About me
Dr. Manoj Chalam is a storyteller, teacher, and scientist who brings Hindu and Buddhist deity traditions into modern life through the lens of archetype, psychology, and lived spiritual practice.
Born in India and trained as a chemical engineer at Cornell University, Manoj bridges rigorous analytical thinking with the devotional and non-dual traditions of yoga and Vedanta. His work focuses on understanding deities such as Ganesha, Shiva, Lakshmi, Hanuman, and Tara not as distant gods, but as living archetypes of the human journey — mirrors for our fears, strengths, relationships, and awakening.
Through humor-rich storytelling, sacred statues (murtis), mantra, meditation, and guided inquiry, Manoj helps people discover their personal deity archetype (Ishta Devata) and learn practical ways to work with it as a daily sadhana. His teaching is deeply influenced by Advaita Vedanta, Bhakti Yoga, Carl Jung, and Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, weaving ancient wisdom with modern psychological insight.
Manoj is a regular guest on the Ram Dass Foundation’s Mindrolling podcast and is the co-founder of Murtis & Vedanta, an online ashram and global community exploring non-dual philosophy through embodied practice. He also teaches in person at Sakhya Bhava Ashram in San Diego — “the place where the Divine is your friend.”
Known affectionately as a “spiritual stand-up comedian,” Manoj’s workshops are interactive, grounded, and deeply human — inviting people to laugh, question, chant, reflect, and recognize themselves in the timeless stories of the yogic tradition.
