Kanakavalli Santhanam is teaching at Chanakya University’s Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems in the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences since September 2025.

She describes herself as a seeker in the fields of Indian Knowledge Systems, Sanskrit, Music and Dance. Understanding Ancient Indian Culture, Tradition, Philosophy and Literature form the broad canopy of her studies.

She has been the recipient of Dr. M.D.Paradkar Puraskar and Smt. Prema Tattu Gold Medal at the University of Mumbai in the pursuit of her Sanskrit Studies. She is currently pursuing her Phd in Sanskrit from the University of Mumbai where she is also a visiting faculty since 2016 for subjects like Bhakti Literature, Itihasas, Puranas, Vedanta and Bhagavad Gita.

She was part of the syllabus designing committee for the master’s courses as per the revised NEP 2020 guidelines at the Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai in 2023.

She is invited as a resource person for various workshops and lecture series. Her paper titled ‘The concept of Prapatti with special reference to Pillai Lokācārya’s Arthapañcakam’ was published in the book ‘Bhakti in Vaishnava Traditions’ published by Dev Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi under the joint efforts of the University of Mumbai and Bhaktivedanta Research Center in 2024.

She is also trained in Carnatic and Hindustani vocals and Bharatanatyam under eminent Gurus of Bharat. She has been the recipient of the ‘Sri Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S.Subbulakshmi fellowship in Music’ by Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha under the category of Musicology (2019-2021). And was one of the top 5 finalists for “THE HINDU SAREGAMA M S SUBBULAKSHMI AWARD” in the Mumbai region (5th Edition, 2016).

• (Ph.D.), University of Mumbai
• M.Music, 2018, Institute of Distance Education, Madras University
• M.A. Sanskrit (Vedanta Specialization), 2016, University of Mumbai
• B.A. Sanskrit, 2014, Ramnarain Ruia College, University of Mumbaia

1. Kanakavalli S. Chari, “The concept of Prapatti with special reference to Pillai Lokācārya’s Arthapañcakam” in Bhakti in Vaishnava Traditions, Shakuntala Gawde and Ferdinando Sardella Ed., New Delhi, India: Dev Publishers and Distributors, 2024, ch. 8, part. 2, pp. 137–147.

Qualifications

• K-SET in Music qualified in November 2025
• UGC-NET in Indian Knowledge Systems qualified in December 2024
• K-SET in Sanskrit qualified in November 2024.
• MH-SET in Sanskrit qualified in June 2019

Honours

• ‘Sri Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi fellowship in Music’ from Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha in the category of Musicology (2019-2021)
• Smt. Prema Tattu Gold Medal for standing 1st in Vedanta Specialization in M.A. Sanskrit (2016)
• ‘Adarsha Prashikshanarthi’ Award in IES Teachers’ Training Advanced Course for High School Sanskrit Teaching (2014)
• Dr. M.D. Paradkar Puraskar for standing 2nd in B.A. Sanskrit in University of Mumbai (2014)

Certifications

• P.G.Diploma in Mysticism, Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai (2019)
• P.G.Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Comparative Mythology, Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai (2016-2018)
• IES Teachers’ Training Advanced Course for High School Sanskrit Teaching (2014)
• Diploma in Karnatic Vocal Classical, Sri Shanmukhananda Bharatiya Sangeetha Mahavidyalaya, University of Mumbai (2011)

• Academia: Kanakavalli S Chari – Independent Researcher
• Youtube: Kanakavalli Santhanam – YouTube

Conference Proceedings

1. Manjusha Gokhale and Kanakavalli Chari, ‘पारिजातहरणचंपु : एक अभ्यास’, in ‘चंपुकाव्ये : समग्र अवलोकन’ Conference Proceeding, S. P. College, Pune, aJan 31 to Feb 1, 2014, pp.65-68.
2. Kanakavalli Santhanam Chari, “Flora and Fauna in Kalidasa’s Mahakavyas” in ‘पञ्चमहाकाव्ये : समग्र परिशीलन’ Conference Proceeding, S. P. College, Pune, 2013, pp.21-27.

Translations in Periodical

1. Kanakavalli Chari, ‘गृहे व्याघ्रः’ (in Sanskrit), Samarpanam, Vol.11, 2016, pp.78-81
2. Kanakavalli Chari, चौरस्य त्यागः (in Sanskri), Samarpanam, Vol.11, 2016, pp.82-85

Conference Papers

1. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Śrī-Lakṣmī: Exploring the relationship between etymological and philosophical discourses in the Viśiṣṭādvaita school”, presented at 19th World Sanskrit Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2025 with the support of ICSSR, MoE.
2. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Exploring the manuscript Shuklatirthamahatmyam” presented at the Conference of Yatras, BHU, Varanasi, 2019.
3. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Polity in the Yuddhakanda of the Ramayana” presented at Brihanmaharashtra Prachya Vidya Parishad, 2019.
4. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Journey of Brother-Sister motif through the ages” presented at the Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai, 2015.
5. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Influence of Devi Mahatmya on Swati Tirunal’s Navaratri Kritis” presented at Brihanmaharashtra Prachya Vidya Parishad, 2015.
6. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “The relevance of Kalidasa’s Shakuntala today” presented at K.J.Somaiya Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham, 2014.
7. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Parijataharanachampu – A study” presented at S.P.College, Pune, 2014.
8. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Pratyangiradevi temple (Ayyavadi), Kumbakonam – A study” presented at Brihanmaharashtra Prachya Vidya Parishad, 2013.
9. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Flora and Fauna in Kalidasa’s Mahakavyas” presented at S.P.College, Pune, 2013.
10. Chari Kanakavalli Santhanam, “Lord Rama as portrayed by Saint Tyagaraja” presented at Brihanmaharashtra Prachya Vidya Parishad, 2011.

Online Periodical

1. Kanakavalli Santhanam, Hayagriva – The Bestower of Knowledge, Fundamatics, January 9, 2020. Accessed: Dec 11, 2025. Available: Hayagriva – The Bestower of Knowledge – Fundamatics

Contributions to online IKS repository

1. Kanakavalli S., dharmawiki.org. Accessed: Dec 11, 2025. Available: https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Special:Contributions/Ckanak93

Videos

1. Dharmawiki Bharat, India, Dharmawiki Talk 4: Shraddha and bhakti – A conceptual exploration (Apr 17, 2024). Accessed: Dec 12, 2025 (Online Video). Available: https://youtu.be/T8Sd7sj7Ih8?si=N2m5-L26jezhYyJb
2. Dharmawiki Bharat, India, Discussion on ‘Dharma’ @Dharmawiki.org (Oct 3, 2020). Accessed: Dec 12, 2025 (Online Video). Available: https://youtu.be/obsfVPYaEQs?si=m7XACdyyz9OI_1Tz
3. Subbu’s corner, “BHAKTA VANI: ALVARS” (Sep 6, 2020). Accessed: Dec 12, 2025 (Online Video). Available: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgwI2GYtagsTf2tQfy17U6EiPHkDnZcWU&si=njEMT2-JlQgIZbgU
4. Sri Sathya Sai Anugraham, Madhurasthakam – Explanation by Kum. Kanakavalli Santhanam (Jul 9, 2020). Accessed: Dec 12, 2025 (Online Video). Available: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKwLqXzLjJJ9t6bqWkth-MwFiaoFmrvAy&si=aJozVtdOkcEZOkMM

• Mrs. Kanakavalli Santhanam has trained in Bharatanatyam since the age of 4 ½ from Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir under the tutelage of Padmashri Guru K.Kalyanasundaram Pillai.
• Since 2004, she has performed in major productions of the Kala Mandir and dance festivals across India.
• She performed her Arangetram at the age of 13 in 2007 and has given solo performances and essayed lead roles in the productions of the Sri Vedanta Desika Sampradaya Sabha performed across venues and telecast on Podhigai Channel.
• She is also trained in Karnatic and Hindustani vocals under eminent Gurus of Bharat.
• Initiated in Karnatic Vocal by her mother Smt. Radha Santhanam (a student of T.M.Tyagarajan), she has taken advanced training under Sangeeta Kala Acharya Guru Smt. Kalyani Sharma since 2009.
• She has given many concerts since her maiden one in 2010 and has been teaching Carnatic music since 2011.
• She has also composed songs, lent voice and collaborated with various established YouTube channels.
• She trained in Hindustani Classical Music for 5yrs under the Gwalior Gharana exponent Ms. Neela Bhagwat and lent voice for a song in the CD ‘Ekroop Sabamahi’ conceptualized and directed by Ms. Neela Bhagwat for the Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS.