Russill Paul

Russill Paul (Anirud Jaidev) is a Chennai-born musician, author, and teacher who has spent decades bringing the Yoga of Sound — the ancient science of sacred chant — to Western students. As a young man he lived as a monk under the mentorship of Benedictine monk Bede Griffiths at Shantivanam ashram in South India, where his lifelong synthesis of Eastern and Western contemplative traditions began. His book 'The Yoga of Sound: Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant' is a widely read introduction to mantra practice, and his many recordings explore Vedic, tantric, and devotional soundscapes. He has taught at graduate institutes and retreat centers across North America, offering trainings that combine chant, philosophy, and meditation.