These are the bios of the illustrious speakers at this year’s online 2022 Conference
Komilla Sutton
Komilla is the co-founder and Chairperson of BAVA. She is the author of Vedic Love Signs, Lunar Nodes – Crisis and Redemption, Vedic Astrology and Essentials of Vedic Astrology. Komilla also writes a Vedic Column for Transit and has had many articles published in the Mountain Astrologer, AA Journal and The Lodge Quarterly.
Komilla runs regular Vedic Astrology courses in the USA and India. www.Komilla.com
Gordon Brennan
Gordon initially studied for a degree in Modern Languages. He took up Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy some 35 years ago, which subsequently led to the study of Jyotish 10 years later. He joined BAVA in December 1996 a few months after it was set up. Gordon is a Jaimini scholar under Pandit Sanjay Rath. He represents BAVA on the UK Advisory Panel for Astrological Education and on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Traditional Indian Sciences. Gordon also imports and sells Vedic Astrology books online at www.gordonbrennan.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 www.CircleofDivine.com or Visit Watkins Bookshop. She runs a Youtube Channel (CircleofDivine) and runs courses in Vedic Astrology at the Astrological Lodge of London, UK. (www.CircleofDivineAstrology.com)
Sat Siri K. Khalsa
Sat Siri Kaur Khalsa is a highly regarded Jyotish practitioner as well as teacher of Kundalini Yoga and meditation. An honors grad of Harvard University, she began the spiritual path with the guidance of Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan, and the practice of Sikh Dharma and Kundalini Yoga. Within that path she was drawn to the tutelage of Vedanga Jyotish and was very fortunate to become an early student of Pandit Sanjay Rath. Sat Siri Kaur has lectured around the world on many topics in Vedic astrology, about health, wealth, spiritual and physical healing, and family relationships. She was named a Jyotish Kovid by the Indian Council of Vedic Astrologers under Dr. B. V. Raman, who sparked the renaissance in Jyotish studies in the West.
She has been honored also as a Jyotish Brihaspati and as a Jyotish Medhya Prayag.
Sat Siri is one of the select number of Jaimini Scholars teaching as per the lineage of Sri Acyutananda of Puri. She is a mentor for both the Parashara Jyotish Course and the Jaimini Scholar Program, and has an online introductory course. She is a former Vice President of the Council of Vedic Astrology .
For an introductory course to get started with Jyotish study, or for counseling on Self and Mind alignment, meditations as taught by SSS Yogi Bhajan, contact Sat Siri at https://satsirikhalsa.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
John Hall
John Hall has been a student and a practitioner of Jyotish for 30 years, and is currently enrolled on the Jaimini Scholar Programme with Pandit Sanjay Rath. John has previously studied and worked in India for 7 years, and gained a First Class Honours degree in the Philosophy of Eastern Religions from the University of Pune. John has also been awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Jungian Psychology. He is based in Dublin and Spain and works as a Consultant in Vedic Astrology with an international client base. Contact: ballydarton@gmail.com
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 cliental 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.