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APRIL 2007 TOPIC OF THE MONTH

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THE ASHTANGA YOGA INVOCATION
Honoring something bigger
At the beginning of many Ashtanga yoga classes the teacher will lead students in chanting a few lines of Sanskrit. As you chant you close your eyes and assume the attitude of gratitude, being grateful to learn yoga to relieve us from the rigors of living.

I like to look at it as honoring something bigger, connecting to a large pool of Ashtanga Yoga energy, guiding our consciousness to the higher principals of yoga. In the book by Matthew Sweeney (Ashtanga Yoga “as it is”), Sweeney states the opening chant is like taking time to smell your food before you eat it, it aids the asana digestion process.

The first paragraph states that I honor the gurus-including the guru within (the wisdom of the teachers) who bring us insight to our true beings, giving us refuge—a shaman, to help us deal with the poisons of living (eliminating delusions).
The second paragraph honors the sage Patanjali, who is credited with writing down the teachings of yoga. Patanjali is the author of the yoga sutras.

OPENING CHANT
OM
vande I bow gurunam to the plurality of gurus charanaravinde two lotus feet
sandarsita to bring sight svatma pure being sukhava happiness bodhe awakened
nihsreyase refuge jangalikayamane lit. jungle hut, meaning shaman, jungle physician
samsara conditioned existence halahala poison moha delusion santyai peace

abahu down to the shoulders purusakaram assumes the form of a man
sankha conch shell (divine sound) cakra a wheel (discus of light or infinite time) asi sword (of discrimination) dharinam holding
sahasra thousand sirasam heads svetam radiant white
pranamami I prostrate patanjalim the sage Patanjali
om

Who is Patanjali?
Patanjali is the author of the Yoga Sutras, a book of about 200 verses of the processes of yoga written about 2500 years ago. The verses are very short and to the point without much commentary, so many translations abound. This text is one of the first texts known on yoga, it is believed Patanjali compiled this information that was handed down through the centuries from master to student, he did not actually create it. There is much mystery surrounding who Patanjali really is, so just like the author of the Toa, no one really knows for sure who he is.

In the chant Patanjali referred to in his serpent form, this is from Hindu Mythology. He is a great sage, said to be an incarnation of the great serpent named Ananta (or Shesha), who, is an incarnation of Vishnu (the preserver in the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). In Hindu Mythology Ananta is the thousand headed ruler (the thousand heads represent omnipresence and ananta means without end or infinity) of the serpent race who guards the hidden treasures of the earth—thus his interest in yoga as yoga is the secret treasure of the earth that leads to Nirvana. Desiring to teach yoga to the world it is said he has fallen from heaven into the open palms of a woman, hence his name Patanjali (pat = fallen anjali = palms).

There is dispute over what all books Patanjali authored. There are 2 other books in the Hindu Tradition, plus a book on Ayurvedic Medicine that list Patanjali as the author, however since some of the philosophies of these books and the sutras do not agree-there is dispute that there may be more than one Patanjali. There is also a great dancer worshipped by the dancers of India known as Patanjali—but again there are opposing views on whether this would be the same Patanjali who authored the sutras.

NOT RELIGIOUS

The chant is not religious; it is strictly a way of showing gratitude which is part of a path of love and open-ness. On a scientific level it has been shown that the two greatest emotions with the highest positive bio feedback results are love and gratitude.

The tradition is cultural not religious, it is no different than going to a Chinese restaurant because you like Chinese food. Eating food from another country does not mean that you are adapting all the beliefs of that culture; it means you are enjoying one of the cultures gifts to the world.

The second paragraph talking about Patanjali is referring to Hindu Mythology, a story or myth just like Greek Mythology. In Eastern cultures' bowing down is common to friends and family as a greeting and a showing of love, not worship. The Sanskrit language is another language just like Latin or Spanish or French. Sanskrit is the chosen language as it was the first language in India and that is where yoga originated.

If you are uncomfortable with the chant you could:

	Stay seated and breathe while we perform the chant
	Make up your own wording of gratitude and repeat it to yourself while standing in Samasthitih
	Walk out of the room
	Come late to miss the chant

Remember what is in your heart is what matters, if the chant is not in your heart than being in the presence of it is not going to effect you.

OM.
I respectfully bow to the lotus feet of the teachers who teach the way to the knowledge of the self, the knowledge that awakens us to great happiness and shows us the true nature of the poisonous cycle we have fallen in love with.