Priests
Sri Janaki Ram Sastry Vithala
SRI JANAKI RAM SASTRY VITHALA is the Head Priest - Purohit-Acharya of The Bharatiya Temple since 1986. He holds Bhasha Praveena Degree in Sanskrit, Telugu, and P.O.L. He studied vedas, Agamas and Sastras in the traditional Gurukula style. He performed various Yajnas, Havans, Weddings, Upanayanas, etc. all over the United States & Canada. He initiated into Srividya (worship of devine mother Sakti, Durga, etc.) by the Adi Shankaracharya order. He has done Immense Service to the indian Community in the greater Detroit Area. He participated and rendered Hindu philosophy as a panel member of the seminar "Motivational Consequences of Devine Relevation" at the World Parliment of Religions in Chicago on September 2, 1993. He is a Good Will ambassador to Bharatiya Temple. He is a friend, philosopher, guide and consular to many of our community. He performed the installation ceremonies for the murties in November 1983 at our temple. He performed Murtistha Panas in so many temples in U.S., Canada and Europe since 1983. Sastriji resides in Bloomfield Hills, with his wife Ramamanisri and his two daughters Swapanti and Saradalahari.
Phone: (248) 770-9565
E-Mail: saradalahari@gmail.com
Sri Satagopan Chariyar
Sri Satagopan Chariyar is a blessed son of a venerable lineage of temple priests from the sacred town of Thirugoshtiyur, Tamil Nadu, India. From a young age, he was nurtured in the divine traditions of Paancharatra Aaghamam, Divya Prabandham, and Prayogam for Shodasha Karmas, receiving rigorous training under the guidance of esteemed Gurus. He also underwent formal Vedic education in the Yajur Veda at the Srirangam Padasalai, Srirangam, a revered center of Vedic learning.
With the grace of the Lord, Sri Satagopan Chariyar has rendered dedicated priestly service at several prominent temples, including Sri Seetharam Bagh Temple, Hyderabad; Birla Temple, Hyderabad; Sri Ganesh Temple, New York; and Sri Balaji Vedic Center, West Bloomfield, Michigan. He has been serving at The Bharatiya Temple since 2015, offering his kainkaryam with unwavering devotion. He is especially renowned for the beautiful and traditional floral alankarams of Lord Venkateswara and other Divine Murtis, performed with deep bhakti and artistic finesse.
Blessed with over 25 years of sacred service, Sri Satagopan Chariyar has performed numerous Vedic and Agamic rituals at devotees’ homes, including Namakaranam, Annaprasanam, Grihapravesham, and various Homams such as Navagraha, Sudarshana, and Ganapathy Homam. By the Lord’s grace, he has solemnized many vivaha samskaras (weddings) and is proficient in both Smartha and Vaishnava traditions, including Antyeshti Karmas (funeral rites). His temple service also encompasses major utsavams such as Mahakumbhabhishekam, Kalyana Utsavams, and Brahmotsavams, conducted strictly in accordance with Shastraic injunctions.
Endowed by divine grace with an ever-smiling countenance and a resonant, soothing voice, Sri Satagopan Chariya reverently performs Thirumanjanam for the Moola Vigrahas, along with various Pujas and Havans in the temple. He is fluent in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and English, enabling him to guide and serve devotees from diverse backgrounds with clarity and compassion.
Phone: (248)635-1199
E-mail: priesttschari@gmail.com
Sri Nikunjkumar Yogendrakumar Joshi
Sri NikunjJi is well qualified in Shukla Yajurveda Samhita and Karmakand (studied under Shree Ved Murti Chandrashankar Upadhyay in Dakor City, Gujarat). He is skilled in performing Yajnas, consecration of idols and reciting Vedas. He also knows Atharvana Veda. He is married and knows Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit and English.
Phone: (248)-315-0018
E-mail: NIKUNJJOSHI2010@GMAIL.COM
Sri Vikas Pandey
Acharya Sri Vikas Pandey ji has served as a Rigvedacharya at Dudheshwar Ved Vidyalaya Samsthanam and as a priest at Dudheshwar Nath Temple in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, for the past 16 years. He is highly proficient in conducting a wide range of Hindu rituals and ceremonies, including various Pujas, Anusthans, the 16 Sanskars, Yajnas, and more. Acharya ji is also an expert in Astrology, Vastu Shastra, and Palmistry.
In addition to his religious expertise, he is fluent in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Nepali, and Odia.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Vedic knowledge, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, awarded him the prestigious "Ved Pandit Puraskar" in 2017.
Acharya Sri Vikas Pandey ji is accompanied by his wife, Payal Kumari, and their two daughters, Navya and Aditi.
Phone: (248) 835-2325
E-mail: vikaskumarpanday@gmail.com
Sri Madhavan Swamy
Sri Madhavan Swamy is a highly respected and accomplished priest with over 25 years of dedicated service to temples and devotees across India, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
He is a formally trained Sri Krishna Yajur Veda scholar from Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya, Srirangam, and has received Deeksha Abhishekam, qualifying him as a traditional Archagar. Exceptionally well-versed in Panchatantra Agamam, Shri Madhavan Swamy is equally proficient in both Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions, enabling him to serve a diverse devotee community with depth and authenticity.
He specializes in daily temple rituals, Abhishekams, Homma's, Samprokshanams, Pranaprathishtai, weddings, Gruhapraveshams, Satyanarayana Pujas, Shraddha karmas, and complete Hindu funeral rites. He has also conducted major festivals and sacred events including Navaratri, Shivaratri, Brahmotsavams, and Kumbhabhishekam.
Fluent in Tamil, Telugu, English, and basic Hindi, Shri Madhavan Swamy is known for his calm demeanor, spiritual depth, and his ability to connect meaningfully with devotees of all ages.
Phone: (248) 210 8784
E-mail: madhavanbhattar@gmail.com