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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.

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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

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