Ashtanga Yoga Bend
|
|
|
|
|
Sanskrit Chanting Class: Sanskrit chanting is fluid and precise. It awakens the voice and breath to energize the body and clear the mind. Traditionally it is learned in a ‘call and response’ manner (called shruti parampara); this is how most of the time is spent during this class with some time also dedicated to understanding the language and exploring the depths of yoga philosophy.
Material recited includes traditional opening & closing prayers, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, etc …
See schedule for times.
|
Opening Prayer
|
• |
Closing Prayer
|
• |
Surya Namskara Prayer
|
• |
Challakere Brothers
|
Opening Prayer
|
Gist: Because I want more peace of mind and stability in life, I am now going to practice yoga as it is has been passed down since time immemorial. Interpretive: For the peaceful resolution of the deluding nature of repetitive existence, I bow at the lotus feet of the Gurus, and behold the awakened joy of my own Soul; this is the ultimate refuge that acts like a shaman, a true source of spiritual enrichment. |
Literal: I respectfully honor Patañjali – a principle proponent of yoga – who has assumed the form of a brilliantly luminous man with thousands of heads, and who bears a conch, a discus and a sword.
|
Closing Prayer
|
|
|
Gist: May the merits of my yoga practice [or other such action] benefit the entire world.
Literal: May the leaders of this earth
Protect the welfare of all generations
By keeping to the path of virtue.
May the religious, and all peoples be forever blessed,
May the whole of all the worlds be happy.
Om peace, peace, peace…
Guruji recites the Closing Prayer
Download: Closing Prayer PDF
Literal: May the leaders of this earth
Protect the welfare of all generations
By keeping to the path of virtue.
May the religious, and all peoples be forever blessed,
May the whole of all the worlds be happy.
Om peace, peace, peace…
Guruji recites the Closing Prayer
Download: Closing Prayer PDF
Surya Namaskara Prayer
|
|
|
While engaged in worship and life’s works,
May we hear with our ears what is auspicious,
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious,
May our minds & bodies be strong and steady,
So that we may live a life that is admirable to God.
May Indra, lord of heaven, bless us with divine wisdom.
May Pooshan, the nourishing sun, bless us with universal knoweldge.
May Garuda, the divine eagle, and Brhaspati, guru to the gods, bless us.
Om peace, peace, peace…
Guruji recites the Surya Namaskara Prayer
Image Credits: Shankaracharya poster from Maharaja’s Sanskrit College, Mysore, India; Krishnamacharya portrait from “Health, Healing and Beyond”; Patanjali image from KYM.
May we hear with our ears what is auspicious,
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious,
May our minds & bodies be strong and steady,
So that we may live a life that is admirable to God.
May Indra, lord of heaven, bless us with divine wisdom.
May Pooshan, the nourishing sun, bless us with universal knoweldge.
May Garuda, the divine eagle, and Brhaspati, guru to the gods, bless us.
Om peace, peace, peace…
Guruji recites the Surya Namaskara Prayer
Image Credits: Shankaracharya poster from Maharaja’s Sanskrit College, Mysore, India; Krishnamacharya portrait from “Health, Healing and Beyond”; Patanjali image from KYM.
COMMENTARIES
|
Sankalpa: wish, intention.
Prior to initiating any ritualistic endeavor such as one’s yoga asana practice, it is proper and traditional to state to God / Creation / the Universe what it is that we are about to do and why (sankalpa). The first verse of the Ashtanga Opening Prayer includes such a statement or sankalpa. The first line states what: We are bowing or surrendering – for our own benefit (atmanepada) as opposed to an act of worship – to the feet of the guru (viz. the practical teachings). In other words, we are about to do the yoga practice that has been taught to us by our yoga teacher for the sake of improving the quality of our life. The last line states why: We are doing this in the hopes of making peace with our worldly sufferings (samsara) and ignorance (moha). This is akin to the proper reason for practicing yoga as stated in the Bhagavad Gita 5.11: i.e. for the purpose of self-purification. This first verse was composed by Shankara (second from the left, dressed in red) as the opening verse to the Yoga Tara Vali. It was taught to Pattabhi Jois (center) by his teacher Krishnamacharya (second from right). |
| The Closing Prayer or Mangala Mantra is an ancient chant from the Rg Veda that is traditionally recited at the end of ceremonies. Guruji has graciously taught us to recite it at the end of our yoga practice to connote offering the merits of our practice for the benefit of the world. This is akin to one of the proper reasons for practicing yoga as stated in the Bhagavad Gita 3.20: i.e. for helping to improve the state of the word. In other words, the effort to purify and uplift our own life as stated in the opening prayer, should be done altruistically for the benefit of uplifting and enriching the world. |
| “Chanting … can be done loudly, softly … or mentally. Chanting softly is a thousand times more effective than chanting loudly, and chanting mentally is a thousand times more effective than chanting softly … If while chanting a verse, the sage who composed it, the meter of which it is composed, and the deity (or principle) which it represents are remembered, then the proclaimed benefits will accrue (Yoga Yajñavalkya Samhita 2.12 - 2.17).” |
Website by David Miliotis. © 2001 - 2008 Ashtanga Yoga Bend. All rights reserved.