Blog

Embody the Sacred Feminine with Nina Rao & Mirabai Starr

What if the Sacred Feminine is not something to learn about, but someone to feel, hear, and recognize within all beings and all things? 

She appears across cultures and traditions, in nature and in the unseen, in the mystics of old and the lived experience of your own body. She is vast, and the only true doorway to her is your own direct experience: the way she meets you uniquely.

Join kirtan leader Nina Rao and interspiritual guide Mirabai Starr for a rich, experiential journey into the Sacred Feminine. Through devotional singing, mystical teachings, storytelling, and contemplative practice, we will explore the many forms of the Divine Feminine as she appears in chant, in story, in nature, and within our own lives.

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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.

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.

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.

Learn more + Purchase

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.”
— Lama Tsultrim Allione
Learn More + Purchase Here

21 Taras Collective mantra Mala Vol. 1 Preview

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

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:

Ram Dass’ SoulPod Satsang Sadhana Gayatri Mantra Recitation With Nina Rao

Ram Dass’ SoulPod Satsang Sadhana Gayatri Mantra Recitation With Nina Rao
This is a special Sadhana Satsang with Nina Rao, renowned Kirtan artist and cherished member of Krishna Das’s band. Nina, also a board member of LSRF, leads you through a transformative session of chanting the Gayatri mantra via Zoom.

Chanting mantras together, even virtually, offers a profound opportunity to connect deeply with ourselves and one another. Whether you’re new to chanting or have practiced for years, this session promises to enrich your experience and strengthen our community in a meaningful way. Nina will begin with a brief pronunciation guidance before we join in collective chanting.

Benefits of Chanting Together:
Spiritual Connection: Experience the sacred power of sound within a supportive group.
Community Building: Form bonds with like-hearted individuals on a shared spiritual journey.
Personal Growth: Deepen your practice and understanding through collective energy and intention.

On July 10, Nina offered a class with some background on the Gayatri Mantra and a detailed pronunciation guide - in this video recording you can please review that session. If you would like to print out a word sheet for Gayatri Mantra, please go Nina’s Vedic Chants page.

Stay tuned for information on more, on going sessions to come. Our next session will be:
Wednesday, August 8
9 am EDT | 6:00 am | 2 pm GST
Online Free
Register for Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuc-uhqT0iGNWdKeC7RztjrpcBf6hE-dQD

No prior experience is necessary—just bring your openness and eagerness to participate. Let’s unite in devotion and community. We eagerly anticipate chanting with you and sharing in this beautiful practice together. Everyone is welcome. Participation is free.

BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 167 – Serving the Multitude with Nani Ma and Nina Rao

Nina Rao interviews Nani Ma about her deep devotion to serving her guru and her service work with Ganga Prem Hospice.

If you are interested in donating to Ganga Prem Hospice, you can do so through a donation to End of Life Care International with a memo specifying you would like it to go to Ganga Prem.

About Nani Ma:
Nani Ma is from the United Kingdom and sought spiritual enlightenment at a very young age. One day, she realized that serving the multitude and helping the needy is also an aspect of spiritual practice. So, she started taking care of the terminally ill cancer patients in the hospital, guiding the people who are suffering from pain and death to embark on a new journey. Together with Dr. A. K. Dewan, she established the Ganga Prem Hospice. Ganga Prem Hospice is a spiritually-orientated, non-profit hospice for terminally ill cancer patients. The Hospice has been constructed at the foot of the Himalayas on the bank of the river Ganga.

“When we watch our breath, it slows down. The breath and the mind are connected. Either the breath slows down and the mind slows down, or the mind catches hold of one thing, which is the name, and the name has its power by itself. The name has its own power.” – Nani Ma

Raghu Markus – Mindrolling – Ep. 528 – The 21 Taras with Nina Rao & Chandra Easton

Raghu, Nina, and Chandra spend this episode discussing:

  • Chandra’s Buddhist upbringing

  • The deity Tara and the sacred feminine

  • Nina and Chandra’s collaboration with chanting and mantras

  • An acapella chant offered from Nina

  • Tara for harmony

  • Tantra and spirituality for the people

  • The 21 praises to Tara

  • Durga, Saraswati, and other feminine deities we can invoke through mantras

  • The eighth Tara as a fierce and invincible embodiment

  • The mara of doubt

“The main purpose of doing this aspect of the 21 Tara’s practice through chanting and more of a kirtan style is to uplift people, just like kirtan does. To bring joy, open people’s heart to the blessings of these Taras and to Devi and to the universal way. And also to help them remember the mantra, because some of them are pretty long they can be a little challenging to remember.” – Chandra Easton

Raghu Markus – Mindrolling – Ep. 528 – The 21 Taras with Nina Rao & Chandra Easton

Melodies Of Chanting And Navigating The Spiritual Landscape | Nina Rao and Radhika Das

“My grandfather's harmonium melodies were the soundtrack of my childhood, carrying the spirit of devotion that would later resonate through my own life's journey. As I sit down with Nina Rao, a celebrated Kirtan leader, her stories echo my experiences, weaving a tapestry of spiritual connection rooted in the vibrant chants of Kirtan. We delve into the essence of communal chanting, finding joy and peace within its harmonies, and discussing how these practices cultivate emotional and spiritual fulfillment. Nina's narrative transports us from the Satsang of her youth to the dynamic Kirtan circles of New York, highlighting the profound impact of community and shared devotion on our paths to inner happiness. Our conversation takes an introspective turn as we navigate the role of women in spiritual practices and the melding of Eastern traditions with Western consciousness. I share my own pilgrimage back to my roots, studying Vedic chanting with a teacher in India, and how this journey illuminated the significance of feminine voices in these sacred spaces. The episode unfolds further insights into the evolution of bhakti and kirtan in the West, the reverence for sacred texts, and the shifting perceptions of spirituality and the Divine in our modern society. We are humbled by the legacy of those who have cleared the way for us, acknowledging the profound gratitude for the spiritual inheritance that enriches our lives today. Finally, we embrace the transformative power of daily spiritual rituals, discussing how they enhance compassion, foster an enlightened mind, and contribute to a holistic sense of well-being.”

GoOD Friends w/ Nina Rao and Curly Nikki - The Power of Mantra, the Real Meaning of Ram, and the Hanuman Chalisa

"I'm here because I followed the path of practice that my Guru laid out for me." - Nina Rao
In this chat she shares about her Guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, her powerful and anchoring experiences on the pathless path, the real meaning of the Ram mantra, and the importance of service and constant God remembrance. She leads us in to Presence by chanting Sri Ram Jai Ram and the Hanuman Chalisa.
Show notes:
Vinayaka Always (the track featuring her grandfather) (Antarayaami - Knower of All Hearts, 2013)
Sri Siddhi Ma: The Story of Neem Karoli Baba's Spiritual Legacy
Nikki's favorite kirtan w/ Nina - Sri Ram Kirtan Sadhana
Flow of Grace (book by Krishna Das about Hanuman Chalisa)
Hanuman Chalisa in English (PDF)
Chant the Hanuman Chalisa w/ Nina - Free Course
Learn the Hanuman Chalisa w/ Nina via Insight Timer

*To claim your free gift, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, screenshot it and send it to me at nikki@curlynikki.com!

Waiting For Grace with Nina Rao Finding Harmony Podcast

It is with great pleasure that we introduce our esteemed and most honorable guest: the beautiful, humble, and one might say, divinely inspired human, Nina Rao!
What Nina enchants us with is an opportunity to reflect more deeply on what it means to cultivate a spiritual practice.
And, the shadow side, which is to examine just how often we fail at this noble endeavor. As she reminds us, this too is OK -- even part of the path. We all have families, obligations, children, and the whole point is that we keep trying to do better every day. Even when we can’t always be at our best.We also had a wondrous opportunity to talk about cultural appropriation and our earnest efforts to have an authentic experience in a post modernist world of self construction.
For those of us not born into a specific lineage, we have the gift and freedom to resonate and choose different spiritual paths and practices.
However, there is something to be said about digging a single well and going deep. Discovering what insight lays buried within the repetition. True learning. And, in the end, we touch something beyond this behavioral reality — we begin to transcend our ego-selves
As Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaji) said, “Go on chanting your false “Ram, Ram” some day you’ll get it right.” And, perhaps you’ll also find yourself running across the lake after your guru seeking to get the pronunciation exactly correct as you embark on your chosen path to enlightenment.
Spiritual practice is something that’s continually evolving as we grow and change as ‘spiritual beings having a human experience.’ And it's our birthright -- It's our dharma!
(A side note: The movie referenced in the beginning of our conversation was For the Benefit of All Beings.)

Also available on Spotify: