Yoga Journal Singapore - June-July 2018

THE MANTRA: Om

Pronunciation: a-u-m

Translation: The primordial sacred sound

Why chant it: Om is said to be the first sound heard at the

creation of the universe. When each syllable is pronounced

fully, you should feel the energy of the sound lifting from

your pelvic floor all the way up through the crown of your

head.

THE MANTRA: Om śantih śantih śantih

Pronunciation: a-u-m shanti hee shanti hee shanti hee

Translation: Peace peace peace

Why chant it: Because we could all use more peace in our

lives.

THE MANTRA: Gayatri mantra

Om bhūr bhuvah svah | tat savitur varenyam | bhargo

devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo nah pracodayāt

Pronunciation: A-u-m bhoor bhoo-va-ha sva-ha |

tut sa-vi-toor va-rain-yum | bhar-go day-vas-yah dhee-muh-

hee | dhi-yo yo na-ha pra-cho-duh-yat

Translation: Earth, heaven, and all between. The excellent

divine power of the sun. May we contemplate the radiance

of that God. May this inspire our understanding.

Why chant it: It’s one of the oldest Sanskrit mantras and very

sacred in the Hindu tradition. It invokes the light of the

sun and helps us to transcend suffering. It should only be

chanted at dawn, noon, and sunset.

THE MANTRA: Invocation to Ganeśa

Om gam ganapataye namah | vakra-tunda mahā-kāya sūrya-

koti-samaprabha | nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva-kāryesu

sarva-dā

Pronunciation: A-u-m gam ga-na-pat-ta-yay na-ma-ha |

vak-ra ton-da ma-ha ka-ya soor-ya ko-tee sa-ma pra-bha |

nir-vig-nam koo-roo may day-va sar-va car-yay-shu sar-va da 

Translation: Ganeśha, god with a curved trunk, of great

stature, whose brilliance is equal to ten million suns. Grant

me freedom from obstacles, in all things, at all times.

Why chant it: Ganeśha is the god of wisdom and success and

the remover of obstacles. It is always a good idea to begin

any new endeavor by invoking him.

YELENA MOROZ ALPERT

Translation by Zoë Slatoff, author of Yogāvatāranam: The Translation of Yoga

.

.

to Common Mantras

Om bhūr bhuvah svah

tat savitur varenyam

bhargo devasya dhīmahi

dhiyo yo nah

pracodayāt

EARTH, HEAVEN, AND ALL BETWEEN.

THE EXCELLENT DIVINE POWER OF THE SUN.

MAY WE CONTEMPLATE THE RADIANCE OF THAT

GOD. MAY THIS INSPIRE OUR UNDERSTANDING.

49

junel / july 2018

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A Beginner’s Guide

The Mantra