In yoga practice, mantra and kirtan (call-and-response devotional chanting) get short shrift in the West because they aren’t well understood, though they are an integral part of almost every Eastern spiritual practice. They are designed to provide access into the psyche while their underlying mythology helps us understand how our psychology affects daily life.

Our Chi For Yourself guest Alanna Kaivalya has written a book that shares the myths behind the mantras and kirtans, with the intention to illuminate their meaning and to put their power and practicality within reach of every reader. Alanna Kaivalya is the author of “SACRED SOUND: Discovering the Myth & Meaning of Mantra & Kirtan.”