MR/Vanipedia's Manifesto

परिचय

श्रीला प्रभुपदांनी त्यांच्या शिकवणीला खूप महत्व दिले, अशाप्रकारे वाणीपिडिया केवळ त्यांच्या  कार्याला समर्पित आहे. ज्यामध्ये पुस्तके, व्याख्यानांच्या रेकॉर्ड, आणि संभाषणे, पत्रे, इत्यादी आहेत. पूर्ण झाल्यावर वाणीपिडिया जगातील पहिले वाणी-मंदिर असेल, असे पवित्र स्थान जिथे प्रामाणिक अध्यात्मिक मार्गदर्शन प्राप्त करणाऱ्या लाखो लोकांना श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या सुस्पष्ट शिकवणीतून उत्तरे आणि प्रेरणा मिळेल शक्य तेवढ्या जास्तीत जास्त भाषांमध्ये विश्वकोश स्वरूपात सादर केला आहे .

वाणीपिडियाचे लक्ष्य

श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या बहूभाषिक वाणी उपस्थितीचे आवाहन करण्यास आणि पूर्णपणे प्रकट करण्यास सहयोग करणे. अशाप्रकारे शेकडो लाखो लोकांना कृष्णभवनामृत जीवन जगण्याची सुविधा देणे आणि चैतन्य महाप्रभूंच्या संकीर्तन चळवळीच्या माध्यमातून मानवी समाजाला पुन्हा अध्यात्मिक बनवण्यासाठी सहाय्य करणे.

सहयोग

वाणीपिडियामध्ये ज्ञानकोश निर्माण करणे हजारो भाविकांच्या सहयोगाच्या सामूहिक प्रयत्नाने शक्य आहे जे श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या शिकवणीचे संकलन आणि परिश्रमपूर्वक भाषांतर करतात.

आम्ही कमीत कमी १६ भाषांमध्ये श्रीला प्रभुपादांची पुस्तके,भाषणे, संभाषणे व पत्रे पूर्ण करू इच्छितो आणि त्याच्या व्यतिरिक्त नोव्हेंबर २०२७ पर्यंत वाणीपिडिया १०८ भाषांमध्ये प्रातिनिधिक रूपात पोहोचवू इच्छितो.

ऑक्टोबर २०१७ पर्यंत पूर्ण बायबल ६७० भाषांमध्ये भाषांतरित केले आहे नवीन टेस्टमेन्ट १५२१ भाषांमध्ये, इतर ११२१ भाषांमध्ये बायबलचा भाग किंवा गोष्टी भाषांतरित केल्या आहेत. ख्रिस्ती लोक जगभर त्यांच्या शिकवणीचा प्रचार करीत आहेत. पण आकडेवारी असे दाखवते त्यांच्या तुलनेमध्ये श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या शिकवणीच्या प्रचारात वाढ करण्याचा आमचा प्रयत्न कमी पडत आहेत.

आम्ही सर्व भक्तांना मानवतेच्या हितासाठी इंटरनेट किंवा वेबद्वारे श्रीला प्रभुपदांची वाणी-उपस्थिती प्रकट करण्याला आणि बनवायच्या उदात्त प्रयत्नात सामील होण्यासाठी आमंत्रित करतो.

आवाहन

१९६५ मध्ये श्रीला प्रभुपाद अमेरिकेत आमंत्रणाशिवाय आले. जरी १९७७ ला त्याचे वपु उपस्थितीचे दिवस संपले असले, तरी ते आजही त्यांच्या वाणीद्वारे उपस्थित आहेत आणि याच उपस्थितीचे आम्हाला आवाहन करायला पाहिजे. श्रीला प्रभुपाद तेव्हाच उपस्थित होतील जेव्हा त्याना अंतःकरणापासून साद घालू किंवा प्रकट होण्यासाठी भीक मागू.  ते आमच्यामध्ये असण्याची आमची तीव्र इच्छा अशी चावी आहे जिच्या मुळे श्रीला प्रभुपादांचे प्राकट्य संभव आहे.  

पूर्णपणे प्रकट

आमच्यामध्ये श्रीला प्रभुपादांची आंशिक उपस्थिती आम्हाला नको आहे. आम्ही त्यांची पूर्ण वाणी-उपस्थिती इच्छितो. त्यांची सर्व ध्वनीमुद्रणे केलेल्या शिकवणीचे संपूर्ण संकलन केले जावे आणि अनेक भाषांमध्ये त्याचे भाषांतर केले जावे. ह्या ग्रहावरील भावी पिढ्यांसाठी हि आमची भेट आहे - श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या शिकवणीचा संपूर्ण आश्रय. 

वाणी-उपस्थिती

श्रीला प्रभुपादांची वाणी-उपस्थिती दोन टप्प्यात दिसून येईल. पहिला - आणि सोपा टप्पा - सर्व भाषांमध्ये श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या शिकवणीचे संकलन आणि भाषांतर करणे. दुसरा - आणि अधिक कठीण टप्पा -लाखो लोकांनी त्यांची शिकवण पूर्णपणे आत्मसात करणे.  

अभ्यासाचे वेगवेगळे मार्ग

• आजपर्यंतच्या, आमच्या संशोधनानुसार, आम्हाला असे आढळले आहे की श्रीला प्रभुपादांनी भक्तांना पुस्तके वाचण्यासाठी ६० वेगवेगळे मार्ग सांगितले आहेत.
• श्रीला प्रभुपादांची पुस्तके '''अशा वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारे''' अभ्यास केल्याने आपण ती योग्यप्रकारे समजू शकतो आणि आत्मसात करू शकतो. अभ्यास करण्याच्या विषयाच्या पद्धतीचा अवलंब करून आणि त्याचे संकलन करून श्रीला प्रभुपाद सादर करीत असलेल्या प्रत्येक शब्दाच्या, वाक्यांशाच्या, संकल्पनेच्या किंवा व्यक्तित्वाच्या खोल अर्थात सहज प्रवेश करू शकतो. निःसंदेह त्यांची शिकवण आमचे जीवन आणि आत्मा आहे आणि जेव्हा आपण '''त्याचा सखोल अभ्यास करतो''' तेव्हा आपण श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या उपस्थितीला समजू आणि अनुभवू शकतो.

दहा दशलक्ष आचार्य

• समजा आता तुम्हाला दहा हजार मिळाले. आपण एक लाख वाढवू शकतो. त्याची गरज आहे. मग एक लाख नंतर दहा लाख, दहा लाख नंतर एक कोटी. म्हणून आचार्यांना तोटा नाही, आणि लोक कृष्ण भावनामृत खूप सहज समजू शकतील.  तर ती संस्था बनवा. खोटा गर्व करू नका. आचार्यांच्या सूचनांचे अनुसरण करा. आणि स्वतःला परिपूर्ण, समजदार बनवण्याचा प्रयत्न करा, मग मायेच्या विरुद्ध लढायला खूप सोपे होईल. होय. आचार्य, त्यांनी मायेच्या कार्यं विरुद्ध युद्ध पुकारले. – श्री चैतन्य-चरितामृतावर श्रीला प्रभुपदांचे भाषण, ६ एप्रिल १९७५

टिप्पणी

श्रीला प्रभुपाद यांचे हे दृष्टी विधान त्या विधानाबद्दल बोलते - कृष्णभवनामृत लोकांना सहज समजण्यासाठीची परिपूर्ण योजना. श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या दहा दशलक्ष्य सशक्त शिक्षा-शिष्यांनी नम्रपणे आमचे संस्थापक-आचार्य यांच्या सूचना जगले आणि नेहमी परिपूर्णता आणि परीपक्वतेसाठी प्रयत्न केले. श्रीला प्रभुपाद स्पष्ट सांगतात की "अशा संघटनेची निर्मिती करा." या दृष्टीला पूर्ण करण्यासाठी वाणी पीडिया उत्साहाने मदत करीत आहे.

 

कृष्ण चेतनेचे विज्ञान

भगवद गीतेच्या नवव्या अध्यायात या कृष्ण चेतनेच्या विज्ञानाला सर्व ज्ञानांचा राजा असे संबोधले आहे. सर्व गोपनीय गोष्टींचा राजा आणि दिव्य साक्षात्काराचे सर्वोच्च ज्ञान आहे. कृष्ण भावनामृत दिव्य विज्ञान आहे जे प्रामाणिक भक्ताला प्रकट केले जाते जो भगवंतांची सेवा करण्यास तयार आहे. कृष्ण चेतना शुष्क युक्तिवाद किंवा शैक्षणिक पात्रतेद्वारे प्राप्त होत नाही. कृष्ण चेतना हि श्रद्धा नाही जसे हिंदू, ख्रिश्चन, बौद्ध, इस्लाम धर्म, तर ते विज्ञान आहे. जर कोणी श्रीला प्रभुपादांची पुस्तके काळजीपूर्वक वाचली तर त्यांना कृष्ण भावनामृताच्या सर्वोच्च विज्ञानाची जाणीव होईल आणि सर्व लोकांना त्यांच्या कल्याणकारी लाभासाठी तोच संदेश प्रचार करण्यास अधिक प्रेरित होतील.      

भगवान चैतन्य यांची संकीर्तन चळवळ

भगवान श्री. चैतन्य महाप्रभु संकीर्तन चळवळीचे जनक आणि उदघाटक आहेत. जो कोणी त्यांच्या संकीर्तन चळवळीसाठी आपले जीवन, पैसे, बुद्धी, आणि शब्दांचा बळी देऊन  उपासना करतो भगवंत त्याला केवळ ओळखत नाहीत तर त्याच्या उपासनेला आपल्या आशीर्वादाने संपन्न करतात. बाकी सगळ्यांना मूर्ख म्हणता येईल कारण ज्या सर्व बलिदानांमध्ये मनुष्य आपली  शक्ती वापरू शकतो त्यापैकी संकीर्तन चळवळीसाठी केलेला यज्ञ हा सर्वात गौरवशाली आहे. संपूर्ण कृष्णभावनामृत चळवळ श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनी सुरु केलेल्या संकीर्तन चळवळीच्या तत्वांवर आधारित आहे. म्हणून जो संकीर्तन चळवळीच्या माध्यमातून सर्वोच्च भगवंतांना जाणण्याचा प्रयत्न करतो तो सर्व काही पूर्णपणे जाणतो. तो सुमेधस होतो. एक बुद्धिमान व्यक्ती. 

मानव समाजाचे पुनः अध्यात्मिकीकरण

मानवी समाज सध्याच्या काळात विस्मृतीच्या अंधारात नाही. संपूर्ण जगात समाजाने भौतिक सुखसोयी, शिक्षण, आर्थिक विकासात वेगाने प्रगती केली आहे. परंतु सामाजिक यंत्रणेत कुठेतरी एक छोटी खोट आहे आणि म्हणूनच कमी महत्वाच्या मुद्द्यांवरून मोठ्या प्रमाणात वादविवाद होत आहेत. एका गोष्टीची गरज आहे की कशाप्रकारे मानवता, शांती मैत्री आणि  समृद्धीने एकत्र येऊ शकेल. श्रीमद भागवतं हि गरज भरून काढते, कारण ते संपूर्ण मानवी समाजाच्या पुनः अध्यात्मिकीकरणाचे सांस्कृतिक सादरीकरण आहे. सर्वसाधारणपणे लोक आधुनिक राजकारणी आणि लोकांच्या नेत्यांच्या हातातील बाहुले असतात. जर नेत्यांचे हृदय परिवर्तन झाले तर निश्चितच जागतिक वातावरणात क्रांतिकारक बदल होईल. वास्तविक शिक्षणाचे ध्येय आत्मसाक्षात्कार आणि आत्म्याच्या मूल्यांची प्राप्ती असले पाहिजे. प्रत्यकाने संपूर्ण जगाच्या कार्यांचे अध्यात्मिकीकरण करण्यासाठी मदत केली पाहिजे. अशा उपक्रमांद्वारे सादर करणारे आणि केलेले कार्य दोघेही अध्यात्माद्वारे अधिग्रहित होतात आणि निसर्गाच्या गुणांना पार करतात.  

वाणीपिडीयाचे मिशन वाक्य

• श्रीला प्रभुपादांना जगातील सर्व भाषांमध्ये अखंड कृष्ण भावनामृत विज्ञानात प्रचार करणे, शिक्षित करणे आणि लोकांनां प्रशिक्षण देण्यासाठी जागतिक व्यासपीठ उपलब्ध करून देणे.

• अन्वेषण करणे, शोध लावणे आणि सर्वसमावेशक श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या शिकवणीचे अनेक दृष्टिकोनातून संकलन करणे.

• श्रीला प्रभुपाद वाणी सहज उपलब्ध करणे आणि सहज समजण्यायोग्य प्रस्तुत करणे.

• श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या वाणीवर आधारित अनेक प्रासंगिक पुस्तके आणि व्यापक विषयांवरील संशोधनाचे भांडार प्रदान करणे.

• श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या वाणीमध्ये विविध शैक्षणिक अभ्यासक्रम संसाधने प्रदान करणे.

• श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या प्रामाणिक अनुयायांना असलेली निःसंदिग्ध गरज समजून दोन गोष्टी साध्य करणे - श्रीला प्रभुपाद वाणीद्वारे वैयक्तिक मार्गदर्शन करणे आणि सर्व स्तरावर श्रीला प्रभुपदांचे प्रतिनिधित्व करण्यासाठी त्यांना प्रशिक्षित करणे.

• वरील सर्व साध्य करण्याच्या दृष्टिकोनातून सर्व राष्ट्रातील श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या अनुयायांना जागतिक पातळीवर सहकार्य करण्यासाठी आकर्षित  करणे.    

वाणीपीडिया बनवण्यासाठी आम्हाला काय प्रेरणा देते?

• आम्ही ते स्वीकारले आहे.

• श्रीला प्रभुपाद शुद्ध भक्त आहेत. जीवांना भगवंतांच्या प्रेमपूर्वक भक्ती सेवेमध्ये गुंतवण्यासाठी भगवान श्रीकृष्णांद्वारे त्यांना थेट शक्ती मिळाली आहे. हि शक्ती त्यांच्या अतुलनीय शिकवणीत आढळलेल्या परिपूर्ण सत्याच्या सिद्धांताने सिद्ध होते.

• आधुनिक काळात श्रीला प्रभुपदां इतका मोठा, वैष्णव तत्वज्ञानाचा समर्थक कोणी नव्हता जो या समकालीन जगाचे वर्णन जसे आहे तसे करू शकेल.

• श्रीला प्रभुपदांची शिकवण भविष्यातील सर्व पिढ्यांसाठी त्यांच्या लाखो अनुयायांचे प्राथमिक आश्रयस्थान असेल.

• श्रीला प्रभुपदांची इच्छा होती की त्यांची शिकवण मोठ्या प्रमाणात वितरित व्हावी आणि योग्यरीत्या समजली जावी.

• श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या शिकवणीचा विषयात्मक दृष्टिकोन त्याच्यातील सत्य समजून घेण्याच्या . प्रक्रियेस मोठ्या प्रमाणात वाढवितो आणि प्रत्येक दृष्टिकोनातून त्यांच्या शिकवणीचा शोध घेण्यास आणि ती चांगल्याप्रकारे संकलित करण्यास अपार मूल्य आहे .

• श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या सर्व शिकवणीचा विशिष्ट भाषेत अनुवाद करणे हे श्रीला प्रभुपादांना त्या भाषा ज्या ठिकाणी बोलल्या जातात त्या ठिकाणी कायमचे वास्तव्य करण्यासाठी आमंत्रित कारण्यासारखे आहे.

• श्रीला प्रभुपादांच्या अनुपस्थितीत त्यांना या मोहिमेत सहाय्य करण्यासाठी पुष्कळ वाणी सेवकांची आवश्यकता आहे.

अशा प्रकारे, श्रीला प्रभुपदांच्या शकवणीत आढळणाऱ्या पूर्ण ज्ञान आणि वास्तविक ज्ञानाचे व्यापक वितरण आणि परिपूर्ण ज्ञानाची योग्य समज येण्यासाठी एक गतिशील व्यासपीठ निर्माण करण्यासाठी आम्ही वचनबद्ध आहोत. जेणेकरून आंनदाने काम केले जाऊ शकेल. हे सोपे आहे. पण एकच गोष्ट आहे जी वाणीपीडिया पूर्ण करण्यापासून रोखत आहे ती म्हणजे अशा भक्तांचा वेळ जे हे कार्य करण्यासाठी कटिबद्ध आहेत.

मी माझ्या गुरु महाराजांच्या आज्ञांचे पालन करण्याचा प्रयत्न करीत आहे या माझ्या विनम्र सेवेचे कौतुक करण्याबद्दल मी तुमच्या सर्वांचा खूप आभारी आहे. मी माझ्या सर्व शिष्यांना एकजुटीने काम करण्यासाठी विनंती करीत आहे. आणि माझी खात्री आहे की आपले मिशन कुठल्याही अडचणी शिवाय प्रगती करेल. – श्रीला प्रभुपदांचे तमाल कृष्ण दासना पत्र (जिबीसी) - १४ ऑगस्ट १९७१.

                              

श्रील प्रभुपादांची तीन नैसर्गिक स्थाने

श्रील प्रभुपादांच्या पदकमलांच्या आश्रयाची संस्कृती तेव्हाच कळू शकते जेव्हा श्रील प्रभूपादांची हि तीन स्थाने त्यांच्या सर्व अनुयायांच्या अंतःकरणात जागृत होतील.  

श्रील प्रभुपाद हे आपल्या सर्वांचे प्रमुख शिक्षा गुरु आहेत

• आम्ही असे मानतो की श्रील प्रभुपादांचेसर्व अनुयायी दोन्हीप्रकारे वैयक्तिकरित्या आणि जेव्हा ते एकमेकांबरोबर चर्चा करतात त्यांच्या शिकवणीत त्यांची उपस्थिती आणि आश्रय अनुभवतात.

• आम्ही आमचे शुद्धीकरण करून आणि आमचे मार्गदर्शक म्हणून श्रील प्रभुपाद यांच्याशी दृढ संबंध स्थापित करून त्यांच्याबरोबर जगण्याचे शिक्षण घेतो.

• आम्ही भक्तांना श्रील प्रभुपाद यांचा जाणवणारा विरह त्यांच्या वाणीत त्यांची उपस्थिती आणि समाधान शोधण्यात प्रोत्साहित करतो.

• We share Srila Prabhupada's compassion with all his followers, including those who take initiation in his line as well as those who follow him in different capacities.

• We educate devotees in the truth of Srila Prabhupada's position as our pre-eminent siksa-guru, and our sisya relationship with him in separation.

• We establish a succession of siksa-empowered disciples to uphold Srila Prabhupada's legacy throughout successive generations.

Srila Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON

• We promote his Vani as the primary driving force that keeps the members of ISKCON connected and faithful to him, and thus inspired, enthused and determined to make his movement everything that he wished it to be – both now and in the future.

• We encourage the sustainable development of Vaishnava-brahminical standards centered on Srila Prabhupada's teachings and his preaching strategies – a "vani-culture."

• We educate devotees in the truth of Srila Prabhupada's position as the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON and our service to him and his movement.

Srila Prabhupada is the World-acharya

• We increase the global awareness of the significance of Srila Prabhupada's spiritual stature as the world-acharya by establishing the contemporary relevance of his teachings in all circles in every country.

• We inspire a culture of appreciation and respect for Srila Prabhupada's teachings, resulting in active participation in the practices of Krishna consciousness by the world's population.

• We realize the premise that Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world can live by establishing his Vani as simultaneously the foundation and roof – the shelter, the ashraya – that protects this house.

Vital to Establish Srila Prabhupada's Natural Position

• Our ISKCON society needs educational initiatives, political directives, and social culture to facilitate and nurture Srila Prabhupada's natural position with his followers and within his movement. It will not happen automatically or by wishful thinking. It can only be achieved by intelligent, concerted and collaborative efforts offered by his pure-hearted devotees.

• Five Key Obstacles Concealing Srila Prabhupada's Natural Position within his Movement:

• 1. ignorance of Srila Prabhupada's teachings – he has given instructions but we are not aware they exist.

• 2. indifference to Srila Prabhupada's teachings – we know the instructions exist but we do not care about them. We ignore them.

• 3. misunderstanding of Srila Prabhupada's teachings – we apply them sincerely but due to our over-confidence or lack of maturity, they are misapplied.

• 4. a lack of faith in Srila Prabhupada's teachings – deep within we are not fully convinced and think of them as utopian, neither realistic nor practical for the "modern world."

• 5. in competition with Srila Prabhupada's teachings – with full conviction and enthusiasm we go in a completely different direction than what Srila Prabhupada has instructed, and in so doing influence others to go with us.

Comment

We believe these obstacles can easily be overcome with the introduction of integral, structured educational and training programs aimed at nurturing our relationship with and increasing our knowledge of Srila Prabhupada's teachings. This will only succeed however if fueled by a serious leadership commitment to create a culture deeply rooted in Srila Prabhupada's Vani. Srila Prabhupada's natural position will thus automatically become, and remain, apparent to all generations of devotees.

Devotees are Srila Prabhupada's Limbs, ISKCON is his Body, and his Vani is his Soul

• You are all my limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless. The senses and life are correlative. Without life the senses cannot act and without sense, life is inactive. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Brahmananda das (TP), 17 July 1968

• I am fervently appealing to you all not to create fracture in the solid body of the Society. Please work conjointly, without any personal ambition. That will help the cause. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Brahmananda and Gargamuni Swamis, 31 July 1970

• Make the covers of the book very much attractive so that automatically they will read the knowledge inside. The covers are like the mind and the senses, and the contents of the book are the soul. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Amogha das (TP), 22 May 1972

• I wish that it will be noted down in history that this Krishna consciousness movement is responsible for saving the world. Practically, our movement is the only hope for saving the world from complete disaster. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sucandra das (TP), 1 January 1972

• You should always remember that whatever we are doing, it is in the parampara system beginning from Lord Krishna, down to us. Therefore, our loving spirit should be more upon the message than the physical representation. When we love the message and serve Him, automatically our devotional love for the physique is done. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Govinda dasi, 7 April 1970

Comment

We are Srila Prabhupada's limbs. To successfully cooperate with him to his full satisfaction we must be united in consciousness with him. This loving unity develops from our becoming fully absorbed in, convinced by and practicing his Vani. Our holistic success strategy is for everyone to assimilate Srila Prabhupada's teachings and boldly place them at the heart of everything we do for his Krishna consciousness movement. In this way, Srila Prabhupada's devotees can flourish personally, and in their respective services to make ISKCON a solid body which can fulfill Srila Prabhupada's desire to save the world from complete disaster. The devotees win, the GBC wins, ISKCON wins, the world wins, Srila Prabhupada wins, and Lord Caitanya wins. There will be no losers.

Distributing the Teachings of Parampara

1486 Caitanya Mahaprabhu appears in order to teach the world Krishna consciousness

1488 Sanatana Goswami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1489 Rupa Gosvami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1495 Raghunatha Gosvami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1500 Mechanical printing presses begin to revolutionize the distribution of books throughout Europe

1513 Jiva Gosvami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1834 Bhaktivinoda Thakura appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1874 Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1896 Srila Prabhupada appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness

1914 Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati coins the phrase "brhat-mrdanga"

1922 Srila Prabhupada meets Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati for the first time and is immediately requested to preach in the English language

1935 Srila Prabhupada receives the instruction to print books

1944 Srila Prabhupada starts Back to Godhead magazine

1956 Srila Prabhupada moves to Vrndavana to write books

1962 Srila Prabhupada publishes his first volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam

1965 Srila Prabhupada arrives in the West to distribute his books

1968 Srila Prabhupada publishes his abridged Bhagavad-gita As-It-Is

1972 Srila Prabhupada publishes his full version of Bhagavad-gita As-It-Is

1972 Srila Prabhupada establishes the BBT to publish his books

1974 Srila Prabhupada's disciples start the serious distribution of his books

1975 Srila Prabhupada completes the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

1977 Srila Prabhupada stops speaking and leaves his Vani in our care

1978 The Bhaktivedanta Archives is established

1986 The world's digitally stored material amounts to 1 CD-ROM per person

1991 The World Wide Web (brhat-brhat-brhat mrdanga) is established

1992 The Bhaktivedanta VedaBase version 1.0 is created

2002 The Digital Age arrives - worldwide digital storage overtakes analog

2007 The world's digitally stored material amounts to 61 CD-ROMS per person, that makes 427 billion CD-ROMs (all full)

2007 Srila Prabhupada's Vani-temple, the Vanipedia begins construction in the web

2010 Srila Prabhupada's Vapu-temple, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium begins construction in Sridhama Mayapur

2012 Vanipedia reaches 1,906,753 quotes, 108,971 pages and 13,946 categories

2013 500,000,000 of Srila Prabhupada's books have been distributed by ISKCON devotees in 48 years – an average of 28,538 books every single day

2019 21st March, Gaura Purnima day at 7.15 Central European Time, Vanipedia celebrates 11 years of inviting devotees to collaborate together to invoke and fully manifest Srila Prabhupada's Vani-presence. Vanipedia now offers 45,588 categories, 282,297 pages, 2,100,000 plus quotes presented in 93 languages. This has been achieved by over 1,220 devotees who have performed more than 295,000 hours of vaniseva. We still have a long way to go in order to complete Srila Prabhupada's Vani-temple thus we continue to invite devotees to participate in this glorious mission.

Comment

The unfolding of the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu under the banner of the modern day Krishna consciousness movement is a very exciting time to be performing devotional service.

Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-acarya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness has brought onto the world scene a life-changing phenomenon in the form of his Translations, Bhaktivedanta Purports, Lectures, Conversations, and Letters. Here lies the key to the respiritualization of the whole human society.

Vani, Personal Association and Service in Separation - Quotes

• My Guru Maharaja passed in 1936, and I started this movement in 1965, thirty years after. Then? I am getting the mercy of guru. This is Vani. Even the guru is not physically present, if you follow the Vani, then you are getting help. – Srila Prabhupada Morning-walk Conversation, 21 July 1975

• In the absence of physical presentation of the Spiritual Master the Vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master, Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I try to serve His instruction I never feel separated from Him. I expect that all of you should follow these instructions. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Karandhara das (GBC), 22 August 1970

• From the very beginning I was strongly against the impersonalists and all my books are stressed on this point. So my oral instruction as well as my books are all at your service. Now you GBC consult them and get clear and strong idea, then there will be no disturbance. Disturbance is caused by ignorance; where there is no ignorance, there is no disturbance. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Hayagriva das (GBC), 22 August 1970

• So far personal association with the Guru is concerned, I was only with my Guru Maharaja four or five times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instructions, I have never felt any separation. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satyadhanya das, 20 February 1972

• I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my Guru Maharaja. – Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, 14 July 1977

• Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Uddhava das (ISKCON Press), 3 May 1968

Comment

Srila Prabhupada offers many revealing truths in this series of statements.

• Srila Prabhupada's personal guidance is always here.
• We should be happy in feelings of separation from Srila Prabhupada.
• In Srila Prabhupada's physical absence his Vaniseva is more important.
• Srila Prabhupada had very little personal association with his Guru Maharaja.
• Srila Prabhupada's oral instruction, as well as his books, are all at our service.
• Feelings of separation from Srila Prabhupada transform into transcendental bliss.
• When Srila Prabhupada is not physically present, if we follow his Vani, we get his help.
• Srila Prabhupada never left Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's association, not even for a moment.
• By consulting Srila Prabhupada's oral instructions and his books we get clear and strong ideas.
• By following Srila Prabhupada's instructions we will never feel separated (disconnected) from him.
• Srila Prabhupada expects all his followers to follow these instructions in order to become empowered siksa-disciples of him.

Using Media to Spread Krishna's Message

• So go on with your organization for distribution of my books through press and other modern-media and Krishna will certainly be pleased upon you. We can use everything – television, radio, movies, or whatever there may be – to tell about Krishna. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Bhagavan das (GBC), 24 November 1970

• The mass-media can become such an important instrument in spreading our Krishna consciousness movement and I am glad to see that you are endeavoring to explore how this can be done. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Nayanabhirama das (TP), 9 January 1971

• I am very encouraged by the reports of the tremendous success of your TV and radio programs. As much as possible try to increase our preaching programs by using all the mass media which are available. We are modern day Vaishnavas and we must preach vigorously using all the means available. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Rupanuga das (GBC), 30 December 1971

• If you are able to arrange everything so that I can simply sit in my room and be seen by the world and speak to the world, then I shall never leave Los Angeles. That will be the perfection of your L.A. Temple. I am very, very encouraged by your proposal to flood the medias of your country with our Krishna Consciousness program, and see that it is practically taking shape under your hands, so I am all the more pleased. - Srila Prabhupada Letter to Siddhesvar das and Krishnakanti das, 16 February 1972

• You should try and get these TV personalities to show our books and advertise them over the air. This will be the real success of our endeavors with the media. - Srila Prabhupada Letter to Mukunda das, 21 February 1973

• His Divine Grace was very pleased to hear your proposal for systematically amassing a subject by subject encyclopedic compilation of all of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and instructions as found in his books. – Letter from Srila Prabhupada's Secretary to Subhananda das, 7 June 1977

Comment

Following in the footsteps of his Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada knew the art of engaging everything for Krishna's service.

• Srila Prabhupada wants to be seen by the world and speak to the world.
• Srila Prabhupada desires to flood the media with our Krishna Consciousness programs.
• Srila Prabhupada wants his books distributed through the press and other modern-media.
• Srila Prabhupada was happy to hear about the plan for a subject by subject encyclopedia of his teachings.
• Srila Prabhupada says we should increase our preaching programs by using all the mass media that is available.
• Srila Prabhupada says we are modern day Vaishnavas and we must preach vigorously using all the means available.
• Srila Prabhupada says we can use everything – television, radio, movies, or whatever there may be – to tell about Krishna.
• Srila Prabhupada says that the mass-media can become such an important instrument in spreading our Krishna consciousness movement.

Modern-media, modern opportunities

For Srila Prabhupada, in the 1970's, the terms modern-media and mass-media meant the printing press, radio, TV and movies. Since his departure, the landscape of mass media has dramatically transformed to include Android phones, cloud computing and storage, e-book readers, e-commerce, interactive TV and gaming, online publishing, podcasts and RSS feeds, social networking sites, streaming media services, touch-screen technologies, web-based communications & distribution services and wireless technologies.

In line with Srila Prabhupada's example we are, since 2007, using modern mass media technologies to compile, index, categorize and distribute Srila Prabhupada's Vani.

• Vanipedia's aim is to increase the visibility and accessibility of Srila Prabhupada's teachings on the web by offering a free, authentic, one-stop resource for

• ISKCON preachers

• ISKCON leaders and managers

• devotees studying devotional courses

• devotees wishing to deepen their knowledge

• devotees involved in inter-faith dialogues

• curriculum developers

• devotees feeling separation from Srila Prabhupada

• executive leaders

• academics

• teachers and students of religious education

• writers

• searchers of spirituality

• people concerned about current social issues

• historians

Comment

There is still more to be done to make Srila Prabhupada's teachings accessible and prominent in the world today. Collaborative web technologies provide us the opportunity to surpass all our previous successes.

Vaniseva – the Sacred Act of Serving Srila Prabhupada's Vani

Srila Prabhupada stopped speaking on the 14th of November, 1977, but the Vani he gave us remains ever fresh. However, these teachings are not yet in their pristine condition, nor are all of them readily accessible to his devotees. Srila Prabhupada's followers have a sacred duty to preserve and to distribute his Vani to everyone. We are therefore inviting you to perform this vaniseva.

Always remember that you are one of the few men I have appointed to carry on my work throughout the world and your mission before you is huge. Therefore, always pray to Krishna to give you strength for accomplishing this mission by doing what I am doing. My first business is to give the devotees the proper knowledge and engage them in devotional service, so that is not very difficult task for you, I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out. We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satsvarupa das (GBC), 16 June 1972

In June of 1972 Srila Prabhupada said that "we have got so many books" that we have "enough stock" to preach from for the "next 1,000 years." At that time, only 10 titles had been printed, so with all the extra books that Srila Prabhupada published from July 1972 to November 1977 the number of years of stock could easily be expanded to 5,000. If we add to this his oral instructions and letters, then the stock expands to 10,000 years. We need to expertly prepare all these teachings to be accessed and properly understood so that they can be "preached from" for this whole period of time.

There is no doubt that Srila Prabhupada has unending enthusiasm and determination to preach the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It does not matter that his vapu has left us. He remains in his teachings, and via the digital platform, he can now preach even more widely than when he was physically present. With complete dependence on Lord Caitanya's mercy, let us embrace Srila Prabhupada's vani-mission, and with more resolve than ever before, expertly prepare his Vani for 10,000 years of preaching.

Over the past ten years I have given the framework and now we have become more than the British Empire. Even the British Empire was not as expansive as we. They had only a portion of the world, and we have not completed expanding. We must expand more and more unlimitedly. But I must now remind you that I have to complete the translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is the greatest contribution; our books have given us a respectable position. People have no faith in this church or temple worship. Those days are gone. Of course, we have to maintain the temples as it is necessary to keep our spirits high. Simply intellectualism will not do, there must be practical purification.

So I request you to relieve me of management responsibilities more and more so that I can complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam translation. If I am always having to manage, then I cannot do my work on the books. It is document, I have to choose each word very soberly and if I have to think of management then I cannot do this. I cannot be like these rascals who present something mental concoction to cheat the public. So this task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants, the GBC, temple presidents, and sannyasis. I have chosen my best men to be GBC and I do not want that the GBC should be disrespectful to the temple presidents. You can naturally consult me, but if the basic principle is weak, how will things go on? So please assist me in the management so that I can be free to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam which will be our lasting contribution to the world. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to All Governing Body Commissioners, 19 May 1976

Here Srila Prabhupada is stating "this task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants" to help him make "our lasting contribution to the world." It is Srila Prabhupada's books that have "given us a respectable position" and they are "the greatest contribution to the world."

Over the years, so much vaniseva has been performed by BBT devotees, book distributors, preachers who have held firmly to Srila Prabhupada's words, and by other devotees who have been dedicated to distribute and preserve his Vani in one way or another. But there is still much more to do. By working together via the technologies of the brhat-brhat-brhat mrdanga (the World Wide Web) we now have an opportunity to build an unparalleled manifestation of Srila Prabhupada's Vani in a very short period of time. Our proposal is to come together in vaniseva and build a Vani-temple to be completed by November 4th, 2027, at which time we will all be celebrating the final 50th anniversary. 50 years of serving Srila Prabhupada in separation. This will be a very appropriate and beautiful offering of love to Srila Prabhupada, and a glorious gift to all the future generations of his devotees.

I am glad that you have named your printing press the Radha Press. It is very gratifying. May your Radha Press be enriched in publishing all our books and literatures in the German language. It is a very nice name. Radharani is the best, topmost servitor of Krishna, and the printing machine is the biggest medium at the present moment for serving Krishna. Therefore, it is really a representative of Srimati Radharani. I like the idea very much. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jaya Govinda das (Book production manager), 4 July 1969

For the better part of the 20th century, the printing press provided the tools for successful propaganda from so many groups of people. Srila Prabhupada stated how expert the communists were to spread their influence in India via the pamphlets and books they distributed. Srila Prabhupada used this example to express how he wanted to make a large propaganda program for Krishna consciousness by distributing his books all over the world.

Now, in the 21st century, Srila Prabhupada's statement "the biggest medium at the present moment for serving Krishna" can undoubtedly be applied to the exponential and unparalleled power of internet publishing and distribution. In Vanipedia, we are preparing Srila Prabhupada's teachings for proper representation on this modern mass distribution platform. Srila Prabhupada stated that the Radha Press of his devotees in Germany was "really a representative of Srimati Radharani." We are therefore certain that he would consider Vanipedia to be a representative of Srimati Radharani as well.

So many beautiful Vapu-temples have already been built by ISKCON devotees – let us now build at least one glorious Vani-temple. The Vapu-temples offer sacred darshans to the forms of the Lord, and a Vani-temple will offer the sacred darshan to the teachings of the Lord and His pure devotees, as presented by Srila Prabhupada. The work of ISKCON devotees will naturally be more successful when Srila Prabhupada's teachings are situated in their rightful, worshipable position. Now there is a wonderful opportunity for all his current "appointed assistants" to embrace the vani-mission of building his Vani-temple and to inspire the whole movement to participate.

Just as the enormous and beautiful Vapu-temple rising from the banks of the Ganges in Sridham Mayapur is destined to help spread Lord Caitanya's mercy all over the world, so too can a Vani-temple of Srila Prabhupada's teachings strengthen his ISKCON mission to spread all over the world and establish Srila Prabhupada's natural position for thousands of years to come.

Vaniseva – Taking Practical Action to Serve

• Completing Vanipedia means Srila Prabhupada's teachings will be presented in a way that no one has ever done for the works of any spiritual teacher. We invite everyone to take part in this sacred mission. Together we will give Srila Prabhupada a unique exposure to the world on a magnitude only possible via the web.

• Our desire is to make Vanipedia the No.1 reference encyclopedia of Srila Prabhupada's teachings in multiple languages. This will only happen with the sincere commitment, sacrifice, and support of many devotees. To date, over 1,220 devotees have participated in building Vanisource and Vaniquotes and translations in 93 languages. Now in order to complete Vaniquotes and build the Vanipedia articles, the Vanibooks, the Vanimedia, and the Vaniversity courses we need more support from devotees with the following skills:

• Administration

• Compiling

• Curriculum Development

• Design and Layout

• Finance

• Management

• Promotion

• Researching

• Server Maintenance

• Site Development

• Software Programming

• Teaching

• Technical Editing

• Training

• Translating

• Writing

• Vaniservants offer their service from their homes, temples, and offices, or they can join us full-time for certain periods in Sridham Mayapur or Radhadesh.

Donating

• For the past 12 years Vanipedia has been primarily financed by the book distribution from Bhaktivedanta Library Services a.s.b.l. To continue its construction, Vanipedia needs funding beyond the current capacity of BLS. Once completed, Vanipedia will hopefully be sustained by small donations from a percentage of many satisfied visitors. But for now, in order to complete the initial phases of building this free encyclopedia, the service of offering financial support is crucial.

• Supporters of Vanipedia can choose from one of the following options

Sponsor: A person donating any amount they desire

Supporting Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating at least 81 euros

Sustaining Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating at least 810 euros with the possibility to make 9 monthly payments of 90 euros

Growth Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating 8,100 euros with the possibility to make 9 yearly payments of 900 euros

Foundational Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating 81,000 euros with the possibility to make 9 yearly payments of 9,000 euros

• Donations can be received online or through our PayPal account titled [email protected]. If you prefer another method or have more queries before donating, then email us at [email protected]

We Are Grateful - Prayers

We Are Grateful

Thank you Srila Prabhupada

for giving us this opportunity to serve you.

We will do our best to please you in your mission.

May your teachings give shelter to millions of fortunate souls.

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

please empower us

with all good qualities and abilities

and continue to send us long term

seriously committed devotees and resources

to successfully build your glorious Vani-temple

for the benefit of All.

Dear Sri Sri Panca Tattva,

please help us to become dear devotees of Sri Sri Radha Madhava

and dear disciples of Srila Prabhupada and our Guru Maharaja

by continuing to facilitate us to work hard and smart

in the mission of Srila Prabhupada

for the pleasure of his devotees.

Thank you for considering these prayers

Comment

Only by the empowering grace of Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Panca Tattva, and Sri Sri Radha Madhava can we ever hope to achieve this herculean task. Thus we incessantly pray for Their mercy.