SRI SRI RADHA VRINDAVANCANDRA MANDIR, NVCC, KATRAJ-KONDHWA BYPASS, ISKCON PUNE

ISKCON Pune Guest Brahmachari Training

Respected prabhu,

Please accept our humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We are very thankful to you for choosing us to give your association and a chance to serve you. We request you to
kindly take note of the following important guidelines regarding your stay here in Pune for the training program.

The Overall Plan

1) Sadhu Bhushan Camp - Series of lectures by HG Radheshyam Prabhu and other senior devotees on Vaisnava
brahmachari principles and practices in brahmachari ashram (2 weeks).
2) Youth Preacher Training Course (4 days) – Many devotees who come from other temples want to know about
Pune Youth Preaching aspects. As per their desire, we equip them in this regard.
3) Based on the devotees’ service responsibilities in his own temple, we arrange meeting with specific devotees
who share what way we are taking care of those services (10-12 days)
4) Apart from the above training and education programs, a devotee gets to experience the core brahmachari
lifestyle of strict morning program, menial services, Harinam, book distribution, etc.
After taking such training, the devotee returns back to his own temple and take care of their responsibilities. They
may keep in touch with some Pune brahmacharis for some guidance on services, brahmachari principles and
practices, etc. They can also come for some specific training camps for brahmacharis occasionally.
Usually, we recommend this 1-month training period for guest brahmacharis as they get a good exposure to what
Pune ashram can give and at the same time, they don’t need to sacrifice much of their own temple’s services.
Some devotee wish to stay for a longer period than 1 month and has permission and blessings of his authorities for
the same. After he completes above mentioned training, we observe such a devotee for another 15 days to 1 month.
Based on our evaluation that has multiple parameters to consider, we may (or may not) permit the devotee to stay
for a stipulated period. In such a case, the devotee needs to render minimum 6 hours of services under the Pune
temple management. We try our best to facilitate the training program for the candidate. However, it may not be
possible to always actively guide the devotee on a personal level. They can take the benefit of practicing core
brahmachari lifestyle.

Eligibility
Connectivity and Stability
1) Should be chanting 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra for minimum ONE year
2) Should be well-connected to the local temple and devotees
3) Recommended to do such a training by the local authorities
Without the above basic criterion, if devotees are sent, it leads to complications at a later stage when they
desire to join Pune and not go back to parent temple.
Health
4) Should have an overall good health i.e.
a. Doesn’t need regular support for health issues/medicines from temple
b. Doesn’t have any specific medicinal/diet requirements
c. Doesn’t have any psychological issues in the past
If there is any such situations as mentioned above, it should be discussed with us before sending the candidate
and the candidate should come to Pune only after we give our consent to offer such a support.
 SRI SRI RADHA VRINDAVANCANDRA MANDIR, NVCC, KATRAJ-KONDHWA BYPASS, ISKCON PUNE

In case, during the stay at Pune, the candidate develops a need for special or prolonged medical attention (like
specific diet, treatment of piles, etc), we request the recommending authorities to fully take charge of the
candidate’s care outside Pune temple.

General Guidelines
1) Common usage items like soap, tooth powder, razor blades, tilak, soap, basic medicines, plate, glass will be
issued on monthly basis as per the availability of stock in ashram.
2) The trainee devotee/brahmacharis shall have to bear all other personal expenses during the stay at ISKCON
PUNE. The expenses could be like travel, purchases, dhoti, kurta, medical expenses, mobile bill, data card
recharge, yatra, etc
3) The student may carry cellphone, smartphone, laptop, etc if required for his parent temple services. He can have
a personal SIM with NO INTERNET for calling for their parent temple services. We do not allow any devotees to
use Whatsapp, Facebook, etc in our ashram and the student should comply with this norm to maintain our
ashram culture. He may use the common internet facility available in the computer lab. He can be given skype
facility through temple network.
4) For students coming for more than 1 months, we request the parent temple to submit a security deposit of Rs.
5000/- and also arrange for mediclaim in consultation in Pune temple health department. At the end of the stay,
the balance laxmi shall be reimbursed after deducting any additional expenses during his stay at Pune.
5) You are requested to bring personal sleeping bag, pillow, mosquito net, etc. You will be provided a safety locker
to keep your valuables; do not keep anything in an open loose bag. This is to ensure safety of any valuable items
that you may bring along. (Please see Annexure A for more details for the last two points)
6) During your stay here, we expect you to follow the standards of the ashram :
Morning Program : (3:45AM) 4:30 AM – 8:45 AM; Serving as per the guidance of managers.
7) Kindly follow the vaisnava etiquettes given below during your stay here:
a. To not indulge in prajalpa is a vaishnava principle. We at ISKCON Pune try our level best to conform to
this standard. We would request you to not indulge in discussions about gopibhav, fall from vaikuntha,
ritwick issue, guru issue, poison issue etc., or visiting wrong sites on mobile/Internet, etc. We strictly
prohibit this. Anybody found indulging in such things would attract disciplinary action and could even be
requested to vacate the temple premises.
b. Vaisnava sanga should inspire one another to advance in Krishna Consciousness. We request you to deal
lovingly and respectfully with devotees; at the same time never develop any frivolous/ loose
relationships by calling anyone by nicknames.
c. We inspire devotees to maintain simplicity in clothes. Kindly wear simple dhoti-kurta. We do not
entertain flashy dresses like T-shirts, shorts, jeans, etc to avoid distraction.
d. Please execute the services allotted to you with sincerity & responsibility.
e. During your stay with us, please feel free to communicate to share any suggestions/grievances to the
concerned authorities. Please do not hesitate to clarify any doubts.

Your servants,
Guest Brahmachari Training (GBT) Committee
ISKCON, Pune
 SRI SRI RADHA VRINDAVANCANDRA MANDIR, NVCC, KATRAJ-KONDHWA BYPASS, ISKCON PUNE

Recommendation Application by Temple Authorities

The following information is to be furnished by the spiritual guardian of the brahmachari. It could be the temple
President or spiritual master.

1. Name of Candidate : __________________________________________

2. Date of Birth: _______________ 3. Blood Group: ________ PHOTO
4. Current Address : _____________________________________________
5. Spiritual Master’s Name: __________________________________________
6. Name & Address of the Authority (President / spiritual master) who is recommending him for stay at ISKCON,
Pune:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Emergency contact details of Family Members (Name, Relation, Contact Number):
____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Apart from the Sadhu Bhushan Camp and Youth Preaching Training Course, what other components you wish
the candidate to get trained in during his stay at Pune.

o Orientation to specific departments of the temple –please specify which all departments you want him
to learn more about in his stay at Pune
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

o Experience the core brahmachari lifestyle of strict morning program, menial services, Harinam, book
distribution, etc
o Any other expectations from the training he receives during his stay at Pune temple
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. How long do you want him to stay at ISKCON, Pune? ___________________________________

10. Does he have any problem of relationship problems with devotees / misbehavior / police case/ financial debts /
life threatening illness or chronic disease/ ever consulted psychologist or psychiatrist / back ache problem? If
yes, please specify.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ _________________________________
Signature of spiritual guardian / spiritual master Signature of the candidate for the course

Date: ________________________ Place: _______________________

We also need the Confidential Questionnaire (please click on the icon below) to be filled by the candidate.
 SRI SRI RADHA VRINDAVANCANDRA MANDIR, NVCC, KATRAJ-KONDHWA BYPASS, ISKCON PUNE

All these forms should be sent in advance via email to pdc@iskconpune.in. Please send the candidate to Pune ONLY
AFTER receiving an approval reply mail from the GBT committee (you may expect in 3 days or so).

Important Items Checklist to be brought for a longer stay at Pune (Annexure A)

Please submit the following form upon reaching Pune ticking () appropriately
o Mediclaim documents

o Security deposit - Rs. 5000/-

o Hard copy of the recommendation form given above - duly undersigned by the concerned authority

o Ticked checklist of personal items (mentioned below)

o FRO related documents (for devotees from temples outside India)

Joining candidate should ensure to bring ALL the following items while shifting to ashram

Kindly tick the ones that you have

o Three good pairs of Dhoti Kurta o Chaddar

o Two New Gamchas o Monkey cap or muffler

o Whole toilet kit o Shoulder/Small bag (to keep notebook, bottle etc)

o Tilak box o Chappal for rough & tough use

o SP's books – whatever you wish to read personally o Water bottle-steel or copper (not plastic etc)

o Mosquito net in Proper condition o Black foam + Bed-sheet or Chatai

o Sweater o Medium size travel bag

o Blankets o Plate, glass & spoon

Some more items we recommend you to have a personal one, are:

o Vaishnava Song book o New Note book or Diary for notes

o Kartal o Pencil box

o MP3 player (if you need any) o Two good Bead bags

o Casio electronic wrist watch

Electronic Devices you are carrying

o Cellphone Model: ______________________________________

o It has no Internet, Whatsapp, facebook, etc facility

o Mobile Number: _______________________________________
o Laptop (if any)
o Any other(s): ___________________________________________
SRI SRI RADHA VRINDAVANCANDRA MANDIR, NVCC, KATRAJ-KONDHWA BYPASS, ISKCON PUNE