Sri Venkateswar Steam Press (Khemraj Shrikrishnadass) is one of the oldest publishers in India.
It was established by two Marwari brothers from Churu, Gangavishnu Bajaj and Khemraj Bajaj, both sons of Shrikrishnadas, who arrived in Mumbai in 1868. Initially Khemraj used to sell book by other publishers as itinerant seller. He then established a small press in 1871 at Moti Bazar Bombay.
By 1880 they moved to Khetwadi and formally established Sri Venkateswar Steam Press. In 1893, the brothers separated, however Gangavishnu did not have any descendants and the properties were inherited by descendants of Khemraj.
The press has published numerous classical Hindi and Sanskrit texts, including the smallest Gita. They also published a weekly Venkateshwar Samachar for several decades. They also later started some
jinning presses.
They published the earliest editions of Kalyan magazine for
published during 1926-1927 before the press of GitaPress was itself established at Gorakhpur.
The road (Khetwadi Back Road) where the office is located is called Khemraj Shrikrishnadas Marg.
Pandit Shiya Ram Shastri from a small village named as santha naveepur district ETAH near mathura uttar pradesh after passing aacharya degree in vyakrena from kashi worked several years in this press as member of proof reading team known as sahitya mandal.
Publications
Khemraj Shrikrishnadass was one of the most successful publishers during the early 20th century. Some of its publications include texts that represent the perspectives and technology prevailing in the late 19th century. Its books have often been reprinted from time to time, unfortunately generally without giving the date of the first publication.
Khemraj acquired handwritten manuscripts, asked scholars to edit the texts for possible flaws and published them.
[The Marwari Leaders of India, R. Agrasenputra, 1928, p. 81-85]
It published a number of books written, compiled or translated by Jwala Prasad Mishra (1861-1916 CE), the head pandit at
Muradabad
Moradabad () is a city, commissionary and municipal corporation in Moradabad district of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Moradabad is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river, at a distance of from the national capital, New Delhi and 344& ...
Kameshwar Sanskrit pathshala during the early 1900s that include
Panchatantra
The ''Panchatantra'' (IAST: Pañcatantra, ISO: Pañcatantra, sa, पञ्चतन्त्र, "Five Treatises") is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story. (1910), Vajasaneyi Sri Sukla Yajuevedasamhita (1912), Bihari Satsai, Dayananda-Timira-Bhaskara (1913), Jati Bhaskar (published in 1926 after death of Jwala Prasad Mishra), Maha Yakshini Sadhanam, Bindu Yoga, Rudra Ashtadhyayi, Valmiki Ramayana, Nirnaya Sindhu, Adbhuta Ramayana, Tulsi
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
for
Ramlila
Ramlila (Rāmlīlā) (literally 'Rama's lila or play') is any dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Rama according to the ancient Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' or secondary literature based on it such as the ''Ramcharitmanas''. It particularly ...
, Lagana Jataka,
Shiva Purana
The ''Shiva Purana'' is one of eighteen major texts of the ''Purana'' genre of Sanskrit texts in Hinduism, and part of the Shaivism literature corpus. It primarily revolves around the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati, but references and reve ...
(printed vertically like palm leaf manuscript), Vishram Sagar, Ashtadash Purana Darpan, Kama Ratna, Kalpa Panchak Prayog, Purushottam Masa Mahatmya (Padma Purana), Chatirvinshati Gayatri, Shiva Gita,
Shrimad Bhagawat,
Shiv Sahasranama, Ganesha Gita, Devi Gita, Harivamsa Purana, Varsha Yoga Samuha. It is the publisher of several
Kabir panth
Kabir Panth (Path of Kabir) is a Sant Mat denomination and philosophy based on the teachings of Kabir. It is based on devotion to him as one guru as a means to salvation. Its adherents are from many religious backgrounds as Kabir never advocated ...
texts:
Bijak
Bijak is the best known of the compilations of the Kabir, and as such is the holy scripture for followers of the Kabir panth
Kabir Panth (Path of Kabir) is a Sant Mat denomination and philosophy based on the teachings of Kabir. It is based on ...
with Commentary, Kabir Shabdavali, Complete Kabir Sagar, Kabir Krishna Gita, Kabir Upasana Paddhati, Satya Kabir ki Sakhi, Kabir Manshur, Kabir Kasauti, Kabir Upadesh, Satyanam Kabir Panthi Balopdesha. Its caste related publications include Jati Bhaskar, Kanyakubja Vanshavali (Kanya Kubja Prabodhini), Kshatriya Vanshavali.
It has published manual on a wide variety of Hindu rituals such as Davat Pujan, Mahalakshmi Puja, Gayatri Purashcharan Vidhi, Yajnopavit vidhi etc. It published Jwala Prasad Mishra's critique of Swami Dayananda's Arya-Samaja movement Dayananda-Timira-Bhaskara (1913).
See also
*
Hindi Granth Karyalay
Hindi Granth Karyalay is an Indian publishing house and specialized book store dealing in books pertaining to Jainology and Indology in English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsha. It was established in Mumbai, India in 1912 by its founder ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Khemraj Shrikrishnadass prop: Shri Venkateshwar Steam Press Official Website Publications of Sri Venkateswar Press search
Publishing in India
Religious tract publishing companies
Book publishing companies of India
Indian literature
Publishing companies established in 1880
Religious mass media in India
Indian companies established in 1880