Core Faculty Profiles

Prof H R Nagendra (PhD in Mechanical Engineering), Vice-chancellor of SVYASA , is also the President of Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore. He was a NASA research associate and consultant at Harvard University before his interests turned to full time involvement in human engineering and the search for ultimate reality. His life mission is the scientific exploration of the subtle aspects of consciousness through yoga.

Prof N V C Swamy (PhD in Civil Engineering), Dean of Academics Programs & Dean of Division of Yoga and Physical Sciences . He is the former Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He has been the curriculum advisor for the Indian Yoga Institute at VYASA. In his teachings, he attempts to harmonize modern science with the ancient Indian science of the Upanishads and yoga texts.

Prof Ramachandra Bhat, PhD, Dean, Division of Yoga & Spirituality . Brought up in the traditional way in Sanskrit, He completed his Vidwat in Sanskrit (the highest degree in the Sanskrit education equivalent to a Master's degree). He also went through the conventional degree, Master's degree in the same subject including PhD from Mysore University. He started teaching in Janaseva Vidyashala, a residential school near Bangalore and developed many novel teaching techniques for effective communication. He also read and mastered various systems of philosophy - Advaita, Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita and gained insights into the Self. In 1994 he left the job and founded Veda Vijnana Gurukulam in Channena Hally. He has participated in numerous Sanskrit, philosophical conferences in different parts of the country and is involved in active research and published various articles and papers in the journals. Participated in 9th World Conference at Melborne, Australia in 1994 and presented a paper. He is offering his services as Honorary Professor in SVYASA and is the Head of the Department of Sanskrit in the Division of Yoga-Spirituality.

Dr R Nagarathna , an MD and FRCP(Edin), Dean, Division of Yoga and Life Sciences combines her medical knowledge with her deep knowledge and experience of yoga as the head of the 160-beds residential yoga therapy Health Home at VYASA. She has established yoga therapy protocols for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, digestive problems, and cancer. She has, to her credit, numerous clinical publications on yoga therapy.

Dr Shirley Telles , MBBS, has a PhD in Neurophysiology. As the Head of the Department of Yoga and Bio-sciences, Division of Life Sciences, SVYASA, she has, to her credit, forty four research papers in national and internationally indexed journals besides six books. She guides the research students at SVYASA and has been responsible for development of research laboratories in the campus

Shri N V Raghuram , BE (Civil), is International Coordinator and senior yoga instructor of VYASA. He has given thousands of lectures on Yoga, conducted hundreds of workshops and trained hundreds of yoga instructors around the globe.

Prof N C B Nath , PhD, in Economics, Dean of Division of Yoga & Management studies. He is also a visiting Prof of IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow & IIM Ahmedabad. He is the former Economic Advisor of Hindustan Lever Ltd. He attempts to harmonize modern management system with Indian System of Management, an extension of Vedanta.

Shri T Mohan MSc , YTIC, the Secretary of VYASA , is the Registrar of SVYASA. He has been been training Yoga teachers in Prashanti and outside since 1983.

Smt Subhadra Devi , MSc, YTIC, is MA in Anthropology. She is a senior Yoga teacher and now the faculty in SVYASA. Along with Shri T. Mohan, she has trained hundreds of yoga instructors all-over the globe.

Dr Naveen, K V BNYS , PhD, He as Asst Professor, has 11 Research publications in journals indexed in international bibliographic databases (Medline, PsychLit, & PsychInfo) and two chapters in conference proceedings. His academic recognitions include an award for the 'Best outgoing student' (University of Mangalore, 1994), a Fulbright Fellowship (J. William Fulbright Foundation, U.S.A., August 1998 - February 1999) to study "Functional magnetic resonance imaging in meditators" at the Dept. of Radiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida) and an award for the best research paper in Yoga and Naturopathy by the Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India (2004). He has acted as a special reader for two international journals [Psychological Reports and Perceptual & Motor Skills].

Dr Raghavedra Rao M , BNYS, PhD is Lecturer Assistant Professor in Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, has an PhD in Yoga. He published 3 abstracts in journals and 4 papers presented in conferences. He is an invited member of central committee for ethical guideline, ethics training and workshop - Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi. He is a recipient of Dr Sushila Thacker Prakruti Mandir Prize for the best paper in the field of Yoga, Naturopathy and Natural Health by Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of India in December 2002.

Dr Manjunath N. K, BNYS , PhD, Asst Professor of Bio-Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation (A premier University), Bangalore, India. He has completed the thesis entitled: "Yoga and geriatric care - an evaluation of positive health indicators" , under the guidance of Dr Shirley Telles, MBBS, PhD (Neurophysiology). He has 8 research publications in journals indexed in international bibliographic databases (Medline, Psychlit, & Psychinfo). His academic recognitions include two travel grants, awarded from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, to present research papers at two international conferences (Tampa, USA and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). He is a visiting faculty to the institution's branches at Melbourne, Australia and Singapore. His research interests are: (1) Studying the influence of yoga on the ageing process, (2) studying the physiological changes during the practice of yoga techniques such as yoga breathing (pranayamas) and meditation, using electrophysiological and imaging techniques.

R Rangan MA, MBA , brought up in the traditional way in vedic culture, did his vedantic studies under Sri Sivarama Køsna Sastry of Kanci Sankara Mutt, learnt Bhakti Sastras from Sri Krisnapremi Swamigal and Vyakarana and Sahitya Sastras from Sri Tirumalachary. He delivers various discourses on Vedas, Upanisads, Epics and Puranas. He published several books on vedic dharma and culture. He is a lecturer in the division of Yoga and Spirituality.

Dr Shamanthakamani Narendran , MD, PhD, is one of the eminent pediatricians and she broadcasts regular programs on All India Radio and Dooradarshan. She has traveled widely. She takes active part in rural health projects and other community services. She is a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. She has published two books on child care. Has served as president of Bangalore Pediatric Society, Association of Women Doctors of Karnataka and Kannada Vaidya Sahithya Parishat. She is at present doing extensive research study on efficacy of "Yoga in Pregnant Women" .

Dr M S Chaya , MSc , PhD, Lecturer in Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, has an MSc in food and nutrition. She is an academic councilor for certificate courses under-diet and nutrition for IGNOU. Practicing and teaching yoga for the past 10 years.