Bhaktivedanta Research Center
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BRC Library
Since its inception in 2009, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) has amassed a rich physical collection of over 25,000 books, 4,000 journals and 1000 digitized manuscripts covering diverse topics of humanities such as history, philosophy and culture of India. The central library is located in Kolkata, with branches in Mumbai, Pune and Jagannath Puri. The Bhaktivedanta Research Center is helping scholars from leading universities in their research work by providing them books and research materials. Additionally, scholars are provided access to over three thousand latest editions of international publications in the digital format, covering a wide range of topics such as encyclopedias, history, philosophy, sociology and culture. The BRC remains committed to fostering rigorous pedagogy, research, reading, and writing in the field of humanities and social sciences.
The library is open six days a week between 10 am - 5 pm.
Library Collections
Sundarananda Vidyavinode Collection
BRC is privileged to host over a century old precious library collection about ancient Vedic wisdom in general and Gaudiya Vaishnavism in particular. This collection is referred to as the Sundarananda Vidyavinode Collection named after its owner Shri Sundarananda Vidyavinode, an avid book collector and Sanskrit professor from Dacca who had a library of over 3,000 books.
The central library at Kolkata houses the century-old "Sundarananda Vidyavinoda Collection '' containing books from the personal library of the renowned saint and philosopher Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada (1874 - 1936). Sri Sundarananda Vidyavinode, a Sanskrit professor from Dacca was the chief editor and disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada. The collection holds over 2380 books and over 70,000 pages of journals & newspapers from the late 19th and early 20th century mainly in Bengali, Sanskrit, Hindi and English on topics including Hindu theology and philosophy in general and Vaishnavism in particular, Sanskrit grammar and comparative linguistics, Sanskrit poetry and poetics, encyclopedia as well as comparative studies of Eastern and Western logic, poetics, and philosophy. The collection showcases the publishing revolution that began in and around Calcutta which was the capital of British India when the printing press was introduced in the country.
Birnagar Collection
The Birnagar Collection consists of the original handwritten documents and Vaiṣṇava texts of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and his son Śrī Lalitā Prasāda Ṭhākura. The works housed at the āśrama are in dire need of care and unless the devotee community is loyal and comes together to protect the original and rare works of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura it will be lost forever to the world. Dr. Krishna Abhishek Ghosh is leading the efforts to preserve the works and The Bhaktivedanta Research Centre has bared the entire cost of preserving, digitising and photographing the rare works of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Śrī Lalitā Prasāda Ṭhākura. Some of the important work includes:
- Original handwritten songbook of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
- Original handwritten autobiography, "Svalikhita Jivani" of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
- Original handwritten Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya and many other Vaishnava texts
Journal Collection
BRC library hosts a comprehensive collection of journals from the late 19th century till date.
Sundarananda Vidyavinode Journal Collection
The Sundarananda Vidyavinoda Journals Collection is comprised of 28 journals that are considered rare, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century. This collection includes notable publications such as Nadia Prakash, Gaudiya, Jyotirvid, Vrihaspati, and Sajjan Toshani, and Sajjan Sangini, among several other journals. Alongside this collection, the library also boasts an extensive selection of over 171 respected national and international journals that cover a range of topics within the humanities, such as linguistics, philosophy, history, and culture, among others.
The list of journals under Sundarananda Vidyavinoda Journals Collection
- Nadia Prakash
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada started 'The Daily Nadia Prakash' daily newspaper in 1927 which ran for over 20 years till 1947. It announced itself as 'viśve ekmātra dainik pāramarthik patra' (the only daily spiritual newspaper in the world). Each issue typically consisted of eight pages. The front and back page provided current news of Nadia district in Bengal as well as that of India and the rest of the world. The middle pages contained spiritual teachings from the shastras and Acharyas' writings.
- Gaudiya
A Bengali weekly begun on 19th August 1922; first issued from the Bhagavat Press, Krishnanagar, and then from the Gaudiya Printing Works (established in August 1923 in Upper Circular Road, Calcutta, and shifted in June 1935 to near the Math at Baghbazaar)
- Jyotirvid
A monthly on astrology edited by Bimalaprasad Siddhanta Saraswati in 1901.
- Vrihaspati
A monthly astrology journal edited by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur in 1897.
- Sajjan Toshani
First brought in Bengali by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in 1881, but discontinued due to his being reposted. In 1883 an English edition was released, and in 1885 it was again published sporadically in Bengali; not until 1892 and it was produced regularly as a monthly. After its being suspended once more in 1897, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur yet again revived it in February- March 1915.
- Sajjan Sangini
Lalitaprasad Thakur, Birnagar, Nadia. It begun in 1341. (English year- 1934) as a monthly journal from Sri Sri Krishnachaitanya Siksha Pracharini Sabha located at Sauri Prapannashram.
- Harmonist
It begun in June 1927 as English monthly; later issued as fortnightly.
- Vishnupriya Patrika
Radhikanath Goswami and Kedarnath Datta. It begun publishing from Calcutta in 1298 (English year- 1891). First fortnightly later monthly.
- Sonar Gauranga
Jogendranath Deb. It begun publishing from Srihatta, Assam in 1330 (english year- 1923). Started as daily, then fortnightly and later as monthly.
- Paramarthi
An Oriya fortnightly begun in 1932 and published from Sacchidananda Math, Cuttack; printed at Sacchidananda Math upon establishment of the Paramarthi Printing Works there in 1936.
- Bhagavat
A Hindi fortnightly began in 1931; published from Paramhamsa Matha, Naimisaranya, on each new- moon and full - moon day.
- Chaitanya Matabodhini
Radhikaprasad Bhagavatratnakar and Saratchandra Tapaswi, editor- Nilmani Goswami. Place of Publication- Vrindavan. Year- 1299, (English year- 1892)
- Gauranga Sevak
Monthly, Amulyacharan Vidyabhusana, Cossimbazar, Murshidavad, 1911
- Kirtana
An Assamese monthly began in 1932; published from Goalpara Prapannaashram, Assam.
David Haberman Library Collection
Bhaktivedanta Research Center
has received the prestigious personal collection of books from Dr.
David Haberman. Dr. David Haberman is a professor of religious
studies at Indiana University. He received his BA (1976) in
religious studies from the University of Colorado and his PhD (1984)
in history of religions from the University of Chicago. He taught at
the University of Arizona and Williams College before joining the
faculty at Indiana University in 1993, where he served as
departmental chair for five years.
Dr. David Haberman is also a visiting faculty in Bhaktivedanta
Research Center for the PhD program in Philosophy. He taught the
course 'Lived Religion' to the students of BRC in the year 2019-20.
He also supports students of BRC in guiding their PhD studies.
The collection includes more than1000 books. These books are from
the various fields of religious studies, Philosophy, Sanskrit,
Social Studies etc. This valuable collection of books he very
generously donated to BRC for the use of students and faculty.
BRC Library
