Free online encyclopedia Wikipedia has become as integral a part of the internet as Google. Type virtually any word, place or famous name into a search engine and the Wiki entry will be in the top three hits.

Can you imagine an encyclopedia of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings with the same scope?

Well the folks at Vanipedia.org are working hard to make this a reality. They take the project very seriously, and will be taking their time to ensure the creation of a staggeringly vast resource.

“We already have Vanisource, where you can read all of Prabhupada’s works, and Vaniquotes, where we have amassed 50,000 quotes so far,” says project manager Vishnu Murti Dasa, referring to two of the website’s “Lotus Petals.” “Within seven years we would like to complete the compiling in Vaniquotes, link the Vanisource, build the Vanictionary, populate the Vanimedia with Srila Prabhupada’s audio, video and photos, make the compendiums in Vanibooks, write all the introductory articles in Vanipedia, and create all the educational courses in Vaniversity.”

But why seven years?

“In seven years, on the 4th of October 2015, many festivities around the world will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada first arriving on western shores,” Vishnu Murti explains. “So we’d like to have everything ready by then.”

There’s more. The following twelve years will see many more 50th anniversary festivities celebrating Srila Prabhupada’s activities and achievements. These will culminate on the 2nd of November 2027, the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure from this world. “We would like to spend these twelve years serving with all the devotees to truly establish a culture of deep dependency on Prabhupada’s teachings (Vani),” Vishnu Murti says. “If we can do that, the second fifty years of ISKCON will be gloriously successful.”

The Vanipedia team are now sending out the call for devotees to assist in compiling Vaniquotes. Vishnu Murti says it’s a perfect chance to study Prabhupada’s teachings while building Vanipedia for the benefit of all. “By following the simple methodology of studying via themes and then compiling them one can understand the deep significance of each word, phrase, concept or personality that Srila Prabhupada is presenting. His teachings are without a doubt our life and soul, and when we study them thoroughly we can appreciate this even more.”

The Vanipedia team are committed to creating a dynamic platform for the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, the greatest modern exponent of Vaishnavism; a platform through which they can be “profusely distributed, properly understood, and joyfully acted upon.”

And they want you to help.

“There are many ways that you can compile,” Vishnu Murti says. “Simple editing of pages, compiling of quotes, researching and creating page titles, and developing different pages and categories that help link everything together.”

Volunteers can begin compiling with just a couple of hours training over Skype. Further training courses can then cement your qualification.

“This is history in the making – we are creating our future by serving together,” Vishnu Murti finishes. “Please consider being a part of it.”

To begin training or to find out more, contact vaniseva@pamho.net or visit www.vanipedia.org