Our Institute
The Founder H. G. Shri Vrindavanchandra Das’s office is the hub of all spiritual activities. It is the room where all plan of action originate and are discussed. Not to forget the serious spiritual discussions, and doubt busting sessions that are held here. Meeting the flow of anxious visitors who come with personal problems seeking spiritual guidance, and meeting visitors on an official basis is a daily routine. It is also the place where everyday activities are monitored and issues that emerge are sorted out. Being a Spiritual Mentor it is a common sight to see him reading spiritual books during spare time in the quiet atmosphere of his office.
Teamwork is the cardinal principle followed in GIVE. The success or failure of each and every program or plan is the outcome of team-work. All forthcoming projects are discussed threadbare and for visual assessment, the latest technology is used. An in-depth appraisal of existing programs and assessment of the feasibility or otherwise of the various feature projects are made here. New projects are strictly based on ideas that will strengthen the basic ideals and objects of GIVE.
The foremost activity of GIVE is to spread Spiritual knowledge using every available forum, thus the lecture hall becomes another nerve center of GIVE. Sunday is a veritable day of festivity, as members of the congregation & their children, invitees & their children, first-time visitors accompanied by their children, the inmates and their children (those who have children), all join in to hear a discourse on spiritual science. These sessions are followed by lunch prasad. Seminars and talks on various topics are held for those enthusiastic to learn and hear the Bhagavad Gita and allied topics on specific days.
GIVE has a vast collection of books based on Spirituality. Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita etc. constitute the collection of books in the library. Biographies, Autobiographies of great Vaishnavas, doctrines of Vaishnava philosophy vis-a-vis other philosophies, and books on Gaudiya Vaishnavism are the major part of the books in the library. Books for teaching children on Vedic lines, books on home tutoring etc., books on “advaita” and “dvaita” philosophies for comparative studies are also available. The list is endless and last but not the least the Mahabharata, of which the Bhagavad Gita is a part, is among the precious jewels in our library.
GIVE maintains an ashram for boys who have vowed to lead a life of celibacy and who after being trained want to become preachers of spirituality. The ashram is alive and bustling with activity by 3:00 - 3:30 a.m, as the devotees are up and prepare to get ready to be present for the “mangal aarti” which starts by 4:30 am. The morning temple program goes on till 9.00 am, the study of the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptural books is a must. The morning program is followed by a busy daily schedule.
Gaurannga Institute for Vedic Education - GIVE is named after Gauranga Mahaprabhu, and the presiding Deities in the Temple are the most beautiful Sri Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, Nityananda prabhu and Sri Sri Radha Gopashrestha. All activities under the banner of GIVE is done to please Their Lordships. The temple worship is performed strictly according to Vedic norms. As the Lordships are the very “SOUL” of GIVE, a great deal of care goes into every aspect regarding Them be it Their “bhoga”, dress, decoration of the altar etc. Every minute detail is scrutinized before implementation.
Pujaris performing the different aartis at specified times daily are the very backbone of the temple. High standards of purity according to scriptural injunctions are expected of them and the pujaris put in every effort to maintain the same. Pujaris like the other devotees eschew food and drinks that are taboo for spirituality (meat, tea, coffee, alcohol, onion, garlic etc.)
All major Vaishnav festivals like Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Ramnavami, Narasimha Jayanti (just to mention a few), the appearance and disappearance days of Vaishnav acharyas, the Foundation Day of GIVE,etc. are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor. Devotees observe these days by fasting till the appropriate time to break the fast. The lecture is the main attraction of the day wherein the importance and significance of the day are explained. This is followed by sumptuous lunch or dinner prasad (remnants of the offerings made to Their Lordships) which is honoured by the invitees and devotees alike.