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David Nichtern – Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck – Ep. 39 – Chanting, Music, & Sri Siddhi Ma with Nina Rao

Nina Rao joins David to share the clarity and wisdom of her Guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, and discuss chanting, music, Maharaj-ji, the Goddess, and Hanuman.   
“It’s all about purifying. The practice is helping us drop all the stuff considered obscurations or kleshas to seeing clearly. If we see clearly we can understand. If we understand we can have a compassionate heart. With that compassionate heart we can feel our interconnectedness. Then what else is there to do in this body but feel that interconnectedness, feel that love, and share.” – Nina Rao

Ep. 39 – Chanting, Music, & Sri Siddhi Ma with Nina Rao
Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck with David Nichtern

In this episode Nina and David discuss:

  • How all aspects of our self and life weave together

  • Nina’s relationship to Sri Siddhi Ma, Maharaj-ji (Neem Karoli Baba), and Hanuman

  • Sri Siddhi Ma as a fully integrated being of wisdom, clarity, love, and presence

  • Meeting Maharaj-ji through Krishna Das’ chanting

  • Nina’s life-changing first darshan with Sri Siddhi Ma

  • Western culture, Eastern spirituality, and cultural appropriation

  • Kirtan, chanting, music, and creativity

  • Goddess, Shakti, and the Divine Feminine

  • Connections between Bhakti and Buddhism

Lama Live! Lama Tsultrim Allione with Special Guest Nina Rao

Please enjoy this recording from Lama Live! offered on August 14th, 2022 with Lama Tsultrim Allione and special guest Nina Rao.

The event opens with Lama Tsultrim Allione welcoming everyone and reminding us of the importance to truly understand what our intention is to come together in this way as a group. Lama Tsultrim then begins the prayer requests and states that a prayer is “mind energy” and that we are sending this mind energy with intention as prayer to be of benefit to the individuals in need. Lama makes a special request to include fish and other beings that live in the Oder River which runs through Poland and Germany that is currently being impacted by an unknown toxin. The focus for this event is on the 12th Tara, who is the Tara connected and most suited to help with the impacts of climate change. Special attention will be given to these deceased fish that are washing up on the shores of the Oder River. Lama Tsultrim leads us in an expansive loving-kindness meditation to come home to our bodies and to heal both ourselves and all beings with this ambrosia of loving-kindness. Lastly, Lama introduces our very special guest, Nina Rao, who offers teachings, shares past experiences and provides details about important environmental projects she is engaged in. Nina shares that she is dedicated to preserving the precious habitats on earth that are remaining, planting native species and urges us to be careful about what we are putting into the earth as a way to help Tara’s activities to reduce climate change impacts. Nina then leads us in chants of the mantra of the 12th Tara. We close the event with an invocation to the goddess as a dedication of merit.

BHNN: Healing at the Edge – Ep. 84 – Mantra Repetition with Nina Rao and Dale Borglum

Published on Aug 15, 2022
Nina Rao joins RamDev Dale Borlgum to share in the simple yet powerful devotion of repeating mantras. 

Both Nina and RamDev share in the magic of repeating mantras. Nina says that even just repeating the name Ram is enough to ground you into the moment and offer clarity. We can let go of obstructive thoughts and emotions when we put all of our focus onto the mantra, over and over again. We do not even need to think about what the mantra means, just saying it is enough.

Nina Rao – BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 117 – Inner Mountains with Wasfia Nazreen

Nina Rao speaks with Wasfia Nazreen about her adventures as a mountaineer, her friendship with the Dalai Lama, her work as an activist, and how she climbed her own inner mountains.

Wasfia Nazreen is best known for being the only Bangladeshi and first Bengali in the world to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of every continent. She is also the only woman to hold the simultaneous titles of National Geographic Explorer & Adventurer. An outspoken activist since her late teens, her passion has always been driven by causes close to her heart. A human-rights activist, an environmentalist, a writer, educator, pilot, and producer – Wasfia wears many hats, all of which are grounded in strong foundations of meditation and self-realization practices.

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Ep. 117 – Inner Mountains with Wasfia Nazreen
Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast

Sacred Music for Sacred Forests Protecting the Wild Elephant

Join us for this intimate evening of sacred music to honor and conserve the sacred groves of wild India, home of the majestic tiger and elephants.

Join us for this intimate evening of sacred music to honor and conserve the sacred groves of wild India, home of the majestic tiger and elephants and a diversity of flora and fauna.

This gathering is a benefit in support of Dr. Krithi Karanth's conservation work in the remaining forests of India AND Rewilding India! Krithi is the daughter of Dr. Ullas Karanth is widely respected as India's preeminent tiger conservationist and biologist whom some of you met at our earlier in-person event in 2015. Since then we’ve done an online event during the pandemic lockdown which many of you supported. This in-person evening is hosted by Saving Wild Tigers, YOGA AID and NeueHouse Madison Square in NYC

Enjoy hearing of Krithi’s work and be inspired by her perseverance, positivity, practicality, and knowledge. Krishna Das, Nina Rao, and Noah Hoffeld will offer original chant and mantra music.

Your donation goes directly toward the protection of India's forest, for research and programs that support the co-existence of humans with wildlife. It is amazing and immensely hopeful that India, the most densely populated country in the world, continues to have viable shelter for wildlife and a wild tiger and wild elephant population that can still improve, despite ongoing habitat destruction and poaching. It is imperative that along with managing climate change, simply preserving the existing wilderness and bio-diversity and rewilding more land is part of the answer to saving our planet and pure Beauty.

Welcome and brief interview with Dr. Krithi Karanth on news from the field the projects that help support co-existence of wildlife with humans

All proceeds will be ear-marked for Dr. Karanth's conservation projects in India

Saving Wild Tigers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Nina Rao – BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 114 – The Grace of Sri Siddhi Ma with Dr. Jaya Prasada

Nina Rao visits Dr. Jaya Prasada in India for a conversation that explores the spiritual legacy of contemporary Indian Saint, Sri Siddhi Ma.

Nina Rao and Dr. Jaya Prasada come together during May 2022 in Teertham, India—Siddhi Ma’s retreat home in the hills—for a Dharma-filled discussion reflecting on their time with contemporary Indian Saint and devoted Neem Karoli Baba lineage-holder, Sri Siddhi Ma. To begin, Nina invites Jaya to describe her early life and transformative destiny which brought her to the path of Bhakti with the grace of sitting at the feet of Saint. From here, Jaya describes the influence her mom and grandpa had on her spiritual path.

“If you ask me why I wrote this book—it was a deep desire within me to share with everyone that came my way the endless love that I received from [Siddhi] Ma.” – Dr. Jaya Prasada

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Ep. 114 – The Grace of Sri Siddhi Ma with Dr. Jaya Prasada and Nina Rao
Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast

Sri Siddhi Ma: The Story of Neem Karoli Baba's Spiritual Legacy: Interview with Author Jaya Prasada

This is a video conversation between author Jaya Prasada, my elder guru sister and myself in May 2022 at Teertham, Ma's retreat home in the hills. Jaya spent 37 years as close devoted companion to Ma and we are grateful to hear some of her stories from being in Ma's divine presence and service to Her. The book has been published in June 2022. (from book before foreward) Radhe tu bad bhagini Kaun tapasya keen Teen lok taaran tarana Soh tere aadheen [Radhe, how blessed you are What tapasya did you do? That the redeemer of the three worlds Is subservient to you.] - Neem Karoli Baba to Sri Siddhi Ma Sri Siddhi Ma – The Story of Neem Karoli Baba’s Spiritual Legacy By Jaya Prasada Published by Penguin Books, Available on amazon.com in digital and in print paperback Dr Jaya Prasada was born on 13 August 1948 in Lucknow, India. She graduated from Loreto College, and earned her master’s degree from the University of Lucknow. In 1981, she did her PhD on Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the University of Rohilkhand. Jaya lived for thirty-seven years in the closest proximity to the divine mother Sri Siddhi Ma, who inherited the spiritual legacy of Neem Karoli Baba. Her debut book is dedicated to her guru Sri Siddhi Ma and takes us into the life and times of the silent saint of Kainchi. Jaya lives between Kainchi Dham and her hom ‘Teertham’ in Nainital, where Sri Siddhi Ma took mahasamadhi in December 2017. She is an ardent photographer, a keen mountain traveller and likes to keep up with technology.

The Practice of Connection Interview with Yandara Yoga Institute

This week we had a beautiful conversation about connection and trust. Nina Rao, who is a beautiful Kirtan musician, had a very interesting path. She was first introduced to chanting in south India by her chanter-musician grandfather at the age of 9 years old. Nina and her family moved abroad and actually her early work life began in the banking world in NY and then organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India. It was only when Nina met Krishna Das in NY that her path returned to chanting. Nina spoke with our host Yael Ginzburg about the simplicity of singing together to bringing people together, trusting the pull towards connection, allowing the benefit of the practice to motivate us to continue, not having to ask permission to trust ourselves and more. We had a bird in the studio with us so when you listen, it will be a beautiful reminder of how it is to be in the studio with us on our grounds in Baja.

"We surrender to what is. And what is includes what we want. And then whatever we receive will be the gift.“ -Nina Rao. This clip is about the power of being able to trust ourselves. The way Nina speaks is so heartfelt and moving that it makes one believe in the good of the world.

The Vocal Sanctuary Podcast (Nina Rao Ep 7)

Show Notes:
Today, I’m joined by the graceful and world recognized bhajan traditional singer Nina Rao.
Nina Rao learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she was nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. For many years Nina has been Krishna Das' business manager and accompanies him musically as well. In 2007, she recorded the track 'Nina Chalisa' on Krishna Das' CD "Flow of Grace " ; January 2013 she released her debut album, "Antarayaami - Knower of All Hearts"; August 2017 her second album “Anubhav” was released. Nina regularly leads kirtan workshops, and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York and beyond. 

Podcast Recap: 

  • The power of chanting and how anyone can do it.

  • Beautiful mantra practice of Jai Ram Sita Ram by Nina Rao

  • Her story of recording with Krishna Das for the first time.

Episode 7: Featuring Nina Rao

Nina Rao – BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 95 – Sita’s Fire w/ Vrinda Sheth & Keli Lalita Reddy

Nina Rao and Keli Reddy interview author Vrinda Sheth about Sita’s Fire, a retelling of the Ramayana that brings Sita and the other female characters from the story to center stage.

Vrinda Sheth was raised in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition in Sweden. She is an alumnus of the reputed Kalakshetra institute, holding a First Class Diploma in Bharata Natyam, Indian classical dance. She remains devoted to tradition while exploring ways to bridge the gap between the modern and the ancient. Vrinda is passionate about bringing women’s voices and stories center stage and is the author of the award-winning Sita’s Fire Trilogy. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Florida and is pursuing a Masters in Literature. She lives in Florida with her husband and three children.

Check out the Sita’s Fire Trilogy at sitasfire.com

A Message from Vasant Lad on Hanuman Jayanti

Enjoy this short video of Dr. Vasant Lad talking about Ram and Hanuman
More about Dr. Lad and this video HERE

Women's Satsang Stories of Siddhi Ma (Feb 2021)

From Love Serve Remember Women's Virtual Satsang Feb 2021: Dharma Talk portion includes a short intro about Sri Siddhi Ma and some of us who feel very close to Her: Nina, Ambika, Shyama, and Mirabai Starr. To learn more about the Womens Satsang on Love Serve Remember's affinity groups see here: https://www.ramdass.org/fellowship

Sri Rudram, I took the plunge!

This simple certificate means the world to me. Staying home during COVID times allowed me to pursue studies into the roots of chanting and when I found my teacher Shantala Sriramaiah of VedaStudies.com, I took the plunge. I started by taking courses on shorter prayers and she convinced me that I would be able to dive into the one-year course to start learning Rudrapraśnah, so this past Shivaratri I was able to celebrate my course completion by chanting along with priest Prakash at Eddie Stern’s newly-reopened Broome Street Temple.

Showing up weekly at the crack of dawn and endeavoring to practice regularly gave me such a sense of purpose and continues to feed me in ways I hadn’t foreseen as I continue to learn by repetition. I loved hanging out virtually with students from all around the world - beginners and more seasoned practitioners.

Now, I’m hooked and knowing there’s a universe of Vedic chants, I’m happily continuing on this journey of study in this practice.

Omega | Dropping In Podcast - Bringing Chant to Life with Nina Rao

Nina Rao has her grandfather to thank for setting her on the path to sacred chant. It took many years and several professional pit stops—including commercial banking—before she found her way to kirtan and to becoming the musical assistant and business manager for Krishna Das (KD).

In this bonus episode of Dropping In, Nina walks her students through the ancient verses of her favorite chant, Hanuman Chalisa, during her Heart Practice of Chanting workshop with KD at Omega. The episode also features a performance with Nina, as well as a visit from KD, who muses about his early days in pursuit of enlightenment.

Join longtime public radio journalist Karen Michel for this and other episodes of Dropping In as she sits down with the great thinkers, creative talent, and social visionaries who teach at Omega Institute, to explore the many ways to awaken the best in the human spirit.

Originally published July 27, 2020

Nina Rao – Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast – Ep. 81 – Roots of Chanting w/ Shantala Sriramaiah & Eddie Stern

I am so honored to have had this discussion with my Vedic Sanskrit teacher Shantala Sriramaiah of Veda Studies and Eddie Stern. Please enjoy this podcast on Be Here Now Network at the link below, where Shantala shows how this chanting can be accessible to us ~

Nina Rao Chant 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.

Welcoming Sanskrit chanting and Veda expert, Shantala Sriramaiah; as well as NYC yoga legend, Eddie Stern; Nina Rao invites them into a unique and gripping conversation digging into the roots of chanting practice. After a bhav-radiating opening invocation to Hanuman-ji, Nina asks Shantala and Eddie about their teachers, families, and those who helped them along the spiritual path to learn about worship rituals, chanting, and puja.

“My father is someone who devotes himself to ritual and puja. His entire day is a puja. He grows his own flowers for the puja. And the collection of the flowers is itself a ritual. The way he arranges these flowers to be washed before the ceremony, itself is a ritual. It’s so meticulous, specific flowers for specific deities. He derives great joy from this.” – Shantala Sriramaiah

Listen to Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast
Ep. 81 – Roots of Chanting w/ Shantala Sriramaiah, Nina Rao & Eddie Stern

Nina Rao – Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast – Ep. 79 – Windfall of Grace w/ Japna Tulsi and Devadas Labrecque

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.

Japna Tulsi is a keen spiritual traveler. She has a background in Rural Development and has worked as a consultant with various NGOs in the field of environment and sustainable livelihoods. Responding to a deep desire to fulfill her higher calling, she embarked on a film project on Neem Karoli Baba in August 2017 as an amateur filmmaker. The result is Windall of Grace.

Devadas Labrecque is a devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi, a kirtaniya, a composer, and an artist hailing from Brooklyn, New York. He leads kirtans throughout the world and has produced a wide variety of recordings, including Nina Rao’s chant album, Antarayaami.

Go to windfallofgrace.com now to stream the film today.

Nina welcomes Japna and asks about deciding to make a film without having any background in filmmaking. Devadas speaks with Japna about her process of making the film and finding many of Neem Karoli Baba’s Indian devotees to interview. Japna talks about how KK Sah influenced the film.

“[KK Sah] would always tell me… ‘Don’t listen to anyone, just do what you think is right.’ And that really was important for me.” – Japna Tulsi

It’s Just Love (19:47)

Nina and Japna dig deeper into the process, discussing how the music and some of the more stylized scenes came together, and also how the film really reinforced their faith. They talk about why Japna wanted to make a film about a lesser-known saint, and how the filmmaking process itself became a spiritual journey for her.

“Suddenly, when I found Maharajji, it was like you don’t have to do anything, it’s just love.” – Japna Tulsi

Raghu Markus, Krishna Das, Daniel Goleman, and Rameshwar Das share stories of Ram Dass, Maharajji, and India on Mindrolling Ep. 392

A Culmination (39:34)

Nina and Japna discuss the Western devotees that she interviewed, and how she missed out on talking with Ram Dass. Devadas asks Japna about her daughter and the role she played during the editing process. Nina wraps things up by asking Japna about how this project has transformed her life.

“This film, I felt, was sort of like a culmination, not just for [Japna] as a filmmaker, but also for us viewers, and brought together many generations of people.” – Nina Rao