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.
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Integral Yoga Podcast | The Power of Spiritual Practice: Nina Rao on Chanting, Gurus, and Everyday Enlightenment
Join Nina Rao, acclaimed kirtan artist and devotee in the lineage of Neem Karoli Baba, in this heartfelt conversation with host Avi Gordon at Yogaville. Nina shares her journey from cultural rituals in India to discovering the depth of sadhana (spiritual practice) in New York through yoga, Krishna Das, and her guru Sri Siddhi Ma. Explore how consistent practice—through chanting, prayer, and mindfulness—fosters unconditional love, equanimity, and compassion in daily life. Topics include integrating practice into parenting, overcoming negativity, and remembering our interconnectedness.
Nina Rao first learned sacred chants as a young girl from her grandfather in south India, and the chants stayed quietly with her until she rediscovered this powerful practice with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Since then she has been KD’s business manager and accompanies him musically. In 1998 she met her guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent time with her regularly for 19 years, while Ma was in the body. Nina has been chanting regularly as her main practice, has recorded albums that are widely streamed and played around the world, leads chant events, studies and shares Veda chanting and, spiritual texts, is a hospice volunteer, is a podcast host for Be Here Now Network, goes on yatra/pilgrimage, and is a wildlife conservationist as chairperson for Saving Wild Tigers, and hopes that everyone will make a Homegrown National Park in their home by planting native species. Along with the 21 Taras Collective she has released a new album of 7 mantras in 2025. Nina co-hosted and released along with 10 women wisdom leaders, the audio course and program “Sita’s Gems”, lifting Sita Devi from victim to heroine of the Ramayana.
My Legacy Podcast: Krishna Das and Nina Rao | From Rock & Roll to Sacred Sound
From rock ’n’ roll dreams to sacred sound, Krishna Das’s story is one of redemption and renewal. Known as the “chant master of American yoga,” KD has touched millions through kirtan—a practice of music, devotion, and letting go.
Joined by his longtime collaborator Nina Rao, he sits down with hosts Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, Marc Kielburger, and Craig Kielburger to share how music, devotion, and service became the foundation of his life.
Together, they reveal how:
Letting go is a daily practice that builds real strength
Music can transform pain into connection
Service and love are inseparable
Bonus Drop: A Krishna Das Sacred Sound Performance
Whether this is your first time hearing kirtan or you’ve been chanting for years, let this offering be a moment of stillness, healing, and renewal.
Subscribe to the My Legacy Podcast now to catch new episodes every Tuesday and bonus content every Thursday. And watch full episodes on YouTube every Wednesday.
Mindrolling with Raghu Markus – Ep. 609 – The Bhakti-Buddhist Lineage: Stories of Ram Dass and Maharaj-ji with Robert Thurman & Nina Rao
Recorded live at the 2025 Summer Mountain Retreat, this homestyle chat with Raghu Markus, Nina Rao, and Robert Thurman explores the Bhakti-Buddhist lineage of Ram Dass and Maharaj-ji.
Join us this December for the 2025 Ram Dass Legacy Open Your Heart in Paradise retreat in Maui!
This time on Mindrolling, Raghu, Nina, and Robert discuss:
The story of finding Neem Karoli Baba and filling up on poori and potatoes
How Maharaj-ji miraculously healed Krishna Das’s injured knee
The wonderful interplay between Ram Dass and Buddhist teachers
Nina’s relationship with Sri Siddhi Ma, an intimate devotee of Maharaj-ji (considered by many to be a saint in her own right)
Seeing everyone as the guru and living the best way that we can
Nina’s journey to the foothills of the Himalayas and meeting Siddhi Ma for the first time
The Buddhist perspective on the soul (ātman) and whether we truly have one
Why ‘Be Here Now’ is actually a mantra of care and femininity
The Bhagavad Gita and the meaning of karma yoga
Letting go of fear around birth and death by focusing on liberation from suffering
Being here now in the best way we can by loving those around us rather than running away from the pain in the world
“My own take on it in terms of what we represent and what goes on here is really, truly, a combination of Bhakti and discriminating wisdom represented by Buddhist perspective.” – Raghu Markus
About Nina Rao:
Nina Rao is a devotional singer. She tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals, singing, and acting as his business manager. Nina has two of her own albums, “Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts” and “Anubhav”. Nina regularly leads kirtan, workshops, and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York and beyond. Together with Chandra and Genevieve Walker, Nina operates the 21 Taras Collective. You can keep up with Nina on her website or find her on Instagram @nina_rao and on Facebook @NinaRaoChant.
“I didn’t realize that I was looking for a guru until Krishna Das started talking about Neem Karoli Baba. When I heard about him and I felt that presence that came alive when Krishna Das was talking about Maharaj-ji, I wanted to meet him.” – Nina Rao
About Robert Thurman:
Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University and President of the Tibet House U.S., and is the President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. His new book, Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life, is now available.
“What is the best way to ‘be here now’? It’s to love Raghu, to love Nina, to love Maharaj-ji, it’s to love everything here and now and make it beautiful and the best. Be as beautiful and as best as you can be because that’s absolute. That’s the way to ‘be Nirvana now’.” – Robert Thurman
LIVE: Bhakti Meets Buddhism with Nina Rao & Acharya Shunya | Ram Dass Summer Mountain Retreat 2025
You're invited to join us LIVE from the 2025 Ram Dass Summer Mountain Retreat, for a special session with Nina Rao and Acharya Shunya - sharing in conversation on the intersection of Bhakti and Buddhist tradition. Together, they'll explore devotion, emptiness, and the timeless space where love and awareness meet, accompanied by rare archival audio from Ram Dass.
💛 Want to experience the full retreat? Donate what you can to unlock all 15+ hours of livestreamed content + replays: https://ramdass.org/summer (No one turned away • Sliding-Scale replays available through August 25)
Nina Rao talks with Jesse Dvorak on Art & Void
In this episode, Jesse Dvorak sits down with Nina Rao—chant leader, recording kirtan artist, and longtime assistant to Krishna Das—to explore the spiritual depth found in mantra, chanting, and sacred sound. Nina shares her personal journey into the world of kirtan, how traditional practices can quiet the mind and open the heart, and why devotion through sound is a powerful access point to creative flow and inner clarity. Whether you're a spiritual seeker, artist, or writer, this conversation is a reminder that true creativity begins with presence. Topics include: The practice and purpose of chanting The role of devotion in artistic expression How mantra supports mental and emotional healing Bridging spiritual tradition with modern creative life
Listen on SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS
21 Taras Collective Mantra Mala Vol. 1 Pre-Sale
In a visionary effort to preserve and share sacred feminine wisdom, three acclaimed women, Dharma teacher Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, chant artist Nina Rao, and composer/violinist Genevieve Walker have joined forces to create an enchanting collection of the 21 Tara mantras, powerful Tibetan Buddhist chants known to “take the wind out of fear and suffering.”
This groundbreaking project is bringing these ancient practices to life through the Tara Mantra Mala trilogy—original melodies designed to preserve sacred sound, deepen meditation, and make the blessings of Tara accessible to all.
21 Taras Collective Mantra Mala Vol. 1
“These mantras have traditionally been passed through oral transmission in Tibetan-speaking communities. Now, practitioners of all backgrounds can connect with them through melody.”
Sita's Gems Unearthing the Vastness of the Divine Feminine Audiobook Course
Giving thanks to Mother Earth for continually providing. But we know we take is too much. Give us the strength to moderate, recycle, rewild, rejuvenate, conserve, preserve, and honor with mindful gratitude.
Sita, born of the earth, embodies the beauty of Mother Earth in her infinite wisdom, compassion, and courage.
My experience reading the Ramayana from a young age left me feeling concerned about the treatment of Sita in the story-telling. I’ve talked about this on my podcast on @beherenownetwork with more current re-tellings.
Now.. I am so honored to be part of this mandala of people honoring Sita Devī in this ground-breaking audio program with original verses of Valmiki’s Ramayana with commentary from brilliant women, and devotional music.
Sita is a radiant embodiment of the Divine Feminine, who dwells in our hearts.
Sita’s Gems invites us on a journey into the Nature of Sita, which is really a journey through the facets of our own nature. This is a pilgrimage into the sacred heartspace, steadying us amidst all of life’s challenges.
We have unearthed 24 of the most compelling Passages from the Ramayana, featuring Sita. Here we bring these passages into the light with narration by master storytellers, and then weave them together with commentary by 12 women wisdom leaders.
A veritable Sitayana has emerged, serving to reflect, reframe and recenter the significance of Sita, the central heroine, whose shakti animates the great epic.
This hybrid audio production–part audiobook, part guided course–is a symphony orchestrated to open the doorways of your own heart, while serving to illuminate and integrate the multi-faceted nature of the feminine within us all.
This hybrid audiobook & course features 24 of the most compelling Passages featuring Sita from the epic Rāmāyana. Here we bring these Passages into the light with narrations by master storytellers, and then weave them together with radiant commentary by 12 women wisdom leaders.
You will receive a Digital Download – 9 hrs of audio with 24 Passages, plus commentary by 12 women wisdom leaders
Epic Self-Guided Program, including a PDF Listener’s Guide
Co-hosted by Michael Sternfeld and Nina Rao
Forward and conclusion by Vandana Shiva
Sita’s Prayer – a beautiful bhajan audio track by Krishna Das
An original Kirtan by Nina Rao/Shyama Chapin and their Chorus
Join us on the journey into the nature of Sita…
Please visit SitasGems.com for details and how to order and take your time to listen and hear 🙏🏽 Make sure you use your discount code NINA10
Chris Grosso – The Indie Spiritualist – Ep. 132 – Peaceful Coexistence with Krishna Das and Nina Rao
Reflecting on our ability to peacefully coexist, Nina Rao and Krishna Das join Chris Grosso to talk politics, practice, and more.
Visit BE HERE NOW NETWORK for many podcasts by Chris, Nina, Krishna Das and more
Jack Rowland In Too Deep Podcast with Nina Rao
Nina Rao is a Kirtan singer and performer with two incredible solo albums out now. She tours with Krishna Das singing and performing in his band as well as being his business manager. She is a podcast host on the Be Here Now Network, a spiritual teacher and has worked as a conservationist.
Listen on Spotify here: