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

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 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 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

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 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

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

In this module, Nina 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 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

Nina 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

The Hanuman Chalisa in Song
Video Recording of Live Event With Nina Rao

This recording is from an uplifting and immersive event, in which Nina Rao leads a group through the Hanuman Chalisa in a variety of melodies. Nina’s attention and devotion are palpable. Watch and sing along, as Nina’s accompanied by Benjy Wertheimer on tabla, Mark Gorman on bass, Brad Stoller on guitar, and Genevieve Walker on violin.