I became a disciple of Mata Amritanandamayi at age twelve, and have been learning Sanatana Dharma from her teachings ever since, including at her Ashram in Kerala, India. I have also studied with Sri Karunamayi, Sai Maa, Swami Ram Kripalu, Pandit Parthasarathi Vempati, and Pandit Dhruv Sharma over many years, with a deep focus in the Bhakti Marga from a Smarta theological perspective. Advaita Vedanta is my primary philosophical background. Sri Krishna is my beloved Ishta Devata, and my main personal practice is classical Bhakti Yoga; however I also have extensive experience with ritualistic Shakta Tantra, in addition to the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
At my Guru’s encouragement, I have also spent many years studying the Shastras of Sanatana Dharma, with an especial love for the Puranas. Through immersion in traditional Hindu communities in South and North India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the US, as well as a deep study of the Puranas, I have developed something of an encyclopedic knowledge of classical Pauranik Hindu lore. Group devotional reading of these scriptures is a traditional Sadhana, and one that I love and find deeply enjoyable. However, the Puranas especially are best approached with the aid of a learned commentator, because they frequently make unexplained references to a huge variety of obscure concepts from the culture and milieu of ancient Sanatana Dharma. Most modern readers, even many lifelong Hindus, will be unfamiliar with numerous such references. As such, I feel I have a rare contribution to bring to the experience of the Puranas for modern devotional readers.