Grateful2Gurus | Dr. K. L. Shankaranarayana Jois

At the heart of India’s civilisational knowledge systems lies the Guru–Śiṣya Paramparā. Through this enduring tradition, philosophy, science, medicine, literature, governance, the arts, and spirituality have been preserved and renewed through living lineages. More than a system of education, it is a way of learning that shapes character, cultivates wisdom, and ensures the continuity of knowledge across generations.

For over a decade, INDICA has celebrated this living tradition by bringing together scholars, practitioners, artists, and seekers to honour those who preserve, embody, and transmit India’s civilisational heritage. Since its inception in 2016, Grateful2Gurus has been the heart of this celebration. Conceived not as an award but as an offering of gratitude, it has grown from intimate felicitations organised by local chapters into one of INDICA’s most cherished annual observances.

Over the years, Grateful2Gurus has honoured more than 154 Gurus representing an extraordinary spectrum of Indian Knowledge Systems, including Veda and Vedānta, Sanskrit, philosophy, archaeology, history, Ayurveda, Yoga, music, dance, temple traditions, literature, linguistics, governance, science, and the performing arts.

Those honoured include internationally acclaimed scholars, traditional Ācāryas, artists, scientists, physicians, and community teachers who have dedicated their lives to preserving and transmitting India’s civilisational heritage. Every felicitation is a public expression of gratitude offered by disciples and the wider community, affirming that knowledge flourishes through the living bond between teacher and disciple.

INDICA invites you to join us in honoring Dr. K. L. Shankaranarayana Jois as part of our #Grateful2Gurus 2026 Honors.

On this occasion we invite you to read our conversation with him, where the stalwart finds the Mahabharata as the precise Yogic layout for Narrative, Character development and a lived field for human experience.

#Grateful2Gurus 2026

Dr. K. L. Shankaranarayana Jois

Dr. K. L. Shankaranarayana Jois is a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, yoga teacher, author, and educator who has dedicated his life to preserving and disseminating India's ancient knowledge traditions. An accomplished academic with a Ph.D. on Yoga in the Mahabharata, he has received three Gold Medals in the All India Sanskrit Elocution Competition and served as Assistant Professor at the Government Sanskrit College, Mysuru, for over two decades. His scholarship spans Yoga, Vedanta, Ayurveda, Dharmashastra, Jyotisha, and Indian philosophy, and he has authored several acclaimed books and over 1,000 articles on Indian knowledge systems. Through more than four decades of lectures, workshops, and public discourses, he has inspired countless seekers and students. As the Founder and Chief Trustee of Bharati Yogadhama, Mysuru, he has established pioneering initiatives such as Vidyanandini Gurukulam, Trayee-Yoga Shiksha, and Vedhashala—South India's first Jantar Mantar (observatory), built to showcase the vastness of Indian sciences and research the traditional Panchanga timekeeping system. Through these visionary projects, he is making India's timeless wisdom accessible to contemporary society while nurturing future generations rooted in the country's cultural and spiritual heritage.