Invited Guests – 48th VSNA Convention
Sri Sri Sri Siddalinga Mahaswamigalu, Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur
His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji, JSS Mutt, Suttur Srikshetra, Mysuru District
Anuradha Bhat is a highly prominent Indian playback singer known primarily for her extensive work in the Kannada film industry (Sandalwood)
Dr. Gil Ben-Herut is a Professor in the Religious Studies Department, University of South Florida. His research interests include premodern religious literature in the Kannada language, South Asian bhakti (devotional) traditions, translation in South Asia, and programming in Digital Humanities.
Shri. Praveen Shivashankar is from Bangalore, India and is currently based out at Toronto, Canada; He is professionally placed as a Lead Product Manager for ACV Auctions, a New York based company. He holds an MS degree from Wichita State University in USA and MBA from McGill University in Canada. Praveen is a published author with several of his independent works and translations published under various publications including Kannada Sahitya Academy. The 12th Century Vachana Literature and its Spiritual exploration is an area of deep interest for Praveen. For the past 5 years, he has been giving talks on national and international forums and cultural organizations in India, US and Canada on Vachana literature, Indian spiritual traditions and philosophies. The seminal book of “Shoonya Sampaadane” – a 14th century literary work has been his area of research, and he has conducted nearly a year long discourse on this work.
Praveen is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Literature researching the “Prasthana traya” and “Vachana Sahitya”.
