BAVA has had the honour of these illustrious astrologers lecturing at our conferences:
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
Sarbani Rath
In 1998 when Brahat Parasara Hora Sastra became the principal book on her table she began exclusively studying and practicing Jyotisa under the able guidance of Pt. Sanjay Rath.
After receiving the Brahaspati Gayatri in 2002 she has been practising jyotiṣa professionally and teaching as a Jyotisa Guru of Sri Jagannath Center (SJC). She went on to be the President of SJC in 2008. She continues her passion of reading Vedic literature and after finishing a thorough study of the Garuda Purana, is currently working on Saradatilaka Tantra and Skanda Purana. In 2011 she successfully completed the 5-year long Jaimini Scholar Programme (2007-11) and is a certified Jaimini Scholar of the First Himalaya Batch of Devaguru Brahaspati Center (DBC).
On the directions of the DBC-Institute she is currently a teacher and Course Co-ordinator of the 2nd Himalaya Batch of the Jaimini Scholar Programme. As the Managing Editor of Sagittarius Publications, she oversees the publication of the quarterly jyotisa journal The Jyotish Digest and other astrology books.
She has presented papers at various Jyotish conferences in India, USA, London and Serbia. She is a member of the British Association of Vedic Astrology (BAVA). www.sarbanirath.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.
Website www.vydic.org
Komilla Sutton
Komilla is co-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 is President and co-Founder of BAVA, and Editor of the Gochara journal. He 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 leading Vedic Astrology software, Shri Jyoti Star that has become the first choice amongst Vedic Astrologers around the world. He is also 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 35 years experience studying and teaching Vedic Astrology and the Vedic wisdom around the world. He is a certified Jyotish Pandit and Jaimini Scholar, the highest professional certifications in Vedic Astrology involving about a decade of intensive study.
Website VedicSoftware.com, YogaOfThePlanets.com Facebook Facebook.com/vedicsoftware
Geoffrey Pearce
Geoffrey has been studying and practicing Vedic Astrology since 1986. He is an accredited teacher by the American Council of Vedic Astrology and a member of their Council. He learnt most of his Vedic Astrology from Hart deFouw in England and USA. He holds regular weekly classes in London. Geoffrey has given many public lectures on the philosophy and principles behind the subject and is also BAVA Treasurer. www.vediccharts.co.uk Over recent years Geoffrey has been specialising in mundane, or political, astrology, and some of his researches can be found at www.nationaloutlooks.com
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. See www.vedicbookservices.com
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.
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
Sonal Sachdeva
Sonal is an astrologer, speaker and writer. Originally a computer software developer, she migrated into making films, video editing and camera. She studied Western Psychological Astrology under Liz Greene before focusing on Vedic learning under the tutelage of Pandit Sanjay Rath. Sonal is the resident Jyotishi at Watkins Books, and is on the committee of the Astrological Lodge of London. She founded the group Circle of Divine Astrology www.CircleofDivineAstrology.com and has launched Divine Astro Essences www.CircleofDivine.com
Julie Swietlik
Julie has been studying Jyotish and Hasta Samudrika since 2006. She holds the Jyotish Snatak Diploma from the Komilla Academy of Vedic Studies. She has presented at the Fresh Talents of Vedic Astrology in Dehli in 2104 and the Sedona Vedic Astrology Conference 2015.
Julie brings the unique insight of over twenty five years of energy healing work into her astrology/palmistry practice. Currently she resides in Key West, Florida.
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.
Dr K S Charak
Dr Charak has studied and practised astrology for over 20 years, with a special emphasis on Medical Astrology. He is the author of several books on Vedic Astrology including the Essentials of Medical Astrology, A Text Book of Varshaphal, Predictive Techniques in Varshaphal, Elements of Vedic Astrology and Yogas in Vedic Astrology. He is the Founder and Editor of the Vedic Astrology magazine. He is also an eminent surgeon and is presently head of the Surgery Department in the Indira Gandhi E.S.I Hospital, New Delhi.
Jyoti Trehan
Jyoti has been studying and researching Vedic astrology since 1981 in India. He has immense knowledge of the subject and works with Vedic Astrology on an intellectual level. He comes from a family tradition of Jyotish. Astrology is a passion for him rather than a profession. He is a distinguished Police Officer and is currently an Inspector General of Police with the Indian Police Force.
Kailasnath Krishnan
Kailashnath is a leading expert in the ancient art and science of Prashna of Kerala. He conducted the Ashta Mangala Prashna at the ACVA Conference in Kerala. He counts top politicians, celebrities and top industrialist among his clients. His dharma is to educate and promote the knowledge of Kerala Prashna.
Prof. V K Choudhry
Prof. Choudhry has gained world wide recognition as the creator of the ‘Systems Approach’ as applied to the interpretations of Horoscopes and Divisional charts. He was conferred the title of Jyotish Kovid, Jyotish Bhanu and Jyotish Martand. His books include Self Learning Course in Vedic Astrology, Divisional Charts and How to Identify Key Events in Life.
Vinay Aditya
Vinay is the author of a famous book on the Ashtakavarga called ‘Dots of Destiny’. He has been practising and teaching Vedic Astrology for the past fifteen years. He is Associate Editor of the Vedic Astrology bi-monthly published from India. He was awarded the title Jyotish Vachaspati by the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences (ICAS) while he holds a degree in engineering from IIT Kanpur, India. He has conducted many workshops in Vedic Astrology at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, ACVA, BAVA and DGVA (Germany).
Jeffrey Armstrong
Jeffrey has degrees in History & Comparative Religion, Psychology and Literature. He has over 30 years experience as a Vedic Astrologer and is an initiate of Yoga, Tantra and Mantra practices for the 35 years. Author: God (Goddess) the Astrologer which was awarded Independent Publishers: New Age Book of the Year. Watch Jeffrey Armstrong prove that vedic astrology works on You Tube. Website www.jeffreyarmstrong.com
Barry Rosen
Barry has advised clients for 25 years on market timing using modern adaptations to Vedic astrology. His company, Fortucast Market Timing Inc., publishes monthly, daily and intraday reports on over 17 futures markets, 20 ETF’s using Gann, Elliott wave and five cyclical model. 50% of his predictions are derived from Vedic astrology directly. Barry has been working with personal charts, business charts and commoditiy charts and published numerous articles in Gann and Elliott Wave, Trader’s World, the NCGR Journal (National Council of Geocosmic Rearch), The Traders Astrological Almanac and has appeared on CNBC and has worked with top money managers. He currently has 450 clients ranging from farmers to ETF traders to day traders. He can be reached at research@fortucast.com and he currently resides in Sedona, AZ.
Brendan Feeley
Brendan has practiced astrology since 1975 and he has a particular interest in the medical application of vedic astrology in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. He currently practices Vedic Astrology, classical homeopathy, and Ayurveda in Washington, DC.
Chakrapani Ullal
Chakrapani was a world-renowned Vedic astrologer from Kerala, South India. He was born into a family of illustrious astrologers and had contact with many of the leading spiritual teachers of India. He travelled extensively to teach and meet his international clientele. He had a degree in business studies and law and was awarded the titles of Jyotish Kovid and Jyotish Vachaspati by the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences. His gentle and unassuming manner and his insights born of a lifetime of study and practice endeared him to many.
Christina Collins Hill
Christina is Director of the Academy for Vedic Studies in Boulder, Colorado. She has done thousands of consultations, including among her clients many celebrities. She is on the Editorial Board of the ACVA Journal.
Dennis Harness, PhD
Dennis is a professional astrologer with a doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology. He was awarded the titiles of Jyotish Kovid and Jyotish Vachaspati by the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences. Dr. Harness is the Executive Vice-President of the American Council of Vedic Astrology in Sedona, Arizona. He is the author of The Nakshatras: The Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology which is published by Lotus Press.
Dr Dinesh Sharma
Dinesh comes from a family that has been dedicated to the Vedic traditions for the last four generations. He has a degree in AyurVeda, has studied Astrology at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, and is also expert in Vastu (Vedic architecture). He has travelled throughout the world giving consultations in Astrology, Ayurveda, and Vastu. He is the author of Divisional Charts.
Drupada John Macdonald
Drupada has been involved with Vedic astrology since 1989. A student of the raja yoga teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, his interest is in using astrology as a tool for spiritual growth and transformation.
Since 1982 Drupada has been a member of the Ananda Sangha Community in California, inspired by the teachings of Yogananda. See www.expandinglight.org
Edith Hathaway
Edith began her astrological studies in 1976, and her private practice in 1980. Trained and certified in systems of both East and West, she transitioned to Vedic astrology in 1988, after receiving Level IV certification as Consulting Astrologer from the National Council of Geocosmic Research, and Master Astro*Carto* Grapher certification from Jim Lewis. In 1996 the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences awarded her the Jyotish Kovid.
She is an international consultant, writer, teacher, and lecturer. A Board member of the American College of Vedic Astrology, she is a faculty member since 1992. Her new book ‘In Search of Destiny’ is due out in 2012. See www.edithhathaway.com
Gary Gomes
Gary is a faculty member of the ACVA and has trained in many Vedic disciplines and lectured on Jyotish in a wide variety of professional settings.
G Krishnan
Krishnan was initiated into Vedic Astrology at the age of 12 by his Guru (late) Raja Iyer. He held the position of Chief Engineer in the Indian Railways at Bombay. He has over 40 years experience as a Vedic Astrologer and was the past chairman of the Bombay Chapter of Indian Council of Astrological Sciences. He was awarded the Jyotish Vachaspathi by the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences. He is the author of Ashtaka Varga made simple for the western Astrologer and Vedic Astrology series -2, Stock Market Analysis. He resides in Texas.
Howard Beckman (Hamsavatar)
Howard is a Vedic astrologer and planetary gemologist. He is author of An Introduction to Vedic Astrology and Mantras, Yantras & Fabulous Gems and has spent 30 years delving into the spiritual principles embodied within.
James Kelleher
James was introduced to astrology in 1975 by the well known Indian Astrologer MK Gandhi. Gandhi predicted that Jim would become an astrologer. After studying in India, Jim worked for five years as Gandhi’s assistant in London. He is on the steering committee of ACVA and the board of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He is the author of Path of Light (2 vols). Jim has a regular newsletter and has been leading groups to India for the past 7 years. Jim has a busy private practice in Los Gatos, California. See www.jameskelleher.com
Hank Friedman
Hank is author of the book Astrology On Your Personal Computer and has written numerous articles on astrology as well as software reviews for The Mountain Astrologer, American Astrology, and the A.F.A. Bulletin. His website has extensive information on astrology. Hank Friedman offers his metaphysical services to clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout the world via telephone. www.soulhealing.com
Joni Patry
Joni has lectured at many national and international conferences and is the keynote speaker for national and international conferences, and has been on national television and radio in the USA. Her clientele includes the who’s who of America and Hollywood celebrities.She is the author of Eastern Astrology for Western Minds: A compilation of Neo-Vedic Astrology is a complete manual to learn Vedic astrology. Most recently her book ‘Awaken to the Truth’ was written to inspire others to seek our true reality. www.galacticcenter.org
Nalini (Tom Hopke)
Nalini has been a consulting vedic astrologer since 1978. He is the author of How to Read your Horoscope and The Divine Path of Prediction – A Month in the Life of a Vedic Astrologer. He is a practitioner of Bhakti Yoga. He resides in Alachua Florida. www.tomhopke.com
Ronnie Gale Dreyer
Ronnie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English/Theater Arts from the University of New Mexico, and studied Jyotish. She is the Author of Vedic Astrology, Healing Signs, Your Sun Moon Guide to Love and Life and Venus, the Evolution of the Goddess and Her Planet. She is also a contributor to ‘Astrology for Women, Hindu Astrology Lessons and Llewellyn’s 1998 Sun and Moon Sign Annuals. She is a frequent speaker at both Vedic and Western astrology conferences. www.ronniedreyer.com
Sat Siri Khalsa
Sat Siri is a Harvard graduate and specialises in prediction using the Krishnamurti system of Nakshatra-based ‘stellar theory’. She has had articles published in various journals including KP & Astrology Yearbook (India). Sat Siri has lectured around the world on various topics including spiritual astrology, financial astrology, and how to time and predict events. She is on the Board of Directors of the Council of Vedic Astrology and the faculty of the American College of Vedic Astrology. She has been named as a Jyotish Guru by the Sri Jagannath Center. www.satsirikhalsa.com
Swami Sita Ramananda
Swami Sita is a spiritual teacher in the lineage of Sankaracharya. Her guru is Swami Vishnu-devananda whose guru is Swami Sivananda. She has spent most of her life practicing and teaching the classical Yoga and meditation methods and she also teaches Jyotish. She is the head of the Grass Valley Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm www.yogafarm.org where she resides and teaches. It is an ideal place to come for daily satsangs and practices, actualizing the teachings of the Masters. She has authored various books. www.swamisita.com
William Levacy
Bill held a BA in literature and a Masters in Creative Intelligence. He ran a busy Los Angeles Vedic Astrology practice since 1983. Bill developed astrological computer systems and a Vedic Panchanga. Hay House publishers released his new book called Beneath the Vedic Sky – An Introduction to the astrology of Ancient India.
Alexander Lubenskis (Shiva Vakya Siddha Baba)
Alexander is a student and teacher of Ayurveda and Jyotish and is the leading exponent in his country of Latvia.
Atreya Smith
Atreya is an Ayurvedic consultant with a practice that extends across Europe. He has written several books including Pranic Healing, his speciality.
Denis Labouré
Denis is the past President of the leading French language astrological institute and the founder of l’Institut d’Astrologie Traditionnelle. He created and edits the review La Recherche Astrologique and was the editor of the collection Kosmos. He is the author of several books and has translated two classic texts including Prasna Gnana of Bhattotpala.
Gudrun Schellenbeck
Gudrun has been working as a professional Astrologer since 1992 and frequently writes articles on Vedic Astrology for all the leading German Astrological Magazines. She is co-author of the “Praxisbuch der Vedischen Astrologie”, which was published in July 2002 and founded the German Association for Vedic Astrology together with Nicholas Lewis in 2000. She teaches Vedic Astrology in Germany and Austria.
Himabindu
Mireille-Josephine Guezennec is a professor of philosophy. For the last 20 years she has been regularly travelling in India and Asia and studied Vedic Astrology for many years in Madras through the classical texts. She has been teaching and practising since 1985 in France where she is also known as a photographer.
Jan Willem van Doorn
Jan studied Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy at the University in the Netherlands. He has been an active student for about thirty years in Advaita Vedanta, Sanskrit and related sciences, one of which is Jyotisha Vedanga. In Amsterdam he has been leading Vedic Astrology groups for about twenty years. He is a Bachelor of Arts in Jyotish (ACVA).
Roeland de Loof
Roeland is the author of first book in the Dutch language about Vedic Astrology. Also author of the hindu lunar zodiac cards and booklet. He has authored two courses in Vedic Astrology which have been taken by people all over the world. Dirah Academy International is a member of the Council of Vedic Astrologers (CVA), the British Association for Vedic Astrology (BAVA), the International Institute for Predictive Astrology (IIPA) and the Planetary Gemologists Association (PGA). www.dirah.nl
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>
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.
Nick Campion
Nick is the President of the Astrological Association of Great Britain. He is the author of The Book of World Horoscopes, The Practical Astrologer and Mundane Astrology. He is the editor of Culture and Cosmos and Transit.
Mariella Cassar
Mariella is a professional counselling astrologer trained in both the western and vedic systems of astrology. She has been a practicing astrologer for 30 years. More recently she completed a 5 year advanced course in Vedic Astrology and is a Certified Jaimini Scholar. As well teaching and lecturing in astrology, she has an international client base. www.mariellacassar.com
Pam Carruthers
Pam has an extensive background as a counselling astrologer and was a successful Art Director for over 20 years. She works as a Western and Vedic astrologer, Spiritual Life Coach and trainer facilitating healing workshops in the UK and internationally. See her website www.healingstars.com
Pam is the Webmaster for BAVA and she designed this website. www.pamwebdesign.com
Pearl Finn
Pearl conducts classes and personal consultations at “Pearls of Wisdom”, Galway, Ireland. She is a student and Guru with SJVC, Shri Jagannath Vedic Centre, a Jyotish Internet site guided by Sanjay Rath.
Rajan Pitamber
Rajan is a biochemist and businessman and long-time student of VA, specialising in Prashna/Horary astrology.
Steve Hubball, PhD
Steve has his PhD in mathematics. Steve is a Professional Vedic Astrologer and Jaimini Scholar, studying under the guidance of Pandit Sanjay Rath. He is a member of BAVA and CVA, and is the UK Teacher for Dirah Academy International, which offers email correspondence courses in Vedic Astrology.
Steve is also available for private consultations: Tel: +44 (0)1228 674225. See www.vedic-astrology.org.uk
Paul Barker, PhD
Paul has postgraduate qualifications in science and business. He has studied spiritual numerology and other esoteric disciplines as well as Jyotish. Paul has been studying with distinguished BAVA teachers since 2006 and is now a student on the Jaimini Scholar and Parasara programmes.
He is President of the Leeds Theosophical Society, and he works as a business coach and part-time Vedic astrology consultant. See www.lunarastrology.co.uk