A dream of Danavir Maharaj, begun many years ago: a college where devotees study Srila Prabhupada’s books systematically — with sadhana, with Sanskrit, with pilgrimage — and earn both an academic degree and a Bhakti title at the same time.
The Ladder
One path, five gates. Each gate is both a degree and a title, earned by completing the credit block and passing the title examination.
| Level | Degree | Title | Credits | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Introductory Semester in Applied Vedic Culture (AVC) | — | 15 | 3 months |
| Associate | Associate Certificate in Vaisnava Philosophy | Bhakti-Sastri | 60 | ~2 years |
| Bachelor’s | Bachelor of Vaisnava Philosophy | Bhakti-Vaibhava | 120 | ~4 years |
| Master’s | Master of Vaisnava Philosophy / Education / Administration | Bhakti-Vedanta | 42 graduate | ~6 years |
| Doctorate | Doctor of Divinity | Bhakti-Sarvabhauma | 30 doctoral | ~8 years |
The primary texts throughout are Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Caitanya-caritamrta. How the titles were defined by Srila Prabhupada →
Three Paths, One Ladder
New bhaktas — AVC entry
The introductory semester in Applied Vedic Culture. The entry point for most students. AVC Bhakta Programme →
Disciples and brahmacharis — deeper study
The Bhakti Shastri disciples course, continuing on the brahmachari path, through the full ladder. Bhakti Shastri →
The congregation — separate courses
The congregation will have their own separate courses, available at some expense. Details to follow.
What the Great Institutes Do Best — and What RVC Adds
We studied the leading sastric schools — Mayapur Institute, VIHE Vrindavan, Evolve Pune, Vidyapitha at Govardhan Ecovillage, IBM Govardhan, DIVE Delhi and Chowpatty BACE. We are taking the best from each: Evolve’s clear front door and learning app, DIVE’s course catalogue, Mayapur’s honest fees, Vidyapitha’s login-gated lessons, and the full ladder, taught to BOEX standards.
And what none of them yet offer, RVC is building first: a public sample lesson, a downloadable syllabus pack, a BOEX-readiness checker, and a named, dated, US-timezone Bhakti Shastri Disciples Course — with a student portal where your courses, progress, goals and notes live in one place.
Try the free sample lesson Check your BOEX readiness
What Makes This RVC
The framework is Maharaj’s. Partner lessons sit inside that framework, clearly credited — they do not replace it. Maharaj frames the course: his vision and introduction, his lectures and kirtans, his emphasis on sadhana and on the India pilgrimage practicum. And RVC’s own tests, once he shares them, will be the gate. More about RVC →
Partners — In Progress
We have asked three centres to partner with us, giving them full credit and pointing students toward them: Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE), Mayapur Institute, and ISKCON Chowpatty BACE. Replies are awaited. No partner material is used on this site until the partner agrees.
Coming December 2, 2026
The Bhakti Shastri website and student portal will be offered for Danavir Maharaj’s Vyasa Puja on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. That is a launch: cohort dates, fee and faculty are being finalised. The teachings will be infused into it as partner material and Maharaj’s material arrive.