Born in the himalayas...

Born in June 1985, in the silence and beauty of the Himalayan region of Pithoragarh, Varun had an early influence of the ancient Vedic teachings and the elders especially his maternal grandfather who was posted as a Chief veterinary officer in the Kumaon region during this time.

His father Shri. Rishi Kumar Uniyal is a top class professional in the Printing industry (Karaka Mangala/Mars) and his mother Smt. Amita Rishi Uniyal is a home maker. During his birth, his mother was staying with her parents in Pithoragarh and father was posted in Pune where he taught (and still teaches) students the nuances of printing on any material. He has his own big and passionate student following, who have been very successful as professionals and entrepreneurs all over the world!

He spent his early days in the Kumaon and Gharwal regions. Though he had an absolutely deep liking for one city in particular - the city of lakes Nainital. This city left an indelible mark on his heart forever and as destiny would want it, Nainital would become pivotal in his spiritual journey.

More on that later below.

Some Ancestors

Maternal Lineage

His family origniates from the Bharadhwaja rsi gotra. His gotra pravara is Angirasa – Barhaspatya – Bharadhwaja (tri-rsi-Pravara).

There is though, a very interesting connection to how his family has come together. It's a classic case of South meets the North! Let's explore this history below.

His mother's maternal grandfather Late Shri. Vasudev Nambudri, was the Head priest or the Rawal of the reverred Badrinath temple in the Northern India. He was a Nambudri Brahmin from Kerala, India. He passed away when Varun was quite young but as a kid he had heard many stories about him that fascinates and inspires him even today!

One such story was when there was a raging flood in the rivers and the villagers were terrified about the destruction that the floods would bring down on the village. The petrified villagers came to Vasudev ji and requested his divine assistance. Unfazed by the impending destruction, he picked up a coconut and with the power of his mantra shakti planted a mantra in it and put it on the banks of the river where it would enter the village when flooded.

Sure as destiny would want, the flood came and as soon as it came near this small little coconut the river turned its face away and went into a different direction saving the entire village from impending destruction!

To this date Varun still wonders what was that divine power behind such a powerful remedial measure. And this constantly inspires him even today, to explore this vedic knowledge and rediscover the power of sacred mantras that his great grandfather possessed.

Late Shri. Vasudev Nambudri, Rawal of Badrinath temple along with his wife Late Smt. Sureshi devi.

Early days for Varun with Late Shri. Vasudev Nambudri, along with Varun's mother Smt. Amita Uniyal

Paternal Lineage

His father's paternal grandfather were Sanskrit scholars in the Lahore university (before Partition).

Late Shri. Narottam Datt Uniyal (see image - front row sitting 3rd from left) and his elder brother Late Shri. Guna Nand Shastri Uniyal (see image - 6th from left) were part of the Lahore university's top ranks. Later after partition in 1947, the entire family migrated to Gharwal region and restablished their lives.

They have been a constant inspiration to Varun's pursuit of learning Sanskrit properly.

His paternal grandfather Late Sri. Hari Prasad Uniyal, was a very strict personality and was a school prinicipal. His paternal grandmother Late Smt. Sarla devi was a home maker. Of all the things Varun remembers the most, is how his paternal grandfather used to address him as a child - Pandit! Words are way too powerful indeed.

His maternal grandfather Late Sri. Purushottam Kala was a Chief Veterinary surgeon and had the biggest influence on Varun since his childhood. His maternal grandmother Smt. Prema Kala is a home maker and currently lives with her son.

His maternal grandfather was a erudite scholar and a great philosopher in himself and knew by heart the Bhagwad Gita, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, the Puranas like Shiva Mahapurana and Upanishads and was very fond of prose and poetry. He had met many saints during his time and was a staunch Shiva bhakta. The level of his spiritual development was absolutely phenomenal and is something Varun misses dearly even today. One such incident is worth mentioning that is dear to Varun's heart.

The day his maternal grandfather met Varun's spouse Pallavi Joshi, right after their vivaha/marriage, the first upadesha came from the Ashtakavakra gita on the purpose of marriage and enlightenment! This was such a dear moment to both which shows that here is a man who can live in this world fully absorbed and yet live like an enlightened being.

Varun's life was totally turned upside down by the passing away of this maternal grandfather during the unfortunate COVID19 lockdowns. What Arjuna must have felt for Pitamah Bhishma that exact same feeling echoed for Varun after his maternal grandfather's passing. These are some wounds that even time doesn't have any answer for.

The idea of starting this website was rooted in his maternal grandfather's passing event. Varun was working in his office in Melbourne, Australia when the idea of starting a Jyotisha website was hung up on a wall written on a big piece of paper in front of him. Just before Varun received the tragic news, the paper on which this idea was written fell down from a gust of wind in a completely sealed room! Never before or after it happend again. Although it took four years after this event to convince Varun to start off this website.

Late Shri. Narottam Datt Uniyal and Late Shri. Guna Nand Shastri Uniyal who were erudite Sanskrit scholars.

Paternal grandfather and Late Sri. Hari Prasad Uniyal and grandmother Late Smt. Sarla devi

Maternal grandfather Late Sri. Purushottam Kala and gramdmotehr Smt. Prema Kala with a teenage Varun!

Varun has always known that without the blessings of the ancestors no divine blessings in this bhu loka (or Earth) can manifest. Ancestors can single handedly block all the tsunami of divine blessings coming our way. A testament to this, is the story of Bhagiratha and Ganga mata (river Ganges).

So to all my ancestors, who are here and who have moved on; here's a prayer to the mother Ganaga - for she is the one whom we pray to carry our prayers to all our ancestors:

Om Pitru Ganaaya Vidmahe Jagat Dhaariney Dheemahi Thanno Pitro Prachodayaat

Parents

Varun was raised most of his life in Pune, Maharastra where he completed his early studies and then later Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications.

His father's infleunce taught him the value of hard work and never die attitude whilst his mother's was always the compassionate one. Quite early in his childhood his father made sure that Varun and his sister travel along with him to different regions of South India extensively. That served a very significant experience in his life as later he found his Spiritual Guru in South Indian State of Karnataka.

As a small kid with his mother, Varun had extremely curly hair!

Varun's father was and still is quite protective of him! Here's a childhood photo after a head tonsure ceremony.

Breaking the cocoon

Despite lacking nothing in life, Varun was not satisfied with the mundane existence. Quite early in his life as a early teen, he started reading Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sukhbodhananda, Buddhist teachings, J Krishnamurty and even Osho! There was something inside that wanted an answer and nothing was making sense depite reading high philosophies and having some spiritual expriences.

Life didn't make much sense the way it was running and no one seem to have an answer to the question he had "What is the purpose of life?"

Then something big shifted...