Ramakrishna Pejathaya has been teaching at Chanakya University since 2022. He has designed and delivered courses such as Introduction to Indian Knowledge Systems, Appreciating Art, Foundations of Indian Culture, Life Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita, and Revisiting the Mahabharata.

Dr. Pejathaya traditionally studied Jyotiṣa śāstra (Indian Astronomy & Astrology) along with Vyākaraṇa and Sāhitya at SMSP Sanskrit College, Udupi, and earned his Ph.D. from the Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati, on Śrīpati’s Siddhānta Śekhara and its influence on later astronomers.

Notably, he is one of the very few practicing Ashtāvadhānis in India, performing Avadhānams in Sanskrit and Kannada. To date, he has presented over 30 Avadhānams across India and was the founding director of the Centre for Avadhānam, jointly initiated by Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeetham and Indica. His contributions to the art have been recognized with the Avadhāna Vichakṣaṇa title by Śrī Palimaru Maṭha, Udupi. He also received the Prof. C.G. Purushottama Book Award from KSU, Bengaluru for his book Śekhara Vaiśiṣṭyam.

In research, Dr. Pejathaya leads projects such as developing textbooks on Indian astronomy funded by CSU, Delhi, and has completed a two-credit MOOC on Avadhānam project. He co-investigated the Centre for Excellence on Indian Knowledge Systems project funded by the IKS Division, New Delhi, and co-edited, translated, and mathematically analyzed the 16th-century eclipse text Grahaṇamukura. He has several research publications to his credit.

• Ph.D., 2014, National Sanskrit University, Tirupati
• Vidvat Uttamā (MA) in Jyotiṣa, 2007, SMSP Sanskrit College, Udupi
• Vidvat Madhyamā (BA) in Jyotiṣa, 2005, SMSP Sanskrit College, Udupi

Research Papers

1. U. Deshpande, R. P. Pejathaya, and N. Bhat, “Mismatch between the Tree and its Roots: Demystifying Dhārmika Dilemmas from Mahābhārata,” Journal of Sanātana Dharma, vol. 1, no. 1, 2025, pp. 71–78.
2. A. Sharma, R. Pejathaya, N. Bhat, and V. Banavathy, “Psychological exploration of Avadhānam – The Indic art of attention,” Journal of Applied Consciousness Studies, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 12–22, Jan.–Jun. 2025, doi: 10.4103/jacs.jacs_152_24.
3. V. Iyer and R. Pejathaya, “Techniques of determining latitude in Indian astronomical treatises,” International Journal of Sanskrit Research, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 20–24, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.22271/23947519.2024.v10.i6a.2505
4. B. S. Shylaja, R. Pejathaya, and S. Javagal, “GRAHAṆAMUKURA – A sixteenth century Indian manual for the calculation of eclipses,” Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 209–218, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2024.01.12
5. V. Iyer and R. Pejathaya, “Mentions of Dhruva in Indian astronomical treatises – a possible pole star?,” International Journal of Sanskrit Research, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 72–80, 2024, doi: 10.22271/23947519.2024.v10.i3b.2370.
6. V. Iyer and R. Pejathaya, “Representation of the midnight sun in Greek and Indian astronomical texts,” Indian Journal of History of Science, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 253–264, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s43539-022-00063-z.
7. R. Pejathaya, “ग्रहणमुकुरनामकस्य ग्रहणगणितविषयकस्य ग्रन्थस्य देशकालकर्तृनिर्णयपूर्वकं समीक्षणं तद्वैशिष्ट्यानां विवेचनं च,” Khagolah, vol. 7, 2022, ISSN: 2456-3420.
8. R. Pejathaya, “देशकालक्रमेण शब्दानाम् अर्थसङ्क्रमणम्,” Samskrita Vimarsha, vol. 21, pp. 1–9, 2021, ISSN: 0975-1769.
9. R. Pejathaya, “अवधानकलाङ्गभूतायाः निषिद्धाक्षर्याः समग्रं समीक्षणम्,” Journal of Veda Samskrita Academy, vol. 18, pp. 72–81, 2021, ISSN: 2250-1711.
10. R. Pejathaya and A. Pradeep, “Sahṛdaya: A touchstone for creative imagination,” International Journal of Sanskrit Research, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 258–260, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.22271/23947519.2021.v7.i5e.1511
11. A. Pradeep and R. Pejathaya, “Darpoki: A distinctive way of self-introduction by Sanskrit poets,” Shodh Samhita, vol. 8, pp. 70–83, 2021, ISSN: 2277-7067.

Books Authored

1. R. Pejathaya, Maharṣi Pāṇini, Rev. ed. Bengaluru, India: Shri Bharati Prakashana, 2024.
2. R. Pejathaya, Śekharavaiśiṣṭyam, Udupi, India: SMSP Sanskrit Research Centre, 2016. ISBN: 978-81-941665-1-1.

Books Edited

1. B. S. Shylaja, R. Pejathaya, and S. Javagal, Eds., Grahana Mukura: 16th Century Astronomy Text in Sanskrit and Kannada. Bengaluru, India: Navakarnataka Publications Pvt. Ltd., 2024.
2. R. Pejathaya and V. Venkat, Eds., Ādi Śakti: Philosophy and Narratives of the Feminine Divine. Kerala, India: Chinmaya International Foundation, Mar. 2022.
3. R. Pejathaya, S. Chaphekar, and P. N. Prabhavathy, Eds., Sangīta Sañcintanam. Kerala, India: Chinmaya International Foundation, Mar. 2022.
4. New Frontiers in Sanskrit & Indic Knowledge (Proceedings of International Conference NFSI-2017 & NFSI-2018). Kerala, India: Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth; Delhi, India: New Bharatiya Book Corporation, 2019. ISBN: 978-81-8315-431-4.
5. Jyotirdīpikā (Seminar Proceedings). Sringeri, India: Rajiv Gandhi Campus, 2016.
6. Janmapatradīpakaṁ Bhāskarīya-Bījagaṇitasya Pūrvārdhaṁ ca (Self-study Material). New Delhi, India: Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, 2011.
7. Gītāpraveśa, vol. 1. New Delhi, India: Samskrita Bharati, 2009.
8. Bṛhajjātakam (Kannada Script). Udupi, India: Mihira Prakashana, 2009.

Project 1

• Title: Jyotiṣa Viśvakośa (ज्योतिषविश्वकोशः) – Encyclopaedia of Jyotiṣa Śāstra
• Duration: 5 years
• Granting Agency: Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple
• PIs/Co-PIs: PI – Prof. Srinivasa Adiga; Co-PIs – R. Pejathaya, Vijayananda Adiga
• Purpose: To compile and publish an encyclopaedia of Jyotiṣa Śāstra.
• Short Description: A collaborative project undertaken by SMSP Sanskrit Research Centre to produce a comprehensive encyclopaedia of Jyotiṣa Śāstra. The output provides detailed explanations of both technical and non-technical terms found in Jyotiṣa texts, along with their references and descriptions. The final output has been published in nine volumes.
• Status: Completed
• Grant Amount: ₹1 crore

Project 2

• Title: Preparing a 2-Credit MOOC on The Art and Science of Avadhānam
• Duration: April 2023 – September 2024
• Granting Agency: Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi
• PIs/Co-PIs: PI – R. Pejathaya; Co-PI – Dr. Yogita Chhatre
• Purpose: To design and deliver a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Avadhānam.
• Short Description: The project developed a structured 2-credit MOOC introducing the art and science of Avadhānam, covering its historical, literary, and cognitive dimensions.
• Status: Completed
• Grant Amount: ₹4.5 lakhs

Project 3

• Title: Centre for Excellence in Indian Knowledge Systems
• Duration: June 2022 – May 2024
• Granting Agency: IKS Division, AICTE, Ministry of Education
• PIs/Co-PIs: PI – Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy; Co-PI – R. Pejathaya
• Purpose: To carry out research and dissemination activities in the areas of Indian psychology, Indian political thought, and Indian astral sciences.
• Short Description: The project undertook focused research in three key domains—Indian psychology, Indian political thought, and Indian astral sciences—resulting in books, research papers, and scholarly resources. Dissemination activities included the design and delivery of short-term courses, lectures, and outreach programmes to engage diverse audiences.
• Status: Completed
• Grant Amount: ₹32 lakhs

Project 4

• Title: Preparing Textbooks on Indian Astronomy at Beginner and Intermediate Levels
• Duration: April 2024 – March 2026
• Granting Agency: Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi
• PIs/Co-PIs: PI – R. Pejathaya
• Purpose: To develop structured textbooks on Indian astronomy suitable for beginner and intermediate learners.
• Short Description: The project focuses on creating pedagogically sound textbooks that introduce and progressively develop concepts in Indian astronomy. The content is designed to be accessible to new learners while offering depth for intermediate-level students, integrating traditional sources with modern explanatory methods.
• Status: Ongoing
• Grant Amount: ₹14 lakhs

• 2024 Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskritvrati Rashtriya Puraskar – 2023, Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Nagpur, 2024
• 2019 Prof. C. G. Purushottam Book Award for the book Śekharavaiśiṣṭyam, Karnataka Sanskrit University, Bengaluru, 04/2019
• 2019 Title award Avadhāna Vicakṣaṇa, conferred by Sri. Sri. Vidyadheesha Tirtha Swamiji, Paryaya Shri Palimaru Matha, Jagadguru Sriman Madhvacharya Mula Maha Samsthanam, Udupi, 11/2019
• The Director of the Centre for Avadhānam (https://www.cvv.ac.in/centre-for-avadhanam) a joint initiative of Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth and Indic Academy. (From 2021 to 2022)
• Member of the Board of Studies for the Department of Jyotisha, Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi.
• Member of the Board of Studies for the Department of Jyotisha, Karnataka Sanskrit University, Bengaluru.
• Member of the Board of Studies for the School of Vedanga Jyotisha and Vastushastra, Kavikulaguru Kalidasa University, Ramtek, Maharashtra.
• Member of the Board of Studies for the Department of Vedic Studies at Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Navanihal, Karnataka.

• https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1_qYvakAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ramakrishna-Pejathaya-3
• https://chanakyauniversity.academia.edu/RamakrishnaPejathaya
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramakrishna-pejathaya-071120142/

1. R. Pejathaya, “A Series of Articles on the Art of Avadhanam,” Prekshaa – An Online Journal of Culture and Philosophy. [Online]. Available: https://www.prekshaa.in/dr-ramakrishna-pejathaya
2. R. Pejathaya, “Pratnaprayogamīmāṃsā,” Govindālokaḥ, pp. 298–307, Prasaranga, Karnataka Sanskrit University, Bengaluru, 2023. ISBN: 978-81-958208-2-5.
3. R. Pejathaya, “Saṃgraha Bhāgavata and Saṃgraha Rāmāyaṇa,” Govinda Maṇi Darpaṇa, pp. 141–151, Vijayapura: Yaji Prakashana, 2022. ISBN: 978-93-83717-62-0.
4. R. Pejathaya, A Lecture Series on Jyotisha Parichaya. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/live/-MCNRyLy5Yw?si=zbB61ZdUwiGpB_sC
5. R. Pejathaya, A Lecture Series on Panchanga. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/live/uP0IygOUDdQ?si=sWYjcvM0ozkKE0nS
6. R. Pejathaya, A Lecture Series on Brihat Saṃhitā of Varāha Mihira. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/live/t_xFnjBdQmQ?si=9QC3KlDSNgt0aC4L
7. R. Pejathaya, A Lecture Series on Brihat Saṃhitā of Varāha Mihira (Part II). [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/live/YNhwH9ge5Ao?si=6atvVgIEHJUfEanu
8. A Lecture Demonstration on Avadhānam: https://www.youtube.com/live/IX65ieKM3M4?si=XOLM3fzLF1MtBkh3
9. R. Pejathaya, A Lecture on What Makes an exemplary Avadhanam: A Few Observations. Available: https://www.youtube.com/live/0S9_jS5VOdM?si=DDBw4N6e96_2qz8G
10. Sanskrit Talamaddale. Available: https://www.youtube.com/live/Uw59Yy2Dw3c?si=ujUuZx7DBwu5zX-z

• As a practitioner of the rare art form Avadhānam, I have performed around thirty-five Aṣṭāvadhānams across various regions of Bhārat, in both Sanskrit and Kannada. As someone who enjoys creative expression, I also compose poetry in Sanskrit and Kannada, and have written several Yakshagāna Prasaṅgas in Sanskrit.