a disc (cakra) who is fair (svetam) and on whose head (sirasam) is a thousand (sahasra) hoods of the cobra, as he is the incarnation of Adishesha.

MAHARISHI PATANJALI The Indian sage Patanjali is both a historical and a mythical figure. According to Indian mythology, he is the incarnation of Lord Adisesa, represented as a King Cobra sitting over h is head. He is said to have fallen to earth. Patanjali means “in the form of a snake that fell into the palms at the time of prayer.” Historically, Sage Patanjali is said to have lived somewhere between 500 -200BC. He is credited with works on three subject s: the three traditional areas to be mindfully refined by speech (grammar), the aspirant body (medicine), and mind (yoga). 1.

1. Grammar, i.e. language and the clarity of meaning. (Mahabhasya)

2. 2. Ayurveda, medical knowledge regarding body, it’s cleansing, dis eases and health. 3. 3. Yoga Sutra, knowledge of the mind and consciousness, the most important classic text on the practice. In 196 sutras or aphorisms, Patanjali states what Yoga is - "the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind"; and what Yoga does - "perfect firmness of the body,

steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit", it also contains the well recognised Ashtanga Yoga – Yoga of the eight limbs.