MAYAPUR INSTITUTE CAMPUS PROJECT
BRIEF OUTLINE
The Mayapur Institute project has a solid foundation based directly on Srila Prabhupada’s Vision: “Throughout the whole world there is no institution to impart knowledge in the matter of spiritual understanding. Students from all parts of the world will go there to take education in this important subject.”
As such Srila Prabhupada’s vision may be con
ceived in two main steps: one, setting up of / founding the institute itself and secondly, construction of an exclusive campus. As regards the first step, the institute itself was founded in 2000. It has now established itself as a premier centre for study of vedic literatures (sastras), mainly Bhagavat Gita As It Is and Srimad Bhagavatam, as commented by Srila Prabhupada. MI has been serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission faithfully over the last 14 years by offering scrutinizing study of his books to devotees from all over the world. Systematic study of these two principal vedic scriptures enables students to complete Bhaktisastri and Bhaktivaibhava degrees. The institute imparts the students with an in-depth knowledge and essential principles of vedic philosophy, besides providing practical training in culture and etiquettes of vedic life. The faculty includes some of the best sannyasi teachers in ISKCON. As per brahminical culture of vedic times, the institute does not charge any fees as such from students, but only a nominal service charge to barely cover the administrative overheads. Most of the teachers and the entire sannyasi faculty do not take any remuneration. Poor students are given scholarships received as donations from well-wishers. All students are provided one free lunch prasadam during the program. Following courses are proposed to be gradually added in the future: Bhakti Vedanta, Bhakti Sarvabhauma, Varnasrama subjects (Farming, Cow care & protection), Ayurveda and Vastu sastra. Since inception, the institute has been operating its courses and admin / accounts offices through rented rooms in ISKCON’s Chaitanya Bhavan. There are a total of 16 sastric study programs and every year students of about 30-35 different nationalities enrol for these programs. To date, 1500 students have graduated from MI. Based on the success of MI’s sastric study programs and resulting growth in enrolments, the current classrooms and offices are inadequate. Hence, it has become necessary for MI to set up an exclusive campus at Mayapur and constructing such a campus constitutes the second main step. The campus is proposed to have all essential facilities and buildings as shown in the attached layout – Visiting Faculty (Male) Hostel, Male students’ hostel, Male students’ classrooms, Male Dining Hall with kitchen, Electrical sub-station, Resident Grihastha staff & faculty housing, Female students’ hostel & dining, Female students’ classrooms, Admin building and Library, Convocation Hall & Gaur-Nitai temple. The cost of the entire campus is estimated at about Rs. 69 crores (approx. USD 11.3 million). The campus is proposed to be constructed in 4 phases
