Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi was born on the Spring Equinox, the 21st of March 1923 at 12 o’clock noon, in Chindwara, a small village in the geographic center of India, in the family cottage.
Parents:
Her Father, Prasad Rao Salve, is a direct descendant of the Shalivahana’s royal dynasty, which reigned in the Indian province of Maharashtra from 230 years before Jesus Christ to 230 years after J-C. He was fluent in 14 languages, well versed in the arts, literature and sciences, and translated the Koran into Hindi and knew the Bhagavad Gîta by heart. Even today, he is remembered by many as an exceptional freedom fighter, and was the only Christian member in the first legislative parliament of India.
In 1920, Prasad Rao Salve married Lady Cornelia who was highly educated in Sanskrit, Urdu, and Hindi. Cornelia was the first lady to earn a master’s degree in mathematics from Fergusson University; She discovered new algebraic methods which are still useful today. After her academic success, Shri Mataji’s mother’s priority was towards raising her family. She gave her eleven children a strict education and much love.
Childhoood:
Shri Mataji Nirmala Salve passed her childhood years in the family house in Nagpur. Nirmala had a very happy and was loved by everyone. Most of the time, She was bursting with energy and inspired her playmates of all different ages in drama, songs and dance. Other times, one might find her alone in a remote corner of the house, with her face beaming with inward joy, lost in meditation. At an early age, she displayed an exquisite taste and refined appreciation for music and the arts. She loved everything that was genuine and natural. She would even go to school barefoot in order to feel Mother Earth. Association with Mahatma Gandhi:
The young Nirmala spent her vacations at the ashram of Mahatma Gandhi. She participated in all the activities of the ashram, and even was asked to choose the songs for prayer. Most of Gandhi’s themes like balanced production, social morality and responsibility, and the integration of all the world’s religions were a pre-configuration and expression of “Sahaj Culture”. The Salve family were totally dedicated to the independence of India and were subjected to many torments by the British. From 1928, (5 years) Shri Mataji’s parents were regularly in jail. In the absence of her parents, Shri Mataji bore the main domestic responsibility of raising the family.
When the time came for higher education, Nirmala choose to study the field of medicine focusing on the scientific terminology of the anatomy, and human physiology. She wanted to know how far human knowledge had gone. However, her heart was in the country’s freedom struggle. In 1942, she spearheaded the student struggle for freedom and often frequented the jails. On one occasion, the British even put her on ice, to torture her and dampen her indomitable spirit.
Marriage and family life:
In 1974, Mr. CP Srivastava was elected as the Secretary General of the Maritime International Organization of the United Nations, a post he held for 17 years. He was subsequently bestowed the highest awards by 17 nations and also knighted by the Queen of England. The central agency of the Maritime International Organization, where he worked was London England. Sahaja Yoga started with a handful of seekers in Bombay and Delhi, but it was from England where Shri Mataji reached out to the western seekers. Royal Alberta Hall was and is still the home of free public programs where thousands receive their Self Realization.
By then the eras of the world wars was over, and liberated nations were tasting their first years of freedom. However, a sinister imperialism was silently sweeping across the human mind, waging a war against the evolution and spiritual ascent of Mankind. The demonic theory of Sigmund Freud had caught fire in the western world. In the absence of dharmic traditions and norms, many of society’s youth in their freedom took to the psychedelic culture of drugs, free sex, acid music and cults. Corruption and hypocrisy in the religions, and false Gurus’ (mainly from India) tantric teachings also contributed to attacking the morality and innocence of society.
Shri Mataji seeing the dangerous threat to the young seekers of the new Aquarian Age, decided to study what all these so-called God men were doing. She eventually consented to visit a seminar of a professor of philosophy called Rajneesh, in Nargol, near Bombay on May 4th, 1970. She was shocked to see him loot people under the guise of spirituality.
Shri Mataji opens the Sahasrara Chakra for mankind:
Shri Mataji opens the Sahasrara Chakra for mankind:
Shri Mataji, after studying people’s chakras, their permutations and combinations discovered a way to give en-mass Self-Realization. For her to raise their Kundalini, people had to ask for it genuinely in their heart and had to forgive everyone in general and not feel guilty. Initially friends would organize small meetings in their home where she would give realization to just a few people. Later on, on several occasions during large public programs, she raised the Kundalini of tens of thousands of people simultaneously, eliminating all doubts of her special spiritual powers which she possessed.
Shri Mataji has lived a very normal family life and has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shri Mataji is the highest advocate of a strong, moral family life as the basis for a healthy society.
Awards and Recognition:
Shri Mataji has been widely recognized for her contribution to humanity and among her many commendations and awards, has received a United Nations Peace Prize, been inducted as an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and Sciences (of which Albert Einstein is one of its few members) and to date has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1995, Shri Mataji was invited as the guest speaker at the Fourth World Conference on Women at Beijing which was attended by a selective group of prominent women of the world.
In 1993, the Ayatollah Medi Rouhani of Iran, a prominent proponent of religious moderation and one of four Ayatollahs who lead the Shi’ite Muslim faith, met with Shri Mataji in Paris. He was so impressed by Shri Mataji that he called for the convocation of a World Congress of religious leaders, aiming at a creation of a charter for peace based on Shri Mataji’s teachings.
Sahaja Yoga is now practiced in more than 110 countries of the world.
Shri Mataji has never accepted money for her unique work and all around the world classes of Sahaja Yoga are always free and open to all.
International Awards and Recognitions
● Italy, 1986: Declared the ‘Personality of The Year’ by the Italian Government.
● Moscow, Russia,1989: Shri Mataji had a meeting with the Head of the Ministry of Health, USSR. Following which Sahaja Yoga was granted a ‘Full Government Sponsorship’ which included funding for promotion and scientific research.
● St. Petersburg, Russia, 1993: Inaugurated the first International Conference on Medicine and Self-Knowledge, which became an annual event at the Academy thereafter.
● St. Petersburg, Russia, 1994: Got appointed as Honorary Member to ‘The presidium of Petroyaska’s Academy of Art and Science’ and was told, “You are even higher than science.” Only twelve people so far have been granted this honor; Albert Einstein is one among them.
● Brazil, 1994: The Mayor of city of Brazilia welcomed Shri Mataji at the airport and presented Her with the ‘Key to The City’, and sponsored all of Her programs.
● 1994: Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
● Romania, 1995: Awarded Honorary Doctorate in Cognitive Science by Prof D. Drimer, head of the Ecological University Bucharest.
● Sydney, Australia, 1995: The Mayor of Sydney officially welcomes Shri Mataji during Her visit to Australia.
● Beijing, China, 1995: Official guest of the Chinese Government to speak at the United Nations International Women’s Conference.
● India, 1995: The Indian Government has granted Shri Mataji a one hour prime time television series, broadcast nationally.
● Sophia, Bulgaria, July 26, 1995: General Secretary of the international ‘Ecoforum for Peace’ expressed appreciation to Shri Mataji and wished realization of Her goals and ideals.
● 1996: Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
● France, May 2, 1996: International Award ‘La Pléiade’.
● India, 1997: The ‘Unity International Peace Award’ by the Unity International Foundations. Shri Mataji’s name included to the List of The Greatest People of The Planet for her fundamental contribution to the scientific and spriritual development.
● London, UK, 1997: Tribute to Shri Mataji at the Royal Albert Hall by Claes Nobel (Chairman of United Earth Organization and grandnephew of Alfred Nobel, creator of the Nobel Foundation). In his admiration speech Mr. Nobel acknowledged: “Shri Mataji’s discovery brings genuine hope to humanity”.
● Delhi, India, 1998: Greetings from the President and Prime-Minister of India on Shri Mataji’s 75th Birthday.
● India, 1998: A road in Navi Mumbai got named as the H.H. Shri Nirmala Devi Marg.
● Pune, India, 2001: Manav Ratna Award in recognition of Shri Mataji’s selfless work for all humanity.
● Moscow, Russia, 2003: Sahaja Yoga awarded “Best diagnosis and therapies of regenerative medicine 2003” by the Ministry of Health of Russia.
● Cabella Ligure, Italy, 2006: Awarded Honorary Citizenship of Italy by the local assembly for the Municipal Office of Cabella Ligure, Alessenandria Italy.
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