Prarthana means prayer. In Ashtanga yoga we pray to guru, guru parampara and to the lord for attaining good health, stable mind and the self realization.
Beginning Mantra:
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शितस्वात्मसुखावबोधे I नि:श्रेयसे जान्गलिकाय माने संसार हालाहल मोहशान्त्यै II |
Vande gurūṇām caraṇāravinde sandarśita svātma sukhāvabodhe Niśreyase jānghalikāyamāne saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāntyai |
I bow at the lotus feet of the Guru And behold the awakened joy of my own Soul The ultimate refuge, the jungle doctor, Pacifying the poisonous delusion of repetitive existence. |
आबाहु पुरुषाकारं शंखचक्रासि धारिणम् I सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतन्जलिम् II |
Ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ śankhacakrāsi dhāriṇam Sahasraśirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjaliṁ |
I bow to Lord Patanjali who has assumed the form of a brilliantly luminous man with thousands of snake heads, and who bears a conch, discus, and a sword. |
Closing Mantra :
स्वस्तिप्रजाभ्य: परिपालयन्तां न्यायेन मार्गेण महींमहीशाः I गो ब्राह्मणेभ्य: शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकासमस्ता सुखिनोभवन्तु II |
svasti prajābhyaha paripālayantām nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ go bhrāhmaṇebhyah śubhamastu nityam lokāsamastā sukhino bhavantu |
Let prosperity be glorified Let rulers rule the world with law and justice Let divinity and erudition be protected Let people of the whole world be happy and prosperous. |