Author : Sriman Hari Kirtan Das E-mail : hkd75@yahoo.com Date Produced : February 10, 2010 Editor : Srimati Vrindavan Lila d.d. Serial No : 15 of 54

2. VARNASRAMA
SHIKSHALAYA
Author : Sriman Hari Kirtan Das
E-mail : hkd75@yahoo.com
Date Produced : February 10, 2010
Editor : Srimati Vrindavan Lila d.d.
Serial No : 15 of 54

4. VARNASRAMA EDUCATION
Definition:
Varnasrama education is the combined social and educational system based
on the teachings of the Vedic literatures which lead individuals and society at large
towards the perfection of life, i.e. individual and social emancipation. It takes into
account the living entity as a whole, fulfilling his physical, emotional, intellectual,
and social needs, along with his spiritual needs.
[HHRPBhaktiRaghavaSwami]

5. Shastric Quotes on Education
śrī-nārada uvāca
brahmacārī guru-kule
vasan dānto guror hitam
ācaran dāsavan nīco
gurau sudṛḍha-sauhṛdaḥ (cf. SB 7.12.1)
TRANSLATION:
Nārada Muni said: A student should practice completely
controlling his senses. He should be submissive and should
have an attitude of firm friendship for the spiritual master. With
a great vow, the brahmacārī should live at the guru-kula, only
for the benefit of the guru.

6. sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ
saḿsiddhiḿ labhate naraḥ
sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiḿ
yathā vindati tac chṛṇu
- (cf. Bhagavad-gita, 18.45)
TRANSLATION:
By following his qualities of work, every man
can become perfect. Now please hear from
Me how this can be done.

7. śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ
para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataḿ karma
kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam
- (cf. Bhagavad-gita, 18:47)
TRANSLATION:
It is better to engage in one's own occupation,
even though one may perform it imperfectly, than
to accept another's occupation and perform it
perfectly. Duties prescribed according to one's
nature are never affected by sinful reactions.

9. Compulsory Education

10. So far as Gurukula is concerned, literary education is for
the Brahminical class, not for all. Others should learn by
seeing, like the ksatriyas, vaisyas, and sudras. Just like
driving a bullock cart; it doesn't require education.
Modern so-called education is simply a waste of time
producing hippies. Shameless! Why compulsory
education? To make hippies—compulsory education to
degrade. So it is very fortunate that there is no
compulsory education required by the state of
Mississippi. [Letter to Nityananda, Mayapur, 16 March, 1977]

11. Co-Education

12. Therefore Vedic civilization is, from the very
beginning, to train the boys to become
brahmacäré, celibacy. Not that modern days,
the schools, boys and girls, ten years,
twelve years, they're enjoying. The brain is
spoiled. They cannot understand higher
things. The brain tissues are lost. So without
becoming brahmacäré, nobody can
understand spiritual life. [Radhastami, August
29, 1971, London]

13. Commercializing Education

14. We never say that. But these so-called
teachers who first of all bargain for a
salary—"What salary will you give me?"—
that is a dog's concern. That is not a
brähmaëa's concern. A brähmaëa will never
ask about a salary. A brähmaëa is eager to
see that people are educated. "Take free
education and be educated; be a human
being"—this is a brähmaëa's concern: You
see? I came here not to ask for any money
but to give instruction. [Journey of Self-Discovery,
6.5 Slaughterhouse Civilization]

15. Competitive Psyche
Giving rise to envy, pride,
frustration and ultimately
bad character.

16. That is the general education. It
doesn't require that you have to
learn some book immediately.
No. First of all build your
character. Otherwise what is the
use of taking degrees if you
have no character?

17. Missing the Spiritual Dimension

18. “The modern educational system
has no department for teaching
about consciousness or the spirit
soul, although this knowledge is
the most important.“
- Srila Prabhupada

19. The Real Story

20. Turning into an Ass

21. Don't spoil your children. The modern educational
system without any knowledge of Bhagavan, I may
tell you frankly, not only in India, everywhere, they
are practically slaughterhouse.
-SrilaPrabhupada (Lecture, Delhi pandal, Nov’71)

22. Modern Schools = Slaughterhouses
- Srila Prabhupada

23. Prahlada Mahäräja recommends, kaumara
äcaret präjïo dharmän bhägavatän iha [SB
7.6.1]. This is very, very important message.
We should be careful to educate our sons,
our boys, with bhägavata-dharma from the
very beginning of life. That was the Vedic
system.

24. Traditional System of Education
Formal - Gurukulas
Non-formal - Village technologies
Informal- Homeschooling

25. Why are
parents
not interested in traditional
education?

26. Dangers of ModernSchools
* Misconceptions about education
* Material sensegratification as the goal oflife
* Wrong propaganda ofcompulsory education
* Notknowing self-realization as the goal oflife
* No information about the traditional education
* Urbanization:Thinking village life as backward
Sudrasor less thansudrasleading thesociety.
Brahminicalculture on theverge of extinction.
Generalmassesneglecting Mother CowandFather Bull.
Declined consumptionofmilkandmilkproducts ofthecow.

27. ISKCON Gurukula
Mainly Focused on
Brahminical Training
What more needs to
be done?
* Training of varnas
based on screening
results
* Developing training
programs considering
other varnas’
requirements

28. • The traditional gurukula system of schooling has to be
introduced or revived every where
• Parents need to be convinced
• Many unanswered questions
Meanwhile, are the children supposed
to become the victims of modern
education system (slaughter houses)?
How can this shift from modern
education system to traditional or Vedic
system be accomplished?
Contd-

29. An attempt to bring
about this shift…

30. Varnasrama Shikshalayas
Conceived by
HH RP BHAKTI RAGHAVA SWAMI

31. Conceptof Varnasrama Shikshalaya
It is a pre-gurukula system which is meant
only for boys (5-12 years). It exposes them to
the activities of four varnas (i.e. Vedic
knowledge, planning & administration,
agriculture & cow protection, and village
technologies). The teacher maps the gunas or
natural inclinations of the students towards
different activities and accordingly imparts
relevant type of education and/ or training.

32. • It is for boys aged between 5-12 years
(flexible in terms of age).
• It is a runner-up for Gurukula.
• Students are screened based on attitude
and aptitude-based learning, which leads
to aptitude-based occupation.
• It is established in an agrarian setting.

33. Proposed Syllabus for Varnasarama Shikshalaya

34. Vedic Education
i. Srila Prabhupada’s books /
writings
ii. Itihasas (Puranas)
iii. Nitishastras
iv. Languages
v. Vedic Mathematics & Sciences
etc.

36. • Planning & Administration
i. Leadership development workshops
ii. Group discussions
iii. Vedic sports
iv. Martial arts
v. Skills and knowledge related to
Protection/Administration/Welfare

38. • Agriculture & Cow Protection
i. Advantages of Vedic and
traditional methods of
agriculture, along with practical
activities
ii. Importance of cows , along with
practical activities
iii. Rudiments of Vedic Economy

40. • Village Technologies
i. Pottery
ii. Weaving
iii. Water lifting techniques
iv. Oil ghani etc..

43. What’s after Shikshalaya Training?
• Options
i. Gurukulas for brahminically inclined
individuals and Varnasrama College
for meeting other three varnas’ needs
ii. Varnasrama College training in four
varnas
iii. Vidyalayas, Mahavidyalayas…

44. Screening or Guna-Mapping
• Astrology
• Family lineage
• Psychological testing
• Observation
A few considerations mentioned by
Srila Prabhupada.

45. Advantages of Shikshalayas
• Students adapt easily to the
Gurukula environment as it is a fore-
runner for the same.
• Students get introduced to some
spiritual and agrarian setting away
from the current contaminated
surroundings at a very tender age.

46. Varnasrama Education contd..
• In Varnasrama Vidyalaya Bhakti
Shastri Course will be imparted to
the students.
• In Varnasrama Vidyapeeth Bhakti
Vaibhava, Bhaktivedanta and Bhakti
Sarvabhauma will be imparted to
the students.

47. Attempts made in India
Varnasarama Shikshalayas
“Varnasarama Shikshalayas” have been introduced in:
Andhra Pradesh
1. Gundaipalem (an adopted village by the ISKCON Daiva VarnasramaMinistry) [IDVM-India],
PrakshamDistrict
2. Pollasa village near Jagityal town, Karimnagar District
3. Eirajapally village, Nizamabad District
4. Wadlakonda village, in WarangalDistrict
West Bengal
1. Gajankol village in Howrah District

48. Thank you
Hare Krishna !

49. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Name Sriman Hari Kirtan das
• Age and Gender 42, Male
• Country/State of Origin India, Andhra Pradesh
• Educational Degree and Year B. Tech (Civil), 1995
• Educational Institution Vasavi College of Engineering
• Professional Work/Experience Soil Mechanics Related Projects
• Affiliation with ISKCON 1998
• Present Service in ISKCONIDVM-India, Director for Village Development

50. Hari Kirtan das