Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, the founder of Sahaja Yoga, was born on March 21, 1923 to a Christian family in Chindawara, near the city of Nagpur in Central India.
She is a direct descendant of the royal Shalivahana dynasty. She was born with her complete Self Realization and knew from a very young age that she had a unique gift which had to be made available to all mankind.
Both She and Her parents played a key role in India’s Liberation Movement from under 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. He was a renowned scholar, master of 14 languages, and translated the Koran in Marathi. Her mother was the first woman in India to receive an Honors Degree in Mathematics.
Fighting for India’s Freedom
As a child, Shri Mataji lived with her parents in the ashram of Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi saw the wisdom of this child and used to appreciate her immensely, affectionately calling her Nepali due to the Nepali features of her face. Even at a young age, her deep understanding was evident to Gandhi, who frequently sought her advice on spiritual matters.
Shri Mataji’s involvement in the freedom struggle is extremely remarkable. She was very courageous and played a daring role as a youth leader of this campaign. In the 1942 "Quit India Movement" announced by Gandhi, she was even arrested , put in jail and tortured along with other freedom fighters for actively participating in this movement.
Shri Mataji was born with a complete understanding of the human nervous system and its energy centres. In order to become acquainted with the scientific vocabulary attached to these subjects, she studied medicine and psychology at the Christian Medical College in Lahore.
Sahaja Yoga is born
In 1970, Shri Mataji, after half a lifetime of meditation and experimentation, succeeded in developing a method by which the residual spiritual energy in man could be awakened en masse. This method of self realization has become known as Sahaja Yoga.
Shri Mataji has introduced the practice of Sahaja Yoga in over 80 countries transforming the lives of thousands. These people who live a normal life, tap to their inner spiritual power through daily Sahaja Yoga meditation and have achieved greater balance in their lives on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.
Shri Mataji travels the world offering Her teachings free of charge. She has delivered thousands of lectures, given many television and radio interviews, and been the subject of hundreds of newspaper articles around the world.
She is an articulate and very humerous speaker, Shri Mataji is the founder and sole director of Sahaja Yoga or "Vishwa Nirmala Dharma", which is an established non-profit organization in the United States.
International awards and recognition
Shri Mataji has been recognized worldwide by several prestigious institutions for her selfless work and for the powerful results of her spiritual teachings through Sahaja Yoga, some of these are listed below….
United Nations, N.Y., 1989-1994: Invited by the United Nations for four consecutive years to speak about how to achieve world peace
Brazil 1994: The Mayor of the city of Brazilia welcomed Shri Mataji at the airport and presented her with the key to the city, and sponsored all of her programs.
Italy 1986: Declared "Personality of the Year" by the Italian Government.
Romania 1995: A warded Honorary Doctorate in Cognitive Science.
Yonkers, NY, 1996: Letter of Welcome was granted by Mayor of Yonkers, NY. September 26th is proclaimed as "Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Day."
New York, 1994: Police escort was granted for a welcoming parade honoring Shri Mataji and celebrating her association with Mahatma Gandhi. The half day march encircled Central Park and originated on 5th Avenue.
Los Angeles, 1994 and 1993: Letter of Welcome and continued friendship was granted by Mayor Richard Riordan on behalf of the people of Los Angeles.
British Columbia, 1994: Letter of Welcome was granted by the Premier of the Province of British Columbia, Mr. Mike Harcourt, on behalf of the people of Canada.
Vancouver, 1994: Letter of Welcome was granted by Mayor Philip W. Owen on behalf of the people of Vancouver, Canada..
Philadelphia 1993: October 15th is proclaimed as "Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Day."
Cincinnati, 1992: September 10th is proclaimed as "Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Day."
St. Petersburg, 1993: Appointed as Honorary Member of the Presidium of Petrovskaya academy of Art and Science. In the history of the Academy only twelve people have been granted this honor, Einstein being one of them.
St. Petersburg 1993: Inaugurated the international Conference on "Medicine and Self-Knowledge," a yearly event now conducted in Russia.
Moscow, 1989: Shri Mataji met with the head of the USSR Ministry of Health. Following this meeting Sahaja Yoga was granted full government sponsorship, including founding for promotion and scientific research.
India, 1995: The Indian Government has granted Shri Mataji a one hour primetime television series, broadcast nationally.
China, 1995: Official guest of the government to speak to the people of China