Priest Profiles

Raghunath Bhattar

Raghunathji comes from Bangalore, Karnataka, where he received Pancharatra Agama training under his grandfather Pandit S.R. Rangaswamy Bhattar, Agama Pandit S.R. Sheshadri Bhattar, and Pandit S.R. Vasudeva Bhattar. Raghunathji has over 20 years of experience in performing all Pujas and Havans. Raghunathji was the first priest hired at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in 2008. Before coming to Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Raghunathji served five years in Sri Meenakshi Temple at Houston, TX, two years at Omkara Maha Ganapati Temple at Temple, TX, and many other temples in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Houston. He is also a hereditary priest at Sri Prasanna Venkataramana Swami Temple and Sri Veeranjaneya Swami Temple in Bangalore, India. Raghunathji speaks Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and English. His contact number is (512) 669-3257, or Email

Badrinath Bhattar

Badrinath comes from Bangalore, Karnataka, where he received Pancharatra Agama training from his father and Guru Pancharatra Agama Praveena Seshadri Bhattar. Badrinathji’s expertise is in the Smartham tradition, and is experienced in performing all Pujas and Havans. Priest Badri served at Sri Omkara Maha Ganapati Temple, Temple, TX for about two years before he joined with Baba Temple in 2010. Prior to his coming to the US, Badrinathji served many years at Anjaneya Swamy and Sri Venkateswara Temples in Bangalore, India. Panditji speaks Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and English. His contact number is (512) 850-0477 or Email

Srikanth Sharma Kakara

Srikanthji is a Sama Veda Pandit, and is one of the seven Samaveda Ranaayaniya Tamraparni Ganam experts in India. Panditji is one of the new priests joined Sri Venkateswara Temple of Austin in June 2014. He got his Veda education under the noble guidance of Sri Samavedula Ramagopala Sastri. Panditji has also Masters Degree in Sanskrit. Panditji is an expert in performing various karma vidhis including Panchadasa karmas, Pratishtanas, Maha Rudram, Ati Rudram, Sowra Yagam, Veda Parayana, and Chaturveda Havans. He has lot of experience in Sundarakanda Parayana, Bhagavadgita Parayana, Samaveda Parayana, Chandi Parayana and Havans. Srikanthji speaks Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, and English. His contact number is (512) 982-8943, or Email

Jagadish Kumar Kalluri

Jagadish Kumar Kalluri previously served at Sree Ganga Parvathi Sametha in Vijayawada as well as working with Samavedula Chandra Sekhara Sharma. He has 24 years experience as a priest. Jagadish received Krishna Yajurveda Vaidika Smartha Agama exam certification in Hyderabad from Dharmika Bhawanam. Jagadish Kalluri has completed 10 million kumkum archanas to the Goddess Durga also known as Kanakdurgamma koti kumkuma Archana at the Sree Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Temple over the course of one year in Indrakeeladri Vijayawada. He is expert in the panchadasa karma smartams (life passages like marriage, first hair cutting, etc.), and also Mahalinga and Sahasralinga archanas, as well as Vedic Surya Namaskars. He is a master of Sri Chakra Navavarna Archana. He can perform Hiranya Shraddham for devotees (ancestor worship). He speaks Telugu, English, and Sanskrit. His contact number is (512) 216-8565, or Email

Lakshman Kumar Vedula

Pandit Lakshman Kumar Sarma joined our Temples in September 2022.  He started at the age of 13 and has about 21 years of experience as Smartha-Purohit.  Lakshman Garu completed Krishna Yajurveda Mulantha Sahita Krishna Yajurveda Vaidika Smartham from Kapileswarapuram Veda Pathashala, Andhra Pradesh, and got his certification in 2006.  Panditji is an expert in performing Shodasa Karmas (Funerali rites, Sankalpa srardham, Hiranya srardham, Sankramana & Amavasya Tarpanam, Adhisravana Parayanam,Abdika Mantram), Chandi Sapthashati Homam, Pashupatha Rudrabhishekam, Sri Vidya, Maha Vidya, Lalitha Sahasra Namam, Udaka santhi, Ugraradha santhi, Bheemaradha Santhi, Sahasra Chandra Darshana Prapoutra jananasanthi, Naala veshtta Janana santhi, Nava Graha santhi, Visha Ghatika Santhi, Ayyappa swamy padi pooja, Mahalingarchana and Sahasra lingarachana, surya namaskaras,sundarakanda and Ramayana parayana, Mahabaratha parayana, Laksha Kunkumarachanas, Rishi panchami vratam, laksha varthi vratham, Satyanarayana, Varalakahsmi, Kedareswara, Vinayaka,Sarannavarathri, Vasantha Nava Ratri, Anantha Padmanabha, Vaibhava lakshmi, Gowri Somavara Vratams.  He speaks Telugu, English, and Sanskrit, and his contact number is 737 420 3339.

Hayagreevacharyulu Thirumala

Sriman Hayagreevacharyulu Thirumala comes from a traditional Sri Vashnava family from Hyderabad, India.  He is a Krishna Yajurveda Pandit mastered in Krishna Yajurvediya Mytrayani Shakha, Sri Pancharatra Agama, and Yajusha Poorva Prayogam.  Pandit Hayagreevacharyulu is fully trained and an expert in performing various Pujas (Vasudeva Punyahavachanam, Kalyanotsavams, Pavitrotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Satyanarayana Swamy Vratam, Lakshminarayana Vratam, Varalakshmi Vratams, etc.), Homams (Lakshmi Narasimha Homam, Sri Sudarshana Homam, Hayagreeva Havan, Mahalakshmi Homam, Navagraha Homa, Nakshatra Shanti Homam, etc.), Yajusha Poorva Prayogam (Jathakarma, Namakaranam, Annaprasana, Choulam, Aksharabhyasam, Udakashanti, Upanayanam, Wedding ceremony, Pugumsavanam, Seemantham, Gruhapravesam, Shastipoorthi, Vastu Havan, etc.), Divya Prabandhams (Thiruppavai, Thiruppallandu, Thiruppalliyezuchi, Kanninunshiruttambu, neerattam, Manikkamkatti, etc.), etc.  He speaks Sanskrit, Telugu, and English.  His contact number is 512 316 9922.

Rangavajjula Rama Krishna Sharma

Ramakrishna comes from a traditional family of Priests from Vijayawada, India.  He completed Smartham in Krishna Yazur Veda and highest level of Vydhika Smartha Aagamam.  He has temple priest experience working with Sri Parvathi Sametha Ramalingeswara Devasthanam for over 20 years.  His expertise includes Pasupatha Abhishekas, various Homams, and Tarpanams.   He is well versed in performing Archanas, and Abhishekas.  As a chief priest, he performed Kalayana Uthsavas, Weddings, Upanayanams and Vrathas.  His expertise includes Navarvana Sri Chakra Archana.  His other experiences include Lakshmi Ganapathi Japam, Chandi Parayana and Homam, Maha Vidya Parayana and Homam, Mahalingarchana, Sahasralingarchana, Jyothirlingarchana,  Kumbhabhishekam, Vrathas(Varalakshmi, Vinayaka, Vybhava Lakshmi, Satyanarayana, Kameswari, Gurunadha), ceremonies, Abdhika Manthram, Hiranya Sraddham, Upa Karma, Udhaka Santhi, Siva Kalyanam, Subrahmanya Kalyanam, Sarpa Suktha Parayanam and Nakshathra and Navagraha Santhi Pujas and homams. He speaks Telugu, Sanskrit and English.  His contact number is (737) 757-6621.

R. SRIKARA SUDARSHANA

Srikara Sudarshana comes from a traditional Sri Vishnava family from Bangalore, India.  Many family members work as priests in the temples around Bangalore.  He completed the Pancharatra Agama training in Vijayawada and Agama courses in Sri Rajarajeshwari Samskrita Vedaagama patashala in Kailasa ashrama and in Sri Kalabhairavehswara Samskrita Vedaagama Patashala in Sri Adichunchangagiri.  He worked as a priest in Sri Gali Anjaneya Swami Temple for 10 years.  He is skilled in Veda, Pancharatragama’s Stotra Bhaaga and Prabandhams.  His expertise includes Sri Satyanarayana vratam, Sankashta hara ganapati vratam, Ganapati homam, Navagraha homam, Sudarshana homam, Gruhapravesham, Naming ceremony, Punyaha vachana, Raksha Bandhana, Brahmotsava vidhi, Maha Kumbabishekam, Bhagavadaradhana vidhi, Kalyanotsavam, Panchamruta abhishekam and Ashtottara Kalashabhishekam.  His Prabandham expertise includes Thiruppalland, Thirupalliyalluchi,  Thiruppayai, Neerattam, Maanikangatti, Upadesharatnamalai. Kanninunshirutambu, Shaatumorai and Mangalashasanam.  . He speaks Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Sanskrit and English.  His contact number is (737) 999-5018.