BAVA has had the honour of these illustrious astrologers lecturing at the 2019 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
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.
Charlotte Benson
Charlotte has practiced Astrology, full-time, as a credentialed (PMAFA, NCGR, ISAR, AFAN, ACVA) professional for well over 40 years, in Phoenix, AZ. Charlotte has received the “Jyotisha Choodamani” from the Raman Foundation in Bangalore; the “Jyotish Kovid” award from the I.C.A.S.; and the “Jyotish Navaratna” award from ACVA. She proudly serves as president of the American College of Vedic 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.
Visti Larsen
Visti Larsen began studying Western Astrology in his spare time during his secondary education, a journey he began upon hearing the mention of the word ‘Ascendant’. He has been studying Astrology since an early age, beginning with Western Tropical Astrology and since migrating to Vedic Astrology or Jyotish. During his higher studies Visti came under the tutelage of Pt. Sanjay Rath, belonging to the tradition of Shri Achyutananda Dasa.
Being taught in the ancient ways of the Parampara, besides Jyotish, he has been educated in several aspects of ancient Vedic knowledge, comprising topics of philosophy, Mantra Shastra, Sanskrit, Upasana and allied fields. The ancient texts that he learned, and relies on, are that of Gita, Upanishad, Purana and Veda. Presently he is active with performing Jyotish consultations, translating and decoding ancient Jyotish scripture for publication. http://srigaruda.com
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