 Lord Patanjali is the sage of Yoga, for it was he who codified the path of Astanga Yoga in the Yoga Sutras about 2500 years ago. With this treatise of 196 terse aphorisms, Patanjali gave the gift of Yoga to all of humankind. The Yoga Sutras were but a part of his immense contribution as he also recorded complete works on Grammar and Ayurveda.
The following is an invocation to Patanjali in Sanskrit, with English translation:
Click here to listen to Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar chant the Invocation to Patanjali
aum
yogena cittasya padena vacam
malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena
yopakarottam pravaram muninam
patanjalim pranjaliranato smi
abahu purusakaram
sankha cakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim
hare aum
Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali,
who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind,
grammar for clarity and purity of speech and
medicine for perfection of health.
Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa,
whose upper body has a human form,
whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and
who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra.
For a beautiful and thorough description of Patanjali go to The Official Site of BKS Iyengar and click on "Sage Patanjali".
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