॥ त वम स॥

Studies at
Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya Peeth
॥ kaashyaam hi kaashyate kaashii kaashii sarvaprakaashikaa॥

Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya Peeth is Located in U arkashi, in the lo y

Himlayas, on the sacred banks of holy Bhagirathi-Ganga, on the way to Gangotri
in the ancient pilgrimage town is the century old Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya
Peeth (ASBVP). U arkashi is eternally hallowed by many references to it in the
epic Mahabharata.
Established in 1910 and reconstructed in 2010, this nerve center of
spirituality has witnessed the blossoming of some of the greatest spiritual giants
of the Dashanami tradi on of the past century, like Shri Swami Tapovan ji
Maharaj, Shri Swami Chinmayananda Sarasva (founder of Chinmaya Mission),
Shri Swami Chaitanyananda Sarasva (founder of Sivananda Ashram,
U arkashi), Swami Chidananda Saraswa (Divine Life society, Rishikesh), Swami
Ganeshananda Puri ji Maharaj (founder, Sadhana Sadan, Haridvar), Swami
Dayananda ji Maharaj (founder, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Rishikesh), Swami
Premananda Saraswa ji Maharaj (Founder, Sivananda Seva Sami , Ganeshpur
and founder President of ASBVP), and many more spiritual luminaries did their
Sadhana, studies in the Gurukula tradi on and had their awakening s mulated
here in the hallowed precincts of Adi Shankara Brahma Vidya Peeth (ASBVP).
We are pleased that the same values and fervor of Gurukula tradi on of
1910 - Sadhana, studies and dedica on –have been unwaveringly prevailing here
ll now.
Apart from Vedanta, Vyakarana as well as Prakarana Granthas of
Darshana shastras are taught to asce cs seeking Samnyasa and full me
Brahmacharis. The teaching, in the Kailasa tradi on, is under the loving guidance
of a team of three Acharyas of ASBVP, commi ed to reviving and dissemina ng
the meless, yet me tested spiritual essence of Sanatana Dharma. ASBVP is
indeed blessed to have trained great many Sadhakas, over the period of a
century.
 Approximate
Darshana Texts Remarks Time
BEGINNERS
Laghu Siddhanta Kaumudi Sutras with Vri s 1 year and 6
Medium along with Rupa Chandrika need to be memorized months
- Hindi Sutras need to be
Ashtadhyayi (op onal) memorized 2 years
Vyakarana should be studied
First book of Bhandarkar along with Rupa 1 years
Medium Chandrika
- English should be studied
Second book of 1 year and 6
Bhandarkar along with Rupa months
Chandrika
Tarka Sangraha with Mula text needs to be
Padakritya memorized 75 hours
Nyaya Vaisheshika
Tarka Sangraha with Lakshanas need to be 60 hours
Nyaya Bodhini Tika memorized
Mula text needs to be
Mimamsa Artha Sangraha memorized 60 hours

Samkhya Samkhya Kaarika with Karikas need to be 90 hours

Gaudapaada Bhashya memorized
Yoga sutras with Vyasa Sutras need to be
Yoga Bhashya memorized 90 hours

Ta va Bodha Text needs to be 30 hours

memorized
Atma Bodha Shlokas need to be 45 hours
memorized
Vedanta Panchadasi - Important Shlokas
First five Prakaranas + need to be 1 year
Chitradeepa + Trip deepa +
Yogaananda Prakaranas memorized
Dashopanishad Mulam Text needs to be 3 year
memorized
Bhagavat Gita with
Text needs to be 6 months
Bhashyam - 1 - 3
memorized
Chapters (op onal)
Panchikarana with 45 hours
Vaar ka (op onal)
Important Shlokas 1 year and 6
Vivekachudamani
need to be months
(op onal)
memorized
Narada Bhak Sutras Sutras need to be
(op onal) memorized 30 hours
Bhak rasayanam of
Madhusudana Saraswa 30 hours
Bhak Sutras
Bhagavat Gita with
Bhashyam - 12th Chapter 30 hours
(op onal)
 Approximate
Darshana Texts Remarks Time
INTERMEDIATE
Medium Siddhanta Kaumudi Sutras need to be
- Hindi memorized 3 years

Vyakarana Apte's Sanskrit

Medium Composi ons (3rd Book) 2 years
- English - along with higher
grammar of Kale
Nyaya Siddhanta Karikas need to be
1 year
Muktavali memorized
Nyaya Vaisheshika
Vyap panchakam
90 hours
(Navya nyaya)
Artha Sangraha along
90 hours
Mimamsa with Kaumudi Tika
Mimaamsaparibhaasha 60 hours
Note: Daily 2 hours of classes plus extra one hour chan ng, with added hours for self-
study, memorizing and note prepara on.
Many Sadhakas complete the subjects in 3 to 4 years, depending on circumstances.

Guidelines
➢ Study, Sadhana and Selfless Service (Nishkaama Seva) are the du es of a Brahmachari.
➢ Jijnasa, Mumukshu va and Samarpanam (complete dedica on), are the three basic
qualifica ons for a student of this Peeth.
➢ The sessions would be mainly in Sanskrit and Hindi; however in special cases other regional
languages or English would be used.
➢ Along with the services prescribed by the shaastras, the Brahmacharis are expected to
offer their services for the Peeth, as advised by the Acharyas.
➢ Other than apprecia on and blessings, no cer ficate or any other documents would be
issued to the students at Samaavartana – at the comple on of studies. It cannot be
referred to, for any kind of official or legal purposes.
➢ By the guidance of senior Acharyas, senior students can take classes and guide the
beginners.
➢ If the Brahmachari is absent for a long me without informing the Acharya, the Acharya has
the freedom to ask him to discon nue the classes.
➢ Before joining any class one should properly introduce himself to the Acharya, and as per
his direc ons a end the classes.
➢ The text book used for the classes if taken from the library, one shouldn't write anything in
it other than marking prin ng errors or correc ons, as directed by the Acharya. It is
recommended to keep a separate book for personal notes.
➢ For maximum benefit from studies and Sadhana and for one's own be erment, one should
not use any kind of intoxicants and aught also avoid food from local restaurants, tea shops
etc.
➢ If the seeker has already been learning some of the subjects prescribed in our schedule
from other ins tu ons or Ashrams, then he can join the advanced classes with the
permission of Acharya.
➢ The Acharyas have the freedom to teach any of the text, listed or unlisted, as per
the requirement, or as they deem fit.
➢ The Brahmacharis should par cipate whole heartedly in general ac vi es,
chan ngs or discussions held in the Peeth and all the special events celebrated.
➢ The ini ated Brahmacharis are suggested to take one me Bhiksha from the
outside kshetras at least for a year as a part of tradi onal Sadhana for purifica on.
➢ Apart from their regular sadhana, svadhyaya and Ashram seva, the beginners are
advised to a end only 2 hours of class daily, as they require more me for self-
study and revisions.
Ac vi es for Residents
➢ As part of daily tradi onal prac ce, the Brahmacharis should do Saashtaanga
Pranaamam to the senior most Acharya of the Peeth.
➢ Bhashya Parayanam in the morning, evening Ara , morning and evening Bhikshas
are part of daily schedule.
Other events and prac ces
➢ Monday, Shiva mahimna Stotra Paatha
➢ On Ashtami, Purnima and Amavasya morning Vishnusahasranaama Paatha
➢ On Amavasya, Srimat Bhagavat Gita and Brahma Sutra Paatha
➢ On Purnima, Vyakarana Sutra Paatha and Darshana Shastra Paatha
➢ The newly ini ated and to be ini ated Brahmacharis should know the Aachaara
samhita and Sandhya vandana. For that, special classes on Achaara Niyamas, and
1st and 2nd chapters of Manu Smri would be conducted.
➢ On Pra pada, Shastra Vichara Gosh – anyonyam (mutual discussion).
➢ The Brahmacharis who are inclined for Samnyasa are advised to listen to
Naradaparivraajaka Upanishad, Jaabaala Upanishad and Jivan Muk Viveka of
Vidyaranya muni.

The list of basic Veda mantras and shlokas for chan ng:
➢ 15th Chapter of Bhagavat Gita
➢ Ara Puja mantras
➢ Totakaashtakam
➢ Vishnu Sahasranaamam
➢ Shiva Mahimna Stotram
➢ Purusha Suktam
➢ Sri Rudram

ह रः ॐ
Somashram, Ujeli, U arkashi, U arakhand-249193
www.adishankarabrahmavidyapeeth.org
[email protected]
[email protected]