The Shree Bhagavata Vedanta Gurukula, herein after referred to as the SBVG, was originally formed by its leader Bro. Haridas, under the name Om Shri Ram Bhajan Group (OSRBG), in May 1982. The formation of the OSRBG was inspired by Bro. Haridas’s late uncle Mr Soobramoney (Painter) Govender. The OSRBG started as a Hari Bhajan Group primarily rendering bhajans for Kavady’s, and Jhunda Prayer’s for the community. The Group registered about 15 youth, average age of 12 to 15 years, to engage in Bhajan training. Within 6 months, the Group was growing in popularity for the Bhajans it rendered. During this time the Late Mr Stanley Naidoo and late Mr Dash Naidoo joined the Bhajan Group. Transport was mainly provided by the Late Mr Painter Govender. Training sessions were held at the residence of Bro. Haridas (Watson Highway – opposite Rainbow Vistarama). Due to the growing popularity of the Bhajan Group, there were a number of requests for a specialised form of Bhajan viz. Ram Bhajans. With the Telegu teachings that Bro. Haridas received from Mrs Galliver (Tongaat), he was able to teach Ram Bhajans to this Group. In a matter of a year, the Group was being contracted to play Ram Bhajans. These Bhajans became very popular among the Tamil and Telegu Community. The Group rendered Bhajans in many parts of the Province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
In August 1983, Bro. Haridas was initiated at a special ceremony held at the Vedanta Ashrama by Dr Guru Dewa into the Krsna Vedanta Sampradaya. Under the leadership of Dr Guru Dewa, Bro. Haridas formed the Tongaat Vedanta Society as a branch of the Vedanta Ashrama and incorporated the OSRBG into the Vedanta Society. Between 1983-1995, the Tongaat Vedanta Society started Satsunga at the Tongaat Sabha Temple, at Bro. Roy Govindasamy’s home and finally moved to the Tongaat South Vishnu Temple. During this period various campaigns were held and discourse on Vedic philosophy and Bhagavad Gita was disseminated. Special classes on Hinduism were also conducted with the first three students being the Late Vedananda (Bull), Elvis Govindasamy (Currently Bro. Vedananda) and Sister Jayshree. Several of the youth of the OSRBG were initiated into the Krsna Vedanta Sampradaya by Bro. Haridas. Bro. Haridas published several articles on Hinduism, which was widely distributed throughout the Province. He was invited by several organizations throughout the Province to discourse on the spiritual and educational values of the Vedic tradition. The efforts of Mrs Pillay, Bro Roy and Mrs Roy, Mrs Govender, Smt. Anitha (Belvedere), Bro Bala and his wife (Chetty’s Hill) and Bro. Vidyaraja (an initiated student of Bro. Haridas) have contributed to the work of the Tongaat Vedanta Society.
In 1993, Bro. Haridas launched the Verulam Vedanta Society under the patronage and assistance of Mrs Naidoo (Naidoo’s Driving School). The Satsung located itself at Trenance Park and then moved back to the home of Mrs Naidoo. Due to the growing interest in Vedanta from other areas and provinces, the Tongaat Vedanta Society and the Verulam Vedanta Society merged to form the Vedanta Society of South Africa. It was in 1998 that Bro. Haridas decided to launch a Teaching Institution which could provide systematic education in Vedic & Hindu thought and culture and started what is today called the Shree Bhagavata Vedanta Gurukula. The notion of Gurukula embodied the structure of a School (located at the home of the Teacher) in which the traditions of Bhakti (Bhagavata) and Jnana (Vedanta) were systematically taught. Several students were initiated into this school (Bro. Jagadeesan [Jaysen], Bro. Vedananda [Elvis], Bro. Satyaprakash [Mel-Trenance Park], Bro. Vedavyasa [Nad], Purushottamanand [Pat], Satyabhama [Vijay], Vishwamitra [Rajen], Damyanthee [Dhaneshree], Bhairavi [Saroj] and Satyaprakash [ Fairsands]. After some training certain students realised that they could not cope and decided to leave the School. Those students that toiled were given intense training in the following areas: Vedic chants, Hindu ritual systems, Vedic and Hindu philosophy, Life Management Skills, Yoga, Organizational Leadership and Management Skills, Hindu Ethics and Global Ethics. These students are currently Satsung leaders and Gurukula teachers. The SBVG has grown and developed in Stanger, Tongaat (Belvedere, Fairsands), Phoenix, Chatsworth, with resource centres in Gauteng, Cape Town, Newcastle, London, Ireland, Dallas, and Australia. Under the Leadership of Bro. Haridas the following mission has been developed for the Gurukula: -
1. To develop Satsungs in the various towns, provinces within the Republic of South Africa.
In August 1983, Bro. Haridas was initiated at a special ceremony held at the Vedanta Ashrama by Dr Guru Dewa into the Krsna Vedanta Sampradaya. Under the leadership of Dr Guru Dewa, Bro. Haridas formed the Tongaat Vedanta Society as a branch of the Vedanta Ashrama and incorporated the OSRBG into the Vedanta Society. Between 1983-1995, the Tongaat Vedanta Society started Satsunga at the Tongaat Sabha Temple, at Bro. Roy Govindasamy’s home and finally moved to the Tongaat South Vishnu Temple. During this period various campaigns were held and discourse on Vedic philosophy and Bhagavad Gita was disseminated. Special classes on Hinduism were also conducted with the first three students being the Late Vedananda (Bull), Elvis Govindasamy (Currently Bro. Vedananda) and Sister Jayshree. Several of the youth of the OSRBG were initiated into the Krsna Vedanta Sampradaya by Bro. Haridas. Bro. Haridas published several articles on Hinduism, which was widely distributed throughout the Province. He was invited by several organizations throughout the Province to discourse on the spiritual and educational values of the Vedic tradition. The efforts of Mrs Pillay, Bro Roy and Mrs Roy, Mrs Govender, Smt. Anitha (Belvedere), Bro Bala and his wife (Chetty’s Hill) and Bro. Vidyaraja (an initiated student of Bro. Haridas) have contributed to the work of the Tongaat Vedanta Society.
In 1993, Bro. Haridas launched the Verulam Vedanta Society under the patronage and assistance of Mrs Naidoo (Naidoo’s Driving School). The Satsung located itself at Trenance Park and then moved back to the home of Mrs Naidoo. Due to the growing interest in Vedanta from other areas and provinces, the Tongaat Vedanta Society and the Verulam Vedanta Society merged to form the Vedanta Society of South Africa. It was in 1998 that Bro. Haridas decided to launch a Teaching Institution which could provide systematic education in Vedic & Hindu thought and culture and started what is today called the Shree Bhagavata Vedanta Gurukula. The notion of Gurukula embodied the structure of a School (located at the home of the Teacher) in which the traditions of Bhakti (Bhagavata) and Jnana (Vedanta) were systematically taught. Several students were initiated into this school (Bro. Jagadeesan [Jaysen], Bro. Vedananda [Elvis], Bro. Satyaprakash [Mel-Trenance Park], Bro. Vedavyasa [Nad], Purushottamanand [Pat], Satyabhama [Vijay], Vishwamitra [Rajen], Damyanthee [Dhaneshree], Bhairavi [Saroj] and Satyaprakash [ Fairsands]. After some training certain students realised that they could not cope and decided to leave the School. Those students that toiled were given intense training in the following areas: Vedic chants, Hindu ritual systems, Vedic and Hindu philosophy, Life Management Skills, Yoga, Organizational Leadership and Management Skills, Hindu Ethics and Global Ethics. These students are currently Satsung leaders and Gurukula teachers. The SBVG has grown and developed in Stanger, Tongaat (Belvedere, Fairsands), Phoenix, Chatsworth, with resource centres in Gauteng, Cape Town, Newcastle, London, Ireland, Dallas, and Australia. Under the Leadership of Bro. Haridas the following mission has been developed for the Gurukula: -
1. To develop Satsungs in the various towns, provinces within the Republic of South Africa.
2. To establish a Brahmanical order that would train, develop and foster the spiritual and ritual culture of Hinduism.
3. To organize a Devi Samaj (woman’s League) that would empower and provide support and education on various issues that impact in the life of women.
4. To develop a Vedanta Resource centre that stores and documents spiritual literature and other media materials that enhances the vision and mission of the Gurukula.
5. To organize a Seva Samaj (Welfare Unit) that would identify the social needs of the disadvantaged and provide skills, support and education for their emancipation.
6. To establish a Yoga and Health club that would instruct, educate and foster the ancient wisdom of Yoga for a better and healthier way of life.
7. To institute a Senior and Junior Gurukula (Learning centre) for facilitating the teaching and learning of Hindu thought and culture in the context of the Global religious thought and culture systems.
8. To establish the Vedanta Printing Press for the publication and distribution of spiritual literature and news items.
9. To develop a Vedanta Counselling Centre for the training and development of spiritual counsellors for challenges in education, family and dreaded diseases).
10. To institute the Vedanta Dance and Music Academy for the nurturing of Hindu culture and arts.
11. To establish the Institute for the study and Research of Vedanta which will conduct academic studies in all aspects of life that impact on the Hindu way of life.
12. To network with other community based organizations that share a similar mission.
