Gita Course
Gita Course at ISKCON Whitefield, Bangalore | Study Bhagavad Gita with Authentic Guidance
Life in modern Bangalore moves fast. Deadlines pile up. Relationships get complicated. Questions about purpose and meaning stay unanswered. The Bhagavad Gita has addressed every one of these challenges for thousands of years, and yet most of us have never had the chance to study it properly. ISKCON Whitefield offers a structured, beginner-friendly Gita course that brings the complete wisdom of this sacred text into your everyday life. Whether you are a working professional in Whitefield, a student, a homemaker, or simply someone searching for clarity, this course is designed for you. No prior knowledge of Sanskrit, philosophy, or spirituality is needed. All you need is the willingness to show up and learn. Our Gita course is rooted in the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and follows his landmark translation, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the most widely read edition of the Gita in the world. As a centre operating under the global ISKCON movement, every teaching we share flows from a genuine and unbroken lineage of Vaishnava wisdom.
Why Study the Bhagavad Gita with ISKCON Whitefield?
There is no shortage of spiritual content online. What makes our Gita course different is the combination of authentic lineage, structured learning, experienced teachers, and a living community that continues to support you long after the course ends.
Authentic Lineage: Our courses are based on Bhagavad-gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada, ensuring that the teachings you receive are pure and unaltered by personal interpretation. This matters deeply. The Gita’s power lies in its original message, and that message is what we share.
Experienced Devotee-Teachers: Our faculty members are not just academically trained. They are practising devotees who have built their lives around these teachings. Faculty like Hariksetra Das (gold medallist from Bharathiar University, MS from BITS Pilani) and Kartikeya Das (M.Tech from BITS Pilani, holder of the Bhakti Shastri degree from Mayapur Institute of Higher Education) have walked away from corporate careers to serve full-time. Their real-world backgrounds make the Gita’s lessons immediately relatable for professionals and students alike.
A Thriving Community: ISKCON Whitefield is not a classroom you attend and forget. With a congregation of over 1,000 devotees, 11+ active Bhakti Centres across East Bangalore, 60 Bhakti Vriksha small groups, and programmes running at 13 locations, you are joining a living spiritual family.
Practical Application: Every session of our Gita course connects the ancient verses to decisions you face at work, in relationships, and in your personal life. The goal is not just knowledge. It is transformation.
Our Gita Course Structure: A Step-by-Step Path
ISKCON Whitefield offers a progressive learning journey, starting from a complete beginner level and going all the way to advanced scriptural certification.
Gita Course: The Entry Point for Every Seeker
The foundational Gita course is where most students begin. It is completed across 9 sessions, each approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours long, held weekly at multiple convenient locations across Whitefield and East Bangalore. Sessions are currently offered at ISKCON Whitefield (AECS Layout) every Saturday from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, among other timings and venues.
In these 9 sessions, you will explore the Bhagavad Gita as the user manual of human life. Specifically, you will:
Understand how the world and the people around you are designed to work. Gain clarity on different types of personalities and how to deal with them effectively. Learn how to make decisions from a place of inner stability rather than anxiety. Discover the nature of the soul, karma, duty, and the ultimate purpose of human existence.
The format is interactive and engaging, with guided discussions, Q&A rounds, and practical reflections in every session. There are no prerequisites. The only requirement is a genuine willingness to explore.
Bhakti Steps: Coming Closer to Krishna, One Step at a Time
For students who complete the Gita course and wish to go deeper, the Bhakti Steps programme offers a systematic path to deepen devotional practice. This structured path is designed to help you cultivate a stable, sustainable spiritual life, covering aspects of daily sadhana, scripture study, and community engagement.
Bhakti Shastri: Certified In-Depth Scriptural Study
For serious students, our Bhakti Shastri programme is an ISKCON Board of Examination certified course that covers four of Srila Prabhupada’s foundational books in depth: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, and Sri Isopanisad. ISKCON Whitefield currently runs three parallel batches of Bhakti Shastri with 70+ students across AECS Layout, Kannamangala, and Panathur.
Assessment includes closed-book exams, sloka recitation tests, open-book exams, and attendance-based evaluation. Students who successfully complete the programme receive the Bhakti Shastri degree issued by the Mayapur Institute, recognised across the global ISKCON movement.
Bhakti Vaibhav: Advanced Vedic Studies
For those who have completed Bhakti Shastri and wish to pursue deeper scriptural mastery, ISKCON Whitefield also offers the Bhakti Vaibhav programme. One active batch is currently running with 25 dedicated students.
Who Is This Gita Course For?
If you are a student trying to figure out your direction in life, this course is for you. If you are a working professional exhausted by the gap between career success and inner fulfilment, this course is for you. If you are a homemaker seeking a space for your own spiritual growth, this course is for you. If you are a retiree looking to explore the questions you never had time for, this course is absolutely for you.
There is no minimum age (beyond basic comprehension), no religious qualification required, and no expected level of prior knowledge. The Bhagavad Gita was spoken on a battlefield to a man in crisis. Its message was always meant for every human being in every situation.
Course Completion Certificate
Students who attend the required sessions and complete the coursework receive an official course completion certificate from ISKCON Whitefield. This serves as a formal record of your spiritual study and a meaningful marker of your personal journey.
For the Bhakti Shastri level, successful students receive a degree issued by the ISKCON Board of Examination, which carries recognition across the global ISKCON community.
What Our Students Say
“This Gita course changed my life. I feel more calm and focused in every situation now.” — Anjali S.
“The teachers are incredibly patient and knowledgeable. I finally understood concepts I had been confused about for years.” — Rajesh K.
“I apply what I learned at work and at home every single day. The difference in my perspective is something I cannot fully put into words.” — Priya M.
Beyond the Classroom: Join a Spiritual Community
Completing the Gita course is not the end of the journey. At ISKCON Whitefield, it is the beginning. Our graduates are warmly invited to:
Bhakti Vriksha Groups: Join one of our 60 small group satsangas where families and individuals gather weekly to pray, study, and support each other in spiritual growth.
Krishna Life and Satsanga Sessions: Regular gatherings centred on kirtan, scripture discussion, and devotional association.
Ekadashi Observances: Participate in the sacred Ekadashi fasting days, observed with special programmes and devotional activities at our centres.
Seva (Devotional Service): Contribute your time and skills in service to the Lord and the community. Seva is one of the most powerful forms of spiritual practice.
Cause for Life: Our Cause for Life initiative works toward making Bengaluru a Krishna Conscious city, with a vision of 100 Bhakti Centres and 10 ISKCON branches. You can be part of this historic mission.
Srila Prabhupada’s Books: Deepen Your Learning
Every serious student of the Gita course is encouraged to read Srila Prabhupada’s foundational texts. Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, and other key Vaishnava scriptures are available through ISKCON Whitefield’s gift shop and online at GoGita.in. These books are not supplementary material. They are the foundation on which everything you learn in the course rests.
Community Service: Give Back While You Grow
ISKCON Whitefield believes spiritual growth and social compassion go hand in hand. Two programmes especially close to our heart are:
Food for Life (Annadana): We distribute sanctified, nutritious meals to those in need across Bengaluru. Students and community members are welcome to volunteer or contribute to the Food for Life programme.
Sattvic Catering: Pure vegetarian, Lord-offered prasadam catering is available for your family events, corporate gatherings, and celebrations. This prasadam carries a spiritual dimension that no ordinary meal can offer.
Contribute to the Temple Construction
ISKCON Whitefield is currently building a magnificent Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Whitefield, Bangalore, expected to welcome devotees from February 2027. This will be one of the grandest spiritual centres in the city. You can be part of this divine endeavour by making a contribution toward the temple construction. Every rupee offered in this service goes toward creating a sanctuary that will serve generations to come.
Register for the Gita Course Today
Taking the first step is simple. Visit our registration page, fill in the short enquiry form, and our team will get in touch to help you join the right batch. You can also write to us at info@iskconwhitefield.org and we will guide you from there.
Thousands of students from across Bangalore have already taken this step. Their lives look different now, not because of luck or circumstance, but because they chose to study the Gita seriously and put its wisdom to work. You can do the same.
The Gita has been waiting patiently for you. We are ready whenever you are.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
We exclusively use Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This is the most authentic and widely read edition of the Gita globally.
Absolutely. Our foundational Gita course is specifically designed for complete beginners. No Sanskrit, no prior study, and no religious background is required.
Yes. We offer a combination of in-person weekly sessions at our Bhakti Centres and recorded online access for those who cannot attend physically.
The foundational Gita course runs across 9 weekly sessions of 1.5 to 2.5 hours each.
Yes. Students who complete the required attendance and coursework receive an official ISKCON Whitefield course completion certificate. Bhakti Shastri students receive a degree from the ISKCON Board of Examination.
Our introductory Gita courses are offered free of charge. We do welcome voluntary contributions that support our programmes, community service, and spiritual education work.
Every session is designed with practical application in mind. You will leave each class with specific insights and tools that you can put to use immediately, in your professional decisions, personal relationships, and daily mindset.
Sessions are held across multiple locations in East Bangalore, including AECS Layout, Panathur, Kannamangala, Sarjapur, and Whitefield. Contact us to find the batch closest to you.