Matrishakti Shraddhanjali Nav-srijan Mahapurushcharan (a nine-year worldwide spiritual undertaking to pay homage to Vandaniya Mata Ji Bhagwati Devi Sharma)

This year, a unique spiritual endeavour has been communicated by the subtle spiritual world to be put into action by our vast Gayatri Pariwar. Everyone knows that from 1946 to 1994, Param Vandaniya (Extremely Revered) Shaktiswarupa Snehsalila (the fountainhead of power and pure love) Mata Bhagwati Devi Ji joined hands with her revered divine being Pujya Gurudev Shriram Sharma Acharya to accomplish extraordinary feats as the patron of Gayatri Pariwar. In 1994, she withdrew from her physical existence to merge into Pujya Gurudev’s causal existence. The centenary of Vandaniya Mata Ji born in 1926 is fast approaching. The 4th day of the dark half of Ashwin month which falls in September 2026 will mark the 100th year of her birth. In her memory, we, her children, have undertaken to carry on a gigantic spiritual endeavour for nine years and commemorate its completion in 2026. This collective endeavour that would bring about a worthy change in the era will start from the Gurupurnima of 9 July 2017 and end on 29 July of 2026. Millions of people will take part in it.

Everyone may be aware that the year 2026 will witness three historical coincidences. 1. Vandaniya Mata Bhagwati Devi Ji’s Birth Centenary; 2. The Centenary of lighting up Akhand Dipak (which was lit up by Pujya Gurudev on Vasant Panchami of 20 January 1926) and; 3. The Centenary of Shri Aurobindo’s Bhagwat Siddhi Diwas (24 November 1926) and the year when he proclaimed he would continue uninterrupted spiritual endeavour until 1950. By the time this colossal spiritual endeavour is concluded, the number of existing 120 million devotees of Gayatri Pariwar participating in it will double up by new devotees joining in and will thus make the arrival of a new era achievable and clearly visible.

All the participants will take part in three types of spiritual routine the way they can which are Upasana (daily worship), Sadhana (constant efforts towards self-development) and Aradhana (serving humanity). It will have three phases of three years each. The first phase is being announced through this editorial. This is just the preliminary announcement of the first three-year programmes. They will be further reformed at the end of three years for further announcement for the period of 2020 to 2026. With the help of youth power, women power and Pragya parijans in general, we will be able to join up entire India in this programme. Youth power refers to the youths who have been constantly joining during ongoing Youth Revolution Movement (2016 to 2018). There are so many newcomers who are raring to do something and be part of this grand campaign of change. The women empowerment movement too has enlisted many new members who were so far only restricted to looking after kitchen and household duties. They are joining up through the programmes run by women groups (Mahila Mandals), Bal sanskarshala (value based learning for children) and swadhyaya (joint study of Pujya Gurudev’s literature). They also include a big section of intellectual women who have attained higher education in last ten years and playing a leading role behind the scenes. Among Pragya Parijans are those who have been associated with the Mission for many years having been initiated in Gayatri mantra as well as those who have been influenced by Mission’s programmes. Different programmes tailored to each of these three categories have been devised for next three years.

There will be three types of spiritual endeavours in the first phase of this plan (from Guru-purnima of 9 July 2017 to Guru-purnima 5 July 2020)

1. Upasana: Everyone will practise an Atmabodh sadhana (self-realisation routine) everyday on waking up in the morning. You should wake up before the sunrise and will contemplate that each day is beginning of a new one-day life. For about 5-10 minutes, you have to think that you have to do something new in today’s one-day life. Note it down in your spiritual diary. Before going to bed at night, you will practise Tatvabodha sadhana (awareness about the elemental truth) that it is the end of one-day life. For about ten minutes, ask yourself about the tasks you were supposed to do today but couldn’t do and may have to be postponed to or can be done the next day. Note it down in your diary. Meditate on your preferred deity, feel at ease and go to sleep.

In addition, you should chant 5 malas of Gayatri Mantra (would take about half an hour) or write Gayatri mantra 50 times or say Gayatri Chailsa 5 times after having a shower. You should do at least one of these or if possible, all of them at any time from the morning to the evening. In adtion, you should practise either Pran-sanchar sadhana meditation (15 minutes) or Panchakosha jagran meditation or the meditation on three bodies. The directions of these meditation in Pujya Gurudev’s voice will be provided from here. The day should be concluded with Tatvabodha sadhaha—each night representing a death or the end of one-day life. This routine will followed continuously for next three years. This will enable every single devotee to chant 1,82,500 mantras per year (5,47,500 mantras in three years). The aggregate of all the devotees will be colossal.

2. Sadhana: This will involve s regular Swadhyaya or thorough study of good books to equip ourselves with positive thoughts all the time. It will start in India and across the world and can be done in groups of 10 or more. The following books authored by Pujya Gurudev have been chosen for swadhyaya in groups:

1. Who am I? (1940);
2. Twenty-five Krantidharmi booklets (1985 to 1990);
3. Prana Shakti eka divya vibhuti. Vangamaya 17;
4. Jivan Devta ki sadhana aradhana. Vangamaya 2;
5. Upasana Samarpan Yoga. Vangamaya 3;
6. Manav me devatva ka uday. Vangamaya 54 and;
7. Yug Parivartan kaise aur kab? Vangamaya 27.

At personal level, we should regularly read: Yug Nirman Satsankalpa; Apne Anga avayavo se; Gayatri ka Suryopsthan; Achetan, Chetan, Super-chetan man. Vangamaya 22; Chamatkari Visheshtao se bhara Manviya mastishka Vangamaya 18. In addition, one should observe fasting once a week, Contempation for self-analysis and self-refinement, undertaking small vows (Anuvrata); regularly practise four self-controls (of sense organs, thought, time, money).

3. Aradhana: The following projects involving raising awareness, constructive activities and challenging unworthy things have been decided for youths, women and Pragya parijans in general:

Youths:

1. Youths will visit universities, colleges and other educational institutions to hold discussions on various topics from Param Pujya Gurudev’s literature and have discussions. They will choose topic from Pujya Gurudev’s literature and hold sessions involving discussions and debates. The plans of actions will be decided.

2. Holding sessions of extensive dialogues and discussions on Scientific Spirituality. This could include workshops on various topics from Pujya Gurudev’s work on integrating science and spirituality. We should enlist the help of teachers and professors of various subjects to conduct the sessions. This will provide scientific basis to various spiritual beliefs and also help in making various scientific inventions to conform spiritual principles. Building bridges between these two will allow to change the atmosphere (of conflict which is perceptible now). This will be further elaborated in the forthcoming issues.

3. Making all out efforts at developing youth groups at local and regional levels. The initiatives of Youth Revolution Year from 2016 to 2018 will be expanded further. We should strive to join up youth from every section of society.

4. Coaching classes for University students to run tuition classes.

5. A massive campaign to train youths to promote Yoga so as spread it to every household. DSVV graduates will help in this campaign. This will happen throughout the country. Sessions on Yoga Science, Yoga Therapy and Yoga training will be organised.

6. Our aim should be to expanding the growth of youth groups (inn villages, towns and cities) by at least 5 times. Weekly meetings should be regularly organised. All youth groups must be officially registered. They should keep away from mainstream politics and rather contribute their efforts to building of the nation.

7. Make a list of constructive programmes. Send a report every three months.

Women

1. Pujya Gurudev’s literature should be installed in schools, girls’ school, colleges and universities. Women will hold discussion sessions on various topics from Param Pujya Gurudev’s literature.

2. Girls talents development sessions will be organised. They will help in building their confidence, enhancing their understanding about our Mission and developing their talents and potentials comprehensively.

3. Women Yoga training sessions will be organised at various places.

4. Women will be given training in defensive martial arts, taekwondo, self-defence and civilian defence.

5. Professional women bodies will encouraged to help in projects of serving humanity. Women groups should grow by at least five fold every year. Motivation sessions will also be held.

6. Mata Bhagwati Vastalya Yojana will have some helpful activities for community in which will have women have key roles. Women will run Bal Sanskar Shala. Its number should increase manifold. They should be run by women.

7. Women Awakening Campaigns will be spearheaded based on the driving force of compassion and empathy (Samvedna), good values (Sanskar), personal safety (Suraksha), self-reliance (Swavlamban) and empowerment (Sashaktikaran). Progress reports should be sent every three months.

Pragya Parijans

They are the core of our organization. There should be area wise systematic organizations of parijans.

1. They should actively engage in the activities of our Mission. We should make devoted efforts to increase their numbers fivefold at the end of the first three years.

2. Their main role will be in propagation of Pujya Gurudev’s literature. They will help in holding book fairs at various places. One thousand new books will be published from material extracted from Vangamaya (the collection of Pujya Gurudev’s life work) and Kranti literature written since 1995. They will be pocket sized booklets and will be easier to promote.

3. Gram Teertha Yojana (Making each village as good as a pilgrimage place): Establishing Sewa Prakalpa (charitable help units). Various schemes from Chaupal Swadhyaya (people gathering in small groups and studying Mission’s literature together) to Cleanliness drive.

4. Pragyapiths, Shaktipiths and Chetna Kendras will take up responsibility to be 100% efficient. They should take up various projects and bring them to completion.

5. Well organised system for promotion and distribution of Akhand Jyoti, Yug Nirman Yojana and Pragya Abhiyan. Increase their readership by at least three times.

6. Qualitative development of Bhartiya Sanskriti Gyan Pariksha curriculum. To increase the number of student taking the examination to 10 million by 2020.

7. Massive campaign to propagate Pujay Gurudev and Param Vandaniya Mataji’s speeches far and wide so that it reaches every household.