Open the Door of Your Heart with Sacred Chants
Kirtan, or devotional chanting of the names of God, is a practice that opens the heart, uplifts our consciousness, and deepens our connection to the Divine. Join spiritual teacher Swami Nirvanananda as he leads songs of devotion that bring us into a sacred stillness.
Giorgio Kriegsch was born to devout parents, a Catholic mother and a Lutheran father in Trieste, Italy. In 1975 his life was changed after reading Paramahana Yogananda’s book, Autobiography of a Yogi. He was initiated into Kriya Yoga by Swami Hariharananda—a direct disciple of Yogananda’s guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. During one of his early trips to India, Giorgio discovered the inspiring work of Father Marian Zelazek, who was helping the children of lepers in Puri, a city in eastern India. He asked Fr. Zelazek how he could help and was asked to seek sponsors to support this work. Giorgio began performing Kirtan (sacred chanting concerts) to raise funds. In 1992, in the holy city of Jagannath Puri in India, Giorgio took the final monastic vows of a sannyas and became Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati, meaning “the bliss of freedom from suffering.” He continues to travel the world, inspiring audiences with devotional music and raising funds to help others.
🔗 Learn more about Swami Nirvanananda at Nirvanananda.org and explore his charitable work at ShantiPuriFriends.org
🎶 Listen to more chants by Swami Nirvanananda on Spotify
Dr. Trujillo’s Comments
It was a joy to have Swami Nirvanananda return to The Yoga Hour to share his sacred chants with us. Kirtan as a form of Bhakti Yoga induces an opening of the heart, joyfulness, and deep devotion for the divine, and that is what I experienced with Swami ji. I also enjoyed sharing Paramahansa Yogananda’s writings from his booklet Cosmic Chants, which inform us that sound is the most powerful force in the universe, and that our feeling of joy which comes from sacred chanting is the proof that God has answered the devotee. Tune in for a joyful and heart-opening experience.
The Yoga Hour Team Comments
Swami Nirvanananda brings depth and heart to every appearance, his presence and voice transport love and beauty directly to the heart. Enjoy the sacred chanting and sing along for full effect.
Swami Nirvanananda
