Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam

The Sri Śikṣāṣṭakam is a 16th-century Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Hindu prayer of eight verses composed in the Sanskrit language. They are the only verses left personally written by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with the majority of his philosophy being codified by his primary disciples, known as the Six Gosvāmī’s of Vṛndāvana. The Sri Śikṣāṣṭakam is quoted within the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī's biography of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, written in Bengali. The name of the prayer comes from the Sanskrit words Śikṣā, meaning 'instruction', and aṣṭaka, meaning 'consisting of eight parts', i.e., stanzas. The teachings contained within the eight verses are believed to contain the essence of all teachings on bhakti-yoga within the Gauḍīya tradition.

By HG Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami Maharaj

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Course Duration

15 Hours

Videos
approximately 90 minutes 

No. Of Sessions

10

Sessions per week
At your own pace

Language
English

Eligibility

Anyone

Schedule of Classes

calendar

Starts on
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calendar

Always Open

Regular classes on At your own pace

About the Teacher

teacher

HG Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Swami Maharaj

His Holiness Bhakti Prachar Parivrajak Svāmī joined the ISKCON movement in the year 1996 attracted by the teachings of its Founder Ācārya HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svāmī Prabhupāda.

He completed his Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Saint Xavier's College, Kolkata in the year 1993. He is a Chartered Accountant and Cost Accountant by profession.

After completing his studies, he dedicated himself fully to ISKCON's service, especially in Sridhām Māyāpur, the movement’s international headquarters.

He offered significant services to ISKCON Māyāpur in various leadership and management positions. He is also a natural preacher, attracting many souls with his intelligent presentation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He started and developed College Preaching, Bhakti Vriksha Preaching and other outreach activities at ISKCON Māyāpur. He has been serving as a travelling preacher of ISKCON Māyāpur,  spreading the glories of Māyāpur Dhām and teachings of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world since the year 2006. 

In the year 2018, he came out from the management services of ISKCON Māyāpur to give more focus on preaching outreach and scriptural education. 

His preaching services include training and development of Youth and Bhakti Vriksha groups for ISKCON Māyāpur and other centres of ISKCON.

He was awarded Sannyasa initiation by HH Jayapataka Svāmī on 3rd September, 2022 at Sridhām Māyāpur.

Apart from preaching services, he is serving as the Regional Secretary of ISKCON India for Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. He is also serving as Chairman of the ISKCON Bhāgavata Mahāvidyālaya at Sri Govardhan Dham. He is also involved in the service of promotion and development of Navadvipa Mandal and Gaura Mandal Bhumi.

Course Overview

Course Overview:

Greetings and welcome to the self study course on Śrī Śiksāstaka: A Collection of Eight Beautiful Teachings. This course is meticulously crafted to offer you an in-depth insight into the Śiksāstaka, a set of eight concise prayers penned by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. These verses hold the power to revolutionize your spiritual journey, leading you from the basics of spiritual awakening to the pinnacle of devotion.

Course Description:

The Śiksāstaka is a set of eight prayers that encapsulate the essence of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and represent the culmination of Vedic wisdom. This course will help you explore and internalize these teachings, allowing you to connect with the core principles of spiritual growth and devotion. Just as the chanting of the holy name is all-encompassing, these prayers contain profound spiritual knowledge, insights into the spiritual world, and the truth of spiritual relationships.

What will Students Gain from this Course:

  • Attain deep knowledge into the essence of the eight Śiksāstaka verses for comprehensive understanding.
  • Journey through the stages of spiritual growth from Śraddha to Prema as articulated in these verses.
  • These teachings can be applied practically in your everyday spiritual routine.
  • Cultivate a stronger link to the teachings of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the essence of Kṛṣṇa  consciousness.

Course Content:

During this self-paced course, you'll explore the eight verses of the Śiksāstaka in depth. Each verse will be carefully elucidated, providing you with a clear understanding of the devotee's spiritual evolution from the foundational Śraddha (faith) to the pinnacle of Prema (divine love). The main course materials predominantly feature the Śrī Śiksāstaka texts.

Target Audience:

This self-study course is designed for devotees and followers of the ISKCON Society who wish to deepen their understanding of the Śiksāstaka and its significance in their spiritual journey. However, it extends an invitation to all individuals intrigued by delving into these profound teachings.

Assessment Plan:

 A multiple-choice question (MCQ) assessment administered at the end of the course.

Course Requirements:

This self-paced course welcomes individuals of all backgrounds who are enthusiastic about delving into the teachings of the Śiksāstaka and enriching their spiritual comprehension.


Course Content

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