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Robbie Wood 8/6/26 Robbie Wood 8/6/26

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 Paramahansa 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.

Robbie Wood 4/23/26 Robbie Wood 4/23/26

Journey into the Heart of Bhakti Yoga

Edwin Bryant, author of Bhakti Yoga, returns to discuss this classical path of yoga centered around love and devotion for the Divine. Through stories from the Bhagavata Purana, the practices of Bhakti yoga engage us and open our heart.

Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D in Indic languages and Cultures from Columbia University, where his thesis culminated in his first book: The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture (Oxford University Press, 2001). He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition.

📚 Find the book discussed in this episode: Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana

🔗 Edwin has a series of recorded classes and ongoing courses, all for free, on edwinbryant.org

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: If you are someone who enjoys attending kirtan or chanting the names of God, this conversation with Edwin Bryant about his book Bhakti Yoga will help you deepen your understanding of this sacred yogic path of devotion to God. We discussed the many practices of bhakti yoga, including hearing (or reading) about God, kirtan as a communal practice, japa as an individual practice, serving God and surrendering to God. Listen in and allow your heart to open.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This is an engaging conversation with Edwin Bryant on Bhakti yoga and I learned many new things to take into my practice. There are many "flavors" of bhakti as there are infinite forms for God or Bhagavan. Bhakti is service or seva that is aimed at developing love. Take the name of God, whatever that is for you and listen intently to know God above all other desires.