Yoga Vandana

Yoga Vandana was born and raised in an environment deeply rooted in music and literature. Her mother, Smt. V. Chandrakala, is a vocalist who provided her earliest inspiration, while her father, Prof. Veturi Anandamurthy, a Telugu litterateur known for his research on Tallapaka Annamacharya, encouraged her artistic pursuits. This background nurtured a natural inclination toward music from an early age.

Although she began with vocal training, her strong attraction to the veena led her to pursue the instrument seriously. Her early lessons were under Smt. Sridevi and Smt. K. Subhashini Shastri. She later underwent advanced and sustained training under the eminent veena maestro Vidwan (Late) V. S. Anantha Rao, Senior Staff Artist of All India Radio, Hyderabad, belonging to the Vijayanagaram tradition. Under his guidance, she developed a methodical and tradition-oriented technique.

Her veena playing closely follows the vocal idiom, emphasizing clarity of phrasing, continuity of tone, and raga-based expression. This gayaki-oriented approach has become a defining feature of her style.

Yoga Vandana holds a Diploma in Music from St. Thyagaraja College of Music, Hyderabad, and the Alankar qualification from Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Miraj. Alongside her music education, she completed a postgraduate degree in zoology from Osmania University.

Her recognitions include being designated a Top Grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan (2012) and empanelment with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in 2009. Earlier accolades include the Smt. Rukmini Jagannathan Puraskar for Alankar examinations, a gold medal at the Sri Sudharshanacharya Memorial Competition, and first prizes from institutions such as the Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer Trust.

Based in Bengaluru, she continues her sangeetha sadhana with sustained practice and performance, supported by her family, and remains engaged in preserving and presenting the traditional veena repertoire.