Acharya Dr. Suryanarayan Nanda
Dr. Suryanarayana Nanda is an eminent scholar of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Sanskrit literature, and a lifelong student of Vedic philosophy. He holds a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from Utkal University and a Master’s from Delhi University, bringing deep expertise and a strong command of the Sanskrit language.
A respected spiritual guide, he is known for his profound understanding of Vedic texts and his dedication to promoting Vedic philosophy and the teachings of Arya Samaj. He taught Vedas and Vedic philosophy to graduate and postgraduate students at the Gurukul in Gautam Nagar, New Delhi, until 2009. He also served over 11 years as a full-time volunteer promoting Sanskrit as a spoken language.
With several Sanskrit publications, including short plays, and recognized work as a poet, he blends academic rigor with rich Vedic insight. Before moving to Houston as Acharya of Arya Samaj of Greater Houston, he was an Associate Professor of Sanskrit at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. Since 2001, he has also been a Sanskrit news broadcaster for All India Radio and Doordarshan.
For more information, contact Arya Samaj of Greater Houston at (281) 752-0100 or (832) 867-4126.
Acharya Bramdeo Mokoonlall
Acharya Bramdeo Mokoonlall is a distinguished Vedic scholar and educator from Mauritius, raised in the Arya Samaj tradition. With professional qualifications in Banking from the University of Mauritius and Management from ABE UK, he also trained in Strategic Planning at IIM Ahmedabad. After over two decades in the financial sector, he returned to his spiritual roots, pursuing advanced studies in Vedic Philosophy at Darshan Yog Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat.
Acharya Bramdeo has significantly contributed to educational, spiritual, and social initiatives through the Arya Sabha of Mauritius and served as a resource to the Mauritius Council of Religions and global interfaith platforms, including Arya Samaj organizations in the U.S. and Canada.
A bilingual author, he has published numerous articles in English and French on Vedic philosophy, spirituality, and interfaith dialogue. He co-authored a bilingual book on interfaith dialogue and a French-language work, Enceinte, je sème le sacré, exploring Vedic sanskars during pregnancy.
Since May 2023, he has served as School Acharya at Arya Samaj Greater Houston, where he leads Dharma (Naitik) Shiksha curriculum development for DAV Sanskriti School and DAV Montessori.
His insight, experience, and dedication continue to inspire the global Arya Samaj community.
Acharya Praveen Gulati
Shri Praveen K. Gulati, an Engineer by Profession, was appointed as the Honorary Priest of Arya Samaj Greater Houston in September 1992. He is a devout follower of the path shown by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. He is known for well organized Yajnas and thought provoking ‘pravachans” or sermons. He continued to serve Arya Samaj as the priest until November 1996.
He has filled in during the absences of the the Religious Guides. He has performed Vedic ceremonies in homes and businesses of Arya Samaj members and non-members in Greater Houston area and beyond. He was also a volunteer teacher in the D.A.V. School and for some time, was the director of the school. Recently, he has retired from Arya Samaj related activities because of some health issues.
Dr. Dilip Vedalankar
Dr. Dilip Vedalankar (Panditji) has honored Arya Samaj of Greater Houston by serving as our religious guide. A dynamic scholar with a doctorate in Vedic studies from Gurukul University, Hardwar, he is a respected interpreter of Indian culture, Vedic philosophy, and Hinduism, and is widely regarded as a cultural ambassador of India.
Panditji served for many years as Joint Secretary of the International Aryan League in New Delhi. As a Vedic missionary, he has traveled worldwide spreading the teachings of the Vedas. He has authored numerous books in Hindi, Gujarati, and English, including the well-known Humanism in Vedas.
He is deeply committed to promoting Sanskrit. With a Master’s degree from Delhi University, he has taught at Hans Raj College and served as Honorary Secretary of the All India Sanskrit Bhasha Prasar Samiti, whose classes have benefited over 100,000 people globally.
Dr. Vedalankar believes lasting peace and harmony can be achieved by returning to the eternal, universal teachings of the Vedas, which rise above caste, creed, and race and promote humanism and unity.
Panditji is available for Vedic ceremonies, sanskars, and discourses. He has performed over 1,000 yajnas, 480 marriages, and delivered more than 4,500 discourses.
Contact: (281) 879-9611, (281) 752-0100, Fax (281) 752-0110.
Dr. Tanaji Acharya
Dr. Tanaji Acharya (Acharya ji) serves Arya Samaj Greater Houston as our religious guide and Resident Purohit. An experienced and devoted Vedic missionary, he has served Arya Samaj communities in India, the UK, and Canada. Born in Maharashtra, he discovered his spiritual path early under the influence of Swami Shradhanand ji. Though he completed a B.Sc. in Mathematics, his true passion was religion and youth activities. In 1975, he joined Dayanand Math and later earned a Shashtri degree, a Master’s in Sanskrit, a Ph.D. in Indian Philosophy, and the Acharya Darshan degree. Since 1986, he has worked full-time as an Arya Samaj Pracharak, including assignments in London and Canada.
Acharya ji is the author of Relevance of Indian Philosophy to Modern Society and has contributed to several research papers. His main interests include Sanskrit, Hindi, Yoga, meditation, Vedas, Upanishads, and Indian philosophy. He believes the Vedas offer universal, rational, and scientific knowledge for human upliftment and teaches that Yagna supports both moral development and ecological balance.
Despite his deep understanding, he considers himself a lifelong student. He is available for Vedic ceremonies, sanskars, discourses, and weekly classes. Contact: (281) 920-0306 or (281) 752-0100.
Acharya Dr. Shridhar
Dr. Prem Chand Shridhar is a highly energetic Vedic scholar and devoted Arya Samaj missionary. He retired as a Senior Teacher in Delhi after nearly 40 years, educating two generations of students. He holds four M.A. degrees, an M.Phil., and a Ph.D. from Delhi University, with a thesis titled Philosophical Reflections in Rigvedic Legends.
He has authored numerous books and articles on Vedas, Vedic culture, and Arya Samaj, and presented papers at conferences in India and abroad. He served as Visiting Professor at Hindu University of America and is a member of the Hindu Writers Forum and the World Association for Vedic Studies. He has been honored with the Shri Meghji Bhai Arya Sahitya Puraskar (1999) and the Shri Lalman Arya Vedic Vidwan Puraskar (1992) for his contributions.
A Pracharak for over 35 years, Dr. Shridhar has spread the message of Swami Dayanand Saraswati across India, Kenya, the UK, Canada, and the U.S. Since 2000, he served Arya Samaj Greater Houston and the Vedic Culture Center, helping people improve their lives, offering counseling, and performing Vedic ceremonies, weddings, and Sanskars. In December 2011, he retired and returned to India to be with his children and grandchildren, leaving a lasting legacy of Vedic teaching and service.
Acharya Sonerao
Sonerao Acharya ji teaches in our two DAV schools at Arya Samaj Greater Houston to enhance religious and moral education. He is from Latur in Maharashtra but received all his education in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. He was in United Kingdom for over six years as a Vedic scholar preaching the ideals of the Vedas.
He obtained his degree of Shastri from G.N.D. University Amritsar, Saahityaacharya from Punjab University Chandigarh and MA Sanskrit Degree from Meerut University. After his formal education he became Acharya in a Gurukul, and then a Sanskrit lecturer for several years. He finally gave up his lectureship to become a full time Dharma Prachaarak and went to Nairobi in East Africa. After spending almost two years in East Africa he went to United Kingdom where he worked with the Arya Samaj Vedic Mission and Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK as a Minister of Hindu Religion.
As a professional he is passionate about the teachings of the Vedas, he is very learned and knowledgeable. He is a scholar of Sanskrit, fluent in several languages, an accomplished public speaker who can speak on various topics extempore, and sings devotional songs and hymns in a melodious voice.
Acharyaa Dr. Kavita Vachaknavee
Acharyaa Kavita-ji was born into a prominent Arya Samajist family in Amritsar with a four-generation legacy. She studied at Kanya Gurukul, Hathras (UP), and graduated in Sanskrit from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi. After marriage, she continued her education, earning an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Sociolinguistics and Hindi literature. She was Founder Secretary of Vishwambhara, promoting human values based on Vedic philosophy, especially among children. An eminent contemporary Hindi writer, her poems and short stories are included in the syllabi of the University of Delhi and University of Oslo, Norway.
She has received numerous awards for contributions to Hindi literature, journalism, and IT applications in Indic languages, recognized by institutions including the Indian High Commission, London. She has served as visiting faculty in Hyderabad and Wardha and as Consultant and Examiner for Cambridge International Examinations. She has lectured extensively, including a tour in Thailand organized by Arya Samaj Bangkok. She has edited three books, authored four, including one on Maharshi Dayanand, and published numerous articles followed by tens of thousands online.
At Houston, she serves as Principal and Director of DAV Sanskriti School and assumes Acharyaa responsibilities at Arya Samaj Greater Houston as needed. She is married to Acharya Harish-ji and has a daughter and two sons. For more information, contact DAVSS.
Acharya Dr. Harish Chandra
Acharya Harish Chandra Ji, born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), is an engineer by education and profession. With an Aeronautical Engineering degree from IIT Kanpur and a Ph.D. in Combustion Sciences from Princeton University, he had been engaged with companies in India, Germany and Norway in research of combustion processes. Interestingly, during his professional life, he continued to maintain a close relationship with Arya Samaj including a stint as the President of Arya Samaj in Pilani, Rajasthan, and studying Vedic literature.
In July 1996, Acharya Harish decided to renounce his engineering profession, and instead, dedicated himself to the spread of the message and the knowledge of Vedic scriptures through many lecture tours in India, Europe and North America. He continued his mission under the banner of Arya Samaj in Birmingham (UK) and Center for Inner Sciences (CIS), which he founded as an institution to present Vedic spiritual sciences such as Meditation and Yoga to western audiences and to train teachers.
Acharya Harish Ji is excited to be a part of the Arya Samaj Greater Houston team. In addition to his duties as a qualified priest, he intends to continue teaching Patanjali Yoga and meditation to people of Arya Samaj and beyond. Acharya Ji is married to Dr.Kavita Vachaknavee, who is an author, a poet, a critic and a social activist. Acharya Ji can be reached at (832) 874-3248 on phone.