Kunal was born into a Vaishnav family in Ahmedabad, India, where he was introduced to ancient Vedic scriptures by his grandparents, who were prominent figures in the education sector in North Gujarat. By the age of 14 or 15, he had read the Rāmāyaṅā, Mahābhāratā, Bhāgavad Gītā, Various Purānā and other Vedic scriptures, although his understanding at that time was quite superficial. He continued his educational journey by earning a master’s degree in pharmacy from New York and an MBA from Virginia. For over ten years, he was employed full-time at Baxter Pharmaceutical as the director of the commercial portfolio until he embraced entrepreneurship in 2022 by acquiring two franchise restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Kunal left his high six-figure job to pursue his lifelong passion for Jyotishā.
For the past 10 years, he has been studying traditional Vedic astrology under the strict guidance of his guru, Pt. Sanjay Rath, at the Devguru Brihashpati Center. He is part of the tradition of Śrī Achyutānanda Dasa of Kaliñga (Orissa), India, a tradition originating from the Pancha Sakha of Śrī Chaitanya Mahaprabhu dating back to 2500 years whose roots are in Jagannāth Puri. Kunal has been traveling to the Himālayā and other sacred places of India over the past few years to further his studies in Jyotishā with his guru.
Refers to the traditional system of education in India, emphasizing a strong bond between a teacher (Guru) and a student (Shishya). This age-old relationship is characterized by mutual respect, devotion, and a deep commitment to learning. The roots of this tradition can be traced back to ancient Indian scriptures, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The system has been fundamental in the transmission of knowledge in various fields, including philosophy, arts, sciences, and spirituality. The Guru Shishya Parampara is not just an educational model but also a cultural and spiritual ethos that shapes the moral and ethical values of society.
“Astrology is not merely the study of planets and Rashīs that can be learned in a school or university. It requires an experienced guru who can broaden your thought process and guide you on a path of spiritual advancement. Jyotishā is one of the six Aṇga of the Vedas, known as Vedchakshu, or the ‘eyes of the Vedas.’ It is said that ‘we go in the direction of what we see.’ This can be interpreted literally, as our body moves in that direction, and metaphorically, as it represents our soul’s journey. By learning this ancient science, our soul gains the insight needed to understand our own Karmā and how we can progress toward emancipation, or Mokṣa.”
