Music
“Sarasvati Hanuman Chalisa (Live)” by Nina Rao
(feat. Shyama Chapin)
This recording was made live in Nina’s living room during COVID quarantine times as a way to reconnect after many months of isolation. For many years, Nina Rao and Shyama Chapin have sung the Hanuman Chalisa numerous times in temples with just the two-string drone instrument and no other musical instrument. In this recording, Nina and Shyama re-create this atmosphere of simplicity of devotion to this chant practiced far-and-wide in India and outside India. This is a 40-verse prayer in praise of Hanuman composed (it is said) by poet-saint Tulsi Das who wrote the Ramacharitmanasa.
(Words to the Hanuman Chalisa )
Also available on major streaming platforms
"Anubhav" by Nina Rao
I offer these chants at the feet of my guru, Sri Siddhi Ma who showed me how to trust my own inner experience to walk my Path and continues to …
ANUBHAV is the title of the album ~ Anubhav is a word Ma spoke when talking with me 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. See the complete liner notes here.
Release Date: September 2018
“Divine sound. Nina’s chanting is an angel’s lullaby fused with the divine energy of awakening. I listen to it in my car, in my office, on long walks, and after I meditate. It’s the soundtrack of love.”
“Elixir. Nina’s voice is the perfect cup of chai, brewed over an open fire – sweet, creamy, spicy – awakening and soothing at the same time. It’s the voice of the feminine rising, rooted in the timeless terrain of devotion, penetrating the present with luminous vitality.”
"Antarayaami: Knower of All Hearts" by Nina Rao
"Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts" by Nina Rao offers the practice of chanting born from her South Indian roots and influenced by her many years of chanting in the USA. This 12-track double-CD of call-and-response kirtan and Hanuman Chalisa melodies including a duet with Grammy-nominated new age artist, Krishna Das, blends the sacred sounds of traditional eastern tabla, dholak, harmonium, kartals, bansuri flute, esraj, and sarod with Western electric bass, violin, guitar and banjo, and soulful vocals. This album draws from the rich heritage of devotional music and chanting style from India and is still rendered accessible for all to sing along with. See the complete liner notes here.
Release Date: January 2013
“The entire CD is dripping with devotion and Nina’s vocals bring a feminine grace to these ancient sacred chants.”
“Very lovely album. Nina’s voice is great, she creates a beautiful divine mood for yoga or for just enjoying being in a sacred atmosphere. ”
“Antarayaami is a tapestry of sound, guaranteed to illuminate all hearts.”
Soul Land Music Series Vol.2
Captured Live during their 2021 Soul Land Music Series Livestream Performances, Soul Land Music Series: Volume 2 offers a compilation of hand-selected mastered tracks from each artists’ unique and specially-curated musical performance on the 2021 virtual concert series, Soul Land Music Series: Songs & Stories Inspired by Ram Dass.
Watch the video recording of Nina’s song, ‘Vinayaka Always’ from the album below.
A Bhaktimala for Ram Dass
We offer this garland of devotion to honor our beloved teacher, Ram Dass.
We released the first iteration of this project on December 22, 2020 to commemorate the one year anniversary of Ram Dass's passing. And now on April 6th, 2021, we offer a “Deluxe Edition” in honor of his 90th birthday with several new tracks.
All proceeds from this album are offered in support of Hanuman Maui: Ram Dass Loving Awareness Sanctuary.
Hanuman Maui was born out of the vision to preserve Ram Dass’s home as a spiritual sanctuary.
As a 501c3 Nonprofit, Hanuman Maui works to preserve and share Ram Dass’s home on Maui and foster community through the teachings of love, service, and devotion.
Released December 22, 2020. Produced by Kripa and Hanuman Maui
Taos Hanuman
This CD contains never-before-heard Chaleesas featuring Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Nina Rao, Trevor Hall, Govind Das and Radha, Shyama Chapin, Raghu Markus, Salman Lee and Patrick "Habib" Lee, and Johnno Ryan with the Taos Temple Chaleesa Band! This beautiful compilation CD includes a Chaleesa chant sheet.
Sri Ram Kirtan Sadhana
This professional audio track was recorded live during the Ram Dass mala ceremony at the Open Your Heart in Paradise Retreat in Maui, Hawaii in December 2015. The chanting holds this sacred space for all and seals the teachings received during the retreat into everyones wide open hearts. During this session, each retreatant greets Ram Dass personally, receives a mala with a thread from Maharaj-ji Neem Karoli Baba’s blanket, and visits the altar that graces the 5-day retreat. During this session and while the greeting is happening, Krishna Das and Nina Rao lead the group in chanting the mantra 'Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram’ accompanied musically by the band. At the end arti (waving sacred lamp lights) is offered to the images of all the saints and deities presiding over the retreat. It starts with Krishna Das singing Hanuman Stawan and if you listen carefully you will hear the arti bell followed by Krishna Das singing Jaya Jagadeesha Hare. You will hear some of the instruments dropping out toward the end as the musicians leave the stage to each get their malas from Ram Dass - but the chant keeps on. We hope that this continuous chanting of the sacred mantra will help you to deepen your own chanting practice at home; your car; wherever; or be the sound track for your asana practice.
This SRI RAM KIRTAN SADHANA is available for $4 on Krishna Das Music.
The Mantra Project Volume Two: Mantras Of The Sun
Mantras of the Sun is inspired by the twelve mantras that correspond with the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) asana sequence. These mantras offer a powerful sonic level to the physical practice and also stand on their own as a unique and profound mantra practice, particularly relevant for the 21st century. For yoga practitioners, Mantras of the Sun features three different versions of the Sun Salutation mantras as well as an extended play track for use during asana practice. Woven around these core mantras, the album also contains traditional opening, closing, and bija mantras of the sun.
"Jet propulsion fuel." That's how Suzin Green describes the Surya Namaskar mantras, the subject of Volume Two in her powerful Mantra Project series. Marked by the strength of her crisp, bold, and at times haunting vocals plus Daniel Johnson's trancey tabla rhythms, this album takes sun worship to an entirely new level. "Mantras of the Sun" drops today -- and is climbing up the iTunes World Chart at this moment! We love everything about it. You should get it. From Suzin Green Music and Daniel Johnson with guest artist Nina Rao, via Mantralogy. ~ The Bhakti Beat April 22, 2016
Available on Amazon, iTunes , CD Baby, and Mantrology.
Arti Prayer Recordings For Taos Ashram
In Kainchi Dham, there’s morning and evening prarthna (prayers) and arti where we sing for all the deities and Maharaj-ji and wave sacred lights twice a day. It’s such am important part of my retreat time. When I went to Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in Taos, I was delighted that some of those very same prayers are offered as well. As requested by the temple, I made a simple recording of these prayers to help learn how to sing/chant them.
"Flow of Grace" by Krishna Das
Krishna Das has been singing the Hanuman Chalisa for over thirty years, and on Flow of Grace he takes us deep into the heart of this powerful prayer to Hanuman, the embodiment of devotion, service, strength, and compassion. Krishna Das' deep, hypnotic voice is steeped in love as he sings five entrancing melodies of the Chalisa, as well as a beautiful version of the prayer by Nina Rao. More information about the release on Krishna Das Music.
Release Date: march 2007
"Kirtan!" by Various Artists
Kirtan!" is a live chant album featuring kirtan artists Ambika Cooper, Devadas, Jeremy Frindel, Lily Cushman, Nina Rao, and Shyama Chapin. Recorded in 2012 at the Brooklyn Yoga School, this CD captures the beauty and power of a chant community that has been gathering each week in Brooklyn for many years. Each kirtan wallah offers their distinct sound and style to the mantras, while pulling from the traditional call and response melodies of India. Released by Vanaras Music.
Release Date: MARCH 2014
"Brooklyn Mellows" by Devadas
"Brooklyn Mellows" is the fifth studio album from innovative kirtan artist and producer, Devadas. The record is inspired by "Vrindavan Mellows," a little known recording from Aindra Prabhu that blends live kirtan recordings with the ambient sounds of India. Devadas follows suit with "Brooklyn Mellows", weaving together his chants with the sonic sphere of Brooklyn, NY. The double-disc CD features fellow kirtan artist Nina Rao, as well as their daughter, Uma Rao-Labrecque. Released by Mantralogy.
Release Date: may 2013
“I would love to reveal my most favorite tracks, but in all honesty, Brooklyn Mellows has been playing on a loop in my car since I received an advanced copy for review.”
Various Recordings by Nina Rao
Enjoy these unique recordings that capture the powerful practice of call-and-repsonse chanting. These simple recordings were made on phones or other portable recording devices, but hold within them the beautiful moments of devotion and energy.