Bhakti Shastri

By Gauranga Darshan Das

The Bhakti Shastri course has four subjects taught in 6 modules as shown below along with the weightage of assessments for each book.

Books covered:

1. Bhagavad-Gita
2. Nectar of Instruction (Sri Upadesamrita)
3. Sri Ishopanisad
4. Nectar of Devotion (Sri Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu)

Six Modules:

1. Bhagavad Gita – Chapters 1-6 (BG1)
2. Bhagavad Gita – Chapters 7-12 (BG2)
3. Bhagavad Gita – Chapters 13-18 (BG3)
4. Nectar of Instruction (NOI)
5. Sri Isopanishad (ISO)
6. Nectar of Devotion (NOD)

The students can do an assessment of a module only after completing the assessment of the previous module. However, they can continue to attend the classes.

Duration: One year

• This includes course work & assessments
• It can be extended up to 6 more months if some candidates need more time to complete assessments.

It is a self-paced course. The participants can watch the classes & attempt the exam at their convenience.

Eligibility to enroll:

• A sincere desire to study and understand scriptures
• Basic Shastric knowledge and understanding
• The practice of Krishna consciousness for at least one year
• Chanting of 16 rounds & following 4 regulative principles
• A recommendation letter from an ISKCON Authority/ temple president who knows the candidate well.



Teacher: Gauranga Darshan Das (Author | Dean, Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha)

Weightage of Assessments for certification:

• Bhagavad Gita Chapters 1-6 - 20%
• Bhagavad Gita Chapters 7-12 - 20%
• Bhagavad Gita Chapters 13-18 - 20%
• Nectar of Instruction (NOI) - 10%
• Sri Isopanishad (ISO) - 10%
• Nectar of Devotion (NOI) - 20%

Important Instructions:

- Participants can complete the closed-book exam & sloka exam with the help of the invigilator (supervisor) from the local ISKCON temple.

• (NOTE - The invigilator should be any senior devotee who is connected to the temple, has at least Bhakti Shastri degree & not a family relative of the participant.)

- The participants can send the exam request email to [email protected] at least 3-4 days prior to the exam date, keeping the invigilator's email address in copy (cc) and mention the day, date, time & module name & number of the exam. The questions will be sent to the invigilator's email address 30 minutes before the exam.

- Within 30 minutes of the completion of exam time, the closed-book exam answersheets should be sent in a single PDF file from the supervisor, in a new email to the same email address [email protected].

• (NOTE - Participants can take photos & then scan them using adobe scanner, etc. app & make a PDF file. The single file with the registered name & email ID on the first page & the page numbers on each page.)

- For open-book exams & MCQ tests, the presence of the invigilator is not required.

- The open-book exam answersheets should be submitted in a single PDF file directly to the same email address.

- The Closed-book & Sloka exams are in the handwritten format only, typed answers are not allowed.

- It is advisable to have a gap of 1 to 2 months between each module exam.

- Please note, it is not acceptable to schedule two or more modules in a short span of time, such as within one week or within a few days. This ensures adequate time for proper preparation and reflection on the SUBJECT.

- In order to get the Bhakti Shastri degree from the ISKCON Board of Examinations, the candidate has to secure 65% in each of the six modules.