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BHNN Guest Podcast – 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.

Dena Merriam is a long-time meditation practitioner in the lineage of Kriya Yoga and the author of multiple books, including The Untold Story of Sita. Learn more about her at denamerriam.com.

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative nonfiction; her latest book is called Wild Mercy. Learn more about her at mirabaistarr.com.

Full episode

The Untold Story of Sita

Nina welcomes Dena and Mirabai to the BHNN Guest Podcast. She asks Dena how her book, The Untold Story of Sita, came about. Nina reads from the book, and asks about Sita’s connection to the natural world. Dena talks about how she fell in love with Mother Earth all over again while writing the book.

“The whole universe was just part of one consciousness at that point. That’s very important for us to try to remember, because it’s in our collective memory. We all hold that memory.” – Dena Merriam

Rebalancing Sacred Energy (21:56)

The discussion turns to the power of mantra and vibration. Nina brings up how Dena is telling the story of Sita as an equal to Ram, not an appendage. Dena talks about the opportunity we now have to bring the sacred masculine and the sacred feminine into balance, and Mirabai explores how women are reclaiming their stories across different spiritual traditions. Dena discusses her work with environmental activists.

“The collective mind wanted to see Sita as the weaker, feminine figure that had to be saved; her hero comes to save her. That’s what the collective mind wanted, and that’s how the collective mind interpreted the whole thing. But that’s not serving us at this moment, that’s not what our society needs or wants. And there’s this desire to understand and to acknowledge the Shakti energy, because our society has been out of balance for so long.” – Dena Merriam

The Presence of Sita and Ram (44:10)

Nina and Dena talk about how the forces of Sita and Ram are still very present in the world today. They touch on the idea of wisdom and love on the path of dharma, and Sita’s incredible trust in her own heart. Mirabai brings Hanuman into the conversation, and how selfless, loving service is the path to reunification of masculine and feminine.

“I think that when we turn to Ram and Sita, it should be that we are turning to living presences, invoking their help collectively with the Earth right now.” Dena Merriam

Nina Rao – BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 75 – The Untold Story of Sita with Dena Merriam and Mirabai Starr

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.

Dena Merriam is a long-time meditation practitioner in the lineage of Kriya Yoga and the author of multiple books, including The Untold Story of Sita. Learn more about her at denamerriam.com.

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative nonfiction; her latest book is called Wild Mercy. Learn more about her at mirabaistarr.com.

Nina welcomes Dena and Mirabai to the BHNN Guest Podcast. She asks Dena how her book, The Untold Story of Sita, came about. Nina reads from the book, and asks about Sita’s connection to the natural world. Dena talks about how she fell in love with Mother Earth all over again while writing the book.

“The whole universe was just part of one consciousness at that point. That’s very important for us to try to remember, because it’s in our collective memory. We all hold that memory.” – Dena Merriam

Rebalancing Sacred Energy (21:56)

The discussion turns to the power of mantra and vibration. Nina brings up how Dena is telling the story of Sita as an equal to Ram, not an appendage. Dena talks about the opportunity we now have to bring the sacred masculine and the sacred feminine into balance, and Mirabai explores how women are reclaiming their stories across different spiritual traditions. Dena discusses her work with environmental activists.

“The collective mind wanted to see Sita as the weaker, feminine figure that had to be saved; her hero comes to save her. That’s what the collective mind wanted, and that’s how the collective mind interpreted the whole thing. But that’s not serving us at this moment, that’s not what our society needs or wants. And there’s this desire to understand and to acknowledge the Shakti energy, because our society has been out of balance for so long.” – Dena Merriam

Nina Rao speaks with Robert Thurman about preserving the wealth of nature on BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 52

The Presence of Sita and Ram (44:10)

Nina and Dena talk about how the forces of Sita and Ram are still very present in the world today. They touch on the idea of wisdom and love on the path of dharma, and Sita’s incredible trust in her own heart. Mirabai brings Hanuman into the conversation, and how selfless, loving service is the path to reunification of masculine and feminine.

“I think that when we turn to Ram and Sita, it should be that we are turning to living presences, invoking their help collectively with the Earth right now.” Dena Merriam

BHNN Guest Podcast – 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.

Joining together in a virtual remembrance and celebration of the life and teachings of Indian Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, on the anniversary of his Mahasamadhi, Nina invites powerful female Satsang elders Mirabai Bush, Parvati Markus, and Radha Baum to share stories of their time spent in his presence after following the path laid out by Ram Dass to India in the early 1970s. Illuminating the deep transmission of gathering in community and sharing stories of the Guru, Nina welcomes us all to meet where our rivers merge, joining in Satsang and darshan of the divine loving presence known affectionately as Maharajji.

FUll episode

The Path of the Guru: First Darshan

Prompted by Nina; Mirabai, Parvati, and Radha each share their unique and nuanced experience of finding the spiritual path, discovering Neem Karoli Baba, and journeying to India to have his darshan. Darshan is to be enveloped in the divine, reflective presence of a Holy being, an entity with the ability to help guide you to the place of Oneness inside yourself. Sharing their personal stories, Mirabai, Parvati, and Radha elucidate the deep, bellowing, gravitational pull of the Guru’s Grace.

“We piled into Ram Dass’ red VW bus and went to Kainchi, washed our fruit, took our shoes off, went into the temple, and met Maharajji. I had spent time with other ‘saints’ and always felt like something was wrong with me. I couldn’t open my heart. I couldn’t bow at their feet. It didn’t make any sense to me. As soon as I saw Maharajji, that was it. There was no question. There was no having to surrender. It just was.” – Parvati Markus

Getting a Name, Embodying an Essence (36:40)

Famously starting with Bhagavan Das and Ram Dass, Maharajji was known for giving Hindu holy names to the Western devotees who traveled to have his darshan in the early 1970s. Many of the devotees were versed in Indian culture and yearned for specific names, while other’s like Radha were a little skeptical and averse at first, but slowly learned to grow into and embody the essence of their given names from Maharajji.

“I love my Krishna, who is Maharajji, Shiva, Hanuman – I love him as whatever he is, which is everything. [Radha] was a good name for me because I just love him so much…I never, ever experienced anything like this. It’s the greatest love, more than any kind of love you could conceive of.” – Radha Baum

Transformation, Presence, & Lineage (56:52)

Highlighting the experience of spending months with Maharajji at his ashrams in India, the ensuing personal transformations that took place, and the lineage that was brought back to West in the form of Bhakti Yoga, the Hanuman Chalisa, satsang, kirtan, and service; Mirabai, Parvati, and Radha speak to the life-changing and metamorphic reality of sitting in Maharajji’s presence.

“The questions just fell away. They seemed irrelevant being with him. It was just his presence that was the teaching. It wasn’t reduced to a knowing about any particular thing. It was a wholly different way of knowing than before.” – Mirabai Bush

Be Here Now Network Podcast - 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.

Joining together in a virtual remembrance and celebration of the life and teachings of Indian Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, on the anniversary of his Mahasamadhi, Nina invites powerful female Satsang elders Mirabai Bush, Parvati Markus, and Radha Baum to share stories of their time spent in his presence after following the path laid out by Ram Dass to India in the early 1970s. Illuminating the deep transmission of gathering in community and sharing stories of the Guru, Nina welcomes us all to meet where our rivers merge, joining in Satsang and darshan of the divine loving presence known affectionately as Maharajji.

Sacred Music with Nina Rao - Podcast with Conscious Diva

How can the practice of Kirtan assist us with what’s happening in the world today - particularly with trauma. In this episode, renown kirtanwalli, Nina Rao explains the devotional music chanted in bhajans, kirtan and the practice of Bhakti, and how we become receptive to the flow of grace through chanting. Nina also shares the story of Hanuman from the Ramayana and how through the practice of Maha mantra, a transmission of wisdom is received by the practitioner.

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BHNN Guest Podcast – 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.

Dr. Ullas Karanth is the Managing Trustee and Director of the Centre for Wildlife Studies. His daughter, Dr. Krithi Karanth, is the Chief Conservation Scientist. They practice science-based conservation to promote the protection of wildlife. For over 20 years, Nina Rao’s Saving Wild Tigers has supported the Karanth’s work in creating viable sanctuaries for wild tigers.

Full episode

Obsessed with Tigers

Nina welcomes Ullas and Krithi, and asks both how they came to their love of tigers and wildlife. Ullas talks about his efforts to help restore the tiger population in India, and how there’s room to create more wilderness habitats for tigers around the globe. They discuss the importance of biodiversity, and the deep culture of tolerance for wildlife in India.

“In general, [humans] want nature. And I think it’s like priceless paintings that you have inherited. Why do you want to rip it up for a couple dollars?” –Dr. Ullas Karanth

Conservation Efforts (20:03)

Nina asks Krithi about the projects she has created for the Centre for Wildlife Studies, including one that looks at the scale of interaction between humans and wildlife in India. Nina and Ullas talk about the work he does in the field, and his program to train the next generation of conservationists.

“One thing that struck me was no matter where we went, and how many households we talked to, there was an acknowledgement that these spaces were to be shared with animals. Sometimes the animals cause problems, but inherently there is this recognition that these animals have been around as long, if not longer, than us.” – Dr. Krithi Karanth

Tigers and Covid (36:50)

Nina asks Ullas about the news of the tiger at the Bronx Zoo that was infected with Covid-19. They discuss how wildlife poaching in India has increased due to the pandemic lockdown. Krithi talks about the scope of another program she runs, and how everyone who works in the NGO sector is affected by the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.

“A human being can pass on Covid to a tiger if he literally hugs and kisses it, which happens in zoos, but it’s highly unlikely to happen in the wild in India.” – Dr. Ullas Karanth

Interview with Phil Cartwright - Nina Rao "Anubhav" Album

ANUBHAV is the title of the album ~ Anubhav is a word Ma spoke when talking with Nina about how important it is to have a disciplined practice so it may blossom into each one’s own direct experience of the Divine, the Soul, the One. This inner knowing or perception or feeling, Anubhav, is what guides us on the Path of Life.
Nina Rao learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she 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 assistant, often touring with him playing cymbals and singing. In 2007, she recorded the track 'Nina Chalisa' on Krishna Das' CD "Flow of Grace " and in January 2013, she released her debut album, "Antarayaami - Knower of All Hearts". Nina regularly leads kirtan, chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, and sings for yoga classes in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY and beyond.

Mindrolling Podcast – Raghu Markus with Nina Rao on Nina's Anubhav CD

Nina Rao visits the Mindrolling Podcast for a chat with Raghu about the transformative power of mantra and the fruits of pursuing a spiritual path.

Nina learned traditional chants 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 assistant, often touring with him playing kartals (cymbals) and singing. In January 2013, she released her debut album, Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts and her sophomore album, Anubhav, in 2018. Nina regularly leads kirtan, chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, and sings for yoga classes in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY and beyond. Keep up with Nina Rao at ninaraochant.com.

SHAKTI HOUR Podcast: Nina Rao on Spiritual Practice - Ep. 14

Hi Y'all, Sharing with you here some ramblings from me with Melanie Moser on the Shakti Hour from Be Here Now Network of podcasts. Feel and share with your friends. Jai Ma |
~Nina
 

LISTEN HERE

Nina Rao with Sri Siddhi Ma

Nina Rao with Sri Siddhi Ma


Show Notes: 

Stepping into Sādhanā (Opening) – Nina talks about coming into her spiritual life and shares her life-changing introduction to Krishna Das and Neem Karoli Baba. She and Melanie discuss the pull of spiritual practice and the importance of finding Satsang.

 “I think on some level, maybe I had a hunger for spiritual practice. When I did eventually meet people along the way, even before meeting Krishna Das, I realized I was being pulled very quickly into the essential feeling of sacredness around practice, whether it was meditation or yoga.” – Nina Rao

The Man in the Blanket (32:55) – We learn about Nina’s relationship with Neem Karoli Baba and how that connection has informed her life. She talks about the lessons she learned around listening to and trusting in her heart.

“As I started to read those books, Maharaj-ji’s miracles were not so much what pulled me. It was that the connection that people felt with him when he was in the body felt like the same connection I had with this being I didn’t know, it didn’t feel any different.” – Nina Rao

Listen to Krishna Das tell the story of his first experiences with Maharaj-ji on Ep. 1 of the Pilgrim Heart Podcast.

The Guru Will Find You (40:05) – Nina talks about her first encounters with Siddhi Ma and how that changed her perception of the Guru/student relationship.  She shares the relationship that blossomed between them and what Siddhi Ma’s passing was like for her.

“When I met Siddhi Ma, my memory was not really of seeing her, but I felt the same feeling that I had when I chanted with Krishna Das and when I was reading the books about Maharaj-ji. It felt as if we were all sitting in this vast presence that we called Maharaj-ji. Including her, I didn’t see Siddhi Ma as a separate entity, she was all part of that presence.” – Nina Rao   

Wisdom for the Path (1:08:08) – Nina shares a few pieces of wisdom for young women to take with them along their spiritual paths.

“Just go for it! Pursue your path, find your practice, own that practice and do it.”  –  Nina Rao

CHITHEADS Podcast: Nina Rao on Kirtan, Hanuman and Devotion

I had a nice chat with Jacob Kyle of Chitheads about things I love. Here's a post from him: 

"This week's episode with Nina Rao Chant is out today. For anyone with an interest in Kirtan, the subject of devotion, and Hanuman, this one's for you.
Thank you, Nina, for your heart-centered approach to it all. I need conversations like this to pull me down from the cold rafters of my mind and to remind me that it's all about love..."

listen here

Listen to Podcast

Listen to Podcast

Nina Rao on Synchronicity with Noah Lampert

My guest today is Kirtan singer and lovely person, Nina Rao.Nina 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.Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world and when she settled in New York her working life began in the banking world, switched to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India, and now for many years, is Krishna Das' business manager and assistant.

Topics Discussed:

  • Nina's worldly and inner journeys

  • The concept of a Guru

  • Kirtan as a regular practice

  • The power of sound/music

  • The concept of Home

  • The evolution of the Kirtan movement in the West

  • Understanding the "why" behind focusing on a particular path

  • The importance of an open heart

Synchronicity Podcast with Nina Rao

My guest today is Kirtan singer and lovely person, Nina Rao. Nina learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world and when she settled in New York her working life began in the banking world, switched to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India, and now for many years, is Krishna Das' business manager and assistant. Topics Discussed

Nina's worldly and inner journeys The concept of a Guru Kirtan as a regular practice The power of sound/music The concept of Home The evolution of the Kirtan movement in the West Understanding the "why" behind focusing on a particular path The importance of an open heart

To find out more about Nina visit her website: ninaraochant.com This week's book giveaway is Tom Robbins, "Skinny Legs and All." To enter the weekly book giveaway contests join the Synchronicity Community right here: eepurl.com/bSWrqT And of course subscribe to Synchronicity today because it's a smart thing to do.

Sirius XM - Nina Rao and Devadas on Antarayaami Album

A conversation between Nina Rao and Devadas about Nina’s new CD “Antarayaami, Knower of All Hearts”.
Find out how the project began, Nina’s family legacy on the CD and the joys and challenges of making a devotional CD.

One of Krishna Das's long time band mates, Nina Rao, has released a solo project. SiriusXM Krishna Das Yoga Radio celebrates Nina's CD release of Anatarayaami - Knower of All Hearts, with a conversation between her and her producer, Devadas, while playing select tracks off of Antarayaami!
Join us tomorrow on ch. 360 on Krishna Das Yoga Radio at 12 noon ET!
The CD is available on Amazon, iTunes and KrishnaDas.com
http://www.amazon.com/Antarayaami-Knower.../dp/B00BFKPO5K

It is truly a beautiful CD.
Namaste,
Mary Sue, Sirius XM

Nina Rao Sirius XM Interview Nina & Devadas
Nina Rao & Devadas

Nina Rao & Devadas

Phil Cartwright: Antarayaami

Nina Rao learned traditional chants 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. She is Krishna Das' assistant and tours with him, playing cymbals and singing. In 2007, she recorded a track "Nina Chalisa" on Krishna Das' CD, Flow of Grace. In January 2013 she released her own double-CD, Antarayaami - Knower of All Hearts, which includes her own expressions of kirtan, bhajan, a variety of Hanuman Chalisa chants including a brand new duet with Krishna Das. Nina is based in Brooklyn, NY with her daughter, and chants with her friends and satsang in the New York area and beyond.