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Revered Gurudev, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya

A seer-sage and a visionary of the New Golden Era

His personality was a harmonious blend of a saint, spiritual scientist, yogi, philosopher, psychologist, writer, reformer, freedom fighter, researcher, eminent scholar and visionary.

His life and work represent a marvelous synthesis of the noble thoughts and deeds of great personalities like Swami Vivekanand, Sri Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi, Socrates and Confucius.

He pioneered the revival of spirituality and creative integration of the modern and ancient sciences and religion relevant in the challenging circumstances of the present times.

He successfully practiced and mastered the highest kinds of sadhanas of Gayatri and Savitri.

He also practiced higher-level Sadhana on the arduous heights of Himalayas several times and had established enliven contact with Rishis of Himalayas.

His volumes on Gayatri Mahavigyan stand as most authentic and comprehensive treatise on the philosophy and science of the great Gayatri Mantra.

He initiated programmes of spiritual and intellectual refinement of millions of people without any discrimination of religion, caste, creed, sex, or social status.

To, My Soul-Descendents – My Disciples
Last Message – Rev. Gurudev
Sajal Shraddha – Prakhar Pragya

Dedicated Freedom Fighter

Acharya Sharma was a dedicated freedom fighter who had sincerely participated in the movement of India’s independence. He did not accept any award or citation in his life-time. In 1992, the Govt. of India had released a postal stamp in his honour posthumously.

Founder of Vichar Kranti Abhiyan – Movement for Revolutionizing the Thoughts (Creation of Enlightening Literature)

Realizing the potential of inspiring literature and its relevance in the present era of intellectual evolution, he had chosen writing as the principal mode towards uprooting the evil tendencies and blind faith from people’s minds and arousing the indwelling wisdom, strength and spiritual bliss.

He initiated the unique movement of Vichara Kranti with the very first issue of “Akhand Jyoti” in 1939.

The first book he wrote was “ Mein Kya Hun?”, an Upanishad level work on the knowledge of Real-self.

He wrote about 3000 enlightening books in Hindi on almost all topics concerning human life.

Erudite scholars as well as the common literates find rare knowledge, practical guidance and inspiration from his sagacious and lucid writings.

He wrote four Pragya Puranas in the style of ancient scriptures but containing the illustrations and stories relevant and useful for global teaching today.

Propagation of Vedic Vangmaya in New Light

He translated the entire Vedic Vangmaya (4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas etc) in Hindi elucidating the tradition, style, universality and history of Vedic Literature.

This invaluable contribution to the world of knowledge and human culture was highly acclaimed and appreciated by savants and saints like Dr. S. Radhakrishana and Acharya Vinoba Bhave; the distinguished title of “Vedmurti” was conferred upon him in its recognition.

Women’s Ascent and Social Transformation

He launched the Yug Nirman Mission for personal, familial and social uplifting. He propagated Women’s Ascent as the foremost necessity for the progressive development of the society and the nation. He encouraged women’s education and equal participation of women in all walks of life. Way back in 1942, he supported establishment of Girls’ intermediate college. He launched several revolutionary programs for women’s progress from the religious platform too. This bears significant impact in the Indian context where religion appears to dominate the convictions and attitudes of the masses.

As part of the social reformation programmes of the Yug Nirman Yojna, he had given maximum importance to eradication of blind faith, superstitions and untoward customs and traditions prevailing in the Indian society in the name of religion.

Emancipation of the glory of marriage institution from the clutches of the social evils of dowry, child marriages, exploitation of women, etc., were propagated by Acharya Sharma from the religious platform too.

A Seer-Sage and Angelic Guru

He initiated nearly 24 lac people into Gayatri Sadhana. Miraculous effects of his blessings experienced by people from all parts of the society stand as testimonies to the Supramental achievements (siddhis) of Gayatri.

Pioneer of The Revival of the Rishi Culture

He pioneered the revival of the Rishi Culture and initiated several constructive programs of mass education.

The Early Years

The eminent patriot, scholar and founder of the Banaras Hindu University Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya initiated Sriram in the worship of Gayatri mantra when he was nine years old.

On the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami festival, January 18, 1926, a guru by the name of Swami Sarveshvaranandji – a great Himalayan yogi – appeared before him in astral body from the flame of the Dipaka (lamp) during his Gayatri worship. This sparked the revelation of the divine origin and purpose of his life and bestowed upon him with the grace and guidance of his guru. This lamp is lit continuously since then and is enshrined at Shantikunj, Haridwar at Present.

The next 24 years of his life were devoted to 24 Mahapurashcharanas –– each consisting of the rhythmic recitation (japa) of 2.4 million Gayatri Mantra with strictest of disciplines. There is no parallel to this kind of sadhana. At the same time, he also whole heartedly participated in the freedom struggle of India under the inspiring guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, while continuing with his altruistic activities for the good of the society and attending to the familial duties.

In 1943, he married Bhagwati Devi, and ever since, the saintly couple dedicatedly pursued the noble mission of spiritual up liftment of humankind.

Founder of A Global Movement

On the completion of the 24 mahapurashcharanas, Pandit Sriram Sharma Acharyaji established Gayatri Tapobhumi at Mathura (India) in 1953. He organized a grand Gayatri Yajna in 1958, which served as a base to launch the Yug Nirman Yojna, a global movement for moral, cultural, intellectual and spiritual refinement and reconstruction. The objectives of this movement are to reform the individual, the family and social values of mankind and to change the current ideologies and concepts of morality and social structure for a better tomorrow.

Through various activities at Mathura, including the performance of yagyas on large scale, Acharyaji gathered a team of dedicated men and women. Thus the organisation called “Gayatri Pariwar” was born.

The period 1971-1990 witnessed remarkable multifaceted accomplishments of Acharyaji’s life. He climbed the arduous and mystic heights of the Himalayas several times and stayed there for specific sadhanas as per the guidance of his guru. In 1971 he instituted the mission’s headquarters at Shantikunj (Haridwar, India) as an academy for moral and spiritual awakening and training. Here he began revival of ancient spiritual disciplines that were the hallmarks of Indian Culture.

Sukshmikarana Sadhana and the Dawn of the New Era

During 1984-1986, he carried out the unique spiritual experiment of Sukshmikarana, meaning sublimation of vital force and physical, mental and spiritual energies. He authored a special set of 20 books (termed Revolutionary Literature or Krantidharmi Sahitya) highlighting the future of the world and conveying the message of the dawn of the New Era of Truth during the 21st Century. On 2nd June 1990, he voluntarily shed his physical sheath.

Thereafter, his soul mate revered Mata Bhagavati Devi guided the series of Ashwamedha Yagyas, which accelerated the pace of global expansion of the mission during the critical juncture of the decade of change of a millennium and change of an era. She too joined Acharya Sharma in the subliminal domains of divinity after leaving her physical body on the 19th September 1994.

The divine light of knowledge and human glory kindled by them continues to illuminate the excelling path of their great mission under the auspices of Shantikunj and promises the ushering in “The Age of Truth” in the years to come.

The last message of Gurudev unfolds the divine purpose of his incarnation and also assures us of the bright future. Part of it reads: “The light, of which I have been an instrument, a medium, will not extinguish with my withdrawal from the physical realm. I assure my followers that I will continue living and working with them at Shantikunj and elsewhere in my astral-causal body and guide, help and inspire them in their efforts to lead humanity into the Golden Era of Truth, Light and Immortality. I will finally merge into the Blissful Luminous causal self, after humanity has taken a decisive leap into the cosmic consciousness and attained the light of the New Era of spiritual Unity, Harmony and Peace. My blessings, love and prayer-filled wishes to all. I will always be with them in their selfless and noble endeavours in this divine work.”