Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi – A Remarkable Life

H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, founder of the worldwide meditation movement called Sahaja Yoga, passed away peacefully on 23rd February, 2011 in Genoa, Italy, aged 87. 

Hers was a life unlike any other.  Whether walking with kings or walking barefoot with Gandhi, it was a journey of extremes managed effortlessly, living as she did with grace, dignity and, always, loving guidance.

Shri Mataji’s was to be a truly remarkable path.

Born of a royal dynasty; she conferred as a child with Mahatma Gandhi, living for a time in his ashram; was a medical student and a freedom fighter; was an adored mother, grandmother, great grandmother and the wife of a distinguished diplomat who himself was decorated by the Kings and Presidents of innumerable countries and knighted by the Queen of England.  But incredibly, after all this, with her family grown and settled, she then embarked on an even more extraordinary mission.

Shri Mataji was born to Christian parents in India. Spiritually enlightened, she knew from very early on that her unique spiritual gift must be made available to everyone.  And so it was that in 1970 she founded Sahaja Yoga meditation, which she shared freely.  Using simple techniques, she discovered a unique process of Self Realisation through which huge masses of people could easily achieve the peace of true meditation. She charged no money, and instead insisted this was a birthright which should be available to all who desired it, at no cost.  She said

“There can be no peace in the world until there is peace within”.

Thus began the next outstanding stage of her life:  for the next forty years, she continuously travelled the globe teaching meditation; was a loved and loving spiritual leader, acclaimed public speaker, gentle guide, philanthropist, Nobel peace prize nominee, and recipient of numerous awards and commendations worldwide.  Extending her care and compassion ever further, in India she established a holistic health and research centre in Mumbai, an international cancer research centre in Mumbai, a charity house for destitute women and children in Delhi and an international Music Academy in Vaitarna to promote classical music and arts.

Although at birth she was named Nirmala, meaning ‘Immaculate’, eventually she came to be known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi – the revered Mother.  She was regarded by many as the most significant spiritual figure of our times.

Regardless of race, religion, age or status, probably millions of ordinary people have now learnt how to tap into their inner spiritual power through Sahaja meditation, helping to find balance in their lives.  And at meditation centres throughout more than 80 countries in the world, her legacy will live on, with volunteers continuing to teach her techniques for free.  In the spirit of her teaching, those who have been helped will then help others, like one candle lighting another.

She was described as ‘an Avatar of the modern era’ by Claes Nobel (grandnephew of the creator of Nobel
Foundation). And in the hearts of her followers, she will remain evermore, the all compassionate Mother. 
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi is survived by her husband Sir C.P. Srivastava, daughters Kalpana and Sadhana, grandchildren & great grandchildren, and her worldwide family of  countless devotees.  She was laid to rest in India.  

More background: 
Her parents Cornelia and Prasad Salve, a direct descendant of India’s reputed royal Shalivahana family, played a key role in India’s Liberation Movement from British rule. Her father, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and helped write free India’s first constitution; was a renowned scholar, master of 14 languages, and translated the Koran into Marathi. Her mother was the first woman in India to receive an Honors Degree in Mathematics.

As a child, Shri Mataji lived with her parents in Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram, where he affectionately called her Nepali, because of her facial features. Even at a young age, her wisdom and deep understanding was evident to Gandhi, who was known to have sought her advice on spiritual matters.  Shri Mataji studied medicine until becoming a student activist in the Free India movement, when both her parents were jailed.

For many decades Shri Mataji kept a remarkable schedule at her own instigation, travelling tirelessly around the world teaching Sahaja Yoga meditation, showing how to effortlessly trigger the awakening of the individual’s spiritual power or kundalini, at one time as an official guest of the former Soviet Union, addressing an audience of 100,000 people.  Whether speaking in the Sydney Town Hall, the Royal Albert Hall in London, immense stadiums in India, addressing the United Nations in New York, or travelling by bullock cart to crowded dusty fields in rural villages, she gave thousands of talks to packed audiences.  Throughout, she always maintained that people cannot pay for spiritual enlightenment and denounced false self proclaimed ‘gurus’ who were more interested in money than spiritual ascent.  In 2005 she personally donated properties to the Sahaja Yoga worldwide collective.

Shri Mataji received numerous recognitions for her selfless work and lifetime achievements.  These include being awarded the UN peace medal, nominated for the Nobel peace prize, official guest of China as keynote speaker at Beijing International Women’s Conference,  granted a one hour nationally broadcast television series by the Indian Govt, given a Proclamation by the US Congress, given Unity Award for international understanding, declared Personality of the Year by Italian Govt,  Mayor of Brazil’s capital gave keys to the city and sponsored all her programs, officially greeted by North American Mayors of LA, NY, British Columbia, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Berkeley and invited by officials of many countries to address their people.

‘ You cannot know the meaning of life until you are connected to the power that created you…’

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More about Shri Mataji:  http://sahajayoga.org/shrimataji
Contact for press release:    Sahaja Yoga Meditation Australia
Ms Astrid Fleay   astridfleay@gmail.com

3 comments March 6th, 2011

Ellouin Festival in the Altai Region, Russia

Ellouin Festival, Altai Region

Ellouin is a traditional festival of Altai people’s folk games conducted in picturesque places of the Altai mountains near the settlement of Ongudai. Ellouin is the most important cultural event in Altai Republic and is yearly visited by more than 10,000 people. 
 
Folk arts and crafts were widely presented  at this festival. In the valley, surrounded by the mountains, there gathered about 20,000 people. The concert ground was the setting for Altai music. In yurts there were organised performances based in folklore. There were also many unusual crafts. In such a multiform seething stream we set our tents with Sahaja Yoga stalls, comfortably enjoying what was happening in the shade of the trees. 
 
There gathered about 60 Sahaja yogis which created the atmosphere of a little Sahaja camp. 

Mehendi painting at Ellouin Festival

There was work for everybody. Several  mehendi painters sitting under a shelter were working for several hours on end painting people’s hands, not even raising their heads, and giving Self-realisation to everyone as there always was a queue . Other Sahaja yogis told people about Sahaja Yoga. Our brother Vladimir was actively giving Self-realisation using his own approach. First he arranged a rope between the trees and then started going on it to and back with brilliant skill, thus constantly attracting people. Many of the latter tried to do the same thing but, as we all know, to keep equilibrium one should gain inner balance. That is why the queue of people willing to get balance did not end, either. 

Sahaja Yoga Bhajan group, Ellouin Festival

All this was taking place to the accompaniment of bhajans. Two music groups settled down in two tents. Both the groups were constantly creating a dense circle of viewers around them. Kawwalis were of special interest, gathering audiences of 50-70 people. Some people were leaving, having got their Self-realisation, but immediately others came up.

Altai people are simple and sincere and they take Self-realisation very easily as they worship Mother-Earth, River and Mountains. That is why Sahaja Yoga is also close to them. We saw an old woman (about 90 years old) getting her Self-realisation and then she sat and listened to bhajans for a very long time. 
 
We also got an opportunity to perform one bhajan, “Guruoke Guru”, and an Indian dance on the main stage before a large audience.
 
In such a way, in a very interesting and intensive manner, two days passed. And of course, we had an opportunity, though not for a long time, to enjoy Altai nature, as after the Festival we returned to our Sahaja camp which we set on the bank of a rapid river in a secluded wonderful place. There were huge boundless fragrant meadows painted with multicoloured grasses. In the distance there were herds of cows and horses and around us there were mountains. What else does a Sahaja yogi need after an intensive day? To sit at a swift river in meditation, to lie on soft and tender grass looking into the  high Altai sky, to sit in the company of the closest and dearest people – his brothers and sisters – at a fire drinking hot tea prepared from meadow herbs.
 
The trip turned out to be very fruitful as about 1500 people got their Self-realisation during the two days.  
 
With love from the Novosibirsk Sahaja family

(Photographs: news.sahajayoga-russia.ru)

For more news about Sahaja Yoga programs in Russia, please follow this link.

Add comment September 2nd, 2010

The Power of Love

Shri Mataji

But the attention should be on the Power, attention should be on the connection that we have with this Power…. Thank God and thank yourself, thank your luck you’re so fortunate that you are very few who have achieved this connection, and that you are sucking that Power within yourself so easily….

And you have to trust this Power fully. Those days when people were in difficulties, they were always attacked, they had not got their Self-realisation. They had to put their trust into the divine Power; they had to put. But now when you have got realisation, you have got your freedom, should never forget that you have to trust this divine Power all the time, that it will look after you….

And if you people do not use your power – out of any nonsense, any fear you may have; you may have any kind of a, because of a temptation or restriction, anything –
if you’re not going all out to use your power of love, then you cannot ascend. So the whole thing if you see it so clearly, the whole power of your Mother is of love.
Whatever She does is out of Her love for Her creation.

Shri Mataji, 1990

1 comment September 24th, 2009

New Time for Sahaja Yoga Radio Program

Sahaja Yoga Meditation Program is now at a new time of  9.30 – 10.30am each Sunday morning on Radio 2SER 107.3FM.

The Sahaja Yoga Meditation Program first went to air in 1995 on Radio 2SER at an 11.00 – 12.00 timeslot and was the initiative of two Sahaja yogis.  What a great initiative it has been! Thirteen years later we are still on air, offering a unique program where people can experience the state of meditation over the airwaves.  To the best of our knowledge we conduct the only program of this type.

Each program always includes at least one substantial guided meditation to enable listeners to deepen their meditative experience in the comfort of their own homes. The content is at the discretion of each presenter. Included are diverse descriptions and discussions/interviews about the many aspects of Sahaja Yoga, including ancient traditions, the religions of the world and history’s great spiritual personalities. Also we make use of music conducive to the meditations, or to illustrate points being made.  The music is varied and often original, sometimes performed live in the studio or from recordings made by Sahaja Yoga practitioners around the world.  Occasionally, we have a delayed outside broadcast, wholly with live performances.

All programs to air have been paid for solely from contributions volunteered by Sahaja yogis, rather than by sponsorship.

The aim of Sahaja Yoga, in Australia and worldwide, is to offer the experience of Self-realisation to everyone regardless of race, creed, religion or age. This is something that has never happened before in the history of human evolution.  Traditionally, achieving Self-realisation was very difficult and perhaps only one person in a hundred years would receive it.  It was also always a one-on-one practice of guru and disciple.  However, the guru who was able to give Self-realisation had disappeared in these modern times until the coming of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, the founder of Sahaja Yoga.

Add comment June 26th, 2008