Our Lineage
The sacred Veda and its allied sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga and Advaita have been learnt, lived and transmitted for most of India’s history, as an oral tradition.
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For centuries, Vedic knowledge was taught only one way: the direct way, heart to heart, through the spoken word, transmitted by a sincere teacher to a devoted group of students in the intimate setting of a unique, personalized school called “Gurukulam,” or the teachers home, where devoted students gathered around their wise ‘parental’ teacher, for an extended period of time (or even life long).
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Over time, certain families called ‘Sampradaya’ became dedicated to the spiritual education of sincere seekers. Sampradaya is the Sanskrit term for a spiritual lineage, or a living tradition of Vedic education. When such activities were carried across several generations, an unbroken succession of teachers and students was created, called ‘Guru – Shishya Parampara’ in the Sanskrit language.
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Acharya Shunya hails from the respected Sarayu Veda Sampradaya focusing upon Adwaita or non dual teachings from the Vedas - hailing from the holy city of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. While the lineage traces its beginning to "Lord Narayana and his consort Goddess Lakshmi" a representation in form of ultimate formless Supreme Divinity, the lineage then winds its way through human seers: Rishi Vashishtha and his wife Rishika Arundati who taught at their Gurukulam in Ayodhya two thousand years ago; followed by Rishi's Shakti, Parashara, Vyasacharya, and Shukarcharya. The Rishis are followed by human teachers Gaudapada, Govind Bhagvadpada, Shankara, followed by Padmapada
Hastamalaka. Totaka, Vartikakara, Sureshvara, Sumukhacharya, Atmaprakashacharya to immediate teachers, Shanti Prakashashacharya in the 19th century, Ayodhya Nathacharya in the 20th century, up to Acharya Shunya (Shunyacharya) in the 21st century.
As the first female lineage holder in a 2,000-year-old line of spiritual teachers, Shunya provides a rare opportunity to receive these authentic teachings from a genuine Vedic master—one with a distinctly down-to-earth, feminine flavor who never lets us forget that our humanity is to be embodied and enjoyed. Throughout her oral teachings and writings Shunya adeptly guides humanity through the core concepts and practices of the Vedas, Yoga, Ayurveda and Adwaita, demystifying and contextualizing sacred concepts for modern life.
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The Great Teacher of Acharya Shunya
A great Vedic Seer & Hindu Householder Sage
The Immediate Teacher of Acharya Shunya
A great Yogi, Ayurvedic Healer, Renowned Sage
Shunyacharya
1967-Present
The first Female Head of her Ancient Lineage
Renowned Vedic Master, Teacher and Author
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A Spiritual Destiny at Work
Gratitude from Acharya Shunya:
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I consider myself supremely fortunate to be born in the family of my Guru. This was not simply a matter of luck. Clearly, my destiny gave me hints as to the very purpose of my existence: to awaken to my highest potential.
Each time a sincere disciple meets a sincere awakened Guru, it is spiritual destiny at work, because of which we find the right book at the right time. We may take the right turn in our life, leading us to our Guru.
The Bhagavad Gita, a great Vedic text of wisdom teachings talks about how a person sincere about ‘awakening’ will surely continue their quest for truth across lifetimes. When our soul is unable to complete its spiritual journey in one lifetime, or we may get distracted from the path. Then again, we are gently supported in our next birth, to continue where we left off. These verses give seekers hope that we can continue with our spiritual quest boldly; even death cannot stop us, until we reach our goal.
Neither in this lifetime, nor the next, is there destruction of the
knowledge of one who seeks to awaken to Self.
One who has deviated from the path before reaching the goal,but is sincere, is born again…
in the family of the wise seers,verily, a birth like this one, is very hard to obtain, in this world.
Then, the seeker becomes once again united with the knowledge acquired in the former body, and strives more than before for attainment of the goal of Realization of Self.
Bhagavad Gita, 6, 41-43
It is this same destiny that became the imperative of my teachings, books and service to humanity.
Today, so many of my spiritual students, from different parts of the world, show such familiarity with the timeless knowledge I share with them. They mention how this knowledge is ’like coming home’ and experience an inexplicable familiarity with it. They have surely studied it before in previous lifetimes?
Perhaps your visiting this page and readingmy words from amongst the millions more things you could have chosen to do at this exact moment in time, may be the beginning of the completion of a great inner quest, initiated in another time, in another lifetime.
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Lineage Based Organizations and Websites
Vedika Global, Inc.
A 501C3 Religious Not-for-profit registered in California. Vedika promotes lineage ideals: Vedic wisdom (Vidya), Devotion (Bhakti) and Selfless Service (Seva) to Alleviate Global Suffering. Founded by Acharya Shunya in 2007, Vedika is now run and directed by its Board of Directors, consisting of senior disciples and volunteers who wish to preserve and support the lineage teachings in the 21st century.Vedika Global is the parent or seed organization supporting and incubating the emergence of all later organizations associated with Acharya Shunya and her lineage. Vedika Global's new projects 2021 onwards include promoting Vedic scripture study, fundraising for and constructing a lineage home - that shall be called International Moksha Ashram; along with supporting COVID RELIEF projects worldwide through active philanthropy or Seva.
The Awakened Self Foundation LLC.
A learning, empowering and awakening platform built from ground up and taken forward by Acharya Shunya's Senior Disciple and Former Board President of Vedika Global: Gayathri Raman. The Foundation empowers health and elevates consciousness by enabling full-spectrum courses and in depth certificate trainings in Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta by Acharya Shunya and select Vedic educators formerly trained by Acharya Shunya inside Vedika Global. The live streams as well as video classes are made available worldwide using the latest interactive technology. The Foundation supports international communities of students and will direct financial aid from its earnings to Vedika Global, to support and enable Vedika's word-wide philanthropic projects, in keeping with the lineage value of "Seva".
Chef Sanjai LLC.
This is a portal to celebrate the timeless Ayurvedic cuisine as taught and documented by Vedika's Lineage Teacher Chef Sanjai, who has, in partnership with Vedika Global's School of Ayurveda taught and documented over 200 Ayurvedic recipes, from a period ranging from 2008 to 2019. By archiving traditional approaches to healing with foods and lineage recipes, otherwise forgotten by the world, Chef Sanjai has changed lives and restored health. Chef Sanjai's Team (consistinging of Vedika graduates) have documented countless testimonials of improved health and wellbeing as a result of eating the delicious but deeply healing signature Ayurveda cuisine developed or researched from source texts that go back to 1st century BCE to 16th century CE, by Chef Sanjai. A portion of all proceeds are directed back to Vedika Global to support Vedika's philanthropic projects.