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Born on September 1926, in a famous priestly
family, Mata Bhagwati Devi (Vandaniya Mataji), was
extraordinary in her own way and unlike other
children, was not interested in regular childhood
activities such as playing, etc. Instead, she was
more interested in worshipping God. She spent most
of her time in singing devotional songs. Her
favorite pastime was to make the offering of the
Bilva tree leaves at the idol of Lord Shiva, and
writing "OM NAMAH SHIVAYA".
During the early stages of her education, she
studied Bhagwat Gita, and Ram Charit Manas. After
her marriage to
Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya (Gurudev),
Mataji took over the responsibility of looking
after visitors and guests. She willingly donated
all her personal jewelry, which she received at
her wedding, to Gurudev's Yug Nirman Yojna
(mission for creation of a new Era), for
establishment of
Gayatri Tapobhoomi at Mathura.
This is the place where a grand 1008 kundiya
Gayatri Mahayagna took place in 1958.
In 1960, when Gurudev went to the Himalayas,
Mataji took over Gurudev's responsibilities such
as editing and publishing various magazines,
administration of Gayatri Tapobhumi, and Yug
Nirman Yojna, etc. When Gurudev returned, he
declared celebration of Grand 1008 kundiya Gayatri
Yagnas at Porbander in Gujarat, Baharaich in Uttar
Pradesh, Mahasamund in Madhya Pradesh, Bhilwada in
Rajasthan, and Tatanagar in Bihar. Mataji took an
active role in all of these activities. At the
same time, more than four thousand branches of
Gayatri Pariwar, all over the country, were
started.
By then, Yug Nirman Yojna mission had spread all
over India; and there was significant readership
of various magazines of Mission.
In 1975, under the leadership of Mataji, Mahila
Jagran Abhiyan (movement for emancipation of
women) was initiated. Soon, about 4000 branches of
Mahila Jagran Abhiyan were established with more
than one million active participants. Its work was
not limited to mere Slogan-raising, but also
women's education, economic self-support,
sacramental rites and acquiring self-respect,
abolition of dowry and fight against the
discrimination of women.
Mataji considered everyone as part of her family.
It was of prime importance to her, to arrange for
their comfortable stay and spiritual guidance. It
would not even come close if compared to all the
comforts and luxuries that one would receive in a
luxurious hotel.
Such was the love and affection that people
enjoyed from her. People do not come to
Shantikunj
as tourists, but come for recharging themselves
and to experience the peace and tranquility in
their personal lives. Mataji's physical presence
was, thus, very essential at Shantikunj. It was
this consideration for the welfare of the Parijans
that prevented her from leaving Shantikunj for
more than 20 years. Occasionally, she used to go
for evening walk with
Gurudev to the bank of Holy
river Ganges.
When Gurudev took mahasamadhi on June 02, 1990,
Gayatri Jayanti day, Mataji took over all the
responsibilities of the mission and carried them
over with great courage. In October 1990, under
Mataji's guidance, Grand Shraddhanjali Samaroh, a
program to pay homage to Gurudev, was organized .
Over 15,00,000 devotees from all over the world
participated in it, and resolved to carry-on the
works of Gurudev, for dissemination of philosophy
of Gayatri and Yagna. In 1992, on Gayatri Jayanti
Day, Mataji disclosed about Gurudev's message from
subtle and astral realms for the spread of Dev-
Sanskriti (divine Indian culture or religious
culture) all over the world for which series of
Grand Ashwamedha Yagyas were to be performed.
The series of Ashwamedha Yagnas started from
Jaipur in Nov.1992. Till now, twenty-seven such
grand Ashwamedha Yagnas have been celebrated in
INDIA and abroads, besides the grand Anwalkheda
(birthplace of Acharyaji near Agra, city of Taj)
Pratham Poornahuti Samaroh in 1995. Mataji
attended eighteen of them. It was for the first
time that Mataji visited UK, Canada and USA in
three Ashwamedh yagnas in Leicester-UK, Toronto -
Canada and Los Angeles - USA.
Mataji initiated millions of people into Gayatri
Mantra and with this, a new wave of
character-building and social reform started.
Mataji too, withdrew to the astral realm, to join
her aradhya satta there, on September 19, 1994,
Bhadrapad Mahapoornima day. This was done so that
both of them could work together, as collaborators
of the immortal Rishis and sages of Himalayas,
(who are the guides and Guardian Angles of the
Soul of the Earth), for ushering in a new Era in
the Twenty-first century.
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