MANTRAS

The opening and closing mantras are traditionally chanted before and after an ashtanga yoga class. This is not mandatory, you can skip the chanting completely or you can join later in your practice. The first mantra is from Adi Shankaracharya, and the second one is from Patanjali. At the end of the practice we usually chant the Shanti (peace) mantra. The opening mantra performed by Pattabhi Jois.

vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde sandarśita svātma sukhāva bodhe |
niḥ-śreyase jaṅgali-kāyamāne saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāṁtyai ||

OM! I bow to the lotus feet of our great teachers, who uncovers our true self and awakens happiness. Like a Shaman in the Jungle he brings total complete well-beeing. He can even heal the most awful poision of conditioning and illusion.

ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ śaṁkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam |
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetaṁ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||

The upper body of human shape, carrying a mussel horn (original tone), a discus (infinity) and a sword (power of differentiation) having 1000 bright heads, I bow to Patanjali. om

Mangala or Shanti (peace) mantra:

svasti-prajā-bhyaḥ pari-pāla-yaṁtāṁ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ |
go-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham-astu nityaṁ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino-bhavaṁtu ||
auṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

May the well-being of all people be protected by the powerful and mighty leaders be with law and justice.
May good success be with all cows (divinity) and scholars
May all the worlds become happy.
Om peace, peace, peace

Source of translations