Prayers
Yogic Practice shall start with a prayer or prayerful mood to enhance the benefits of practice. These prayers are for universal peace and well being and helps us to focus on higher goals of life! Originally in Sanskrit from Vedic Scriptures.
Some of the prayers and meanings are as follows. You may use starting prayers and ending prayers appropriately.
Om: Pranava Mantra
As per Vedas, it is very first sound of universe, which is the combination of three letters A-U-M. Om means Supreme or Brahman or Divine or Universal consciousness. See recent inventions about Om sound from Sun by NASA
Om is used as a starting Bija mantra for every vedic chant!
Start sadhana with three times Om to bring unity, purity & peace !
¬Saṃgacchadhvaṃ saṃvadadhvaṃ
saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām
devā bhāgaṃ yathā pūrve
sañjānānā upāsate ||
May you move in harmony; may you speak in unison; let our
mind be equanimous like in the beginning; let the divinity
manifest in your sacred endeavours.
Prayer | Meaning |
---|---|
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshat Para Brahma Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha |
Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a Guru |
Om Saha Naav[au]-Avatu| Saha Nau Bhunaktu| Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai|Tejasvi Naav[au]-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai| Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih|| |
1: Om, May God Protect us Both (the Teacher and the Student) (during the journey of awakening our Knowledge), 2: May God Nourish us Both (with that spring of Knowledge which nourishes life when awakened), 3: May we Work Together with Energy and Vigour (cleansing ourselves with that flow of energy for the Knowledge to manifest), 4: May our Study be Enlightening (taking us towards the true Essence underlying everything), and not giving rise to Hostility (by constricting the understanding of the Essence in a particular manifestation only), 5: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace (be there in the three levels – Adhidaivika, Adhibhautika and Adhyatmika). |
Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu! Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu! Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu! Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu |
Auspiciousness be unto all; peace be unto all; fullness be unto all; prosperity be unto all. |
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinh! Sarve santuh Niramaya Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu! Ma Kaschin Dukh Bhag Bhavet |
May all be happy! May all be free from disabilities! May all look to the good of others! May none suffer from sorrow! |
Om asatoma sad gamaya. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya! Mrityorma amritam gamaya |
O Lord! Lead us from untruth to truth Lead us from darkness to light Lead us from death to immortality |
Patanjali Invocation Prayer: (Father of Astanga Yoga)
yogena cittasya padena vacam
To purify the mind (citta), purify the consciousness, Patanjali gave the science of yoga (yogena) to us. To purify our use of words (pada) and speech (vacca), he gave a commentary on grammar to us, so that our use of words and way of speaking is clarified, distinct and pure.
malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena
To remove the impurities (malam) of the body (sarira), he gave us the science of medicine (vaidyakena).
yopakarottam pravaram muninam
Let me go near the one who has given these things to us.
patanjalim pranjalir anato’smi
Let me bow down my head with my folded hands to Lord Patanjali
Then after knowing the work of this Lord, the second stanza says what Lord Patanjali looks like. To do any meditation first the form has to be in front of the eyes.
abahu purusakaram
From the hand up to the head he has the shape (karam) of a human (purusa).
sankha carkrasi dharinam
In his hand he is holding the conch (sankha) and disc (cakra)
sahasra sirasam svetam
On top of his head (sirasam) he has got a thousand (sahasra) hoods of the cobra, because he is the incarnation of Adishesha, the greatest cobra. Svetam means white.
pranamami patanjalim
I bow down to Patanjali
We chant so that at the very beginning that feeling of sanctification comes from inside, with the feeling of surrendering oneself, because nothing can be learned in this world unless
you have the humility to learn.
PRANAYAMA MANTRA
Om pranasyedam vashe sarvam
Tridive yath pratishtitam
Matheva putran rakshasva
Shreescha pranjnaanscha videhi na ithi
Om shantih shantih shantihi
Prana the vital force pervades all the three worlds (below the earth, the earth and above the earth)
All the activities are directed by prana
To that very prana we request to protect us as a mother protects her children.
We also request the prana to stimulate our intellect.
AAVARTA DHYANA MANTRA
Om laye sombhodayeth chittam
vikshiptham shamayeth punaha
sakaashaayam vijaneeyat
samapraptam na chalayet
Om shantih shantih shantihi
Stimulate the dull mind
Calm down the excited mind
Keep repeating the process of stimulation and relaxation till you experience the Bliss
After experiencing the Bliss don’t disturb the mind, keep enjoying the Bliss.
Om Peace Peace Peace.
Prayer for Lord Shiva: (Adiguru /first Guru of Yoga)
Namaste Astu Bhagavan
Vishveshvaraaya Mahaadevaaya
Trayambakaaya Tripurantakaaya
Trikaalaagni – Kaalaaya
Kaalaagni – Rudraaya Nilakantaaya Mrityunjayaaya
Sarveshvaraaya Sadaashivaaya
Sriman Mahadevaaya Namah.
Meaning in English, with word by word meaning
Oh Lord, salutations to you
Oh Lord of the Universe, Greatest of them all
He who has three eyes (eye of omniscience), he who gives enlightenment which is beyond three (Astral, Physical & Causal) worlds
He who like fire, devours all three times (Past, Present, Future) within himself
Like Time, he who ends everything, like time he who disciplines the world into order, He whose body is vast ( blue like sky, oceans), He who has conquered Yama the Lord of Death/ Time.
Lord of all Beings, Consciousness which is untouched by the world yet everything in the world is because of him.
Oh great Lord, salutations to you
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra: Heal Yourself, Heal the World
For centuries, yogis have turned to the maha mrityunjaya mantra.
- ॐ त्र्यं॑बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर् मुक्षीय॒ माऽमृता॑त् । - oṃ tryaṃbakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam
urvārukamiva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya mā’mṛtāt
Meaning:
1: Om, We Worship the Tryambaka (the Three-Eyed One),
2: Who is Fragrant (as the Spiritual Essence), Increasing the Nourishment (of our Spiritual Core);
3: From these many Bondages (of Samsara) similar to Cucumbers (tied to their Creepers),
4: May I be Liberated from Death (Attachment to Perishable Things), So that I am not separated from the perception of Immortality (Immortal Essence pervading everywhere).
Gayatri Matra:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Om Bhuur-Bhuvah Svah
Tat-Savitur-Varennyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhiimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Pracodayaat ||
Meaning:
1: Om, Pervading the Bhu Loka (Earth, Consciousness of the Physical Plane), Bhuvar Loka (Antariksha, The Intermediate Space, Consciousness of Prana) and Swar Loka(Sky, Heaven, Consciousness of the Divine Mind),
2: That Savitur (Savitri, Divine Essence of the Sun) which is the most Adorable,
3: I Meditate on that Divine Effulgence,
4: May that Awaken our Intelligence (Spiritual Consciousness).
(From Yajurveda)
Bhadram Karnebhih
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः ।
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाग्ँसस्तनूभिः ।
व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ।
Om Bhadram Karnnebhih Shrnnuyaama Devaah |
Bhadram Pashyema-Akssabhir-Yajatraah |
Sthirair-Anggais-Tussttuvaamsas-Tanuubhih |
Vyashema Deva-Hitam Yad-Aayuh |
Meaning:
1: O Devas, May we Hear with our Ears what is Auspicious,
2: O (Devas who are) Worthy of Worship, May we See with our Eyes what is Auspicious,
3: With (Sense) Organs Steady and Body Praying (due to Hearing and Seeing the Auspicious) …
4: May we Attain (i.e. Spend) the Lifespan allotted by the Devas (thus finding fulfillment in our lives).
Purnamadah Purnamidam
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Puurnnam-Udacyate |
Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
1: Om, That (Outer World) is Purna (Full with Divine Consciousness); This (Inner World) is also Purna (Full with Divine Consciousness); From Purna is manifested Purna(From the Fullness of Divine Consciousness the World is manifested),
2: Taking Purna from Purna, Purna indeed remains (Because Divine Consciousness is Non-Dual and Infinite),
3: Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
One more Shanthi Mantra:
ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः ।
शं नो भवत्वर्यमा ।
शं नो इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः ।
शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः ।
Om Sham No Mitrah Sham Varunnah |
Sham No Bhavatv[u]-Aryamaa |
Sham No Indro Brhaspatih |
Sham No Vissnnur-Urukramah |
Meaning:
1: Om, May Mitra be Propitious towards Us; May Varuna be Propitious (towards Us),
2: May Aryaman be Propitious towards Us,
3: May Indra and Brihaspati be Propitious towards Us,
4: May Vishnu who makes Wide Strides be Propitious towards Us,
नमो ब्रह्मणे ।
नमस्ते वायो ।
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि ।
त्वामेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि ।
ॠतं वदिष्यामि ।
सत्यं वदिष्यामि ।
Namo Brahmanne |
Namaste Vaayo |
Tvam-Eva Pratyakssam Brahmaasi |
Tvaam-Eva Pratyakssam Brahma Vadissyaami |
Rrtam Vadissyaami |
Satyam Vadissyaami |
Meaning:
5: Salutations to Brahman (the Universal Soul),
6: Salutations to You, O Vayu (the Breath or Life-Force),
7: You Indeed are the Perceptible Brahman (i.e. the Breath or Life-Force is indeed the Perceptible Brahman or the Shakti of Brahman),
8: I Proclaim that You Indeed are the Perceptible Brahman,
9: I Proclaim the Divine Order,
10: I Proclaim the Truth,
तन्मामवतु ।
तद्वक्तारमवतु ।
अवतु माम् ।
अवतु वक्तारम् ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Tan[t]-Maam-Avatu |
Tad-Vaktaaram-Avatu |
Avatu Maam |
Avatu Vaktaaram ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
11: May That (Truth) Move Me (i.e. May I be established in that Truth),
12: May That (Truth) Move the Proclaimer (i.e. May the Proclaimer be established in that Truth),
13: May that (Truth) Protect Me (i.e. May that Truth take me in its Fold) (i.e. May I Surrender to that Truth),
14: May that (Truth) Protect the Proclaimer (i.e. May that Truth take the Proclaimer in its Fold) (i.e. May the Proclaimer Surrender to that Truth),
15: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.