Vidya Mandir is an institute established in June 1984. It is a non-profit organization for the preservation of the culture and knowledge of the ancient Vedas; it is mainly focused on the traditional teaching of Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit through Portuguese language.

It is located in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, where regular and special classes are taught at different days and timings. Vedanta classes include 15 minutes guided meditation at the end.

The word vidya means knowledge and the word mandir (in Hindi) or mandiram (in Sanskrit) means temple.

Copacabana is a well-known and very lively place in Rio de Janeiro. Near the end of Copacabana, close to the beach, is this Temple of Knowledge! A perfect oasis!

Classes are taught in Portuguese but the traditional methodology of the ancient rishis is fully followed and respected. Besides Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit, we have Satsanga and Puja, and other classes, such as Vedic Symbolism, stories from Ramayana, Mahabharatam and Bhagavatam, vedic chanting, puja and meditation, on special days, including week-end.

The institution also publishes many books of our teacher Swami Dayananda Saraswati in Portuguese, as also translations of the Bhagavadgita and other traditional texts.

We have a translation, from sankrit to english, with commentaries, of the Bhagavadgita by our teacher Gloria Arieira, published by Motilal Barnarsidass Publishing House (MLBD), in Delhi, India.

Please contact us at contatos@vidyamandir.org.br or vidyamandir33@hotmail.com and come for a visit; we will be very pleased to have you visit us.