Introduction

Paramahansa Yogananda brought India’s art of devotional chanting to the West, introducing thousands to the experience of chanting together in devotion to God. At New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall in April of 1926, the great master taught the beloved chant “O God Beautiful” to the large audience that packed the hall. He later recounted:

“For one hour and twenty-five minutes, the thousands of voices of the entire audience chanted...in a divine atmosphere of joyous praise....The next day many men and women testified to the God-perception and the healing of body, mind, and soul that had taken place during the sacred chanting, and numerous requests came in to repeat the song at other services.”