BAVA has the honour of these illustrious astrologers lecturing at this year’s annual conference:
Pieter Weltevrede
Pieter met the late Shri Harish Johari in 1977 in Holland, when he was still doing his study of social sciences. Dada, as he was called, introduced people all around the world in subjects like chakras, tantra, numerology, swara yoga, cooking, massaging, gemstones, Ayurveda and many more. But most important: how to live a healthy and inspired life.
For Dada art was very important in the spiritual development of a student. When making art time does not exist and also there is no ego. The high concentration brings one in a meditative mood. He himself was a poet, sculptor, painter, writer, cook, filmmaker, musician and teacher. Living was his art.
One of his many workshops was yantra painting. An abstract play of form and color representing and evoking certain energies or deities. Later on he also introduced mandalas made with a formula called the Vedic Square to prolong the sadhana of painting. Everybody was able to attend this and had an experience of peace and being centered. Most painted first time.
When Pieter met Dada, he introduced himself in Holland as a painter with a watercolor technique, that came from the Shanti Niketan of Rabhindranath Tagore. With washes one creates the desired mood. Together with his teacher, Sri Chandra Bal, Dada modified this technique and brought it to silk. As a model he took the body proportions of the ancient temples like Elephanta, Ellora, Khajuraho and Ajanta. This way he ceated a new style of spiritual painting: the Harish Johari Wash Technique.
In 1988 Pieter went first time to Bareilly in North India. The cooperation with the Indian art teachers culminated in the creation of the book “The Birth of the Ganga”, published by Inner Traditions in 1998 (48 paintings). Under their guidance he also worked on paintings for “Little Krishna” (2002).
Under the guidance of Dada, Pieter also illustrated “The Monkeys and the Mango Tree”, Ayurvedic Massage and the latest edition of “Chakras”.
In 1999 Dada left his body and the class ended. Pieter continued his struggle as an artist and as time continued still felt supported by his Guru. “Just keep on making beautiful paintings” was one of his last remarks. After this he made a series of children’s books and produced a lot of new paintings.
In 2004 at the Kumbh Mela of Nasik Pieter met Sri Avadh Behari Das Kathiababa. There was friendship from the first moment they met. This was a great opportunity to see and experience sadhu life from within. Painting is sadhana and a beautiful form of Bhajan.
Together with Mavis Gewant , also an art student of Dada, Pieter gives every spring in the Johari House in Haridwar (India) an intensive painting workshop of about 2 weeks. Under the guiding protection of Prathiba Johari (Dada’s wife) and Seema Johari (dada’s daughter) people experience the spirituality in art at the shores of the Holy Mother Ganga.
Pieter is married to Geva, who is also a painter, and he has 3 children, also all busy in art. He is a trained social scientist with an advanced degree. Pieter has been recognized as a Master artist by the Dutch Government.
Bangalore Niranjan Babu
Editor of The Astrological eMagazine Bangalore Niranjan Babu is an international consultant in (astro based) Vastu Shastra and has authored several best selling books.
He is an advisor for well-known temples, complexes and institutions and has lectured, conducted workshops (and teaching classes) and given professional consultations in India, North America, Europe and other parts of the world. Many individuals, businesses and institutions have greatly benefited from his advice. He has been associated with his father and internationally reputed scholar of Vedic Astrology Dr. B.V. Raman’s work for more than 40 years.
Pandit Sharma C.S. Samavedula
Pandit Sharma is a 6th generation Sama Veda pandit and a Shri Vidya Upasaka. In 1990, after 12 years of study, Pandit Sharma received his Master’s Degree in Vedic Studies (Ganapati Pandit). During this time he learnt the grammar and other aspects of Sanskrit and the performance of different kinds of pujas and yagyas.
In 2002, he founded the Vedic Yagya Center located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India and Fairfield, Iowa. His Center offers to individuals, organizations and businesses Vedic yagyas (sacred ceremonies), homams (ancient fire ceremonies), and pujas as prescribed in the Vedas and Shastras, the holy Indian scriptures. By utilizing the sound vibrations of specific Sanskrit mantras, these performances can help alleviate many problems of our modern times.
Andrew Foss, PhD
Andrew is the President and co-founder of the British Association of Vedic Astrology. He has a BA and MA from Oxford University in Physics and an MSc and PhD in Computing Science. He is the author of the leading software for Vedic Astrology, Shri Jyoti Star and the editor of the journal Gochara.
He is a Jaimini Scholar and has lectured internationally on Jyotish, Ayurveda and computing and has published extensively in Astronomy and Computing in peer-reviewed journals along with many articles in Jyotish. See www.vedicsoftware.com
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 London, USA and India. See www.komilla.com
Steve Hubball, PhD
Steve has his PhD in mathematics. Steve is a Professional Vedic Astrologer and Jaimini Scholar, studying under the guidance of Pandit Sanjay Rath. He is a member of BAVA and CVA, and is the UK Teacher for Dirah Academy International, which offers email correspondence courses in Vedic Astrology.
Steve is also available for private consultations: Tel: +44 (0)1228 674225. See www.vedic-astrology.org.uk
Gordon Brennan
Gordon is a professional astrologer and dealer in Vedic astrology books. He will have a large selection of Vedic books available to buy at the conference. He teaches the BAVA courses and is tutor for SJC Study Group.
Gordon is a BAVA committee member. See www.vedicbookservices.com
Geoffrey Pearce
Geoffrey has been studying and practicing Vedic Astrology since 1986. He is an accredited teacher by the American Council of Vedic Astrology and a member of their Council.
He learnt most of his Vedic Astrology from Hart deFouw in England and USA. He holds regular weekly classes in London. Geoffrey has given many public lectures on the philosophy and principles behind the subject and is also BAVA Treasurer. www.vediccharts.co.uk Over recent years Geoffrey has been specialising in mundane, or political, astrology, and some of his researches can be found at www.nationaloutlooks.com
Keiko Ito
Keiko studied western astrology from a young age. She was inspired to delve into Vedic Astrology after meeting her teacher Komilla Sutton at the Balkan International Astrology Conference in Belgrade, Serbia in March 2003. Keiko has regularly given Vedic astrology-themed lectures at the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center of Japan. She is a full-time professional translator since 1993 and part-time astrology consultant since 2007.