Mantra for yoga: opening and closing chants for practice
The mantras chanted at the start and end of yoga practice: Om, the Ashtanga opening prayer, the Patanjali invocation, Om Saha Navavatu and Lokah Samastah.
Most yoga classes open with Om, chanted three times, and many follow it with an invocation to Patanjali, the sage of the Yoga Sutras, or the Ashtanga opening prayer Vande Gurunam. Classes usually close with a prayer for everyone's well-being, such as Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu, and Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Here are the chants you are most likely to hear, with their meaning.
Opening chants
Om
ॐ Om
The primordial sound, said to contain every other sound. Three long Oms at the start of class bring the room's breathing together and mark the change from the day to the practice. Traditionally chanted for balance and a deep sense of connection. Listen on Mahakatha.
Ashtanga opening prayer (Vande Gurunam)
ॐ वन्दे गुरुणां चरणारविन्दे संदर्शित स्वात्म सुखाव बोधे निः श्रेयसे जंगलिकायमाने संसार हालाहल मोहशान्त्यै Om, Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde, Sandarshita Svaatma Sukhaava Bodhe, Nih Shreyase Jangalikaayamaane, Samsaara Haalaahala Mohashantyai
"I bow at the lotus feet of the gurus, who reveal the joy of the true self, who, like a healer, ease the poison of delusion in worldly life." The full prayer continues with a verse to Patanjali. It is chanted at the start of every Ashtanga Vinyasa class. Listen on Mahakatha.
Invocation to Patanjali (Yogena Chittasya)
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन। योऽपाकरोत्तं प्रवरं मुनीनां पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि॥ Yogena Chittasya Padena Vacham, Malam Sharirasya Cha Vaidyakena, Yopakarottam Pravaram Muninam, Patanjalim Pranjaliranatosmi
"With folded hands I bow to Patanjali, the greatest of sages, who removed impurity from the mind through yoga, from speech through grammar, and from the body through medicine." Heard in many Iyengar and traditional hatha classes. Traditionally chanted for concentration. Listen on Mahakatha.
Om Saha Navavatu
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ Om Saha Naav Avatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu, Saha Viryam Karavaavahai, Tejasvi Naav Adheetam Astu, Maa Vidvishaavahai, Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaantihi
"May we be protected together; may we be nourished together; may we work together with energy; may our study be bright; may there be no ill will between us." A peace chant from the Upanishads, said by teacher and student before learning. Listen on Mahakatha.
Adi mantra, for Kundalini yoga
ॐ नमो गुरु देव नमो Om Namo Guru Dev Namo
Usually sung as Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo: "I bow to the creative wisdom, I bow to the divine teacher within." Kundalini yoga classes "tune in" with it, three times, before every practice. Listen on Mahakatha.
Closing chants
Ashtanga closing prayer (Svasti Prajabhyah)
स्वस्ति: प्रजाभ्यः परिपालयंतां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः । गो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनोभवंतु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥ Svasti Prajaabhyah Paripaalayantam, Nyaayena Maargena Mahim Mahishah, Go Braahmanebhyah Shubhamastu Nityam, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu, Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
"May all people be well; may those who lead protect the earth on the path of what is right; may goodness always come to all; may all the worlds be happy." Chanted at the end of Ashtanga practice, before final rest. Listen on Mahakatha.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
लोकः समस्तः सुखिनो भवन्तु Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
"May every soul in the whole world be happy." The last line of the prayer above, and the most common closing chant in yoga classes everywhere, often sung three times. Listen on Mahakatha.
Om Sarve Bhavantu
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayah
"May all beings be happy; may all beings be free from illness." Another favourite closing prayer, sending the good of the practice out to everyone. Listen on Mahakatha.
Using mantra in your own practice
- Begin seated. Sit with a straight spine, close your eyes and take a few slow breaths.
- Chant Om three times, or one opening chant above. Let each sound fade fully before the next.
- Practise, keeping the breath steady.
- Close seated after final rest, with Lokah Samastah or Om Shanti, and sit quietly for a few breaths.
You do not need a perfect voice or perfect Sanskrit; say the words slowly and with attention. Sun salutations can also be done with the twelve names of Surya, one name for each round, starting with ॐ मित्राय नमः (Om Mitraya Namah) (listen on Mahakatha). To go further, see the seven chakra mantras and mantras for meditation. Mahakatha Radio plays Om and yoga chants among its mantras, day and night, free, if you want sound for home practice.
Questions people ask
What is the starting mantra of yoga?
Om, chanted three times, is the most common. Ashtanga classes use the Vande Gurunam prayer, many traditional classes use the Patanjali invocation Yogena Chittasya, and Kundalini yoga opens with Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.
Which mantra should I chant daily?
Choose one short mantra you can return to every day: Om, Om Namah Shivaya, the Gayatri mantra or Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. A few minutes daily does more than a long session once a week.
What are the five most powerful mantras?
Om, the Gayatri mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra and Om Mani Padme Hum are often named. See our list of the most powerful mantras.
What are the 7 most powerful mantras?
Lists vary. Alongside the five above, Om Gam Ganapataye Namah and Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya are often included. For yoga, the most useful are the ones you will actually chant at the start and end of practice.
What is the closing mantra of yoga?
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu, "may all beings everywhere be happy", followed by Om Shanti Shanti Shanti, is the most common. Ashtanga classes chant the longer Svasti Prajabhyah prayer, which ends with the same line.