Nina Rao Teaches Chanting As A Spiritual Practice At The Ram Dass Legacy Retreat

In this clip guest teacher Nina Rao talks about chanting as a spiritual practice - where it began, how it is now and how we can receive the benefits of this ancient mantra practice today. She reminds us that we can offer everything up, even if we don't want to do the practice.

Nava Shabda Samskara - creating new grooves in your mind from sounds (like mantra) to drop old habitual thought patterns.

The Love Serve Remember Foundation is dedicated to preserving and continuing the teachings of Ram Dass and his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. Find out more at http://ramdass.org

Be Here Now Network Podcasts

We’ve gone back and added interviews Nina did for the Be Here Now Network Podcast in 2020 and 2021. You can now go through the archive and watch!

Ep. 58 – Nina Rao – Saving Wild Tigers with Dr. Ullas Karanth and Dr. Krithi Karanth
Nina Rao talks with tiger conservationists Dr. Ullas Karanth and Dr. Krithi Karanth about their work at the Centre for Wildlife Studies in India.

Ep. 65 – Nina Rao – Women’s Stories of Neem Karoli Baba with Mirabai Bush, Parvati Markus, & Radha Baum
Nina Rao hosts Satsang elders Mirabai Bush, Parvati Markus, and Radha Baum in sharing stories from the female perspective about Indian mystic and Guru, Neem Karoli Baba.

Ep. 75 – The Untold Story of Sita with Dena Merriam, Mirabai Starr & Nina Rao
Nina Rao welcomes Dena Merriam and Mirabai Starr for a conversation about Dena’s book, The Untold Story of Sita, and how the forces of Sita and Ram are still present in the world today.

Ep. 76 – Mothers’ Perspective on Practice with Jocelyn Kay Levy & Nina Rao
Yoga innovator, Jocelyn Kay Levy, is joined by kirtan wallah, Nina Rao, to share Mothers’ perspectives on spiritual practice, offering personal stories and advice from Siddhi Ma.

Ep. 79 – Windfall of Grace with Japna Tulsi, Devadas Labrecque & Nina Rao
In this episode of the Be Here Now Guest Podcast, Nina Rao and Devadas Labrecque speak with Japna Tulsi about her film, Windfall of Grace, which details the story of Neem Karoli Baba.

Ep. 81 – Roots of Chanting with Shantala Sriramaiah, Nina Rao & Eddie Stern
Nina Rao invites Veda expert, Shantala Srirmaiah, and NYC yoga legend, Eddie Stern, to share the roots of chanting practice and ritual worship outlined in the Vedas.

BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 269 – Almost Home with Mirabai Bush, Nina Rao, Krishna Das & Sunanda Markus

Joined by long-time friends Nina Rao, Krishna Das, and Sunanda Markus, Mirabai Bush shares stories from her memoir Almost Home.

This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Mirabai, Nina, Krishna Das, and Sunanda discuss:

• Mirabai’s catholic upbringing and working to understand her place in the world

• How Mirabai became the only woman to work on the Saturn Apollo project

• Mirabai’s meditation studies with Goenka

• When Krishna Das, Mirabai, and Sunanda met Maharaj-ji

• Learning about the grace in suffering

• Knowing that love is real and available to us all

“That hard childhood creates that longing for belonging; with Maharaj-ji I felt like at last I belonged—in this moment, in this body, in this world, because I was so totally loved. He changed my idea of what this life could be. I had such a small idea of who we could be in this world, and it just became vastly expanded with him.” –Mirabai Bush

“Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra Japa” by Nina Rao

Nina Rao Chant · Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra Japa

“We worship the omniscient three-eyed Lord, enriching our well-being. Like a ripe watermelon effortlessly detaches from its vine, liberate me from the transient ties of life and unite me with immortal divine”

Recorded and offered on June 16, 2026 for beloved Tenzin Bob Thurman into the clear light.

(Words to the Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra)

Jake Feinberg Show: The Nina Rao Interview

Devotional mantra singer, Nina Rao, talks about her early exposure to this timeless tradition from her grandfather in India, coming to the states and ultimately connecting with Krishna Das in 1996. She has been a fixture in his Kirtan Band since then.

On The Jake Feinberg Show (radio) and in Facebook Lives, Jake Feinberg has now conducted over 2,000 interviews with “The Cats”—popular musicians across the spectrum from rock to jazz, R&B to folk, pop to country, bluegrass to fusion. Jake’s unique interviewing style puts musicians at their ease and inspires them to reflect candidly on topics familiar or unexpected. The Cats tell little stories, muse about life, uncover aspects of the music business, dig deep into overcoming adversity, revel in camaraderie, and open their souls.

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus – Ep. 641 – Bhumi Devi: Honoring the Sacred Mother with Nina Rao

Discussing the inspiration behind her upcoming album, Bhumi Devi, Nina Rao and Raghu Markus explore preserving the planet and devotion to the sacred mother.

Support the pre-sale of Bhumi Devi with exclusive reward levels on Kickstarter until June 2. Click here for more information.

This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Nina chat about:

• Moderating our consumption and doing our best to heal the earth

• Nina’s work in preserving wilderness areas

• Wisely receiving gifts from Mother Earth while preserving uncorrupted lands

• The unconditional love and presence that resonates through Maharaj-ji

• The reciprocal relationship we have with the divine

• When Nina met Siddhi Ma, and seeing her as merged with Maharaj-ji

• The first time Nina chanted for Siddhi Ma

• Satsang: connecting with Maharaj-ji through community

• Prayers to the Goddess in Nina’s new album, Bhumi Devi

“The way in which this happens is Satsang. I was with Siddhi Ma one time, and someone said, ‘How can we get closer to Maharaj-ji?’ She said, “Get together, have food, and sing the Chalisa.’” –Raghu Markus

Connect with Nina Rao this Summer at the Ram Dass Legacy Summer Mountain Retreat! Learn more HERE.

Spicy Soul Mama Podcast Episode 18 with Guest Nina Rao

Nina was recently featured on the Spicy Soul Mama podcast, where host Shelley Karpaty explores parenting and creativity as a spiritual path. The podcast is a little oasis, a place to come home to your heart, your creativity, and your spirit, not just as a mom, dad, partner, or professional, but as a whole human being. It acts as a reminder that joy, curiosity, and creativity are the antidotes to chaos and fear. Shelley and Nina discuss what Bhakti and loving awareness is, along with what it means to embrace parenting as a spiritual path, including wisdom from Sri Siddhi Ma on what the role of a parent entails.

You can read more about Shelley’s experiences and listen to the full podcast on the Spicy Soul Mama Substack.

Giving Back Season Never Ends

In the spirit of gratitude and giving back, we would like to express our gratitude for all of you practicing in community with us. If you combine all our individual efforts, they form a loving force powerful enough to reverberate across every creature in the entire creation.

Bhumi Devi gifts us everything we could need through Her flourishing ecosystems. That's why our kirtans in India were held to raise funds to help protect, conserve, rewild, and support the wilderness and communities living in proximity across India. The video below was screened before kirtan audiences to illuminate the current state of the environment and why it's important we each do our part to give back to Mother Nature.

The kirtan ticket sales were used to fund the rewilding of areas in Sunderbans, purchasing motorcycles for forest monitoring in Ranthambhore, research and community conservation by women in Uttarakhand, and towards organizations like Voices for Asian Elephants in Odissa, and Madras Crocodile Banks for protection of gharials, among other projects.

The photo above is from our latest darshan of Ganga Ma in Rishikesh.

If you would like to support these efforts, donations are accepted at SavingWildTigers.org via PayPal, check, or ACH transfer. Saving Wild Tigers is a registered 501(c) charity and donations are tax-deductible 🙏🏽

Nina is grateful to travel around the world to chant in-person, and also to share digital offerings and practice together in the ethereal space of Loving Awareness.

Sita's Gems: Reclaiming Sita's Voice from the Shadows

Sita, the heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana and a divine feminine avatar of Lakshmi, is often misunderstood. She is praised for her patience, remembered for her suffering, but rarely honored for her sovereign choices, her hidden fire, her radical return to Self.

In this extraordinary episode, Acharya Shunya brings together the creators of Sitayana—a groundbreaking audio retelling of the Ramayana through Sita's eyes. Together with producer Michael Sternfeld, devotional artist Nina Rao, mystic Mirabai Starr, and author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, she explores exile, dharma, silence, devotion, and the moment when Sita says no… and returns to the Earth. Includes a stirring passage from "Sita Returns to Mother Earth" and a devotional song offered by Nina Rao to invoke her presence through sacred sound.

Listen on: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Listen Notes

Nourishing the Divine Feminine Within | Awakening in Prison Podcast

Together with Susan Shannon, M. Div., BCC, Nina Rao discusses the power of devotional music and spirituality in nurturing the Divine Feminine. She reveals how her practices cultivate connection, presence, and inner peace.

The Awakening in Prison Podcast series currently lives on Edovo, making this content accessible to any incarcerated individual with access to this digital platform free of charge. This is a part of a series that specifically supports women in prison.

The Buddhist Prison Ministry provides the prison population with transformative tools and wisdom from the Buddhist tradition. Buddhist Prison Ministry operates almost exclusively on the incredible generosity of it’s growing team of volunteers.

Hari Ka Das Podcast | Episode 2 | Nina Rao: The Woman Who Anchored Krishna Das

Everyone knows Krishna Das, the voice of devotion, the sound of Bhakti that has carried millions back to their hearts. But very few know the woman who held that journey together with grace, love, and silent strength.This is the story of Nina Rao. In this conversation with Hari Ka Das, Nina ji opens up about:

• Her first visit to Kaichi Dham

• The moment she felt Maharajji’s presence

• How her life transformed alongside Krishna Das

• Why Bhakti is felt, not performed

• And what it means to serve without needing to be seen

• How Bhakti can heal depression

Some journeys are not loud. Some devotion does not sing. Some love holds everything in place quietly. This episode is that reminder. 🎧 If your heart is seeking something… watch this.

Connect & Follow:

Instagram → @harikadasofficial

YouTube → @harikadasofficial

Winning with a compelling voice, compassion, and clarity: Nina Rao chants KatzJustice.com

Winning with a compelling voice, compassion, and clarity. [En]chanter -- and more -- Nina Rao joins Fairfax Criminal Lawyer / Virginia DUI Attorney Jonathan L. Katz in addressing giving voice to ourselves, finding calm in the eye of the storm, and tackling adversity.

Jon Katz pursues your best defense against felony, misdemeanor, DUI, drug & sex prosecutions. Defending in Fairfax County, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William & Beyond. This episode is also available in audio podcast format at https://podcast.beattheprosecution.co... , including Apple podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Call 703-383-1100 for a free in-person consultation with Jon Katz about your court-pending criminal case. KatzJustice.com

IG Live: Nina Rao talks with Sameet Khaldy about Chanting and Spirituality

Nina Rao sits down with Sameet Khaldy over Instagram Live to talk discuss the spiritual nature of the invocational quality of the names of God, how we can be of service in the world, how a regular practice can purify ones mind, about her work with the Saving Wild Tigers organization, and more.