As ISKCON expands its reach across the globe, presenting the philosophy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in a way that is both conducive to sāstra and accessible to sincere seekers has become increasingly essential. Among these seekers is a niche yet significant audience: Sanskrit speakers. This group includes university students, traditional scholars, and spiritually inclined individuals—many of whom are deeply familiar with the language of the Vedas but unfamiliar with the theology of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism.
Recognizing this gap, Śyāmalā dāsī has started an initiative to revive Sanskrit as a living medium of devotional education. Through two free online courses on Zoom every week—”Gauḍīya-Darśanam” for adults and “Gita Course for Kids” for children—she is reintroducing Sanskrit not as a dead academic subject, but as a dynamic, devotional language for experiencing bhakti. “We also want people to understand our philosophy from the original sources, in the language they already value and respect,” she said.
The inspiration struck during the 2022 Kārtika Parikramā, when her spiritual master, Indradyumna Swami, led the devotees to the bhajana-sthalī of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. It was there that she resolved to pursue an M.A. in Sanskrit, recognizing the need for academic credibility to support her future services. “Guru Mahārāja told us to embrace the kalpavṛkṣa trees and pray sincerely for direction—how we could best serve Lord Caitanya’s movement. I did that,” recalls Śyāmalā dāsī. “When I returned to Sringeri, it became clear: I had to offer what I already possessed—my training in Sanskrit and the devotional upbringing of my children—as my contribution.”
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