Padma Shri received by Kashi Vedic scholar Dravid Ganeshwar Shastri

Varanasi: Eminent Vedic scholar from Varanasi, Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, was honoured with Padma Shri award by President Droupadi Murmu on Monday.

Shastri had determined the auspicious timing (muhurta) for the groundbreaking and consecration of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor in Varanasi. Shastri is a Vedic scholar and renowned astrologer, who has been helping thousands of people worldwide for free through his deep knowledge of astrology.

Born on Dec 8, 1958, Shastri does not hold a degree from any recognised college or university. He received all his education from a traditional Gurukul, operated by his father, Pandit Rajeshwar Shastri Dravid, a distinguished scholar of jurisprudence in Ramnagar, Varanasi. Besides astrology, he possesses extensive knowledge of the four Vedas, Vedanta, jurisprudence, religious scriptures, philosophy, ethics, political science, Mimamsa, Puranas, Ayurveda, and more.

Dravid Shastri has endeavoured to promote Vedic knowledge and the practices of Sanatan Dharma across the country. He is the examiner of the council named Shri Girvanvagvardhini Sabha, established under Shri Vallabhram Shaligram Sangved Vidyalaya, Ramghat, Varanasi. Through his efforts, the council provides classical solutions to complex religious, astrological, social, and political questions. Previously, Dravid Shastri played a crucial role in preserving the Ram Setu (believed to be built by Lord Rama's army) by providing various pieces of evidence from ancient religious texts to the Supreme Court of India. He edited the Krishna-Yajurveda book in Madras (Chennai) 23 years ago, which is a historical work.

In 2022, he was awarded ‘Jyotish-Vidya-Ratnam' from Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchi, Tamil Nadu, ‘Manikya-Gauravam' from Shri Manikya Prabhu Sansthanam, Humnabad, Karnataka in 2021, and the title ‘Tark-Vagish' by All India Shri Pandit Parishad, Varanasi in 1982.