In the midst of all the distinctive personalities there stood a man who was presumed to be a representative of ‘the almighty’ sent to aid mankind.
Jayadayalji Goyandka also known as “Sethji”, was a loyal devotee and an exalted soul. He was also the ultimate mage, householder, and philosopher, professor of selflessness and epitome of simplicity and ingenuity. Perishing by rejecting worldly pleasures his main purpose was to motivate the mass to achieve the ‘ultimate creator’ and to wake up to the bliss of life.
Sethji used to conduct discourses in Kolkata (then Culcutta) at Govind Bhawan, which attracted huge number of devotees that kept increasing everyday. It was then when Sethji felt an urge to publish ‘The Gita’, which was needed for self-education and self-cultivation. Absolute and the true meaning of Gita only came into existence when Sethji took in his own hands to publish it. Total of 11,000 copies were published through a vedic press. Each and every copy was sold in a very minimum time. With the growing demand of Gita and the problems developing with the printing press Sethji decided to establish a printing press through which ‘The Gita’ lovers could be accessible to the pure and true Gita. With the help of his two devotees Sethji started with the formation of the press in Gorakhpur, named as “Gita Press”. It started by renting a small house at rupees 10 in 1923. Later, led to buying a new house in the name of Gita Press. The expansion kept taking place with the increasing publication.
Over the years, Gita Press also started publishing Ramayana, Upanishads, Puranas, Discourses of eminent Saints and other character-building books & magazines and marketed them at a very nominal prices.
Gita Press as Sightseeing:
The famous ancient temples inspired the entrance of this great institution. It has a huge “Bhawan” called ‘Leela Chitra Mandir’ inside where the whole Bhagwat Gita has been engraved on the marbles and is placed inside the walls all around. Also the preaching’s of Tulsidasa, Surdas, Raheem, Kabir etc are written beautifully on the walls outside. People from all around the world visit this religious institution.
The institution’s main objective is to promote and spread the principles of Sanatana Dharma. The institution is managed by the Governing Council(Trust Board). It’s members (Trustees) have no selfish or pecuniary motive. The institution neither solicits donations nor accepts advertisements in its publications. The arrear is met by the surplus from other departments of the society, which render services at sound cost, in accordance with the objects of the society.
Image Source: 1
