BAVA has had the honour of these illustrious astrologers lecturing at the 2018 Conference:
Sanjay Rath
Sanjay belongs to a traditional family of astrologers from Bira Balabhadrapur Sasan in Puri, Orissa. Internationally renowned and respected, he uses Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Jaimini Upadesa Sutras, Brihat Jataka and Saravali as the foundations of Jyotisha and also incorporates other Jyotish scriptures and sacred Vedic literature in his teachings. Author: Crux of Vedic Astrology, Remedial Measures in Astrology, Narayana Dashas and Jaimini’s Upadesa Sutras. Website www.srath.com
Prof Jaya Shekhar
Jaya is a great exponent of Jyotish with an extensive following both in India and Europe. He is the author of various books including The Best Bet, and the forthcoming Shadbala. Jaya Sekhar has been the President of the Institute of Astrological Studies, Madras; the Vice-president of the Institute of Indian Astrology, Calcutta; and Research Director of the astrological section of Bharat Nirman, New Delhi.
He has presented papers, given conferences and conducted workshops on varied subjects such as palmistry, Vasthu and Hindu philosophy and yoga. His Intensive Palmistry workshop is available to buy>
Pandit Sharma C.S. Samavedula
Pandit Sharma is a 6th generation Sama Veda pandit and a Shri Vidya Upasaka. In 1990, after 12 years of study, Pandit Sharma received his Master’s Degree in Vedic Studies (Ganapati Pandit). During this time he learnt the grammar and other aspects of Sanskrit and the performance of different kinds of pujas and yagyas.
In 2002, he founded the Vedic Yagya Center located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India and Fairfield, Iowa. His Center offers to individuals, organizations and businesses Vedic yagyas (sacred ceremonies), homams (ancient fire ceremonies), and pujas as prescribed in the Vedas and Shastras, the holy Indian scriptures. By utilizing the sound vibrations of specific Sanskrit mantras, these performances can help alleviate many problems of our modern times.
Komilla Sutton
Komilla Sutton is the Founder of the British Association of Vedic Astrology. She is on the Faculty of American College of Vedic Astrology and was on the Council of Astrological Association of Great Britain. She is one of the pioneers of Vedic Astrology in the West. She was awarded Jyotish Vachaspati from the Indian council of Astrology (ICAS) in recognition for her work in Jyotish. Her life work is to make this ancient knowledge more accessible and build bridges between the East and West. She has leading trips to India since 1999 and from 2013 she is sponsoring annual Vedic Astrology Conferences with the aim to promote new generation of Jyotish Masters and encourage their interaction with seasoned Masters of Jyotish knowledge.
Author: Nakshatra: Stars beyond the Zodiac, Personal Panchanga, The Essentials of Vedic Astrology, Lunar Nodes- Crisis and Redemption, Vedic Love Signs and Vedic Astrology.
Website: www.Komilla.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/KomillaSuttonVedicAstrology
Andrew Foss, PhD
Andrew has a PhD in Computing Science and is also an Oxford physics graduate with publications in Nature and other leading scientific journals. He is the author of the acclaimed book and ebook series Yoga of the Planets. He enjoys a deep love of music, art and poetry and has more than 30 years experience studying and teaching the Vedic wisdom around the world.
He is the Founding President of the BAVA, Editor of the BAVA Journal Gochara and is a certified Jyotish Pandit and Jaimini Scholar, the highest professional certifications in Vedic Astrology involving about a decade of intensive study. He has developed the unique, easy and powerful software Shri Jyoti Star that has become the first choice amongst Vedic Astrologers around the world.
Gordon Brennan
Gordon is a professional astrologer and dealer in Vedic astrology books. He teaches the BAVA courses and is tutor for SJC Study Group. Gordon is a BAVA committee member.
Rajan Pitamber
Rajan is a biochemist and businessman and long-time student of VA, specialising in Prashna/Horary astrology.
Keiko Ito
After studying western Astrology from a young age, Tokyo-based Keiko started learning Vedic Astrology in 2003 with her teacher, Komilla Sutton. Traveling regularly to India with Komilla to deepen her Vedic knowledge, Keiko has been part of the faculty at the Fresh Talents of Vedic Astrology in India, the BAVA Conference in London, the Annual Vedic Astrology Conference at Sivananda Yoga Farm in California and the Sedona Vedic Astrology Conference in Sedona, Arizona, USA. She regularly holds Jyotish-themed workshops at Sivananda Yoga Tokyo Center, is a full-time translator in four languages and a part-time Vedic astrologer with clients in Japan and worldwide.
Bulbul Barrett
Bulbul was introduced to vedic astrology at an early age whilst growing up in India, and those early experiences sowed the seed for her later interest in learning and applying the subject herself. She has now been practising astrology for the last 12 years with the British Association of Vedic Astrology, where she has lectures at their annual conference and has also been featured in Daily Candy, an online guide to London.
Vijaya Subramanian
Vijaya had a successful 17 year career as investment professional. She is a practising Vedic astrologer and has obtained the certificate of Jyotisha Pandita, after studying the Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra with her Guru Pandit Sanjay Rath. She is currently enrolled with him to study the Jaimini Sutras and Mantra Sastra. She is studying Vedanta under the guidance of Swami Parmarthananda, a disciple of Swami Dayananda of Arsha Vidya, and is also pursuing Sanskrit studies in SOAS University, London. www.vijayajyoti.com
Kanwel Thapar
Kanwel Thapar has been an ardent student of Astrology for more than 30 years. His study started with Western Astrology under the Faculty of Astrological Studies, London. Greek and Roman mythology was his strong interest which gelled well with these studies. Later, he changed focus to study Vedic Astrology by joining BAVA, London in its very early years. He has regularly attended the conferences, workshops and webinars delivered by BAVA.
His first Jyotish Guru is Komilla Sutton who tutored him on advanced Jyotish courses. He is expanding his Jyotish learning by studying Pandit Sanjay Rath’s teachings under Steve Hubball (Jaimini Guru) and Visti Larsen (Parashara Guru). He has strong interests in Western and Vedic Esoteric traditions which are the foundation of his spiritual leanings.