Nina Rao first learned bhajans as a young girl from her grandfather, 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 Krishna Das'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 for 19 years. She has been chanting regularly as her main practice, has recorded albums, leads chant events, and studies Veda chanting and sacred texts. Nina is also a hospice volunteer, a podcast host, goes on yatra/pilgrimage, and is a wildlife conservationist.

In 2007, she recorded a track, "Nina Chalisa," on Krishna Das’ CD Flow of Grace: Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. In January 2013, she released her own double-CD Antarayaami: Knower of All Hearts, which includes devotional kirtan, bhajan, and a variety of Hanuman Chalisa melodies, as well as a duet with Krishna Das.