SSMNC Priests

Pandit RajaSwamy Kummarigunta, a native of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, is a highly respected priest with more than four decades of dedicated service in temple worship, Vedic rituals, and Agama traditions. He joined Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir of North Carolina in April 2024, bringing with him a rich legacy of spiritual leadership and devotional service.

Panditji holds advanced qualifications in Pancharatra Agama, having completed Pravesa (1998), Vara (2002), and Pravara (2013) through the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department. His training and experience span a wide range of temple rituals, homams, utsavams, and pratishtas, performed with precision, devotion, and deep scriptural understanding.

Before joining SSMNC, he served as a Hindu Priest at The Hindu Temple of St. Louis, Missouri (2014–2024), where he conducted major ceremonies including Kumbhabhishekam, Vaibhavotsavam, Sudarshana Yagam, and Maha Rudra Homam. Prior to that, he was the Head Priest at Shri Shirdi Saibaba Temple, Hyderabad (1996–2014), performing sacred installations such as Saibaba Vigraha Pratista, Abhaya Anjaneya Swami Pratista, and Nagadevata Pratista. From 1983 to 1996, he served as the Head Priest at SeetaramaSwamy Devasthanam in Badevaripalem, Guntur, where he led SeetaramaSwamy Kalyanotsavam, Poolangi Seva, Geetha Yagnam, and Lakshmi Ganapathi Homam.

Pandit RajaSwamy’s expertise covers a wide spectrum of Vedic and Agama services, including Ganapathi, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Sudarshana, Rudra, and Chandi Homams, as well as Satyanarayana Swamy Vratam, Aksharabhyasam, Namakaranam, Gruha Pravesham, Bhoomi Pooja, Annaprasana, and Sashtipoorthi. He is also experienced in special parayanams and archana sevas such as Laksha Tulasi Archana and Pushpa Archana.

Known for his calm demeanor, clear explanations, and unwavering devotion, Panditji brings spiritual depth and warmth to every ritual he performs. His long-standing service across temples in India and the United States has made him a beloved priest among devotees.

Languages Fluent: Telugu, English, Hindi, and Tamil

Specializations: Pancharatra Agama rituals, Homams (Ganapathi, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Sudarshana, Rudra, Chandi), Pratishtas, Vratas, Temple Utsavams, Parayanams & Archana Sevas

Pandit Shreyas R. V., a native of Bengaluru, Karnataka, is a traditionally trained Vaidika with a decade of dedicated experience in Krishna Yajurveda, Poorva–Apara Prayoga, and Bhagavad Kainkarya. He follows the Apastamba Sutra, and completed his formal Vedic education at Sri Chandrashekharendra Veda Vidyalaya, Kasaragod, Kerala.

Panditji has served under esteemed gurus including Palladthadka Vishveshwara Bhat and Balu Subramanyam Vadyar, gaining deep expertise in Upanayana, Vivaha, Gruhapravesha, Satyanarayana Vrata, Chandi, Rudra, Mruthyunjaya & Sudarshana Homams, and all Apara Kriyas from Day 1 to Day 13. He is also proficient in Sampoorna Veda Parayana, Rudra Ghana Parayana, Japa, and Alankara Seva.

From 2012 to 2018, he served in the Aapastamba Poorva–Apara Prayoga tradition, specializing in Tamil Iyer Sampradaya. Between 2018 and 2022, he was a priest at Sri Kodanda Rama Mandira, where he performed Abhishekam, Vishesha Alankaram (including Navaratri, Pushpa, and Benne Alankara), Kumbhabhishekam, Kalyanotsava, and daily parayanams.

Pandit Shreyas is known for his calm presence, precise ritual execution, and devotion to Bhagavad Kainkarya. He is also an accomplished teacher of Sampoorna Veda, Bhagavad Gita, and Sahasranamas, guiding students across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, English, Malayalam, and Hindi.

Languages Fluent: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, English, Malayalam, and Hindi

Specializations: Krishna Yajurveda, Poorva–Apara Prayoga, Homams, Alankaram, Muhurtam, Dravida/Telugu/Kannada Sampradaya traditions