Pattabhi-Jois’s favorite mantra is the Bhadram-Shanti-Mantra. With this mantra we spiritually focus on the Ashtanga practice in general and on the Surya Namaskaras in particular.

Mantra
om
oṁparticle
Om

Om

bhadramnominative singular
bhadrasubstantive neuter
das Gute, Sicherheit, das Glücksbringende
karṇebhiḥinstrumental case plural
karṇasubstantive masculine
durch die Ohren, mit den Ohren
śr̥ṇuyāma1st person plural optative
śruverb
wir mögen hören
devāḥvokative plural
devasubstantive masculine
oh ihr Götter!

Oh ihr Götter, mögen wir das Gute mit den Ohren hören,

Dr. Ronald Steiner

O Gods, while engaged in sacrifices, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious,

Pattabhi Jois - 1999

bhadramnominative singular
bhadrasubstantive neuter
das Gute, Sicherheit, das Glücksbringende
paśyema1st person plural optative
paśverb
wir mögen sehen
akṣabhiḥinstrumental case plural
akṣasubstantive masculine
mit den Augen
yajatrāḥvokative plural
yajatrasubstantive masculine
Oh ihr Götter denen göttliche Verehrung und Opfer gebühren! Oh ihr Verehrungswürdigen! Oh ihr Opfer und Verehrungswürdigen!
yajatra
yajverb
dem göttliche Verehrung und Oper gebühren
yajverbeinen Gott verehren, huldigen, opfern, weihen

Oh ihr Verehrungswürdigen, mögen wir das Gute mit den Augen sehen!

Dr. Ronald Steiner

may we see with our eyes what is auspicious.

Pattabhi Jois - 1999

sthiraiḥneuter instrumental case plural
sthiraadjective
mit starken
aṁgaiḥinstrumental case plural
aṅgasubstantive neuter
mit Gliedern
tuṣṭuvāṁsaḥnominative plural
tuṣtuvāṁspast participle active
die zufriedenen seienden, die erfreut seienden
tuṣtuvāṁspast participle active
tuṣverb
zufrieden seiend, die erfreut seienden
tanūbhiḥinstrumental case plural
tanūsubstantive feminine
mit den Körpern, mit Personen

Mögen wir durch starke Glieder und mit Freude erfüllten Körpern

Dr. Ronald Steiner

While praising, may we of strong and stady limb

Pattabhi Jois - 1999

vyaśema1st person optative plural
viaśverb
mögen wir erfüllen
viprevixauseinander
verberlangen
devahitaṁmasculine accusative singular
devahitaadjective
von den Göttern eingerichtet
yatneuter nominative singular
yatpronoun 3rd person
das
āyuḥnominative singular
āyuḥsubstantive masculine
das Leben

das von den Göttern [uns] gegebene Leben erfüllen.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

enjoy the live given by the Gods.

Pattabhi Jois - 1999

svasti
svastiadverb
wohl, glücklich
suprevixgut, günstig
asti3rd person singular
asverb
er / sie / es ist
asverbsein
naḥplural dative
madpronoun 1st person
für uns
indraḥnominative singular
indrasubstantive masculine
der Gott Indra
vr̥ddhaśravāḥmasculine nominative singular
vr̥ddhaśravasadjective
mit großer Schnelligkeit versehen

Möge Indra, der mit großer Schnelligkeit versehen ist, uns gewogen sein.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

svasti
svastiadverb
wohl, glücklich
suprevixgut, günstig
asti3rd person singular
asverb
er / sie / es ist
asverbsein
naḥ1st person plural dative
madpronoun 1st person
für uns
pūṣānominative singular
pūṣansubstantive masculine
Gott Pūṣa, den Hüter der Herden
viśvavedāḥnominative singular
viśvavedassubstantive masculine
der Weise, derjenige der alles weiß
viśvavedasbahuvrīhi-compund
viśvaadjectivevedassubstantive neuter
einer der alle Erkenntnis besitzt
viśvaadjectivesämtlich, ganz, alle
vedassubstantive neuterErkenntnis

Möge Pūṣa, der die Welt kennt, uns gewogen sein.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

svasti
svastiadverb
wohl, glücklich
suprevixgut, günstig
asti3rd person singular
asverb
er / sie / es ist
asverbsein
naḥplural dative
madpronoun 1st person
für uns
tārkśyaḥnominative singular
tārkśyasubstantive masculine
Name des Gottes, oft identisch mit Garuda oder sein ältere Bruder oder Vater
ariṣṭanemiḥmasculine nominative singular
ariṣṭanemiadjective
einer der voller Eifer / Arbeitseifer ist

Möge Garuda, der voller Eifer ist, uns gewogen sein.

svasti
svastiadverb
wohl, glücklich
suprevixgut, günstig
asti3rd person singular
asverb
er / sie / es ist
asverbsein
naḥplural dative
madpronoun 1st person
für uns
br̥haspatiḥnominative singular
br̥haspatisubstantive masculine
Der Lehrer aller Götter, Wörtlich: großer Herr, Gott der Religiösität und Frommigkeit, er ist der Haupt darbieter von Opfern und Gebeten;
dadhātu3rd person singular imperative
dhāverb
möge er uns beschenken, erhalten, aufbewahren

Möge Br̥haspati, der Lehrer aller Götter, uns wohlwollend beschenken sein.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

om
omparticle
Om
śāntiḥnominative singular
śāntisubstantive feminine
Frieden
śāntiḥnominative singular
śāntisubstantive feminine
Frieden
śāntiḥnominative singular
śāntisubstantive feminine
Frieden

Om. Frieden, Frieden, Frieden.

Surya Namaskara, the foundation of spiritual practice

Without the necessary orientation, Ashtanga yoga is worthless, said my esteemed teacher Pattabhi Jois time and time again. Surya Namaskara is a symbol of this spiritual orientation. Then he mumbled in Sanskrit, it concerns a mantra that is found again through searching in the Rig Veda Shanhita, from the Padapatha Mandala 1 (89.8+89.6).It is also known as Shantih mantra and represents the beginning of each Atharva Veda belonging to the Upanishad. These objectives are also found in texts from Yajur Veda, as well as Prashna Upanishad, Amritabindu Upanishad and Bhavana Upanishad.

The purpose of Surya Namaskara

Even if Surya is not mentioned in this mantra, Pattabhi Jois places it in connection with the Surya Namaskara:

"The purport of this mantra is to discern divinity in all the objects of the senses through the strengthening of the senses. It is a prayer not merely for the strength of the body, senses, and the mind, and for the elimination of diseases, but for inner happiness and ultimate liberation from trans- migratory existence. If such happiness is to be gained, it can only be so by the healthy, not by the sick. Therefore, to become healthy, one should practice the Surya-Namaskara in accordance with scriptural injunctions."
[Yoga Mala p 37]

This mantra does not explain the precise sequence of movements, but the essence and the meaning of Surya Namaskara.

Surya Namaskara as an offering by the body

The mantra describes the presentation of "offerings" with the body. In pursuit of understanding of the Rig Veda, it means "offering", in general, of the correct sequence of a process. Everything that arises through the offering, is sustained and disappears at the end of an offering. The whole of creation will also dissolve in an offering. Out of the ashes of these offerings, eventually the next creation forms. Thus, the ashes of the offerings become the homologue of the procreative seeds, the homologue of Amrita. An offering requires, according to the understanding of the Veda, three aspects:

  • A sacrificed substrate
  • The sacrificial fire as energy for the process,
  • And a controlling agent. Combined with wind or smoke, only this brings the offering to the desired result.

These three elements of the offerings must come together in exactly the right way. Thus, in the Veda, the all-invigorating rain is produced with almost mathematical precision. Milk, butter, or Soma is offered into the fire. The wind fans the fire and brings the offering to the gods. The offering-event proceeds in the correct way, and so the rain comes down from heaven. Surya Namaskara is an offering that transforms yoga practitioners. We ignite our inner fire through Ujjayi breathing. Bandhas are the controlling agents. Everything needs its exact sequence and rhythm.

The process of Surya Namaskara

Since ancient times the sun in India has been honored with a bow to the ground. Surya Namaskara is homage to the sun for the correct progression of the Vedic offerings. Pattabhi further explains:

"The method for practicing Surya-Namaskara has been described differently by various people. We cannot categorically state what kind is correct, …"
[Yoga Mala, p 37]

Yoga is based primarily on personal experience. We find no dogma. However, the principles of Surya Namaskara are passed on among the yogis from generation to generation:

"…but when we reflect on the science of Yoga, we see that the tradition of the Surya-Namaskara follows, in the main, the method of Vinyasa, or breathing and moving system, the movements of Rechaka or exhalation, Puraka, or inhalation, and meditation. According to the Shastra, this tradition includes: Vinyasa; Rechaka and Puraka; Dhyana [meditation]; Drishti [sight, or gazing place]; and the Bandhas [muscle contractions, or locks].'"
[Yoga Mala, p 37]

Connecting the internal with the external sun

The sun is an external fire, which takes a well-arranged course. It is the perfect Vedic offering-fire, so to speak. In Surya Namaskara the outer fire and inner fire come together. When run in an orderly path - the Vedic offering succeeds. The result of this meeting is health and immortality. In the Veda the gods also attain their immortality through an offering. They offer all the negative characteristics in their inner fire. For us humans, "immortality" initially sounds like a big promise. According to the interpretation of the Veda, "immortality" means not passing away prematurely. Here the human life span is specified as 100 years. As the fire is part of the offering, the sun is inextricably linked to the Namaskara. Therefore, in yoga there is only one salutation to the sun. Indian mythology has many gods. However, in yoga they are not worshiped with a Namaskara. Pattabhi explains further:

"And this alone is the method which should be followed when learning the Surya-Namaskara, as yogis declare from experience. Indeed, the Sun Salutations done without following the rules mentioned above are little more than exercise, and not true Surya-Namaskara."
[Yoga Mala, p 37]

Das Bhadram Shanti Mantra - Dr. Ronald Steiner 31.7.2015

Gesungen im Rahmen der AYI Advaned Ausbildung.