HOWARD BECKMAN

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Howard found that he had clairvoyant abilities ever since his early childhood. His awareness of such other "dimensions", as he terms it, lead him to studying philosophy of all cultures from his teenage years. He found a great wealth of knowledge and kinship with the philosophy of India and began to practice yoga and meditation by the time he was 16 years of age. Later Howard attended university majoring in philosophy and religion, and also gained a degree as a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America. Travelling to India on frequent pilgrimages Howard met his guru, who began to teach him the principles of yoga and vedic mysticism, finding him an eager and capable student.

Introduced to vedic astrology (called "jyotish" in sanskrit) by another disciple of his teacher, Howard soon began to also study this most important science of prediction and divination. He was fortunate to be able to study with three jyotish masters in the years that followed. This, along with his constant practice of yoga and study of vedic spiritual philosophy, kept Howard living for the most part in India for the next 10 years. During this time he was initiated by his guru and given the sanskrit name Hamsavatar das.

Upon returning to live in the US Howard entered the gemstone business, having been around this family trade all his life. He was also certified as a master appraiser of gems and is still a senior member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. In the 1980’s Howard moved his business from Beverly Hills, California to Hawaii. There his very successful wholesale gem and jewelry showroom "Honolulu Gem Exchange" supplied precious gems and jewelry to the trade. He also was the host of a weekly radio show there called "Romancing the Stone with Howard Beckman" on CBS affiliate KGU. It attracted many celebrity guests who allowed their charts to be read over the air and as a call-in show did vedic astrological gem recommendations for callers.

Howard is one of the few people in the world today who has been given the title of ‘Planetary Gemologist’, awarded him by the Planetary Gemological Association in Bangkok, Thailand. He is recognized as the sole gemologist in the U.S., who is also expert in the field of vedic astrology and gem therapy.

Howard is the author of "An Introduction to Vedic Astrology ... Spiritual Science of the Ancients", "Mantras, Yantras, and Fabulous Gems ... Healing Secrets of the Ancient Vedas" and his latest ground breaking work "Vibrational Healing with Gems". Between 1992 and 1998, Howard had a profound influence in establishing Vedic astrology in Europe and the U.K. He and his wife, Jennifer, established the Vedic Cultural Fellowship during this time in the UK, a nonprofit organization devoted to teaching and spreading the sacred, spiritual sciences of ancient India. He divided his time between teaching and seeing clients for jyotish consultations and ayurvedic gem therapy, where he made great strides in combining modern scientific technology with this little-known science of healing.

In 1998 he and his wife returned to the US to establish the Vedic Cultural Fellowship’s world headquarters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and in 1999 they purchased and moved to their present location where is planned a vedic cultural and spiritual center of epic proportions. This, Howard says, is a project meant to become a beacon of Vedic knowledge and lifestyle for many generations to come.

Today Howard maintains a busy astrological practice seeing clients from all over the world, and does many consultations for out of town clients by telephone and mail. He is also consulted by other vedic astrologers and ayurvedic practitioners for opinions and recommendations of gems for their clients, being considered one of the world’s foremost authorities in both jyotish and ayurvedic gem therapy.
Look for his unique correspondence course on Planetary Gem Therapy beginning this year

He travels regularly for teaching and seeing private clients throughout the US, UK, Europe and India and has just recently established the Vedic Cultural Fellowship as a foundation/trust in India along with his fellow board members in that country.

Adam Beckman was born in Bangalore, India and also given the Sanskrit name “Kedarnath”. Beginning his life so, he was exposed to the Vedic sights and sounds, aromas and vibrations of India’s spiritual and cultural heritage from birth. He lived his early years there going to temples daily, chanting sacred Vedic mantras that he heard from the Brahman priests and other family members and began his life as few from western families can imagine.

Adam had some schooling in his birthplace, but went to high school in England before coming to live in the USA in his late teens. Gaining an avid interest in gemology and the powers of gems he not only learned from his father, but also attended the Gemological Institute of America in southern California gaining certification as a gemologist. His expertise became so poignant in identifying gems and grading that he quickly became one of his family’s gem buyers at source countries. He regularly travels abroad with his father, Howard, carrying a full portable gemological laboratory to insure that nothing but the finest natural gems are ever considered for purchase by Balaji Natural Gems Co.

Adam also attends college in Santa Fe, New Mexico part time finishing courses in photography and web site development as his artistic talents in these areas have made him take charge of photographing all gems and jewelry for Balaji Natural Gems, as well as seeing to maintenance of all the Vedic Cultural Fellowship’s web sites.

Adam is also qualified as a Planetary Gem Advisor by the Planetary Gemologists Association in Bangkok for recommending gemstone from a Vedic Horoscope and lives at New Rishikesh, the Vedic Cultural Fellowship’s spiritual retreat and learning center in Pecos, New Mexico USA.