M.R. Ravi Vaidyanaat Sivachariar is the Director of Religious Affairs at The Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York, USA which established the first authentic Hindu Temple in North America in the year 1970. He is a scholar in Veda-Ãgama Šastra and Šaiva Siddhãnta. He hails from a hereditary Hindu priest lineage from Kanchipuram, Southern India. Ravi Vaidyanaat Šivachãriar has devoted his life in serving all living beings and has accumulated knowledge on many aspects of faith, spirituality and science. He has authored numerous articles in English, Sanskrit and Tamil, as well as philosophical treatises of scientific and cultural relevance. Šivachãriar is also an expert in Manuscriptology and Palaeography.
He also serves as a member on the board of various Interfaith Council in the US and participates in inter faith dialogue with different religious leaders to promote harmony and peace.
He is the recipient of various awards and titles including Saiva Vignanam-cha-Shodhanacharya from Honorable former Prime Minister of India, Šivãgama Vãchaspati, Ãgama Vithagar, Šivãgama Ratna.