What is VIRC?
The VIRC (Veerashaiva-Lingayat International Center) is an integral part of VSNA and established in 1999. During VSNA Bylaw 2024 Amendments, along with its earlier activities, General Body approved and made VIRC responsible to conduct the long-term programs (our faith based, children educational and community service oriented). It consists of a passionate volunteer group of VSNA members with a director appointed by VSNA Board.
What is the mission of VIRC?
V3 – VSNA Vichara Vedike:
V3 is an international platform dedicated to openly discuss all aspects of Veerashaiva-Lingayat faith along with Basavadisharanas teachings after the discourse from knowledgeable VSNA scholars and invited erudite intellectuals from all over the world. All our conducted V3 sessions are available to view at our channel https://www.youtube.com /@VsnaAllChapters7397 and currently V3 sessions are organized at a frequency of one to two sessions every month. Visit www.virc.vsna.org/V3
VSM – VSNA Sammilana (Matrimoy):
VSNA Matrimony program has become one of our most successful programs with the active participation of more than 450 parents in our WhatsApp group. We had several successful marriages in past four years and conduct virtual sessions for parents and wards periodically including onsite sessions during conventions. Formal registration in our Sammilana website has started & more than 100 suitors have already registered.
Visit www.sammilana.vsna.org
IBJ – International Basava Jayanti:
IBJ celebrates Guru Basava as a Social Reformer and Writer, with the support and endorsement from more than fifty Kannada, Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Indian organizations in North America, Europe, Middle East, Australasia & India along with Basava Samithi, Bengaluru. Whole day virtual online program includes morning and evening sessions to reach international participation live on YouTube Channel.
Visit www.virc.vsna.org/IBJ
ID2 – International Dasoha Day:
All the VSNA Chapters along with other sister organizations, celebrate the ID2 (key pillar of our faith) during first fortnight of every August on a Saturday conducting Community Service activities at every chapter location as one mega event. “Serve NA by VSNA” program by VIRC offers Financial Assistance to the selected Dasoha Projects submitted by the group of Chapter Children. Visit www.virc.vsna.org/ID2
VCTF – VSNA Children Talent Festival:
Every year more than 300 families prepare and send their children from our chapters to participate in our International Level VCTF competitions (Vachana, Speech, Dance, Poems, Essay, Drawing, etc.). Nearly 35 Judges from outside of our VSNA community, from USA and India evaluate the participants. Annually, we send nearly $5,000 as Gifts and Certificates to our chapter presidents to distribute to the proud winners in their Chapter Events. Visit www.virc.vsna.org/VCTF
VS2 – VSNA Samanvaya Vachana Shaale:
As the core objective of VSNA, we are starting online, virtual Vachana Shaale for our children to teach vachanas in Kannada in all the three time zones of North America. Our vision is to teach nearly 60 vachanas in four courses in two academic years. Interested members are welcome to join our group of volunteers to teach our little children to pass on our legacy, faith and culture. Visit www.virc.vsna.org/VS2
VSNA Website: As responsible for content management of the integrated website (www.vsna.org) and facilitator of the online library, VIRC actively coordinates the collection of the resources, website enhancement and updates.
How can members pitch in and help the VIRC?
To help maintain our identity in North America, a melting pot of diverse cultures and ways of life, we must make some choices and take specific actions. Our way of life, activities and decisions will affect our children and theirs in the years to come. The Veerashaiva-Lingayats spread all over USA and Canada are part of our extended international family. We must try to reach all of them and their children, and it is not an easy task as it needs long-term consistent programs to motivate and involve them. To sustain this effort year after year, we need your whole-hearted support and monetary assistance. The VIRC will provide the voluntary effort required to carry out these long-term programs and activities entrusted to us by VSNA Bylaws. But we need your generous donations in the form of monetary support to make our long-term programs to reach all our children. We have established a VIRC Trust Fund so that our work will continue through next decades. Please send your donations payable to “VIRC Trust Fund” by Zelle to vsnatreasurer2025@gmail.com and inform us at virc.vsna@gmail.com.
Sri Gadigeppa Doddamani,
VIRC Director 2025
Mr. Gadigeppa Doddamani was born and raised in a poor family in Neeralagi. He was an orphan at the age of two. His uncle Somappa Doddamani, himself very poor, helped him to finish his elementary and high school education. Gadigeppa spent most of his student life staying in Swamiji’s Mathas.
Mr. Doddamani served as college professor for 8 years in Sankeshwar, Karnataka state. He moved to America for higher studies in 1974. After graduating in USA, he worked as Senior Chemist/Toxicologist for 34 years. Now he is retired and living with his family in West Bloomfield, Michigan. His wife, Prabha, also worked as chemist for 32 years and retired. They have a son, Ravi, an engineer and a daughter, Sunita, Asst. United States Attorney along with five grandchildren.
Mr. Doddamani has been serving VSNA since 1980 when Detroit chapter started. He served the organization in all titles including as its president in 1997-1998. He incorporated VSNA in Michigan state as nonprofit corporation in 1997. He was also the first Director of VIRC at its inception in 1999 – 2002.
Mr. Doddamani has been actively involved in raising funds for Convention Trust Fund (CTF). He is also the Mega Donor for CTF.
Dr. Sajjan Shiva is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Memphis, Tennessee. He is a Fellow of IEEE and has been a teacher, researcher and consultant since 1975. He is an author of 100+ articles in software engineering, cyber security and computer architecture. He has authored four books which have seen 10 editions and are used by 120+ universities around the world. Through his weekly blog http://vachanaaweek.blogspot.com he has translated and written commentaries on 200+ Vachanas so far. It has reached audience in USA and India and 8 other countries with a total read count of 60000+. He has served as a member and chairman of the VSNA BOR and has been a life member since 1990. He is a co-founder and currently President of Siddaganga Humanitarian Mission – USA, to support the educational activities of Siddaganga Gurukula in Tumkur. He hails from Akki Rampura in Tumkur District of Karnataka. Kalpana and Sajjan Shiva have two daughters (Sruti and Sweta) and four grandchildren.