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.


DurationOne 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, BVRC)


Important Instructions:

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

  • (NOTE - The invigilator should be any senior devotee who is connected to the temple, has a Bhakti Shastri degree & knows the participant.)

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

- After writing the answers, the closed-book exam answersheets should be sent in a single PDF file from your supervisor to the same email address [email protected]. The same process you can follow for the Sloka exam. 

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

- For open-book exams & MCQ quiz tests you don't require the presence of the invigilator. You can complete these exams at your convenience.

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


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%

- 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 within one and half years from the time of registration.

Course Curriculum



  Course Information
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  Student's Handbook
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  Bhagavad-Gita Module-1 (Ch 1-6)
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  Bhagavad-Gita Module-2 (Ch 7-12)
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  Bhagavad-Gita Module-3 (Ch 13-18)
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  Module-4 Upadeshamrita (The Nectar of Instruction)
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  Module-5 Sri Isopanisad
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  Module-6 Bhakti Rasamrata Sindhu
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