Talk:Gita Press
By Swami Harshananda
On an overview of religion, the organised propagation of its tenets are poles apart. The base of the religion lays great stress on personal mukti or individual liberation. However over the last two centuries, several attempts have been made to propagate either general religion or some of its sects through various religious movements and organisations.
Origin of Gita Press[edit]
Gita press renders great service to the cause of religion, quietly and non ostentatiously. It is established at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The late Jaydayāl Goenkā established the Gitā Press in A. D. 1923. Its Govind Bhavan Kāryālaya (office) at Calcutta has been registered under the Registration of Societies Act of West Bengal, 1961. The institution is managed by a board of trustees.
Motive of Gita Press[edit]
The primary purpose of establishing the Gītā Press was to propagate religion by printing books on religious literature and selling at a highly subsidized price.
Building of Gita Press[edit]
- The main gate of the Gītā Press of Gorakhpur is very impressive and has incorporated in itself the special architectural features from several parts of the country.
- The Līlā Citra Mandir houses hundreds of pictures depicting the incidents from the lives of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.
- Ślokas from the Gitā and the sayings of saints like Tulasīdās, Kabīr, Dādudayāl, Sundardās, Rahim and others have been inscribed on the walls.
- Every year, during the Gītā Jayanti celebrations, special exhibitions of Gītā literature, including rare books in several languages, are organised.
Books Printed By Gita Press[edit]
Scriptures printed by this press includes:
- Bhagavadgitā
- Upanisads
- Rāmāyana
- Mahābhārata
- Bhāgavata
- Purāṇas
- Rāmcarit- Mānas
- Nārada Bhaktisutras
- Vivekacudāmani
- Compendiums of stotras or hymns
- Lives of saints
- Etc.
Number of Published Copies[edit]
- Till March 1998, a total number of 270 million copies of these books have been printed and circulated.
- These books have been mostly written in Sanskrit, Hindi and English languages.
- Recently, the same books are being brought out in other regional languages also.
- Two monthly journals Kalyān in Hindi and Kalyāna Kalpataru in English are also being published.
- These journals have become extremely popular.
Social Organizations By Gita Press[edit]
- There is a Gītā Bhavan at Svargāśram (Uttar Pradesh) on the bank of the river Gaṅgā, run by the Gītā Press. It has more than 1000 rooms, to accommodate sādhakas (spiritual aspirants) who throng to the place now and then.
- It also runs a Rṣikul-Brahmacaryāśrama at Curu in Rajasthan, to impart training on the Gurukula model, to willing students.
- The Govind Bhavan Kāryālaya at Calcutta, the Head Quarters of the organisation, has facilities for the chanting of the Gītā and religious discourses.
- An āyurvedic dispensary is also attached to the same.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore