Education:

• Proposed PhD on the Panca Mahabhuta or Primordial Elements in Indian Traditions under Professor Dr.Ria Kloppenborg of the Department for Religious Studies, Faculty of Theology of the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands. This PhD could not be completed because of the untimely passing away of Professor Kloppenborg (2002-2004).
• M.A. in Sociology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India (1991)
• B.A. in English Literature, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India (1973)

 

Additional Education and Training:

• Studied and researched Ayurveda and Siddha medicine with a master (3 years).
• Studied and researched Jyothisha (the Vedic science of sacred time and ritual) and Panchangam with a master.
• Studied and researched Darshana (Philosohpy) under several masters.
• Studied and researched Veda, Agama, Sutra and Purana under several masters.
• Studied and researched Vastu Shastra, Shilpa Shastra, and the theory of music and dance.
• Educated and trained as hereditary priest and ritual performer into the Shakta doctrine and ritual traditions of the Shri Tillai Ambal and Shri Tillai Kali temple of Chidambaram, India.
• Educated and initiated as Deekshithar into the Vedic doctrine and ritual traditions of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple of Chidambaram, India.

 

Posts, Experiences and Achievements:

• Visits to the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium. Lecturing and giving workshops on various subjects. (1983 till the present).
• Research project evolving from his discovery of the existence of an Indian parallel to the sphinx (1985 till the present). Resulting in publications, websites, and also a video presentation.
• Various research projects revolving around the history and traditions of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple, Chidambaram (1973 till the present). Resulting in publications, websites and video presentations.
• Series of Cultural Training Sessions for the Transaction Banking Group of the ABNAMRO Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2005). 
• Series of workshops on the theme " Spirituality and Management" for The Hogeschool Utrecht, The Netherlands (2005).
• Guest speaker and guest lecturer at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands (1998-2004).
• Consultant and also participant for the production of several movies and documentaries; “Mark Tully’s Faces of India”, a series of short documentaries presented by renowned journalist Mark Tully (1997); "Darshan" presented by Michael Wood and produced by Maya Vision International (1986); a documentary produced by Doorsdarshan for Indian television on the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple of Chidambaram (1985); the French feature film, “Dance of Shiva” (1984).
• Consultant and resource person for academics, journalists and students for their work on various subjects relating to South Indian traditions and the Chidambaram temple. Publications by Paul Younger, David Feith, John McKim Malville, Michael Wood, David Shulman, and others, have been based on his contributions to a larger or lesser extend (1973 till the present).
• Managing Trustee of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple, Chidambaram, India (1961 till the present).
• Performer of many yajña’s and consecrations. Extensive ritual knowledge and experience.
• First performer of the consecration ritual for the Shri Rahasya Chakra in the Shabha of Chidambaram after a gap of over 100 years.
• Officiating acharya of the Ani Tirumanjanam temple festival of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple, Chidambaram.
• Secretary and managing director of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple (1983-1984).
• High priest of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple (1973 till the present).
• Ordained as a priest and high priest of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple, Chidambaram, India (1973).
• Priest of the Shri Tillai Ambal and Shri Tillai Kali temple of Chidambaram, India (1973 till the present. Withdrawn from active service since1988).

 

Publications:

Discovering the Anthropomorphic Lion in Indian Art, Marg 55, number 4, June 2004.

Fasting and Abstinence: Hinduism and Buddhism, Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, New York, 2003, (Together with the late Professor Dr. R.Kloppenborg)

The Temple of the Dancing Shiva, a Gateway to Yoga, Deutsches Yoga Forum, 2002

Vaidya, Vedic Healing, Nieznany (2000)

The Wonders behind Orion, part 1 and 2, Bres 196 and 197 (1999).

Akasha, Bres 194 (1999).

Have Sphinxes Travelled to India, Bres 179 (1996) and in L’Eta dell’ Acquario  117-118 (1999).

The Dance of Tillai Chidambaram, 1998

The Hidden Treasure in the City of Ether, 1997

Chidambaram-the Home of Siva, Tattvaloka  feb/mar 1992 and Tattvaloka  june/july 1996.