Page 96 - Adhiyoga Purana

Chanting as a Living Practice —
The Friendship of Adhiyogi and Rev. John Giunta
For over two decades, Adhiyogi and Rev. John Giunta (Prem) have shared not only friendship but a deep kinship in Yoga’s philosophy and logic. Their first meeting was humble — over tea in a small Indian café in Virginia — yet it sparked a lifelong connection. Both saw Yoga not as a modern trend but as a timeless discipline rooted in sound, vibration, and inner transformation.
Rev. John, a gifted musician skilled in multiple instruments, recognized the unique way Adhiyogi wove chanting into the fabric of Yogic practice. Chanting, as Adhiyogi often says, is not mere recitation — it is meditation, devotion, philosophy, and breath control all in one. The sacred syllables, when voiced with correct pronunciation, rhythm, and intention, can awaken subtle layers of the mind and body that silent study alone cannot reach.
Over the years, the two collaborated on numerous recording projects, blending John’s soulful mastery of instruments like the flute and santoor with Adhiyogi’s precise and powerful delivery of Sanskrit mantras and philosophical verses. These recordings became more than art — they were living transmissions of Yogic knowledge.
One unforgettable evening, they took this collaboration to a live audience. Adhiyogi presented a concert of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, chanted in their entirety, while also delivering a talk on why chanting is an essential Yoga practice. As the ancient aphorisms filled the air, their vibrations seemed to bypass the intellect and touch something far deeper in every listener. John’s flute and santoor created an atmosphere of timelessness, carrying the audience into a meditative stillness.
After the event, Rev. John expressed his gratitude:
"Last night, my friend and yoga teacher colleague, Adhiyogi, chanted and recited the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali — a most prodigious task. I accompanied him on the flute and santoor (hammered dulcimer). It was an honor and a privilege to be able to hear such an authentic recitation. Thank you, Adhiyogi."
For both men, this was more than a performance. It was a living example of how chanting bridges the audible and the ineffable, uniting sound, breath, and meaning into a single transformative act. It was proof that, in Yoga, chanting is not a side practice — it is the very heart of spiritual transmission.
OM Shantiḥ.
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