Pandit Rishikesh Bhattar
General-Secretary | 0414 997 899
| srisanathanadharma@hotmail.com Born in Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh India. Began his studies in Sanskrit at the Ramanuja Sanskrit Pathashala until the age of 12 and then joined the Sri Venkataswara Veda and Agama Pathashala at Tirupati. He graduated in 1985 and migrated to Australia in 1986 to serve as the head priest of the Venkateshwara temple at Helensburgh. He served in that capacity until 1996 when he left the temple employment and began serving the community as a purohit. He has been involved in many temple consecrations in Australia, India and Srilanka and is still a visiting archaka at the Venkateshwara temple. Born in Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh India. Began his studies in Sanskrit at the Ramanuja Sanskrit Pathashala until the age of 12 and then joined the Sri Venkataswara Veda and Agama Pathashala at Tirupati. He graduated in 1985 and migrated to Australia in 1986 to serve as the head priest of the Venkateshwara temple at Helensburgh. He served in that capacity until 1996 when he left the temple employment and began serving the community as a purohit. He has been involved in many temple consecrations in Australia, India and Srilanka and is still a visiting archaka at the Venkateshwara temple. Pandit Ramachandra Athreiya
President | 0418 427 372 | vedasabha@gmail.com
Registered Marriage Celebrant (Religious) Religious Consultant Shri Shiva Mandir (Minto NSW), Broome Street (Ganesha) Temple New York USA Born in Madras India. Began his initial studies of Veda and Karma-khanda under his great-grandfather venerable Venkaṭarama Gaṇapāṭhi of Thillaiyadi. He later joined the Kanchi Shankara Matha and furthered his studies under the Matha Parikshadhikari and served as an apprentice purohit under his grandfather the venerable Sriman Nāgarāja Shastri Ji. He also studied yajna under the illustrious scholar Lakshmi-narayana Dikshitar of Madras and Nellure Viśvanatha Srauti. He has traveled extensively throughout India and has served as a priest (adhyāyana bhaṭṭa) at the famous Pashupati Nath temple in Kathmandu Nepal. He served as a temple priest of the Vara-siddhi Vinayagar temple of Besant Nagar for many years and then came to Australia to serve as a priest of Sri Venkateshwara temple Helensburgh NSW, from 1987 until 1992 when he began serving the community as a purohit. He has participated in a number of temple consecrations both in Australia, India, Srilanka and USA. Pandit Narayan Bhatt (Shastri)
Vice-President
Registered Marriage Celebrant, (Civil & Religious) Purohit, Kirtan & Kathakar, Phone: +61 (0)2 9600 7815 Mobile: + 61 (0) 430 338 770 e-mail : punditji108@gmail.com www.hinduheritage.org.au ------------------------------------------------------ Shri Pdt. Narayan Bhatt obtained his Shastri degree from the Sampurnanand University of Varanashi in 1986. He has also obtained a masters degree (MA) in Sanskrit from the Gurukul University of Haridwar Uttaranchal. He has studied Vedas, Upanishadas, Ramayan, Gita, Chanda Shasras, Kavya Shasrtas and other related Sanskrit literature. He narrates beautiful katha of Ramayan, Bhagwatam and Devi Bhagwatam. Shri Bhatt ji has also completed practical Training of Karmakanda of various sanskars and Anusthans conducted by the ministry of Human Resources in India. He has been living a priestly life since his teenage days. Pdt Narayan Bhatt has served the Hindu community of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra since his arrival in Australia. He speaks fluent Hindi, English, Nepali, Gujarati and Sanskrit languages. He has helped and guided numerous organisations to achieve their aims and objectives from time to time and founded 'Hindu Heritage Society Inc', a charitable organisation dedicated to promote Education, Arts and Hindu Religious Heritage. The organisation is working towards promoting the values of Hinduism in Australia and has a strong and dedicated team of people. Hindu Heritage Society Inc is growing and has been well received by the community under his guidance and the guidance of the Almighty God. Pandit Venkatraman Shastri
Assistant-Secretary | 0434 523 968 | kv66237@gmail.com
Born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India he studied under his father, Shri G. Krishnamurthy Ghanapathigal, (alias Sri G. Babu Sastrigal) and Shri Neelakanth Vaishampayan, Baroda. He completed Krishna Yajur Veda, up to Padam level. Also studied Sanskrit from Shri Venkatachala Shastri (professor-Madras Sanskrit College). Pandit-ji also had the opportunity of studying directly from His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, Kanchipuram, India. Besides this, he has studied B.Com, IRPM, and Post Graduate Diploma in Counseling in Australia. And prior to taking up paurohitya full-time he worked as an Executive Pers. &HR with Larsen & Toubro Limited, Jamshedpur and Baroda, India for 22 years. Venkatraman-ji worked with Ekkavan Shakti Peeta, Shri Kamakshi Temple, Ambaji, Gujarat, India for 4 years before coming to Australia in November 2007, he served as a Priest with Shri Shiva Mandir Ltd. Minto until 2013. Currently he serves the community as a purohit in Sydney and other parts of Australia. Pandit Siva Srinivasan
Joint Secretary
0434 015 564 sivakumarsrini@gmail.com Pandit Devendra Sharma
Treasurer
04145 604 424 pdt108@yahoo.com.au 89 Brisbane St., Oxley Park NSW. Australia Pandit Sri Rama Ramanujacari
Public Relations officer
0419 654 987 | kulaguru@bigpond.com | www.srimatham.com/ Registered Marriage Celebrant Born in Durban South Africa. Pandit Rami Studied Vedanta philosophy at Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh for 1 year at the age of 18. He then went to Benaras and studied Sanskrit and Veda at Swami Sanjayananda's gurukul for 2 years. He also studied Karma-kanda, Yajna and Puja vidhi under Satyanarayana Shastri of Tirupati. His theoretical Agama training was done in Madras under Srimati Sita Padmanabhan. In 1983 he took pancha-samskara initiation from His Holiness Sri Sri Varada Yatiraja Jiyar swami the (late) pontiff of Adi Kesava Perumal temple in Sriperumbudur, Tamilnadu and in 1993 he was granted the Acharya degree by His Holiness and given full authority to teach, initiate, administer the sacraments and to conduct temple installations and consecrations. He studied Vedic astrology under the renowned Hart deFouw and has been serving the Hindu community in Australia as a purohit, counselor and Dharma-teacher since 1980. He is much valued for his extensive explanations of the rituals being performed and for his inclusion of English in marriage vows etc. Rami-ji is also a registered nurse. He travels extensively and teaches Hindu Philosophy, Sanskrit and ritual and regularly participates in Yoga workshops in Australia, Bali and in the USA. He has participated in a number of temple consecrations in Australia and in the USA. He performs all samskāras from birth to death, all Vaidik, Pauranika and Pancharātra rituals and since 9th January is performing marriage ceremonies for Same-Sex couples. Pandit Narendra Dave
Executive CommitteeMember
|0403 226 364| npanditji@gmail.com Registered Marriage Celebrant (Religious) Pandit Narendra was born in a traditional Brahmin family in the state of Gujarat, India. Since his childhood and while living in India, he studied yajña, Karma-khanda, Vedas & other scriptures under a variety of renowned Gurus. He received his Masters Degree in Engineering Geology and worked for the Government of Gujarat prior to coming to Australia in 1997. In Australia he has been practicing as a Hindu Priest. His personal goal is to pass on the invaluable knowledge of the Hindu religion to the society at large. Pandit Jatinkumar Bhatt
0423 341 604 | jrbhatt@hotmail.com
Registered Marriage Celebrant (Religious) Pdt. Jatinkumar Bhatt has been full time priest of Sri Mandir since 2004 and has been one of the most respectable and recognised priest in the community since then. He has held an excellent reputation in the community with his extensive knowledge, patience, & his performance of rituals and prayers. He has performed over 250 marriages according to Vedic tradition. Pdt. Jatinkumar Bhatt is a highly qualified priest with the degree of “Jyotish Alankar” and serves the community with free astrological consultations and counseling. Panditji performs all kinds of poojas & hawan including Satya Narayan Katha, Grih Pravesh, Rudra Abhishek, all shanti pujas (e.g. Grah Shanti, Vastu, etc…), all sanskar pujas (excluding antyesti), Marriages, and new vehicle puja. Pandit-ji is also very active in the community teaching Hindu philosophy and devotion/duties of a an individual towards God and humanity in community. Panditji has been regularly sharing his knowledge and talking about our festivals, rituals, significance of a particular ritual/day/festival and various factors related to Hinduism and humanity on radio programs – Indian Link and SBS. He has attended various interviews on radio community programs and helped sharing his religious & spiritual knowledge to people seeking information. It has been a huge contribution to the community in bringing awareness on why and how the rituals are performed and what really religion means. In addition, Pdt. Jatinkumar Bhatt hold degree of Masters in Chemistry as his academic background. Saiva Pulavar Sivasri Bala Indra Kurukkal
0430628061 | indran_388@yahoo.com
Registered Marriage Celebrant (Religious) Born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Studied Veda and Saivagama from Dharmasastha Gurukulam in Sri Lanka under Sri T Mahadevaguru. Came to Sydney in 2009 and since then Indran Kurukkal has been serving as a priest at the Sydney Murugan Temple. He got his Bachelor Degree in Sanskrit from the famous Madras University and Masters in TAMIL. He is a religious marriage celebrant and knows Tamil, Sanskrit, and English. widely traveled within Australia and many overseas countries (South Africa, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and India). In the past he has been invited as a keynote speaker at Saivaagama and Saiva Siddhanta Conferences. Available for all samskāras and home ceremonies. Sivashri Nathan Gurukkal - 0403 112 724
Sivāgam Ratna Ranjith Gurukkal
0411821224| ranjith1801@gmail.com
Born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu India in a Sivacharya family. Started his priest training under his father at the Vellalore Theneeswarar Temple in Coimbatore Dist. at which they are Parampara Archakas (hereditary Priests ). Later he joined Sivaneri Kazhagam (This organization’s focus is on teaching Saiva philosophy) Pillayarpatti Sivaganga Dist. Tamil Nadu under the tutelage of Poojyasri Vikasratna Dr. Pitchai Shivacharyar. He graduated in Veda and Saivagama. He also obtained a Degree in Astrology/Prasnam and Vastu shastram from Kasyap Vedic Studies Coimbatore. Ranjit Gurukkal served as a priest at Ayyapan Temple Raf Camp Coimbatore, Uttara Swamimalai Mandir New Delhi, Siddhi-vinayak Temple Bhandup Mumbai, and many other temples all over India for over 16 years. During this time he has taken part/assisted in Temple consecrations at Kasi Visalakshi temple, Sri Ramanatha Swamy temple at Rameshwaram, Sri Dandayodapani Temple Palani, Sri Ananamalaiyar Temple Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchendur Murugan Temple just a few to mention. He has traveled widely through out India and is fluent in Tamil, Sanskrit, Malayalam, Hindi and English. Ranjit Gurukkal came to Australia in August 2010 served as a Head Priest at the Perth Hindu Temple. In 2012 he moved to Sydney since then has been serving as a priest at Sydney Murugan Temple. He is well experienced in conducting and or assisting Dwajarohanam, Mahotsavam in various temples in Australia. He is available for conducting all samskaras and domestic ceremonies and puja. Sivashri Arumugam Iyar - 0419 486 713
Saivagamaratna Sivasri K. Vekavaneswara ( Lavan) Kurukkal
0478 540 077 | lavan2320@yahoo.com
Born in Jaffna Sri Lanka, hails from Tamil family Son of Sivasri Alavi Kugasamy Kurukkal, He initially started vedāgama studies under his father then continued his studies at Dharmasastha Gurukulam Jaffna Sri Lanka under Sri T Mahadevan Kurukkal. Later he travelled to India and completed his formal Saivāgama studies at Sri Karpaga Vinayakar Vedāgama Vidyalaya Pillayarpatti Tamil Nadu India under Sivasri Pitchai Gurukal. Lavan Kurukkal came to Sydney in 2011, since then he ihas been serving as a priest in Sydney Murugan Temple Mays Hill NSW. Lavan Kurukkal has participated in several temple consecrations and Annual Festivals (Brahmotsavams) at various famous temples in Sri Lanka, India as well as Singapore, Malaysia, UK and Germany. He speaks fluent Tamil and English and is also familiar with various other Indian Languages. Apart from conducting daily temple duties, he has also been serving the Australian Hindu community, conducting all the sacraments (Weddings, Grihapravesam etc.) for people from Tamil, Telugu and Hindi speaking communities within Australia. Pandit Prakash Dhodari
0411838449 | panditdhodari@gmail.com
Nepalese Hindu Society of Australia Website: www.nepalesehindusociety.org.au Pandit Prakash Dhodari is well known priest from Nepal in Nepalese Community Australia. He finished his basic study from Ram Mandir, Pashupati. He finished his Shastri degree from Mahendra Sanskrit Bishwobidalaya Nepal. He came to Australia in 2009. And started working in Nepalese Community. He is the founder of Nepalese Hindu Society of Australia(NHSA). He has been conducting all the Hindu rituals like Wedding, house warming, birthday puja, satyanarayan puja, naming ceremony, funeral etc for the Nepalese community in Australia from 2009 He is the head priest of NHSA. Dr. Meena Srinivasan, Sanskrit
Sanskrit Teacher and Pracharaka
Women's Affiers drmeenak@yahoo.com.au The myth that Sanskrit is difficult, incomprehensible, boring and dull was shattered by Dr Meena Srinivasan, a PhD in Sanskrit with over twenty years of teaching Sanskrit. Having worked with Samaskritha Bharati, an institution that saw the revival of Sanskrit across the length and breadth of India, Meena has conducted over 2000 camps in her association with the organisation. The unparalleled experience, coupled with her academic qualification, employment in academic institutions in Bangalore teaching Sanskrit at the graduate and post graduate levels a boon to those who were eager yet unable to learn the language professionally. Dr Meenakshi also
Pandit Rajnikant S. Shukla
02-86777033 | 0401877783 | mrajshukla@yahoo.com
I am originally from Mumbai practicing Karmakand and Jyotish Shastra {Astrology} from last 45 yrs, in Mumbai. I am Auditchya Shastra Brahmin born in Uttar Gujarat Village-UNAVA. I migrated to Sydney in 2005. I perform all ceremonies with Vedic mantras and proceedings. I also perform all normal and special rites and rituals for the Hindu Vidhi’s that may be required for any occasion. I have taken further professional training from Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan-Mumbai-to enhance my knowledge and share best practices while in this profession. I also have been trained under various Gurus from Gujarat and other states. My father and above seven ancestors are from the same profession and I have continued with the same, adding immense substance and sharing knowledge to all involved. I have taken specialisation in many Shastra and I perform Vidhi’s Such as: Satyanarayan Katha, Vaastu Puja, Laghu rudra Puja, Baby Shower Puja, Gruha Shanti, Navchandi Havan, Ghar Pravesh Puja, Small Havan and Shanti Puja, Mantra Jaaps, And Many More. I live with my Son who is an Advertising Specialist and have 3 daughters who are all settled in Sydney. Pandit Sukhendra Shandil
Pandit/Archaka Sudarshan Thakar
0469347257 | rushithakar9@gmail.com
Pandit Sudarshan Thakar born in Gujarat, India, belongs to an Aaudichya Shastra Brahmin family. Pandit Sudarshan had began his study of Veda, yajna and puja vidhi soon after Upanayana Sanskara in traditional Guru Parampara under his holiness Sri Tejas Vyas. Sudarshanji was also blessed to enhance his Scriptural knowledge under the direct tutelage of his holiness Swami Asanganand Saraswatiji. Apart from his scripture knowledge, he has studied M.Sc. in Environment Science in Sydney. Sudarshanji served at one of the Bhavani temples in his hometown Anand as volunteer priest before coming to Australia. He has currently been serving as the temple Priest (ARCHAKA) in Shree Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Sydney since 2012. Having served the community back in India as a purohit, Sudarshanji looks forward to developing a career serving the Hindu community presently in Australia and New Zealand. Pandit Ajay Adhyaru
0430115484 | pandit.4you@yahoo.com.au
Born in Vadodara Gujarat India. Pandit Ajay began his studies in Sanskrit with specialization in Shukla Yajur Veda at Faculty of Sanskrit Maha Vidyalaya of The Maharaja Sayaji Rao University of Baroda, he studied for 5 years completing visharad qualification and 1st and 2nd year of the Shastri Degree. In 2008, upon completion of his studies he came to Australia and served at Shree Shiva Temple at Minto as an assistant priest for a few months and began serving the community as a purohit. Pandit Ajay has been serving as a purohit since 1999 and has been involved in many temple consecrations in India. Acharya Anil Gyawali
0421046561 | panditanilg4u@gmail.com
Acharya Anil Gyawali was born in a traditional Brahmin family in the Nepal. He stared his study of Veda ( yajan and Karmakand ) at the age of 10 by living in Unnayan Sansthan Veda Pathashala, Varanasi, India. He also got chance to enhance his knowledge of Veda and other Hindu scriptures under direct guidance of various Gurus’. He completed Master Degree (Vedaacharya) in Yajurveda From Sampoornanad Sanskrit University-Varanasi India, in 2010. Anil has served him self as Veda Teacher for more than 6 years in Baba Neev-karori Veda Sansthan, Lucknow, India. Acharya Anil is a highly qualified ( Temple and Community) priest with the degree of “Ved Bibhushan” from Maharshi Sandipani Ved Vidya Pratishthanam-UJJAIN and Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan LUCKNOW. He has attended various Vaidik Seminar across the India. He has vast knowledge of Vaidik tradition, Hindu rituals and rites to perform all kind of pooja and homa including Satya Narayan Katha, Griha Pravesh, Rudra Abhishek, Graha Shanti, Vastu Shanti, all Sanskar pujas (Namakaran, Anna Prashan, Yagyopavit and Marriages). He came to the Australia as a Temple Priest at Mukti-Gupteshwar Mandir-Minto and served there from 2012 to 2016. Currently he is serving himself as Temple Priest at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple- Regents park and Strathfield south. Pandit Samir Vyas
0425 355 657 | pandit4you@gmail.com
Born in Gujarat, Samir began the study of the Veda in a traditional guru parampara under His Holiness Sri Dinanath Bhatt soon after upanayana. He also studied Yajña and puja vidhi from his father Sri K.P. Vyas according to vamsha parampara. In 2000 he began his Shukla Yajur-vediya yajña and recital training under Sri Rampal Shukla. In 2005 he joined the Sanskrit pathshala M.S. University, Gujarat, India where he studied Jyotisha vidya, Vastu Vidya and Philosophy of Karmakand. He continued his studies in Hindu Law by taking a Bachelor in Law from S.P. University, India. Since 2010 he is working as Head Priest at Sri Saibaba Temple, Strathfield South. Adhikari Sitaram Minto 0403056285 purohit
Arumugaiyer Nadesaiyer Wentworthville 02 96893986 purohit/archaka Gurukkal Chandrasekaran Old Toongabbie 0415803187 Archaka Gurukkal Nathan Wentworthville 0403 112 724 purohit/archaka Joshi Daxeshkumar Harris park 0402523128 purohit Krishna Hari Lidcombe 0411576106 purohit Kurukkal Vekaranesvara Mays Hill 0478560077 purohit/archaka Maharaj Shashi Kumar Lidcombe 0422694030 purohit Markand Dave Wentworthville 0421003680 purohit Mehta Hemant Croydon 0402787597 purohit Mehta Krunal Parramatta 0412 632 887 purohit Mishra Lalbahadur Minto 0432584804 purohit/archaka Rao Srinivasa Liverpool 0423953542 purohit under training Sarasvati Radhikananda West Ryde 0423205210 sanyasin Sharma Bharat Oxley Park 0450923250 purohit Shivacharyaar Ranjith Pasupathy Mays Hill 0411821224 Archaka Singh Jai Moorebank (02) 97301058 purohit Thakar Sudarshan Bungarribee 0469347257 purohit Vyas Sameer South Strathfield 0425355657 purohit |
In order to book a priest please contact the individual priest directly - phone numbers and email contacts are next to their names.
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