SONGS OF THE MASTER

The Complete Chants of Paramahansa Yogananda

For over 30 years, I’ve been privileged to lead the sublime devotional chants of Paramahansa Yogananda in ashram, temples, yoga centers and house concerts in the U.S., Europe, and India, witnessing their profound ability to inspire peace, joy, and spiritual awakening. The two albums recorded during those years (“Adoration - Chants for Meditation,” and “Adoration 2 - Sacred Yoga Love Songs”) have received deeply touching response of devotional inspiration from seekers around the world.

Now, I feel a divine calling to record all 60 compositions from Cosmic Chants—a collection that includes Yogananda’s inspired originals and his English translations of India’s traditional sacred songs (published by Self-Realization Fellowship). Music has the power to transform hearts, uplift souls, and deepen our connection with the Divine. The timeless chants of Paramahansa Yogananda, lovingly preserved in his book Cosmic Chants, are not just melodies—they are spiritual doorways. Infused with the vibrations of this beloved world teacher, they offer seekers an intimate communion with the Infinite.

(Leading chants with Sunday School children at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine)

Help Us Manifest This Eternal Gift

With your help, I will collaborate with gifted Indian musicians in the devotion-filled atmosphere of Mother India to create recordings that capture the true essence of these chants, in the original classical tabla rhythms which can take us on such a powerful journey of love.

This is more than a project; it’s a heartfelt offering to the global spiritual community. By contributing, you’ll be helping to share the blissful communion with the Divine that these chants can inspire—a gift for all souls yearning for connection, peace, and joy. Together, we can make these sacred songs accessible to the world. Join us in spreading the timeless, uplifting music of Paramahansa Yogananda to God-seeking hearts everywhere!

True Guidance on the Path - Loyalty to the Guru

As a loyal disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, I encourage those who are inspired by his teachings to seek out the guidance of the organization he founded to spread his legacy - Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and its sister organization in India, Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS). SRF offers the best guidance for the use of chanting as part of the Kriya Yoga path. I am grateful to have been able to record Paramahansaji’s chants with the permission of SRF, which publishes the Master’s “Cosmic Chants” book, from which these chants are taken. There are many other beautiful recordings of some of the chants by various devotional musicians, and I feel privileged to add my own expression to this growing symphony of divine love.

The Plan - An Inspiring Music Video for Each Chant - and Guidance on Learning to Play the Chants on the Harmonium.

But this project goes beyond music—each chant will also be brought to life through beautifully crafted music videos, shared freely across social media so that seekers everywhere can join in singing these sacred songs. Over the years, I have taught numerous students how to accompany the chants on the harmonium, and will provide videos of simple instruction in how to play the basic melodies of each chant, with guidance on optional chord progressions for those with a musical background.

The Financial Plan: Phase 1 - Recording in India

I have found over the years that a powerful devotional current is added to these chants when accompanied by the original rhythms of the tablas - the subtly voiced drums which are one of India’s great arts - played by a musician trained in the classical Indian tradition. A blend of practicality and artistic vision encourages a plan to record the project in India, which will be more affordable as well as allowing the collaboration of gifted Indian musicians in the YSS community. Affordable lodgings in Mumbai have already been generously offered by a YSS member who has contacts to musicians and recording studios.

And, yes, I long for the extended pilgrimage back to our spiritual Motherland!

The budget for the project is currently slated at $25,000 for Phase One, including airfare, lodging, musician, filming and studio fees, and initial mixing, covering a projected three-month stay in India from February through April of 2025. Phase Two is budgeted at $9,000, and will include post-recording mixing and mastering, either in India or the U.S. depending on which appears more convenient and cost-effective.

Creative Partners

(Michael with audio engineer Tom Murphy at the Kumbh Mela, 2001, in Allahabad, India.)

Recording Consultant - Tom Murphy

I am delighted to share that my good friend, Tom Murphy - a top-level recording engineer who for decades operated Track Record Studios in Los Angeles - has consented to be Recording Consultant for the project. Tom co-produced and supervised mixing and mastering of my two previous CDs, and is now full-time audio consultant at the Mother Center of SRF. Tom was a fellow pilgrim on my first visit to India for the Kumbha Mela in 2001, and is a wonderful asset to the project, both musically and vibrationally.

(Filmmaker, Richard Bergin)

Music Video Producer - Richard Bergin

A thirty-year disciple of the teachings of Yogananda, my longtime friend Richard Bergin is also a noted filmmaker/producer for prominent charitable and non-profit organizations, including SevaChild, a unique network of humanitarian organizations in India, and has also directed extensive filming in India for The Shift Network.

Distribution, Marketing, and Promotion

The chants will be made available on the major streaming platforms, including Spotify and iTunes. The music videos will be available free of charge on YouTube and other platforms. High-quality CD and vinyl versions are also envisioned. As I intend to embark on several years of touring to yoga centers and festivals, the chants will naturally be promoted at these venues and in any attendant publicity. It is my intention that the chants will naturally draw and inspire both those who are already disciples of Yogananda, as well as seekers from all spiritual traditions who desire a deeper and more personal relationship to our Father-Mother-Friend Beloved God.

GoFundMe link:

Donations may be made through GoFundMe at this link. Heartfelt thanks for your generous support! I look forward to thanking each one of you personally, and hope to chant with you and other lovers of the Divine in a live chant gathering in the near future!

blessings,

Michael