Our Distinguished Members

Veernarayana N K Pandurangi is an internationally well-known scholar. He specializes in teaching Vedas, Vedantas, Indian Philosophies, religion and history. He has authored many books and research papers articles.

Acharya Veeranarayana Pandurangi, who hails from Pandurangi family that has contributed highly to the development of philosophies of Dvaitavedanta and Nyaya for the last seven hundred years, is the author of Vishnvarchana commentary on Rgveda being published from 2022.

Born in the year 1973 in Vijayapura, Karnataka, Veeranarayana Pandurangi studied at Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha under the tutelage of Shri Vishveshateertha Svamiji and Prof. Prahladachar. His research interests are in the fields of Vedic studies, Indian Logic, Dvaitavedanta, Purvamimamsa, Ancient Indian History and Machine translation where he has contributed by publishing many books and papers in various journals.

He founded Bharatiya vidvat parishat with Shrinivas Varakhedi in 2009. He received Badarayana Vyas Samman from President of India in 2011.

Dr Shivani is a Dean, Shastra Faculty, and Director, IQAC, Karnataka Samskrit University. She has completed her doctorate on 'A Computational Model for Linguistic Study of Sanskrit – Balakanda of Ramayana as a Case Study' and did her Post Graduation in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Sanskrit Vyakarana.

Erstwhile Deputy Director at Chinmaya International Foundation Shodha Sansthan, Veliyanad, Ernakulam, Kerala and guest faculty at Department of Sanskrit Studies, University of Hyderabad, as well as at Shabdabodha and language Technology, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati.

Shivani also held the position of Sr. Linguist, Department of Sanskrit Studies at University of Hyderabad. She has many publications and research papers under her credit. She has also participated and presented papers at many international and national seminars on NLP, Machine Learning and topics pertaining to Computational Linguistics and Sanskrit Grammar.

Dr. Bhaskar Bhat Joshi studied Shukla Yajurveda in Anandavana Gurukul, Agadi, Karnataka. He has done M.A. and M. Phil. in "Nyaya Sastra" at Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati and also pursuing Ph.D. in "Nyaya Shastra" from there.

He worked as visiting Lecturer in Sri Gajanana Samskrita Mahapathashala, Sudi, Karnataka and Research Associate in highly reputed "Philosophico-Literary Research Department" at Kaivalyadhama Yoga and Research Institute, Kaivalyadhama, Lonavala.

He also worked as an Editor and Content Developer for Samskrit Wikipedia-Project at Samskrit Bharati, Aksharam, Bangalore. He has published a book on 'Sandhyavandanam' at Sri Chidambar Swami Temple, Babhulgaon, Maharashtra. Currently he is working as Assistant Professor and Coordinating Jotishya Certificate and Diploma Courses.

Dr. Nagaraj Paturi is a renowned polymath and thought leader in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), known for bridging Shaastric traditions with contemporary academia and policy. Trained in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his father, he combines deep traditional wisdom with modern scholarship.

As Senior Director and Dean at INDICA, he mentored scholars, curated fellowships, and organized conferences on Vedic mindfulness, aesthetics, Hindu traditions, and cultural studies. He has also guided thousands of Civil Services aspirants, influencing policy and governance with authentically Indian perspectives.

Dr. Paturi has held academic positions at MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, FLAME University, NID, DJ Academy of Design, MIT Institute of Design, and the University of Chicago. Through decades of research, teaching, and institution-building, Dr. Paturi has revitalized Indian sciences and traditions, ensuring IKS remains dynamic, accessible, and globally relevant.

Dr. Shruthi H. K. is a well-versed scholar of Advaita Vedanta and Sahitya, currently serving as a Research Assistant at Karnataka Samskrit University with over a decade of academic and research experience in Sanskrit studies. With a strong foundation built through nine years of Gurukula Shikshana and advanced degrees including a Ph.D. in Sanskrit philosophy, she has contributed significantly through research projects, translations, and publications in reputed national and international journals.

She has presented papers at several prestigious conferences, coordinated academic seminars and workshops, and played an active role in curriculum design as an Academic Coordinator in various Boards of Studies. Her expertise spans Sanskrit literature, Vedanta, and interdisciplinary studies, with special focus on Upanishadic thought.

A recipient of multiple gold medals and awards for her academic and cultural contributions, she is proficient in Sanskrit, Kannada, Hindi, English, and Telugu. Alongside her scholarly pursuits, she is actively engaged in translation projects, manuscriptology, and promoting Sanskrit studies through teaching, research, and community initiatives.