The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) has announced the dates for its onsite Bhakti-sastri courses in English and Hindi, which are scheduled to begin on June 20 and end on October 30, 2024. VIHE extends a warm invitation to all devotees seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of bhakti to participate in this life-changing education.

Speaking of the Bhakti-sastri program, Srila Prabhupada said, “I wish to encourage all my disciples to very carefully learn this philosophy of Krishna Consciousness because there is so many preachers who will be required to bring this message to all of the corners of the earth. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has predicted that this movement of Krishna Consciousness will one day be spread into every village and town, and everywhere there will be found chanting of Hare Krishna” (Letter to Mahapurusa, February 7, 1969).

This unique opportunity allows devotees to immerse themselves fully in the teachings of sastras under the guidance of experienced teachers while living in Sri Vrindavan-dham during the auspicious Chaturmasya period in the atmosphere of the Goshala land.

The following is the list of exceptional teachers for the course:
• BG Introduction, Chapters 1 – 3: Asita Dasa
• BG 4 -5: Vicitra Krsna Dasa
• BG 6 – 7: Gokulesvara Dasa
• BG 8 – 9: Caitanya Carana Dasa
• BG 10 – 12: Pranesvara Dasa
• BG 13 – 18: Vamsi Vadana Dasa
• NOD: Anuradha Devi Dasi
• NOI: Sarvabhauma Dasa
• ISO: Bhakti Dhira Damodara Svami
• Deity Worship: Mukunda Datta Dasa
• Sanskrt Pronunciation: Vrajaraja Govinda Dasa

In addition to studying the foundational texts covered in the Bhakti-sastri course, our curriculum includes specialized classes like Introduction to Deity Worship and Sanskrt Pronunciation. These sessions are designed to equip devotees with the necessary skills to engage in devotional practices.

The course will include sloka memorization sessions, regular practice of writing about the sastras in the form of essays, association with fellow devotees via group works or interactive value classes, morning programs, outings, tithis and festival celebrations. The VIHE has always strived to emphasize nurturing Vaisnava qualities in its students.

The VIHE Bhakti-sastri course has two classes (of up to two hours each) every day from Tuesday to Friday and one class on Mondays and Saturdays. For example, the Tuesday to Friday daily schedule would look like this:
Morning session: 11 am to 1 pm
Prasada: 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm
Afternoon session: 2:30 pm to 4 pm

One Bhakti-sastri student from the 2023 course, Govinda Krsna Dasa, shared his experience of studying the course, “Bhakti-sastri will give you a Narayana-kavacha of the philosophy. I keep preaching around the world, and at the end of the day, people are not concerned about the looks, not bothered about the way you sing or how you influence people, but at the end of the day, they want to know how well versed you are with the scriptures. And that is what the Bhakti-sastri from the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education has given me.”

Admission for the Bhakti-sastri course is now open, and we advise all interested individuals to register as soon as possible. Please register using this form.

For further details on the Bhakti-sastri, please contact via phone +91 89799 43134 (12-6pm IST), +91 88690 53796 or email us.