Chanting Teacher Training Program

September 2027 - July 2028

Applications for 2027 will open in Fall 2026

The tradition of chanting has been passed down through Śruti Parampara over millennia in India. To this day it continues to be a profound practice of expressing devotion, learning and imbibing the teachings of ancient scriptures and an integral part of ritual, meditation and contemplation. 

Veda Studies and Indica Yoga are very happy to bring you this Teacher Training Certification Course to skill future teachers through a rigourous selection, training and preparation process which covers both mantras from the Veda as well as the Hindu daily prayer tradition.

Together with the graduates from our previous Teacher Training groups (2022, 2024, and 2025/2026) you will become part of a community of teachers who will continue to be supported after the training, through ongoing events and a platform to connect and engage. 

Dear interested student,

Some highlights of this highly structured Teacher Training Course will be an immersion in the tradition I grew up in, watching my mother build a devotional chanting community, sharing my experience studying with The Challakere Brothers – insights, practices, being, committing, practicing & the continuous study. 

Learning to teach mantras from both the Veda as well as the daily prayer Hindu tradition in South India, a strong focus on theory and refinement in chanting, getting organised and skilled to lead chanting classes are some of the key elements of this training.

 

The intensive teacher training will run online from September 2027 to July 2028. Ongoing information sessions will be offered. Interested students can have full visibility into the program before applying. Please request a replay in case you weren't present for this session.

 

I am very grateful to offer this in collaboration with INDICA who bring the experience and expertise in the preservation and dissemination of Indic knowledge systems through authentic, immersive and transformative learning experiences.

I hope you will be inspired by its content.

With gratitude, 

Shantala Sriramaiah

Program content

The group will meet online twice a week (2 hours each) and one Saturday a month (2 hours). Each month we will have one week off to allow time to practice and integrate the teaching. There will be no classes in the months of December and April allowing space and time for students to assimilate the teachings. Practice sessions with mentor teachers will continue in December & April.
All the dates are published along with the curriculum. In addition, we are honoured to invite two guest lecturers who will contribute to your learning. We will also provide access to the recordings of the guest lectures from the previous year.
120 contact hours of live online teaching with Shantala
50 hours of (group) practice opportunity with mentor teachers 
One to one evaluation with Shantala for each teacher trainee
Optional opportunities to observe/assist Veda Studies Foundation classes
Optional community event opportunities
Two guest lectures (3 hours total):

Dr. Nagaraj Paturi is a senior professor with over 30 years of experience in Culture Studies, Folk Culture, Sanskrit Linguistics, and Mythology. Trained in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his polymath father, he earned a PhD from the University of Hyderabad, focusing on Vedic principles in Anthropology and classical Indian poetry. With over 120 publications, he contributes significantly to cultural research and creative projects in dance, theater, and media.

Komilla Sutton is a prominent Vedic Astrologer with over 25 years of experience. She has been a sought-after consultant, educator, author and speaker since 1995, fostering a deeper understanding of this ancient science. She founded the Academy of Vedic sciences, offering an in-depth four level online Vedic Astrology program and advanced courses. She co-founded and serves as Chairman of the British Association of Vedic Astrology.

Timings

Mondays & Wednesdays (4pm-6pm Brussels time)
3 weeks/month
+ 1 Saturday a month – 4pm-6pm
December & April no classes (But practice sessions continue)
Dates are published with curriculum

Student requirements

           
The program is intensive, and it is recommended that you be studying this program exclusively to benefit from it fully. Applicants who already have an established chanting practice and have studied successfully with Shantala are invited to apply.
      

Applicants should have completed the Veda Studies Foundation Course.

Should already know Śraddhā, Agni and Medhā Sūktam-s & Gaṇapati Atharva as taught by Shantala. It is also recommended for students to have learnt the Durgā & Devī.

Svara competency – a high standard in maintaining svara will be an expectation. (Audio recording of any sūktam to be sent along with application)

Mahāprāṇa sound proficiency.

Knowledge of Veda chanting rules as taught in our lineage.

Sanskrit basics – varṇamāla & basic sandhi.

Discipline to practice independently and consistently.

           
The Challakere Brothers’ lineage of teaching invites practitioners to reflect upon one’s lifestyle for those who wish to seriously dedicate themselves to learning, teaching, and preserving the Veda. A vegetarian and alcohol-free lifestyle is therefore encouraged.
      

Program objectives

At the end of this program, students will:

Be skilled to teach chanting practices, both from the Veda & from the daily prayer tradition in a South Indian lineage. 

Be grounded in theory – nomenclature of the Veda, Vedic texts and Indic knowledge systems.

Understand all the chanting rules as presented in the treatises of Śīkṣā, with particular emphasis on Taittirīya Prātiśākhyā.

Learn how to guide and lead chanting practices for groups & individuals honouring the Hindu tradition.

Understand common mistakes made by students and practice identifying them and giving feedback in your study group.

Understand and differentiate between Mantra, Sūktam, Praśnaḥ, Upaniṣat, Stotram, Śloka, Nāmāvali, Sūtra, Stuti etc.

Appreciate the chanting level expected from a teacher and practice towards refinement and perfection.

Blessings from The Challakere Brothers:

"Greetings to everyone, 

I would like to congratulate Mrs. Shantala on launching the Indica - Veda Studies Teacher Training Program. I sincerely believe that this program will be of great value to those learning. Shantala is a diligent student and teacher of Veda. I wholeheartedly bless this program and wish that it may benefit all those who participate.

May everyone be blessed."

Monthly Curriculum

Orientation program

Welcoming session for participants

Saturday 04 September 2027

4.00pm - 5.30pm Brussels time

Welcome note by Hari Kiran Vadlamani

Course overview by Shantala Sriramaiah

September

Invocation, Qualities of a teacher

Dates: 06, 08, 13, 15, 20, 22 = 12 hours

Saturday 18 September = 2 hours

Theory: Introduction to Śikṣā - qualities of a teacher, the tradition of feedback.

Chanting: Guru, Gaṇapati & Sarasvatī prārthana, Gāyatrī mantra & prāṇāyāma, Śraddhā Sūktam.

October

Knowledge systems & vocabulary

Dates: 04, 06, 11, 13, 18, 20 = 12 hours

Saturday 16 October = 2 hours

Theory: Overview of Indic Knowledge Systems, Veda nomenclature.

Chanting: Agni Sūktam, Medhā Sūktam

November

Vedāṅga, Śīkṣā, Taittirīya prātiśākhyā

Dates: 08, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 = 12 hours

Saturday 20 November = 2 hours

Theory: Textual introduction to Śīkṣā & Taittirīya prātiśākhyā with examples.

Chanting: Durgā Sūktam, Devī Sūktam

January

Brāhmaṇa, Āraṇyaka, Upaniṣat 

Dates: 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 = 12 hours

Saturday 22 January = 2 hours

Theory: Understanding Brāhmaṇa, Āraṇyaka, Upaniṣat texts with examples.

Chanting: Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣā

February

Mantras for peace

Dates: 07, 09, 14, 16, 21, 23 = 12 hours

Saturday 19 February = 2 hours

Theory: Peace mantras & overview of Upaniṣads.

Chanting: GA completion + asato mā, saṃ no mitraḥ, vāṅme, namo brahmaṇe, sarve bhavantu and others.

March

Chanting traditions & Hindu daily prayers

Dates:  06, 08, 13, 15, 20, 22 = 12 hours

Saturday 18 March = 2 hours

Theory: Chanting traditions & Hindu household/daily prayers & chanting terms.

Chanting: śuklām, śaṅkara namāmi, oṅkāra namāmi, kāyena, vakratuṇda, morning & evening prayers (35 in total).

May

Japa, festivals, Hindu calendar & deities

Dates: 08, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 = 12 hours

Saturday 20 May = 2 hours

Theory: Hindu festivals, sacred days, pañcāṅga & deities. 

Chanting: Gāyatrī-s of M.U & mantras for Śivarātri, akṣaya tritīya, rāmnavamī, gaṇeśa, navarātri, dīpāvali, śankara Jayanti.

June

Yoga & health in Veda 

Dates: 05, 07, 12, 14, 19, 21 = 12 hours

Saturday 17 June = 2 hours

Theory: Yoga & health in Veda.

Chanting: Āyurmantra, Laghuñyāsaḥ, Ārogya mantra, Sūryanamaskāra mantra, Dhanvantari mantra.

July

Presentations & closing

Dates: 03, 05, 10, 12 = 08 hours

Intensive practice sessions TBD

One on one evaluations

Online graduation ceremony

Course fee

► €4497 one-time fee

► €1549 X 3 times 

► €519 X 9 monthly payments

Indica and Veda Studies are offering a limited number of (partial) scholarships – you will have the opportunity to indicate your requirement in the application process.

Resources

During this course you get access to the following resources
Teacher's Manual (NEW!!).
All Zoom classes recorded and permanent access in course area.
Texts for all the chants being taught.
Reproducible texts – ability to use these texts for your classes in the future following some guidelines around copyrights.
Private discussion forum on the Veda Studies website.
Post program community, forum, events for ongoing support and continuing education eligibility.

For who is this course?

This course is for:
   ✓  Those who wish to lead chanting classes.
   ✓  Learn or improve their teaching skills.
   ✓  Those with an established chanting practice.
   ✓  Students who know many of the chants included in this program.
This course is not for:
   ❌  Those who don't intend to teach, but only wish to deepen knowledge.
   ❌  Those new to chanting & Sanskrit.
   ❌  Those unable to make time for live classes (80% attendance is required)
  ❌   Those who have not studied previously with Shantala.

Future teacher trainings

Continuing training will be planned in the future for teachers, but they will require the primary Teacher Training certification first.
1. Level-2 Pañca Sūktam training
2. Viṣṇu & Lalitā Sahasranāma teacher training
3. Bhagavad Gita teacher's program
4. Rudram teacher program

Your teacher

The course is developed and taught by Shantala Sriramaiah, born and raised in Bangalore, India. She studied Sanskrit and chanting from an early age, as part of her family tradition as well as in school. 
Much of her inspiration comes from her mother Saroja, who taught chanting classes in their family home for over 30 years. She continues studies with various Vedic scholars and pundits, including Guruji M.S. Sreenivasan from the Challakere Brothers, and brings all their teachings to these courses.

PRE - REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

We invite those who feel called to the Veda Studies Teacher Training Programme 2027 to pre-register their interest.
 
This is not an application, but a way to express interest and receive early notification when applications open in Fall 2026.
We request you to express interest only if you have read & understood all the program details and eligibility. 
 
The programme accepts a limited number of participants.

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