“As the knowledge of Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics does not depend on one’s national, ethnic or religious identity, so too is the knowledge of our Real Identity as revealed in the Upanishads.”

Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha was deeply spiritual from a very young age. At 24, he was initiated into the pursuit of Brahmavidya by Baba Gangadhara Paramahamsa of Dakshinkhanda, West Bengal.

In 1987, he renounced his professional life as a faculty in IIT-Kharagpur and dedicated himself wholesomely to the service of Poojya Swami Bhoomananda Tirthaji in all aspects of his mission.

Right from the beginning, scientific quest and spiritual pursuit have been complementary in Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha’s search for the Ultimate Truth. Swamiji’s special focus has been to expose the subtle truths of Vedanta with clarity as well as experiential depth.

His book on Poojya Swamiji “A Great Association” presents an in-depth understanding of the qualities that make a Saint saintly. Analyzing various events, statements and anecdotes from the life of a Self-realized Master, the book depicts a realistic understanding of the mystic path to ultimate freedom.

“There is a way of living in this world, without being bound by it.”

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha is the Founder Saint of Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Centres for Inner Resources Development. Poojya Swamiji received Brahmavidya initiation from Baba Gangadhara Paramahamsa of Dakshinkhanda (West Bengal).

Swamiji’s interpretation of Bhagavad Gita as an “Administrative Gospel”, his inspiring discourses on Bhaagavatam, Upanishads and other spiritual texts, come from his experiential depth and mastery of Self-realization.

Poojya Swamiji says: “All problems in life are born of mind, and so the solutions also are to be found within the mind.” The path is simple: One must make the outgoing mind look inward, through:

• Meditative absorption, where the seeker discovers the real nature of the mind as well as the world.
• Interactional Saadhana, a technique of shifting our focus from external situations to the mind’s response to it, and treating the mind through knowledge.

Embracing Sannyaasa at the age of 23, Swamiji has been disseminating
eternal knowledge for the past 65 years. His focus has always been on cultivation of Values to empower the individual and integrate the society.

“To be open before oneself is to be open before God. To do that, the seeker has to transcend his ego. When pursued sincerely the process bestows lightness, depth, clarity, power of truth, and above all, confidence.”
‘In the Company of My Lord’ – Ma Gurupriya

“Love can be of two kinds: one that binds and makes us constricted; and the other – selfless, non-expectant and pure – that makes us expand, enabling us to embrace everybody as our own.”
‘In the Company of My Lord’ – Ma Gurupriya

Ma Gurupriya is a sannyaasin (renunciate) disciple of Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha – the guiding force of Narayanashrama Tapovanam, Kerala; the Centres for Inner Resources Development, in India and abroad; and the Foundation for Restoration of National Values, New Delhi.
Born in a family of academic excellence, Ma Gurupriya’s spiritual journey began during her days of postgraduate scientific research, when an overwhelming feeling of dispassion evoked an intense yearning for something eternal. She received deeksha from Baba Gangadhara Paramahamsa, who before attaining Mahasamadhi, entrusted her spiritual welfare to Poojya Swamiji. Ma renounced her professional life dedicating herself at the feet of Poojya Swamiji. She is the Loving Mother for Poojya Swamiji’s devotees and disciples around the world.
The Guru-bhakti and Guru-seva that remain the predominant forces shaping Ma’s life are expressed in her discourses and writings, systematic management of Ashram affairs, and loving guidance to seekers. Her soulful chanting of Guru Stotras and other slokas echo the power of eternal Truth and devotion.

Dr. Veronique Nicolai is a French pediatrician (MD) and a trainer certified in Yoga, prenatal Yoga and meditation. She discovered Heartfulness meditation as she was studying medicine in France. In 1997, she spent six months of her studies in the department of Pediatrics in Shri Ram Chandra Medical College, Chennai, getting to know more about India from a medical perspective. She settled in India with her husband in 1999.

Since 2002 she has been a major contributor to the International Heartfulness Training Program that teaches Heartfulness meditation and philosophy to practitioners and forms meditation trainers all over the world.

Dr. Nicolai is currently the director of the Heartfulness Yoga School heading Yoga programs and courses in India and abroad. She is working very actively to teach Yoga and meditation in the field of health for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, obesity), for couple with infertility and for patient with cancer and their families. She is involved in many Heartfulness Meditation programs in the corporate world, universities and hospitals.

Dr. Veronique Nicolai has been living in Kodaikanal, Bangalore and Chennai with her husband, their daughter and son.

Roopa Pai is one of India’s best-known writers for children. This Bangalore-based author has written over 25 books, ranging from picture books to chapter books and fiction to non-fiction, on themes as varied as sci-fi fantasy, popular science, maths, history, economics, Indian philosophy, life skills, and most recently, medicine. Many of her books are bestsellers and are enjoyed as much by adults as by children.

Her best-known books include the 8-part Taranauts, India’s first fantasy-adventure series for children in English, Ready! 99 Must-Have Skills For The World-Conquering Teenager (And Almost-Teenager), the award-winning national bestseller The Gita For Children, listed by Amazon India as one of ‘100 Indian Books To Read In A Lifetime’, and its ‘prequel’ The Vedas And Upanishads For Children. Her TEDx talk ‘Decoding The Gita, India’s Book Of Answers’ has received over 1.9 million views to date. Her most recent book for children is ‘From Leeches To Slug Glue: 25 Explosive Ideas That Made (And Are Making) Modern Medicine’.

She has also co-authored fitness evangelist and supermodel Milind Soman’s award-winning memoir, Made In India, and is currently working on a new book on ancient Indian philosophy for children.

When she is not writing, Roopa can be found teaching short introductory courses on ancient Indian wisdom to both children and adults. She also leads groups of children and young people on history and heritage walks across her beloved Bangalore and Karnataka, as part of her job as director of a company she co-founded, BangaloreWalks.

Smitha, an engineer by education, works in the IT industry as a Product Manager in Southern California.
She is a Samskrita Bharati co-ordinator of Southern California, Irvine Chapter. Smitha was trained at Samskrita Bharati, Bangalore and conducted many spoken Sanskrit workshops for both adults and kids. She teaches “Learn Sanskrit through Bhagavad-Gita” online class. She also actively contributes to the Sanskrit youth program and Campus Samskritam Network. She is trained in Carnatic Vocal music.

Ananya Ashok is a Carnatic Vocalist training under Sangita Kalanidhi, Sri Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan. She received her initial training from renowned violinist, Smt. Anuradha Sridhar, daughter and disciple of Lalgudi Srimathi Brahmanandam. Under the able guidance of her gurus, Ananya has performed in various major venues around India like Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha and The Madras Music Academy, to name a few. Around India, she has performed in Kerala, Bangalore, Mysore, Delhi, and Coimbatore. Outside of India, she has performed in the United States and Singapore. Television performances include Doordarshan, Podhigai TV and American television. She has been a recipient of awards such as the Tanjore Sri Srinivasa Iyer Endowment Prize at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 2013 and recently ‘Outstanding Vocalist’ at the Madras Music Academy for the year 2019.

An ‘A’ graded artist of All India Radio Chennai, Ananya has also studied Hindustani Vocal Music from renowned violinist, Smt. Kala Ramnath. Ananya is an accomplished Vainika and trains under Sri Srikanth Chary, a senior disciple of Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and she is also a graded artist in Veena at All India Radio Chennai. In 2011, she was a recipient of the ACTA music fellowship, which was instituted by the state of California for Veena study.

Ananya also hails from a musical family. Ananya’s father, Sri Ashok Subramaniam is a musician and teacher residing in Bay Area, California. From her paternal side, Ananya is the grandniece of Sri. K.R. Kumaraswamy and Sri. K.R. Kedaranathan. On her maternal side, her great grandmother is a disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Kallidaikuruchi Vedanta Bhagavatar and Ramalinga Bhagavatar.

The Malladi Brothers (Sreeramprasad and Ravikumar) sing Carnatic vocal music together. They hail from an illustrious Andhra Pradesh musical family, training under their grandfather Srirammurthy and father Suri Babu, as well as Nedunuri Krishnamurthy and Sripada Pinakapani.

Their style of singing blends a deep approach to learned composition with extended forays into improvisation, covering rare ragas and commanding stages around the world.

Dilip Acharya is a life-long student of Indian music. He earned his Sangeet Visharad in vocal music from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh. As an All India Radio Artiste, he performed Bhajans, Folk songs & Sugam Sangeet. Dilip has performed in many concerts in the US, India, and Africa. He is also a self-taught Harmonium player and has the good fortune of accompanying in Hindustani Classical concerts, Devotional, Sufi and Ghazal concerts. Dilip is also composer and a music arranger and has directed music in plays, produced group songs and singles.