Acharya Shunya
Author of
Roar Like a Goddess (Sounds True, 2022)
Sovereign Self (Sounds True, 2020)
Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom (Sounds True, 2017)
Acharya Shunya is an internationally recognized spiritual teacher, ordained lineage holder, and authoritative scholar of the Vedic Sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vedanta. She is Founder and Spiritual Preceptor of Vedika Global Wisdom School and Spiritual Community in California and President of California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.
Acharya Shunya is the author of three bestselling books: Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, Sovereign Self, and her newest book - Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful . In this book, Acharya Shunya honors her progressive Vedic roots while breaking the shackles of tradition to bring modern-day women, an inclusive, feminist spirituality.
Books by Acharya
Roar Like a Goddess (Sounds True, 2022)
A rallying cry for women everywhere to break free from the shackles of patriarchy and awaken their true nature, brought to life through India’s primary goddess archetypes
Within you is a wellspring of strength and resilience, the ability to create and enjoy abundance, and an expansive sense of inner freedom and divinity. Yet after centuries of living in patriarchal societies, many women don’t realize how powerful they are—or how much they’ve been enculturated to keep their true nature hidden.
In Roar Like a Goddess, trailblazing Vedic spiritual teacher Acharya Shunya empowers women everywhere to step into their divine immensity and lead powerful, abundant, and wise lives through her revolutionary revisioning of ancient India’s primary goddess archetypes:
Part 1 features the Goddess Durga—A role model who vanquishes internalized oppression, Durga teaches you how to take back your full feminine power.
Part 2 introduces the Goddess Lakshmi—Known for her beauty and generous spirit, Lakshmi guides you to cultivate unshakable inner contentment and soul-aligned abundance.
Part 3 celebrates the Goddess Saraswati—The ultimate teacher of our deepest journey to Self, Saraswati illuminates the gifts of wisdom, peace, and inner freedom.
Throughout Roar Like a Goddess, Shunya honors her progressive Vedic roots while breaking the shackles of tradition to bring modern-day women an inclusive, feminist spirituality. Sharing classic myths, original insights, and empowering practices, Shunya offers a profound process for awakening the many faces of goddess within. “It is time for all women to come out of the closet and roar with all their spiritual power,” she writes, “because that is our true sound.”
Praise
“Shunya’s writing reflects her teaching/speaking style. She retells key traditional stories, analyzing them creatively and insightfully, while connecting them to history, social movements.” —Library Journal
“Acharya Shunya, the first female head of an ancient Vedic lineage, brings the powerful Hindu goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati alive for our modern context with her vivid pre-patriarchal interpretations of their qualities and activities. She offers direct practices to locate these goddess energies within ourselves. The book provides an ongoing point of reference to refresh our goddess connections in the face of everyday challenges. Her personal stories and those of other women offer inspiration and guidance for readers to strengthen personal agency, dedication to self-care, and care of others based on wisdom, self-respect, and respect for all life.” —Rachael Wooten, PhD, Diplomate Jungian analyst and author of Tara: The Liberating Power of the Female Buddha
“What Acharya Shunya has accomplished in this book is nothing short of a reinterpretation of the Hindu tradition, harnessing its mythic power for the empowerment of women of all faiths (or none). Her command of a vast and varied tradition is unmistakable, her wisdom is evident, and her enthusiasm is infectious. This is a book destined to be life-changing for anyone bold enough to enter into its symbolic world. It not only rocks—it roars.” —Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of Spiritual Guidance across Traditions
Sovereign Self (Sounds True, 2020)
There’s a reason that the Vedas, a 5,000-year-old collection of celebrated verses from ancient India, have given rise to several world religions and influenced Western thinkers from Emerson to Ram Dass―they provide us with a uniquely accessible and effective path to liberation and sovereignty.
With Sovereign Self, Acharya Shunya shares a groundbreaking guide to the wisdom of these classic texts so that each of us may emancipate ourselves from restrictive belief systems and discover our true nature―that which is always whole, joyful, and free. As the first female lineage holder in a 2,000-year-old line of spiritual teachers, Shunya provides a rare opportunity to receive these authentic teachings from a genuine Vedic master―one with a distinctly down-to-earth, feminine flavor who never lets us forget that our humanity is to be embodied and enjoyed.
Throughout Sovereign Self, Shunya adeptly guides us through the core concepts and practices of the Vedas, demystifying and contextualizing sacred concepts for modern life. In this masterful guide, you’ll explore:
- Beginning the journey to radical self-acceptance―recognize your innate worth and wholeness
- How we create our own prisons of shame, compulsion, blame, and obsession―and how you can begin to break free
- Learning to embody personal autonomy in your life and relationships
- Clear advice from a Vedic master for avoiding countless obstacles on the path to liberation―from spiritual bypassing to the true meaning of guru
- Original meditations and contemplative practices taken directly from Shunya’s 2000-year-old lineage
- How to wake up from being a “sleepwalker” and find authentic freedom, everlasting joy, and unshakable sovereignty
Filled with hidden insights and engaging guidance, Sovereign Self will help you awaken and recognize your potential to be joyful, resourceful, abundant, limitlessly expansive, and sovereign.
Praise
“With warmth, clarity, wisdom, engaging boldness, and unswerving dedication, Acharya Shunya guides the reader through the mind’s maze of maya-illusion straight to the liberating goal of Self-knowledge. This book is soul medicine―read it carefully, study it deeply, apply the practices, and discover its life-transforming promise for yourself. It is a modern treasure trove of Vedic wisdom so necessary and relevant for our times.” ―Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and author of The Jewel of Abundance
“Sovereign Self is a beautifully written and masterful guidebook that eloquently shows us how to recognize and embody our essential wholeness amidst our everyday life. Profound and practical, this seminal work reveals in-depth yogic wisdom teachings and practices we can easily engage to attain our full potential as authentic human beings. Acharya Shunya articulately and persuasively elucidates the timeless teachings that enable us to achieve the fullness of our human capacity. A must-read!” ―Richard Miller, PhD, author of iRest Meditation, Yoga Nidra, and The iRest Program for Healing PTSD
“The essence of yoga is Self-knowledge, the realization of our true nature as pure consciousness. Acharya Shunya has shared that core Vedic teaching in a clear and understandable presentation that is accessible to all, reminding us of our real identity, eternal purpose, and the ultimate source of our healing: happiness and harmony.” ―David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri), DLitt, Padma Bhushan recipient, author of The Yoga of Consciousness, and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies
“What depth of wisdom combined with remarkably useful practical advice, and what an honor to learn from a teacher trained and practicing a living spiritual tradition. And, for a change, a master who truly understands the feminine. There are many spiritual guides in the world today―some authentically wise and awakened―but few who embody the wisdom, techniques, and secrets of a tradition developed over centuries by practicing masters. Please enjoy and benefit from this gift from the deepest heart and spirit.” ―Allan Combs, PhD, author of Consciousness Explained Better, California Institute of Integral Studies professor of consciousness studies, conference director of Consciousness and Spirit II, president emeritus and assistant to the vice president of the Society for Consciousness Studies, and editor of Consciousness
Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom (Sounds True, 2017)
Ayurveda teaches us that true health is our birthright—and that by artfully adapting to the rhythms of nature, we can bring ourselves back into balance and experience optimal well-being. Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom is a groundbreaking work within the field of holistic health and traditional yoga, written by internationally renowned Ayurvedic healer, teacher, and scholar Acharya Shunya.
Raised in a distinguished lineage of Vedic mystics and healers, Shunya learned the ancient art of Ayurveda directly from her grandfather, a well-known healer in Northern India. Here, she presents both an engaging narrative of her unique education, as well as a complete encyclopedia of Ayurvedic practices, recipes, and knowledge.
With Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, Shunya maintains the integrity of Ayurveda’s traditional teachings while showing us how to integrate them into our modern lifestyles. Through her in-depth teachings, we learn to live in a way that supports our greatest health through daily ritual, nourishing food, spiritual practice, and self-care.
Praise
“Shunya, president of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, says it was her "karma" to write an "authoritative bible of sorts" on Ayurvedic wisdom. Raised in India, Shunya studied Ayurveda under the tutelage of her grandfather, who was born in 1900 and served as his town’s Ayurvedic guide; throughout this informative text she weaves poignant stories and lessons learned from her highly esteemed relative and advisor. Ayurveda, Shunya explains, is a 5,000-year-old system that covers such topics as lifestyle, food, health, spirituality, meditation, and yoga. Her focus is on applying the ancient principles to modern life and she includes selected case histories from clients and students who believe Ayurveda helped them resolve a variety of issues (e.g., eating disorders, stress). Despite the range of applications Shunya cites, she cautions that Ayurveda is not "one size fits all," and gives readers a number of guidelines. Shunya writes with passion and expertise; newcomers to Ayurveda will receive a comprehensive education, and long-standing practitioners can also delve more deeply into this wellspring of knowledge. This is an important addition to a "holistic approach to health" that readers will want to refer to time and again.” —Publishers Weekly
”This is the ultimate guidebook for optimizing your self-care habits…Shunya makes Ayurvedic ideas and practices completely accessible.” —Bustle
”Acharya Shunya is one of the extraordinary teachers of the living, embodied wisdom of Ayurveda. She transmits it through the roots of her family lineage as well as throughout Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom. She is a model of how to access the healing power of nature within.” —Shiva Rea, author of Tending the Heart Fire
”Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom is a valuable companion for those wishing to understand and apply holistic concepts of health and healing to real-life challenges. You will find many pearls of wisdom that will inspire you to a mindful and positive lifestyle.” —Suhas Kshirsagar, BAMS MD (Ayurveda), and author of The Hot Belly Diet
”Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom is a poetic and inspiring journey through the joy of life deeply rooted in a millennia-long tradition. With Ayurveda and the way Shunya explains it, life is an art, a wisdom, and the embodiment of a tradition going far back in time. Acharya Shunya brings that tradition back to life in the twenty-first century.” —Alain Touwaide, PhD, cofounder and scientific director at the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions
”Reading this book is an enchantment. This is a rare and refreshing appearance of the heart and soul of Ayurveda, alongside the body of wisdom in a modern lifestyle book. Enough story to relate easily and enough tools to transform your experience of life, and finally, finally, a book on Ayurveda that speaks to all the parts of us.” —Siva Mohan, MD, founder of AyurvedaBySiva.com, founder of Veda MeLA, and board member of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine
”Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom rings out like a temple bell and shines like the sun at dawn. A healing balm for our distracted lives, it offers us easy-to-implement, practical Ayurvedic guidance for healthy living every day. It boldly inspires us to claim our inherent healing power and shows us how to do it. You won’t want to put this book down, and fortunately, we don’t have to because its wisdom continues to whisper in our inner ear, like Acharya Shunya’s beloved Baba: ‘Your life is sacred; remember, you can live that way.” —Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, spiritual director at the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and author of Jewel of Abundance
”Acharya Shunya, a well-respected Ayurvedic teacher and practitioner, acquired this authentic knowledge from her grandfather and guru shri Baba, distilled it through her personal experience and practice, and observed the transformative effect of this knowledge. Now she shares that eternal knowledge through this book with stories and examples that are easy to follow and put into practice. This book serves as an invaluable resource for anyone who is embarking on a journey to restore vibrant health, and as a source of inspiration to those who have already embarked on that transformative journey.” —Dhaval Dhru, MD, Ayurveda chair at Bastyr University and president of the board of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association