Nina Rao – Traditional Vedic Chanting & Devotional Kirtan as Sound Medicine Nina Rao

Description Of Traditional Vedic Chanting & Devotional Kirtan as Sound Medicine Nina Rao

Experience an auspicious inner state of gratitude, intention, and wellbeing through the ancient devotional practices of Vedic and kirtan chanting… to access fortitude, focus, guidance, and inner peace during life’s most challenging times.

Join Traditional Vedic Chanting & Devotional Kirtan as Sound Medicine Nina Rao, 5-module journey into the practice of Vedic and kirtan chanting — a sacred tradition that aligns with the elemental energies of the universe to help you cultivate a deep sense of confidence and security in every moment.

Chanting offers spiritual sustenance that feeds and supports you… providing inner strength, resilience, and peace that you can return to time and again when life throws you off your center.

Chanting is more than music. It’s potent sound medicine that helps you navigate life’s challenges and grants you sustained access to your own divinity.

Mantra chanting in the form of kirtan is easily accessible to everyone — it’s now practiced all over the world for those who long to immerse themselves in the ocean of divine love through prayers sung from the heart…

… turning darker moods into positive actions.

Drawn from the highest authority in Hindu dharma, Vedic chanting is the practice of repeating a mantra without music, in which exactness in notes, rhythm, and pronunciation is vital…

… while kirtan, which evolved from the original roots of the Vedic mantras, is the sung, call-and-response style of chanting that may be more familiar to you.

The Vedic style is a structured concentration practice while the kirtan style is more flexible. Both styles produce greater wellbeing of your physical, mental, and emotional bodies.

Nina Rao will lead you in both traditional Vedic and kirtan chanting so you can have an experience of the spectrum of practices available to you.

What You’ll Learn In Traditional Vedic Chanting & Devotional Kirtan as Sound Medicine Nina Rao

During this illuminating and experiential course, you’ll discover:

• How mantras create an auspicious inner state of gratitude, intention, and wellbeing — a sanctuary for refuge and sustenance in times of duress
• The practice of both styles of chanting in each session — the Vedic and kirtan — diving deep, in particular, into the Gayatri Mantra
• That mantras connect you to your heart, where your own divinity resides — and guide you to experience that same divinity in the people and environment around you
• The precision and rule-driven nature of Vedic mantras and how they help you develop stronger concentration, deepen your practice, and honor the ancient tradition… compared to the kirtan that most of us are used to hearing (and singing!) in the West
• How the nature of sound can usher you into the subtle realms of consciousness where you can experience profound healing
• The peace and love that can wash over you as you dispel fear through chanting mantras
• How reciting or singing mantras with constant repetition will nurture you as you align with the elements of nature in your body and in the universe
• The love of the divine beings whose names you’re chanting and a sense of security and confidence that all will be well
• Why the knowledge of Vedic mantras holds the power to harmonize and uplift your individual existence, as well as your relationship with nature and your community
• That a sustained chanting practice can evoke and invoke qualities that help you positively experience life — surrender, patience, courage, gratitude, generosity, compassion, trust, love, devotion, clarity, and wisdom
• And much more…

Throughout this heart-nurturing program, you’ll find that a mantra practice can help you become more attuned to the interconnected web of life and develop a greater sense of compassion for yourself and all beings. As a result, you naturally experience a stronger sense of belonging and oneness with All That Is.

You’ll explore mantra as a powerful vehicle for cultivating focus by continually drawing you back to your heart and the core of your being. With every repetition, you’ll immerse yourself in the sacred vibrations that reverberate through your body, mind, and spirit — anchoring your attention in the present moment.

By consistently returning to the essence of your being through mantra, you’ll forge a deep connection with your true self — building resilience and mental fortitude, and nurturing a sense of focus that extends to all aspects of your life.

Module 1: Cultivate Heightened Consciousness, Courage, Gratitude, Compassion, Wisdom, Clarity & Love Through Mantra Practice

The Gayatri Mantra remains the most widely practiced of all the mantras over the eons. By invoking the brilliance of your inner sun, you illuminate and open your heart and mind.

In this opening module, Nina will teach this mantra in the traditional Vedic style, leading you in pronunciation and the use of svaras — or correct notes — for chanting this mantra. You’ll then chant one of the most widely chanted mantras in kirtan, the “Maha Mantra”: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

In this session, you’ll:

• Experience greater wellbeing through your connection with nature
• Use ritual to welcome in and cultivate personal qualities of expanded consciousness, patience, courage, gratitude, compassion, generosity, wisdom, devotion, clarity, focus, love, and healing
• Learn correct pronunciation for the Gayatri Mantra and the Maha Mantra

Module 2: Allow Mantras to Ground & Stabilize You & Provide Sustenance as You Connect to Divinity

Obstacles can arise from good as well as bad circumstances, but they should never deter or overpower you. Be like the earth, which supports all living creatures indiscriminately, without distinguishing good from bad. The earth is simply there. Your practice should be strengthened by the difficult situations you encounter, just as a bonfire in a strong wind is not blown out, but blazes even brighter.

— Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

In India, the Creator as the sustainer is worshiped in the form of Vishnu, also known as Narayana, and his feminine aspect Narayani — the goddess who has many other forms including Bhumi Devi or Mother Earth. Vishnu manifests all the planes of the Universe, unveils its laws, and manifests the universe under these laws.

Narayana — with 1000 heads, eyes, and limbs — is also hidden in the hearts of all beings. Resplendent like a flame, you can visualize him through meditation and ask him for help.

Nina Rao will share some stories about her guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, and other saints as told by devotees. Hearing of these saints is a practice in and of itself and an important part of bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion.

You’ll build on the structure of the Gayatri Mantra by chanting the Vishnu Gayatri mantra — from the ancient sacred text — learning the pronunciation and structure. You’ll repeat this mantra 108 times, which is an auspicious number. The repetition of mantra, called japa, helps put an end to samsara — the cycle of birth and death and consequent suffering — and removes all obstructions for liberation from this cycle.

Nina Rao will also lead you in an extended call-and-response kirtan chanting of “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” — the mantra that has been emblazoned in Nina’s heart and mind since her visit to Badrinath Temple, a sacred pilgrimage spot in the high Himalayas. It’s meant to invoke the presence of Vishnu/Narayana.

In this session, you’ll:

• Engage in a full 108 rounds of mantra repetition (or japa) to create a deep meditative space
• Be nurtured by the recitations of mantras that bring you closer to the elements of nature
• Enjoy singing call-and-response chants to feel more grounded, stable, and connected to divinity

Module 3: Practice Mantras for Long Life & Greater Mental, Emotional, Physical & Spiritual Health

In this session, you’ll review the Gayatri Mantra, which you learned in the first class, and chant 108 repetitions together. You’ll then have a chance to ask questions about this practice.

Nina Rao will also guide you through a kirtan mantra in devotion to White Tara. She learned this practice from the Tibetan spiritual master Garchen Rinpoche, who practiced the dharma from a young age. He’s considered to be an emanation of White Tara and while he’s experienced a great deal of suffering throughout his life, White Tara always came to his aid. Eventually he brought his learnings and teachings to the West out of compassion for all beings.

In this session, you’ll:

• Deepen your practice and understanding of the Gayatri Mantra with review and repetition
• Invoke the healing and protecting powers of the White Tara mantra
• Cultivate greater mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health through the chanting mantras

Module 4: Create an Environment of Auspiciousness to Experience Unfathomable Bliss

What does auspiciousness mean to you, and how do we create an environment of auspiciousness?

In this module, Nina Rao will share about asking for not only what you need on the material level, but also the ability and stamina to do practices in which you wish everyone well. This is called raising bodhichitta — the Buddhist concept of praying with compassion for the awakening of all beings to the reality of life.

You’ll focus on the goddess, the feminine aspect of the Divine — the goddess who is Mother Nature herself and provides for all our needs — in the forms of Lakshmi, Sarasvati, and Durga. The goddess in both the Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist traditions has different names and forms that reflect the light of the multi-faceted jewel that she is. Nina Rao will guide you in kirtan in devotion to these three goddesses.

When you chant the Devi Navaratri Puja, you invoke Durga, whose energy and weapons destroy inner demons. Sarasvati gives the gift of knowledge and practice for purification and enlightenment. And you’ll implore the goddess in her form as Lakshmi to stay for an enduring auspicious environment.

Lakshmi casts the spell of the intoxicating sweetness of the Divine. To be close to her results in profound happiness… and to feel her within your heart is to experience rapture and marvel. Grace, charm, and tenderness flow out from her like a light from the sun — and wherever she fixes her wonderful gaze or offers the loveliness of her smile, the soul is seized, made captive, and plunged into the depths of an unfathomable bliss.

In this session, you’ll:

• Invoke auspiciousness to enter to the space of the goddess through the singing of prayers
• Connect with the feminine aspect of the Divine to call abundant sweetness into your life
• Call upon the energies of the goddesses of Durga, Sarasvati, and Lakshmi to cleanse, enlighten, and create auspiciousness in our lives

Module 5: Contribute to Your Own Peace & Peace on Earth by Chanting Mantras That Wish Others Well

Nina Rao says that the combination of harmony and alignment dispels fear.

Before we can contribute to any peace-keeping efforts among people, animals, and nature, we first have to find peace within ourselves. This is why we practice.

Practicing together with teachers and community (satsang) helps us along this path. With our combined efforts and energy we help each other — and everyone around us responds synergistically.

Grace is raining down on you all the time, and all you have to do is cup your hands to receive it. By offering gratitude for what you have, you can wish grace and wellbeing for others with love and an open, compassionate heart.

In this closing module, you’ll learn the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra in Vedic style, dedicated to Lord Shiva, the absolute, who liberates our minds so we merge with the Oneness that connects us all. As you chant in devotion to Shiva, you begin to expiate your karma as fruit ripens in the sun, and when ready, releases from the tree with ease.

You’ll also sing Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu, wishing all beings happiness and peace.

In this final class, you’ll:

• Welcome harmony, peace, and alignment into your life through the devotional practice of chanting
• Connect with the energy of Shiva who liberates our minds and connects us with higher consciousness
• Cultivate gratitude that showers us with grace, wellbeing, love, and compassion for others
• Allow peace and love to wash over you as you sing to wish all beings well

About Nina Rao

Nina Rao learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in South India when she was nine years old. Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world. Prior to rediscovering chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996, she worked in banking before switching to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India. For many years, she has been Krishna Das’ business manager and accompanist as well as a chant leader in her own right.

Nina Rao tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals and singing with him. In 2007, she recorded the track “Nina Chalisa” on Krishna Das’ CD Flow of Grace: Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. In January 2013, she released her debut album, Antarayaami: Knower of All Hearts, which includes a duet with Krishna Das. Later that year, she was honored to accompany him at the Grammy Awards webcast performance. Her second album, Anubhav, released in 2018, was entirely crowdfunded.

For over 20 years she has supported conservationists in preserving the sacred wilderness and forests of India via her charity, Saving Wild Tigers. Nina regularly leads kirtan, chanting in Hanuman Chalisa workshops and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York, and beyond.

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