Invocation to Patanjali

Julie Anderson
Nov 4
2 min read

Most of the time I like to start my classes quietly.

Sometimes simply chanting the sound of om and sometimes an invocation.

Most commonly we do the invocation to Patanjali as he is considered to be the 'father' of yoga, having collected various aphorisms into the Yoga Sutras about 2000 years ago. The Yoga Sutras are considered to be one of the definitive texts on the aims, principles and benefits of a yoga practice.

The act of chanting is lovely, it allows the sound vibrations to be experienced in the mind, intellect and body tissues in a soothing way. It is conducive to practice and also recognises the fact that we have these fantastic teachings to call upon.

Many of you ask me for the words so you can practice yourselves, I am sharing them with you here:

Om Om Om

Yogena cittasya padena vacam

Malam sarirasyaca vaidyakena

Yopakarottam pravaram muninam

Patanjalim pranjaliranato’smi

Abahu purusakaram

Sankha cakrasi dharinam

Sahasara sirsam svetam

Pranamami Patanjalim

Hare Hi Om

There are many translations, essentially describing the form of Patanjali and making thanks for the teaching but also, by extension, an opportunity to take a moment of gratitude for other elements of significance in your life:

Yoga for bringing quietness of mind; grammar for eliciting effectiveness of speech

And the healing arts for removing ailments of the body

He bestowed these things that the most illustrious of sages-

Patanjali to whom I make reverential obeisance.

Spirit rendered into human form

Bearing the conch. the discus and the sword

Adorned with the cobra of one thousand heads-

I bow before Patanjali.

There are many recordings of this I like the one on Guruji's website as it reminds me of being in class at R.I.M.Y.I. in Pune, India...with about 100 others!

https://bksiyengar.com/audio/invocation.mp3

The one behind the photograph above is also useful.