the chant at the beginning of Iyengar yoga classes all over the world

What is the Patañjali invocation?

You may have heard it at the beginning of a Level 2 or Level 3 class, or at the start of a workshop: a Sanskrit recitation that everyone seems to know. If you don’t know what it means, it can feel awkward to participate. Here we explain what the invocation to Patañjali entails, and what it means in Iyengar yoga.

Many Iyengar Yoga classes around the world begin with a traditional recitation: the Patañjali invocation, or invocation of Patañjali. This practice is more than just a ritual; it is a means to remind practitioners of the goals of yoga: to calm the mind and achieve unity between body and mind, and to establish the intention of the practice. But who is Patañjali, and why is this invocation a part of Iyengar yoga?

Who was Patañjali?

Patanjali is regarded as the founder of yoga philosophy. Although there is little historical information about his life, and it is even unknown whether this refers to one person or a collection of authors, he is usually placed between 200 BCE and 450 CE. He is best known for codifying the Yoga Sūtras, 196 aphorisms in Sanskrit from which the modern practice of yoga is derived. These texts offer a systematic path to spiritual discipline and self-realization, and are considered an essential work that forms the cornerstone of many forms of yoga practiced today.

Before being put into writing by Patañjali, these teachings were transmitted orally. The Yoga Sūtras have found resonance and relevance with readers over the centuries and have been translated and commented on many times, including by B.K.S. Iyengar in his ‘Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali’.

In addition to his work in yoga, Patañjali is also associated with contributions to Indian medicine (Ayurveda) and grammar. As such, he is often revered as a symbolic universal teacher and guide who enriched both body, mind and language.

To the noblest of sages, Patanjali,
who gave us yoga for serenity of mind,
grammar for purity of speech
and medicine for the perfection of the body, I salute.
Ik buig voor Patañjali, wiens bovenlichaam de vorm van een mens heeft,
wiens armen een schelp, een discus en een zwaard vasthouden,
en die gekroond is door een duizendkoppige stralende cobra.
Die Patañjali betoon ik mijn eer.I salute before Patanjali whose upper body has a human form,
whose arms hold a conch, and disc and a sword,
who is crowned by a thousand headed cobra.
Oh incarnation of Adisesa my humble salutations to thee.et_pb_divideret_pb_divider4.27.04.27.0defaultdefault{}{}text-align: left;text-align: left;De betekenis achter de woordenThe meaning behind the wordsDe invocatie begint met eerbied voor Patañjali, de wijze die de wereld drie belangrijke disciplines heeft gebracht: yoga, grammatica en geneeskunde.
Elk van deze disciplines wordt gezien als een pad naar zuivering — van respectievelijk de geest, de spraak en het lichaam.
Door de invocatie uit te spreken, erkent de beoefenaar de rol van Patañjali in het bieden van deze waardevolle middelen voor persoonlijke groei en welzijn.The invocation begins with reverence for Patañjali, the sage who brought to the world three major disciplines: yoga, grammar and medicine. Each of these disciplines is seen as a path to purification—of the mind, speech and body respectively. By saying the invocation, the practitioner acknowledges Patañjali’s role in providing these valuable tools for personal growth and well-being.De tweede helft van de invocatie beschrijft de goddelijke vorm van Patañjali.
Hij wordt voorgesteld met een menselijke bovenkant en een slangachtige onderkant, een symbool van zijn transcendente aard.
De schelp (sankha) en discus (cakra) in zijn handen zijn symbolen van bescherming en kracht, terwijl zijn duizendkoppenvorm de veelzijdigheid van zijn wijsheid vertegenwoordigt.The second half of the invocation describes Patañjali’s divine form. He is depicted with a human upper part and a serpentine lower part, a symbol of his transcendental nature. The conch (sankha) and disc (cakra) in his hands are symbols of protection and strength, while his thousand-headed form represents the multifaceted nature of his wisdom.patanjali minrebroederstraatpatanjali minrebroederstraatDe rol van de invocatie in Iyengar YogaThe role of the invocation in Iyengar YogaBij het aanroepen van Patañjali nemen we even de tijd om de oude wortels van Iyengar Yoga te erkennen en te respecteren: de leringen die door de eeuwen heen zijn doorgegeven en de leraren van wiens ervaring en wijsheid wij profiteren.In invoking Patañjali, we take a moment to acknowledge and respect the ancient roots of Iyengar Yoga: the teachings that have been passed down through the ages and the teachers whose experience and wisdom we benefit from.De les beginnen met deze recitatie is een manier om te symboliseren dat we ons dagelijkse leven achter ons laten, onze zorgen loslaten en onszelf overgeven aan de beoefening van yoga.
Zowel door een fysieke als een auditieve stimulus; we horen de geluiden en voelen de trillingen in ons lichaam.
We beginnen ons af te stemmen op onszelf op dit moment van introspectie en eerbied.
Het helpt de gedachten te ordenen en de geest te focussen.
Het verbindt ons met de lange lijn van leraren die hun kennis en wijsheid hebben doorgegeven.Beginning the class with this recitation is a way to symbolize that we are leaving our daily lives behind, letting go of our worries and surrendering ourselves to the practice of yoga. Through both a physical and auditory stimulus; we hear the sounds and feel the vibrations in our bodies. We begin to tune into ourselves in this moment of introspection and reverence. It helps to organize the thoughts and focus the mind. It connects us to the long line of teachers who have passed on their knowledge and wisdom.Daarnaast helpt de invocatie om de beoefening in een bredere context te plaatsen. Yoga is niet alleen een fysieke oefening, maar een holistische benadering van welzijn die zowel lichaam als geest omvat. Door Patañjali te eren en te benoemen, erkennen we de wortels van onze beoefening en plaatsen we onszelf in de rol van de student – klaar om te leren.In addition, the invocation helps to place the practice in a broader context. Yoga is not just a physical exercise, but a holistic approach to wellness that includes both body and mind. By honoring and naming Patañjali, we acknowledge the roots of our practice and place ourselves in the role of the student – ready to learn.Hoor de invocatie door BKS IyengarListen to the invocation by BKS IyengarDe invocatie aan Patañjali, uitgelegd door Geeta IyengarThe invocation to Patañjali, explained by Geeta IyengarInvocationInvocationtext-align: right;text-align: right;― BKS Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali― BKS Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjalihttps://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/6625497https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/6625497“Patañjali is saying that yoga is a preventive healing art, science and philosophy, by which we build up robust health in body and mind and construct a defensive strength with which to deflect or counteract afflictions that are as yet unperceived afflictions.”“Patañjali is saying that yoga is a preventive healing art, science and philosophy, by which we build up robust health in body and mind and construct a defensive strength with which to deflect or counteract afflictions that are as yet unperceived afflictions.”

I salute before Patanjali whose upper body has a human form,
whose arms hold a conch, and disc and a sword,
who is crowned by a thousand headed cobra.
Oh incarnation of Adisesa my humble salutations to thee.

The meaning behind the words

The role of the invocation in Iyengar Yoga

In invoking Patañjali, we take a moment to acknowledge and respect the ancient roots of Iyengar Yoga: the teachings that have been passed down through the ages and the teachers whose experience and wisdom we benefit from.

Beginning the class with this recitation is a way to symbolize that we are leaving our daily lives behind, letting go of our worries and surrendering ourselves to the practice of yoga. Through both a physical and auditory stimulus; we hear the sounds and feel the vibrations in our bodies. We begin to tune into ourselves in this moment of introspection and reverence. It helps to organize the thoughts and focus the mind. It connects us to the long line of teachers who have passed on their knowledge and wisdom.

In addition, the invocation helps to place the practice in a broader context. Yoga is not just a physical exercise, but a holistic approach to wellness that includes both body and mind. By honoring and naming Patañjali, we acknowledge the roots of our practice and place ourselves in the role of the student – ready to learn.

Listen to the invocation by BKS Iyengar

The invocation to Patañjali, explained by Geeta Iyengar