About Me
Hello, I am Acharya Shunya. I help seekers elevate their consciousness and transform their lives using ancient Indian nondual wisdom (Advaita), Yoga, and Ayurveda. As an award-winning author and speaker, my teachings are designed for modern seekers, even if you've never heard of Vedic wisdom before. My students often say that I light up their path from confusion to clarity, fear to courage, and powerlessness to empowerment.
My Teaching Journey
I take complex ancient Vedic teachings and make them easy to understand and apply in today’s world. My approach to nondual Advaita, Yoga, and Ayurveda is all about finding practical solutions to everyday challenges. I love translating sacred Sanskrit texts into insights that you can use to experience profound personal growth and inner transformation.
I’ve been hailed a modern day mystic along with some of the most well known teachers in America today, such as Jack Kornfield, Caroline Myss, Adyashanti, Damien Echols, and Lama Rod Owens
I have been invited to share my teachings at places like UCSF, UCLA, Stanford, and Kripalu and Omega, Sivananda Ashrams, World Ayurveda Congress, Sounds True One, and the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.
​
I lead workshops and retreats around the world, and I’m passionate about making these ancient practices accessible and meaningful for everyone.
Modern Teaching Mystic Approach
Honored for Service
Throughout my journey, I’ve been honored with several prestigious awards. I received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service to the Vedic Sciences by the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS), Nalanda Award of Excellence in Ayurvedic Education, and the Global Women’s Power Award. In 2024, I was recognized for my service to yoga on International Yoga Day with a proclamation from the Mayor of Emeryville. In the past, I have been honored to serve as an Advisor to the Government of India on International Yoga affairs. These recognitions inspire me to continue sharing and teaching these timeless practices.
Continuing A Rich Legacy
Following the Footsteps of Sages
I am honored to continue the illustrious legacy of my ancestors from the sacred city of Ayodhya in India. My immediate teacher and guru was my paternal grandfather, Baba Ayodhya Nath, a revered Vedic scholar, master of yoga and meditation, Ayurveda expert, and beloved householder saint (Grihasta Sadhu). He was the disciple and son of his guru, Paramatman Shanti Prakash, a distinguished 19th-century seer and prolific scholar.
​
I have been told that learning from someone deeply rooted in a living spiritual tradition is a rare opportunity. I feel I have been entrusted with that responsibility to bring centuries-old wisdom, techniques, and secrets honed by practicing masters in my lineage, to you. This depth of knowledge helps address real-life issues in a profound way.
Expanding Vision, Evolving Logos: A New Chapter in Sharing Vedic Wisdom
​
From 2008 to 2020, I founded and led Vedika Global Inc., a 501 c3 Relious Not0-for_profit headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area. Through 'Vedika' I nurtured Vedic wisdom by establishing an Ayurveda Gurukulam, public sanghas, and free community clinics. During its active years, Vedika nurtured thousands of individuals, promoting happiness, health, and light of wisdom through the profound tradition of Vedic wisdom. Some of these graduates have become teachers and healers in their own right.
​
In 2020, Vedika Global Inc. launched the Awakened Self Foundation to expand access to Vedic knowledge through modern technology, successfully reaching students on every continent and broadening the sphere of enlightenment. Having fulfilled its mission of global outreach, the foundation will now take a step back as my focus shifts back to Vedika Global and its new initiative, the Vedic Study Circle, to continue sharing the wisdom of the Vedas with an inclusive, donation-based approach. As a result, you'll see the familiar foundation logo less frequently as we concentrate on this new chapter of learning and community.
​
​
Additionally, to embrace my unbounded creativity and cultivate a more direct approach to teaching, I will occasionally offer programs independently of my organizations. To highlight this evolution, I am unveiling a new symbolic logo featuring two flames—the taller flame represents Paramatman, the universal consciousness, while the smaller flame symbolizes Atman, the individual soul. This emblem reflects the yogic journey of merging personal consciousness with the infinite. While you will sometimes see my new personal logo alongside my name, you will also see it paired with the Vedika Global logo, as I remain deeply committed to its mission and work. This balanced approach allows me to continue supporting Vedika Global while also exploring new, flexible ways to connect with seekers and share Vedic wisdom.
​
My Dedication
I strive to revive ancient wisdom and show its relevance for today's world. My books and online teaching, deliberately kept affordable or freely accessible on youtube, offer easy-to-understand guidance on Vedic practices that can enhance your life, no matter your background or beliefs. By translating and sharing these teachings, I aim to help humans everywhere unlock their divine potential and achieve a balanced, fulfilling, and spiritually beautiful life.
"A Well Lived Day
is Medicine Unto Itself"
- Acharya Shunya
I reside in Northern California with my husband, Chef Sanjai. I find joy in sunrises, walks in nature, meditating and tending to my abundant garden. I also cherish spending time with my beloved animals. My passions include decoding ancient scriptures, writing books, and nurturing my global community of students.