These are the bios of the illustrious speakers at this year’s in person 2025 Conference
Pandit 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). https://www.sarbanirath.com
Barry Rosen
Barry Rosen has been practicing Vedic astrology since 1987. He has visited and studied in India on 4 occasions and has spoken numerous times at the American Council of Vedic Astrology Conferences in Sedona, AZ since 1999 and also the British Association of Vedic Astrologers in London since 2006. He has been involved in Vedic culture since 1973 and is a long-time meditation and yoga teacher and a published poet. He has had many Vedic astrology teachers including Komilla Sutton, Marc Boney, Robert Koch, and has taken a number of mini-seminars from Sanjay Rath. In the last seven years, he has moved away from his specialty in Investment and Mundane astrology to his fascination with the psychological and spiritual dimensions of Vedic astrology.
In his consultations, he focuses more on the emotional and mental patterns in the chart and their impact on consciousness which can create waves of illusion blocking you. A good consultation should help you witness the play of karma so that you are not gripped by it; you can transcend it and realize your own Divinity, becoming the commander of the planets and not the victim.
Barry Rosen also operates a blog on Facebook under Barry Rosen and also Astro-Yoga and his professional astrological website is www.appliedvedicastrology.com. He can be reached at support@appliedvedicastrology.com.
Rafal Gendarz
Rafal has studied Jyotish extensively since 2004 with renowned teachers including Pt. Sanjay Rath (Parashara Hora Shastra) and Visti Larsen (Jaimini Upadesha Sutra). He successfully completed the Parasara Jyotisa and Jaimini Upadesa Sutram courses, and now provides the online Jyotisa courses.
Additionally, Rafal has completed a three-year study of Mantra Shastra, enabling him to offer powerful spiritual remedies alongside astrological insights. Rafal has a Masters of Philosophy degree and offers consultations and produces YouTube videos. He lives in Berlin.
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.
Setting his higher studies aside temporarily, he travelled to attend and present papers at several conferences and workshops across the USA, UK, Serbia and India. Studying solely through the Shri Jagannath Center, Visti was among the youngest selected to be a teacher by his Jyotish Guru and has spent considerable time at Jagannath Puri, Odisha as well as New Delhi learning personally with his guru. Completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, he has since dedicated all his time to teaching and practicing Jyotish. Under this tutelage, he has since earned the title of Jaimini Scholar after completing the five year Jaimini Scholar program. Following his completion of the program, his proficiency and dedication to the program entitled him to be the caretaker of the Maharishi Jaimini Krtam Upadesha Sūtra and the head of the Jaimini Scholar Program.
Being taught in the ancient ways of the Parampara besides Jyotish Visti 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.
Attempting to imitate his Guru’s every word and gesture, his understanding, academic and systematic approach to the topic has earned him much appreciation within the Jyotish spectrum. He, like his teacher, is a strict follower of the ancient teachings and a promoter of Sanatan Dharma, encouraging vegetarianism, a spiritual and holistic lifestyle. Having a background in other religious philosophies, he enjoys bridging the gaps between different schools of thought and understanding the truths that unite all religious philosophies.
His teaching style is clear, thorough and systematic. Having a passion for teaching, his dedication for the topic becomes evident as he creates the building blocks for his students to climb. His students are located in several different countries, comprising mainly the continents of Europe, the Americas and South-east Asia, whilst his clientele represents almost all corners of the globe. Besides his efforts within the Jaimini Scholar Program, he runs RAMA, the Regional Academy for Mantra and Astrology wherein he holds courses and monthly webinars on various topics of Jyotish.
Presently he is active with performing Jyotish consultations, translating and decoding ancient Jyotish scripture for publication. His website is https://srigaruda.com/
Gary O’Toole
Gary has studied astrology since 1996, specialising in Jyotiṣa. He is the author of Cosmic Bodies, an exploration of the intricate connections between Āyurveda and Jyotiṣa, Rāhu Daśā, a practical guide to understanding and navigating Rāhu’s transformative 18-year cycle, and Daśā Vidyā, a compendium of Indian timing techniques. As the editor of Timeline Astrology magazine and host of the widely followed podcast of the same name, Gary shares his astrological insights with a global audience.
He also creates exclusive content for his patrons and students, available through his Patreon community at patreon.com/timelineastrology. His website is timelineastrology.com
Sonal Sachdeva
Sonal is an astrologer, speaker and writer and is a student of Pandit Sanjay Rath. She is currently the Resident Jyotish at one of London’s Oldest Esoteric Bookshops, Watkins Books.
During 2013, Sonal launched Divine Astro Essences – a line of Astrological Aromatherapy products using the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda, Astrology and principles of Aromatherapy. Products ranges include 100 per cent pure moisturizing oil blends that provide deep nourishment to the skin and promote emotional well-being as well as altar oils, sacred oils, and Astrological Body and Room Mists.
Using the principles of Aromatherapy and the ancient wisdom of planets and Astrological influences, twelve Astrological blends were created. Each of these twelve-unique hand-made oil blends is a high-vibrational, mantra-infused formulation, tailored to the placement of Sun, Moon or Ascendant.
For more go to https://circleofdivineastrology.com or Visit Watkins Bookshop in London. She runs a Youtube Channel (CircleofDivine) and runs courses in Vedic Astrology at the Astrological Lodge of London, UK.
Paul Barker
Paul has been studying Jyotish and other esoteric disciplines for over 20 years. He is a Jaimini Scholar under Pandit Sanjay Rath. Paul is the President of the Leeds Theosophical Society.
Paul has spoken several times at the BAVA International Conference.