Dr. Baskaran Pillai (Dattatreya Siva Baba)
The Astroved Research and Development Institute was founded by visionary leader and master, Dr. Baskaran Pillai (Dattatreya Siva Baba). Dr. Pillai is a Master of the Tamil Siddha tradition, Spiritual Scientist, Academic Scholar, Philanthropist and International Thought Leader who is dedicated to bringing science and Religion together to alleviate the pain and suffering of the human race.
Brahmasri K.V. Seshathrinatha Shastrigal
Brahmasri K.V. Seshathrinatha Shastrigal is a great Vedic scholar, astrologer and a registered medical practitioner in the stream of Ayurveda. He has a very distinguished career in Astrology and Ayurveda that spans decades. He was the Principal in Madras Sanskrit College from 1973-1993 and taught Sahithya, Vyakarana, Mimamsa, Sanskrit Literature and Comparative Philology.
He also taught Sanskrit and Ayurveda at Venkat Ramana Ayurvedic College, Madras. He worked 6 years at New Catalogues Catalogorum Section of the Sanskrit department at Madras University, as a research assistant from 1967 to 1973 and did honorary research.
Awards Received
Dr.Shastrigal has won Sahithya Siromani, and the Sahithya Visaradha gold medals from Madras Sanskrit College. He was also conferred with Vedanta Siromani, and Ayurveda Siromani titles from Madras University and the Ayurveda Visaradha from Venkatramana Ayurveda College, Madras.
The Samskrita Sahithya Parishad, Trichy, has awarded Brahmasri K.V. Seshathrigal with the title Darsana Jyothisha Parangata. Sukar Markandeya Trust awarded him with the Dhanvanthari award for Ayurveda in the year 1993. The title of Bharat Bishag Ratna was awarded to him by The Academy of Ayurveda in 1995. Same year, The Raman & Rajeswari Research Foundation awarded him with the Viswakarma Award, at the first All India Symposium on Vastu.
Literary and Research Achievements
Dr.Shastrigal has done a critical study of and additions to Maha Nataka Sukthi Sudhanithi by Immadi Deveraya. The Madras University Syndicate deemed this work as useful for further research. He has also done a critical study and has edited the Chitra Mimamsa Vakya Sudha by Dharananda. He has assisted in the editorial works of Swalpa Matsya Purana, Purana bulletin early volumes 1-4, Ashtanga Hrudaya Nighandu, Malayamarutha, Samskrita Ravindram, a special volume of Samskrita Prathibha, which is a Sanskrit quarterly.
Prestigious Positions Held
Dr. Shastrigal has held many illustrious posts like the Examiner, Sahithya and Vyakarana Board (1974-1978), Chairman, Sahithya and Vyakarana Board (1983) and the Member, Board of Studies in Sanskrit Academic Council, Senate and Syndicate, University Of Madras. He was also the President of Veda Samrakshananysa, Madras, Vice President of Institute of Astrological Studies, Madras and Member of the General Body and Governing Council of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Samsthan, Ministry Of Education, HRD, New Delhi.
At present, he contributes Vedic and astrological articles in leading Tamil magazines, including Shakthi Vikatan and lectures on insights from Vedas, Vedantas and Puranas on the Channel Shankara TV, and also guides PhD students in in their research in Sanskrit and Astrology.
Dr. TRS Raghavan, MA BT, PhD
Retired professor of English and former Principal-in-charge of the evening college at Guru Nanak College affiliated to the Madras University, he holds a doctoral degree in English for the thesis on “john Ruskin’s social philosophy”. He is a Master’s degree holder in English, and a degree holder in Economics and English. He holds diplomas in Journalism, Geography and Anthropology. He has passed Praveen and Visharad diplomas of the Indian council of Astrological sciences (ICAS). He is a silver medal awardee in Jaimini predictive Astrology in the examinations conducted by ICAS. He has taken a few classes in astrology for beginners at the Madras Chapter at the aegis of ICAS.
Dr. Raghavan is currently engaged in astrological research and in writing textbooks for various standards. Astrology and Teaching are his passions. Occasionally, he gives consultation, but spends most of his time on research in the subject. He contributes to Star Teller, an astrological Monthly magazine. In 2009, he attended an astrological conference at Kolkata and presented a paper on “The seven types of Conscience and the Planets”, which was later published in the Star Teller.
Dr. Raghavan started his teaching career in a higher elementary school. Then moved to a reputed city school and served there for over a decade. After qualifying himself to the Masters degree in English, he joined the college service. At the initial stages, he was helping his father in the administration of a higher elementary school in Chennai. As a teacher, he started writing text books on geography for matriculation schools. He continues to be a text book writer.
He has interest in varied subjects like English, Tamil, Geography, Philosophy, Astrology, History and the like. A vivid thinker, he has authored many books right from the primary schools to the matriculation school levels.
He served as a visiting faculty for Geography at the Institute of Bankers, communication skills trainer for financial institutions and Astrology at the Madras center of ICAS. During 1996 to 1997 and 1998 to1999, he was based at Holland as an astrological consultant at the Maharishi Vedic University at Vlodrop, The Netherlands.
Dr. Thiagarajan Rajagopal, PhD
Dr. Thiagarajan was the professor and Head of the Postgraduate and Research Dept of Sanskrit at Presidency College, the 160-year-old educational institution located at Chennai. His area of specialization is Sahitya, BhashaSastra (Comparative Philology), Jyotisha, Nyaya, Vyakarana and Vedic studies. He had been teaching Sanskrit and allied cultural subjects there for more than 30 yrs. He is the nephew of T. Janakiraman, the famous writer and Sahitya Academy award winner. Dr. Thiagarajan has so far guided 80 students to their MPhil degrees, 20 to their PhDs, and 8 more are currently doing their PhDs under him. Additionally, Dr. Thiagarajan has been associated with many universities in different capacities. He has been doing his utmost to popularize Sanskrit and has brought out 160 C.Ds and 5 D.V.Ds in the language. He is also noted for his online teaching of Sanskrit.
Literary Achievements
Dr. Thiagarajan has authored many books in Tamil, Sanskrit and English to his credit; Saradamba Caritham and Shiva Bhujanga Vidyamanasya Padasya Vyakhyaa in Sanskrit, Hindu Samskaras in English and four more in Tamil. He has also authored textbooks for primary and secondary school and college courses.
His stint in Translation is highly commendable. He has translated from Sanskrit to Tamil six works of famous authors including Sujatha. 14 Books have been translated from Sanskrit to English including Bhagavata Campu of Chidambarakavi, Shyamala Dandakam of Kalidasa, and 10 volumes of the Kritis of Muthuswami Dikshitar.
Apart from this, he has delivered more than 900 lectures, presented more than 108 Ratnadipika Sanskrit programs in Doordarshan, and written numerous articles in English in the reputed journals like B.R. International, Honkong, StarTeller etc . He also has to his credit 31 Paper presentations in 4 International conferences and 27 National level seminars in varied topics. His research article Music and Sanskrit can be read online. Dr. Thiagarajan has also reviewed books in the national newspaper The Hindu and has been involved in authoring translations and forewords for various works.
Accolades and Awards Won
Dr. Thiagarajan has been awarded the titles Ilakkiya Mamani (Great gem of literary authors), Samskrita Ratna (Gem of Sanskrit) and Samskrita Rakshamani by reputed organizations in Chennai and the Educational Enthusiast Award for Virtual Teaching, USA.
Prestigious Memberships Held
Dr. Thiagarajan started his illustrious career as a teacher (Sankara Higher Secondary School, Adyar, Chennai), moved on to become a lecturer (The Madras Sanskrit College), then became an assistant professor (Government Arts College, Coimbatore & Presidency College, Chennai) and went on to become the Reader & Head of the Dept of Sanskrit (Presidency College, Chennai).
Dr. Thiagarajan has been the member of many socio-cultural societies like President of Fellowship of Sanskrit Culture, Sanskrit Teachers Association, Chennai, Shukla Yajurveda Sabha and Sanskrit Pandits Association. He has also been a member of academic bodies like Kuppuswamy Research Institute, the Editorial committee Saraswati Mahal Library, Tanjore, Adyar Library and Research Center, etc. And, he has extended his services to many service organizations.
Other Contributions and Felicitations
Dr. Thiagarajan has contributed to films as well. He has written the Sanskrit lyrics for movies like Heyram, etc. The American Biological Institute has recognized him as the Man of the Year in 1999 and 2000, two consecutive years for his peerless service to humanity.
Mr.R.Venugopal
Mr.R.Venugopal, Superintendent Police (Rtd) has been associated with AstroVed and its group Organisations in Chennai in the capacity of The Advisor on Legal and Security for last 10 Years; Board of Advisors, Internal Research, Nadi Accreditation Board –both Quality Assurance and Authorisation of Nadi Readings and Remedies.
He is an alumni of Madras University in Commerce and Law and served in Tamil Nadu Police for 35 years at various levels covering Law and Order, State and National Intelligence (SBCID- Special Branch Criminal Investigation Department, NIB- National Intelligence Bureau and CBCID- Central Branch of Criminal Investigation Department) and retired as Superintendent of Police having Tamil Nadu State wide jurisdiction in 1996.
His illustrious career has included serving in the capacity of Legal and Security Advisor for Hindustan Motors Ltd and Lucas TVS Ltd, Chennai for more than 16 Years.
