Gita Press
 Logo | |
| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 3, 1923 |
| Founder | Jay Dayal Goyanka Ghanshyam Das Jalan |
| Country of origin | India |
| Headquarters location | Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Distribution | Worldwide |
| Publication types | Hindu Religious Books and Kalyan Masik |
| Nonfiction topics | Hinduism |
| No. of employees | 350 |
| Official website | www.gitapress.org |
Gita Press is an Indian books publishing company, headquartered in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, and considered to be the world's largest publisher of Hindu religious texts. It was founded in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyanka, Hanuman Prasad Poddar, and Ghanshyam Das Jalan with the intention to make sacred texts easily accessible to the general public.
Publication began in 1927 with a monthly Hindi magazine titled Kalyan. Since its establishment, the Gita Press has published over 417 million books in 14 different languages. Gita Press was conferred with the Gandhi Peace Prize of 2021, by the Government of India.[1]
History
[edit]Gita Press was established on 29 April 1923 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India by Jaya Dayal Goyanka, Hanuman Prasad Poddar, and Ghanysham Das Jalan.[2][3] The vision of the Gita Press was to provide affordable translations and commentaries of sacred texts for the general public.[2][4] To launch the press, Goyanka worked with fellow businessmen in Gorakhpur.[5][6] Formal publication began in 1927 with a monthly Hindi magazine, Kalyan.[2][7]
Gita Press is a unit of Gobind Bhawan Karyalaya registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (presently governed by the West Bengal Societies Act, 1961)[8]
In 2019, it was estimated that the Gita Press produced 141 million copies of the Bhagavad Gita, 108 million copies of the Ramcharitmanas, 25 million copies of the Puranas and Upanishads, 5 million copies of the Hanuman Chalisa, and 198 million copies of smaller book, and 160 million copies of various booklets and pamphlets.[9]
Branches
[edit]Gita Press has branches and outlets throughout India and one location in Nepal.[10]
| Branches | State | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | 7/3, 2nd Cross, Lalbagh Road, Bangalore – 560027 |
| Bhilwara | Rajasthan | G-7, Aakar Tower, C Block, Opp. Harsh Palace, Gandhi Nagar, Bhilwara – 311001 |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | Electro House No. 23, Ramnathan Street, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600010 |
| Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | Gita Press Mansion 8/1 M, Racecourse, Coimbatore – 641018 |
| Cuttack | Odisha | Bharatiya Towers, Badam Badi, Cuttack – 753009 |
| Delhi | Delhi | 2609, Nayi Sarak, Delhi – 110006 |
| Gorakhpur | Uttar Pradesh | Gita Press, P.O. Gita Press, Gorakhpur – 273005 |
| Haridwar | Uttarakhand | Sabjimandi, Motibazar, Haridwar – 249401 |
| Hyderabad | Telangana | 41, 4-4-1, Dilshad Plaza, Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad – 500095 |
| Indore | Madhya Pradesh | G-5, Shree Vardhan, 4 R.N.T. Marg, Indore – 452001 |
| Jalgaon | Maharashtra | 7, Bhim Singh Market, Near Railway Station, Jalgaon – 425001 |
| Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | 24/55, Birhana Road, Kanpur – 208001 |
| Kathmandu (Nepal) | - | P84X+J3G, Pashupatinath Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | 151, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata – 700007 |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra | 282, Samaldas Gandhi Marg (Princess Street), Near Marine Lines Station, Mumbai – 400002 |
| Nagpur | Maharashtra | Shriji Kripa Complex, 851, New Etawari Road, Nagpur – 440002 |
| Patna | Bihar | Ashok Rajpath, Opposite Women's Hospital, Patna – 800004 |
| Raipur | Chhattisgarh | Mittal Complex, Ganjpara, Telghani Chowk, Raipur – 492009 |
| Ranchi | Jharkhand | Cart Sarai Road, Upper Bazar, First Floor Birla Gaddi, Ranchi – 834001 |
| Rishikesh | Uttarakhand | Gita Bhavan, P.O. Swargashram, Rishikesh – 249304 |
| Surat | Gujarat | Vaibhav Apartment, Opposite Nutan Niwas, Bhatar Road, Surat – 395001 |
| Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 59/9, Nichibag, Varanasi – 221001 |
Gita Press Leela Chitra Mandir
[edit]The Gita Press Leela Chitra Mandir, or art gallery, is located at the Gorakhpur Gita Press location, was inaugurated by India's first president, Rajendra Prasad. Around 684 paintings portray the life and teachings of Rama and Krishna. Other paintings, including Mewari style paintings of the Krishna Lila are also on exhibit. Other artifacts, such as letters by Mahatma Gandhi and ancient copies of the Bhagavad Gita, are preserved here.[11][9][12]
Recognitions
[edit]In 2021, Gita Press was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize by India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[7][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 to be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Gita Press | Gita Press | Hinduism, Scriptures, Publications | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Gita Press: All you need to know about the 100-year-old publisher". Hindustan Times. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Freier, Monika (1 July 2012). "Cultivating emotions: the Gita Press and its agenda of social and spiritual reform". South Asian History and Culture. 3 (3): 397–413. doi:10.1080/19472498.2012.693711. ISSN 1947-2498.
- ^ "The business of Gita Press: How it racked up mind-boggling numbers". The Economic Times. 19 June 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Kumar, Mayank (24 June 2023). "Gita Press | God's own publisher". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Gita Press: All about the 100-year-old publisher of Hindu texts chosen for Gandhi Peace Prize". India Today. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "About Gita Press - Promoting Hindu Teachings Since 1923". gitapress.org. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Gita Press Runs into Its Next Century – Hinduism Today". April 2021.
- ^ "Gita Press Stores Across India - Find a Location Near You". gitapress.org. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Enlightening Generations: The Enduring Legacy of Gita Press – Asian Lite UAE". Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Gita Press Chitra Mandir is a gallery of inspiration". The Times of India. 24 November 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 June 2025.