Karen's Blog

A New Take on a Really Old Mantra

posted in Blog | Monday, April 19th, 2010

For the next six weeks I have the opportunity to sub for a well established and much beloved teacher at Yoga Source. No pressure, really. For years she has started the class with the Sahana Vavatu mantra from the Upanishads. I wanted to keep up the tradition while she’s away so I did some research and found a new way of looking at a really old mantra.Traditionally, the teacher and students recite this peace invocation together in call and response. Both ask God’s blessings for a study that is free of obstacles, that the work be fruitful, and the relationship be peaceful. You can see the full translation at the bottom of this post.

This is an important mantra for both the teacher and the student. However, ultimately we all must look to the teacher inside of each of us. Reciting the prayer from this perspective suggests we unite two aspects of ourselves – teacher and student – so that we can live in harmony. And isn’t that what this yoga thing is all about? Try it on for size, see what you think….

Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu
Sahaveeryam Karavavahai
Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidhwishavahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi