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Aacharya Sivamoorthi
Chief Priest
Cell: 504.261.8869

Acharya Sivamoorthi has served with great dedication as one of our temple priests since 2011. He hails from a strong priest ancestry or Acharya parampara in Palghat city, Kerala. He trained in Sivagama from Viswesara Veda Agama Patasala. He has knowledge of Indian Astronomy and experience in temple pujas and other customary Hindu religious services. He can speak and communicate in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and English.

Aacharya Gnanasakthi
Cell: 504.409.9905

Aacharya Gnanasakthidharan has been serving in our temple Since 2022. He Hails from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He has extensive training in Sivagama and Vedhas from Sri Skandaguru Vidyalyam and Sri Kanchi Maha Swamigal Sadapthi Vedha Patasala, Madurai. He also proudly holds the title of “Sivagamabhaskara”, which signifiies that he has undergone rigorous training for 5 years in Aagamas and Shastras from Patasala. He has conducted and participated in several Kumbabhishegams and is well versed in all Poojas, Yagnas and different types of religious and cultural ceremonies / services. He is fluent in English and Tamil.

Aacharya Bhaktha
Cell: 737.408.2335

Aacharya Bhakthavatsala Bhattar (Bhaktha) is a Vaishnavite aacharya who specializes in Pancharatra agama. He joined our priests’ team in 2025 and has been performing and supporting multiple poojas and yagnas at the temple. Aacharya Bhaktha has served in various temples across India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. For thirty years, he was the head priest of the Nagamma Devi Temple in Bengaluru, India, a role he held while also supporting other Anjaneya and Venkateshwara temples. He can speak five languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English.

Siva Aacharya Thangam Bhattar
Priest Emeritus

Siva Achaarya Thangam Bhattar is one of the world’s renowned Siva Achaaryas. He was at Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India as the Chief priest for many years. He has been at SVVS temple, Kenner, LA since inception of the temple in 1994. He served as an officiating priest to conduct Kumbhabishekams in several Temples in India, USA and many other countries. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including Hindu of the Year in 2018.

Off-Site Temple Charges for Priest Services

Before booking any priest service, we ask that you contact our priests directly. Please allow adequate notice so the priest can confirm availability and arrange supplies and transportation.

Off-site priest services must be within a 50 mile radius. For anything beyond that, please email us.

The following Temple Charges are required when booking a priest for off-site services. These do not include supplies, transportation, or the priest service itself.

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Half Day

$251

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Full Day$501

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Wedding$651

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Funeral Rites$251

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Please contact the temple when booking any priest services at: svvsnola@gmail.com. Individual contact information for the priests is listed above.