100 years of “O God Beautiful”

In 1926, Paramhansa Yogananda stood before thousands at Carnegie Hall in New York and began chanting “O God Beautiful” — a sacred hymn originally composed by Guru Nanak.

For one hour and twenty-five minutes, thousands of voices chanted in unison in “a divine atmosphere of joyous praise.” Even after Yogananda left the stage, the audience sat on, chanting. The next day, many testified to God-perception and healings of body, mind, and soul that had taken place during the sacred chanting.

Now, 100 years later, devotees of Yogananda across the world continue to sing this timeless chant, bringing God into their daily lives — seeing Him green in the forest, high in the mountain, restless in the river, and grave in the ocean. This video is a humble offering to celebrate a century of “O God Beautiful!” — a chant that continues to shower “infinite divine benefits on the sincere devotees who chant the Lord’s name with love.” 🎵 Lyrics (Guru Nanak, translated by Paramhansa Yogananda)

Yogananda mentions this song twice in his Autobiography of a Yogi: describing its powerful chanting in New York. Enjoy this excerpt from Autobiography of a Yogi: Chapter 48:At Encinitas in California

“For a preface to the songbook I recounted my first outstanding experience with the receptivity of Westerners to the quaintly devotional airs of the East. The occasion had been a public lecture; the time, April 18, 1926; the place, Carnegie Hall in New York.

“Mr. Hunsicker,” I had confided to an American student, “I am planning to ask the audience to sing an ancient Hindu chant, ‘O God Beautiful!’”

“Sir,” Mr. Hunsicker had protested, “these Oriental songs are alien to American understanding. What a shame if the lecture were to be marred by a commentary of overripe tomatoes!”

I had laughingly disagreed. “Music is a universal language. Americans will not fail to feel the soul-aspiration in this lofty chant.”²

During the lecture Mr. Hunsicker had sat behind me on the platform, probably fearing for my safety. His doubts were groundless; not only had there been an absence of unwelcome vegetables, but for one hour and twenty-five minutes the strains of “O God Beautiful!” had sounded uninterruptedly from three thousand throats. Blasé no longer, dear New Yorkers; your hearts had soared out in a simple paean of rejoicing! Divine healings had taken place that evening among the devotees chanting with love the Lord’s blessed name.”