Ghanshyam Singh Birla


It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ghanshyam Singh Birla, a beautiful soul who left this world peacefully on January 22nd, 2024, in his 82th year surrounded by the love of his family and friends.

Besides being a constant source of inspiration and encouragement, Ghanshyam was a college professor, Vedic scholar, and world-renowned palmist who immigrated from India to Quebec 50 years ago with one goal in mind—to help others live happier and healthier lives through the ancient science of palmistry.

He was introduced to palmistry in his native India when, as a young boy, he assisted his grandfather (a respected palmist, astrologer and holistic healer) as he cared for and counselled villagers at the free Ayurveda clinic the Birla family operated from their home near the Himalayas.

Ghanshyam attended university in New Delhi, where he graduated in Sanskrit studies and became a professor of physical education. However, his love of Vedic palmistry and his unshakable belief that this ancient science could make the world a better place prompted him to immigrate to the West in 1972. Settling in Montreal, he founded the Birla Center that, thanks to his passion and deep-rooted devotion to advancing the Vedic healing arts, quickly became a hub of activity in the city’s Westmount district.

In 1998, Ghanshyam fulfilled another lifelong dream—opening a Wellness Center in a rural setting where his clients could renew themselves in body, mind and heart while enjoying the freshest air and cleanest water Mother Nature had to offer. Located near the hamlet of Chénéville in Quebec’s Outaouais region, the Wellness Center attracted hundreds of international visitors who came to learn about palmistry and take advantage of the Center’s pristine 500-acre forest preserve, stream-fed private lake, hiking trails and meditation rooms.

Indeed, Ghanshyam loved the peace and natural beauty of the Chénéville Center so much, he made it his home. People travelled there from all over the world to consult with him as well as with his small team of dedicated Vedic professionals, most of whom had been with Ghanshyam for decades and who were at his side when he passed.

It was at the Wellness Center that Ghanshyam wrote many of the books, programs and lectures that, all form a large part of his legacy, and that were all designed to make his beloved palmistry more accessible to the general public. Through his efforts he hoped to bring palmistry into the mainstream and make it as familiar and popular in the West as other Vedic sciences from India, such as yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic medicine.

Like so many small business owners, Covid 19 hit Ghanshyam hard and forced him to close both his Montreal offices and the Wellness Center in Chénéville. However, not one to be daunted by a global pandemic, Ghanshyam ensured that the Birla Center continued its work (and continued to thrive) by placing all of its courses, programs and services online. Thanks to Ghanshyam, the Birla Center is now one of the most popular online palmistry centers in the world.

The Birla team will continue Ghanshyam's life's work and legacy with the same passion and dedication.

Ghanshyam leaves behind his beloved wife, Chanchala, his daughter Rekha (Serge Landry), Keero (Maryam Shahidi) and Abhishekanada, and his grandsons, Kishan and Darian, whom he absolutely adored. Ghanshyam will also be sorely missed by the thousands of people whose lives he touched with his enormous, generous heart, his kind and loving nature, his infectious laughter, selfless support, and, of course, his world-famous bear hugs. Perhaps no one will miss him more than his team at the Birla Center who loved him deeply, worked side by side with him since the 1970’s, and who vow to carry on his work and keep his name alive.

A celebration of Ghanshyam’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 3rd, at Maison Funéraire Shields Berthiaume, 101, rue Principale, St-André-Avellin, Québec (819) 983-6616. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. followed by a reception. Flowers can be sent to this address.


Ghanshyam Singh Birla has dedicated his life to teaching the ancient science of Vedic Palmistry.


Ghanshyam began studying palmistry and astrology in his native India when he was twelve years old under the tutelage of his paternal grandfather. Ghanshyam learned through him that Vedic palmistry is much more than a method for predicting future events—it is a spiritual tool and a way of understanding our deepest selves that, when properly practiced, can bless us with balanced and joyful lives, promote lifelong health and well-being, and even draw us closer to God.

Ghanshyam Singh BirlaAfter years of diligent Vedic study, Ghanshyam opened a successful Palmistry Center in New Delhi and quickly established a thriving practice, but grew frustrated with the ingrained culture of “fortune telling” he felt was associated with palmistry in India. Seeking to bring the spiritual beauty and the many practical life-changing benefits of Vedic palmistry to a wider world, Ghanshyam left his beloved homeland in the early 1970s. He immigrated to North America and quickly established himself in the West as a trailblazing pioneer of the Vedic sciences. In 1972, Ghanshyam founded the Birla Center where he consulted with clients and taught the college-level Palmistry Certification Program he had lovingly developed over the past four decades.

Ghanshyam has lectured extensively throughout the United States and Canada and has written numerous articles and highly acclaimed books, including Destiny in The Palm of Your Hand, Introduction to Hast Jyotish, and Magnet Therapy. His first book, Love in the Palm of Your Hand, was a Book of The Month Club selection in the United States and has been translated into six languages. Ghanshyam has also recorded three popular mantra meditation recordings–Gayatri, Maha Mrityunjaya (Shiva) and Saraswati Devi.

Personal History

  • Honorary fellow and teaching member of the International Institute of Integral Human Sciences (IIIHS) and lecturer on the Adjunct-Faculty of the SSF’s International College Program in Montreal (September 2002).
  • Awarded a Certificate of Attendance for participation in Ayurveda and Health Symposium and An Integrated Approach to Ayurveda and Modern Nutrition Workshop from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine (July 2002).
  • Affiliated with the College of Alternative Medicines, Calcutta, to offer Diploma Programs in Vedic Palmistry and Vedic Astrology (1997).
  • Founder of Galaxy Publications and Recordings, a division of NRISU, in 1993.
  • Creator of “The Naitram S. Birla Handprint Gallery”, a presentation of the science and art of palmistry, as part of the ‘Canada 125’ National Celebrations, September 1992. For this project, he received an official commendation from the Governor-General of Canada, The Honourable R. Hnatyshyn.
  • Created an 18-course diploma program in Vedic palmistry

Published Works

Books Published by Inner Traditions & Bear Co.

  • Happiness in the Palm of Your Hand: Connecting to Your Inner Joy, Ghanshyam Singh Birla and Guylaine Vallée with Steve Erwin and foreword by Joni Patry to be released in 2025.

  • Destiny in the Palm of Your Hand: Creating Your Future through Vedic Palmistry. Published by Inner Traditions & Bear Co., Vermont, (June 2000) and translated into 5 languages.
  • Magnet Therapy, a Gentle and Effective Way to Balance Body Systems. Published by Inner Traditions & Bear Co., Vermont, (October 1999) and translated into 8 languages and used in the program at the Institute of Alternative Medicine, Girinagar Kadavanthra, Cochin-20, Kerala, India.
  • Love in the Palm of Your Hand: How to Use Palmistry for Successful Relationships. Published by Inner Traditions & Bear Co., Vermont, (December 1998) and translated into 6 languages.

Textbooks Published by Galaxy Publications & Recordings

  • Introduction to Hast Jyotish: Ancient Eastern System of Palmistry, 2007, foreword by Dr. Vasant Lad.
  • Discovering the Mounts: The Power of the Planets in the Palm of Your Hand, 2014.
  • The Mount of Moon: Perception, Emotions and Creativity, 2016
  • The Mount of Venus: Feel the Love, 2018
  • The Power of Mars: Embracing Your Inner Warrior, 2021

Other Published Work

  • Creator of For a Glorious Tomorrow, a subliminal-affirmational recording for people with sleeping difficulties.
  • Producer, author and narrator of three audio recordings, The Gayatri Mantra, The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and Saraswati Devi which bring to the Western World an understanding of the significance of mantras.
  • Article for MENSA Canada in 1971 on the scientific significance of the lines and signs of the hand.
  • Regular collaborator in East/West Journal, Seraphin Magazine, Hindu Mission Journal, Cheminement, Tone Magazine, Light on Ayurveda, Bharat Times, Miracle Journey, Insight Magazine, and Toronto Dimensions.