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Gayatri Teerth (Pilgrimage Center) - Shantikunj

An Introduction

Shantikunj was founded by the Saint-Scholar-Philosopher par excellence, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, who in his youth was also a freedom fighter. Shantikunj has emerged over the years as a unique center and fountain-head of a global movement of Yug Nirman Yojana (Movement for the Reconstruction of the Era) for moral-spiritual regeneration in the light of hoary Indian heritage. It is the head-quarter of Yug Nirman Yojna of the All World Gayatri Pariwar, which has a following of more than twenty million devoted disciples and seventy million persons all over the world.

Through the Seer-Vision of the Yug-Rishi (Saint of the Era), the founder, organizer and patron (who was born on 20th September 1911 in the village Anwalkhera, Agra, (U.P.) INDIA), Shantikunj has grown into a unique fountain-head of moral, ethical and spiritual awakening of the masses in India carrying the seer-vision of Acharyashri with the massage of love, peace, understanding and unity-in-diversity to all corners of the globe. The gist of Gurudev, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s message is the lighting up of human consciousness to a higher and nobler realm of light, Love and life instincts with divine harmony and joy. Vandaniyaa (Revered) Mata Bhagvati Devi Sharma (wife of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya and worshipped as the emanation of Mother Durga by the All World Gayatri Pariwar) has been the foremost collaborator and disciple of Gurudev. She contributed the most in giving concrete shape to the ideals and dreams of her soul-mate. The smooth working of this vast organization is based on voluntary contribution of fifty paisa, one handful of grain and one hour daily for Mission work by millions of its devotees.

Shantikunj is devoted to cultural, ethical, moral and spiritual awakening and national integration. Development of divinity in mankind is the foremost goal and avowed objective. Pledged for national peace, prosperity, amity, love, goodwill and fraternity irrespective of region, religion, faith, caste, creed, sect etc., Shantikunj is a unique abode true to its name. Visitors of all faiths & linkages are glued to the Ashram (Spiritual Center), when they visit and view its peace & fraternal treatment. The courteous ovation and pleasing treatment add glory to the solemn attraction and the visitor wishes to come here again.

Expansion of national unity, amity and brotherhood and extinction of ignorance, jealousy, hatred, and strife from globe are being attempted by popularizing Gayatri Mantra, Yagna and Sanskaars (sacramental rites), the adoption of which invokes celestial thoughts and inspires for divine deeds. The divinity may be seen firmly fixed in every activity of this holy pilgrimage center.

Salient Features of Shantikunj

1. Social Reforms
2. Psycho-Social Engineering
3. Disaster Management
4. Self-reliant Development of Rural India
5. Comprehensive Training Programs
6. Revival of Vedic culture
7. Reinvestigation of Vedic literature & Methods of Sadhana
8. Sixteen Sanskars (sacramental rites)
9. Vichar Kranti Abhiyan (Thought Revolution Movement)
10. Innovative research in Ayurveda
11. Tirthas (Pilgrimage Centers)
12. Worshipping the deity of human life through threefold path of Upasana, Sadhana and Aradhana
13. Ascent and Empowerment of Women
14. Transformation of Youth: Shiksha and Vidya (Education, Knowledge and Righteous Intellect)

Institute for research on scientific spirituality

Yug Rishi Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, who founded All World Gayatri Pariwar with its headquarter at Shantikunj was of the definite view that in this Era of materialism, spiritual principles can be accepted by the masses, when they are scientifically established by facts, examples and interpretation. Therefore, he laid emphasis for the establishment of a Research Institute of scientific spirituality. Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan (Research Institute) came into existence.

Trainings to inculcate holistic thoughts & action

For upliftment of the moral, cultural, spiritual and ethical values, national integration and development of youths, various trainings are organized regularly.

Amongst these, the regular ones are:

• Nine days training of Sanjeewani Vidyaa (Art of Living & Art of Relating training camps)
• One month training of Yug Shilpi and Parivraajak (Art of Serving & Art of Leading training camps)
• Three months training for proficiency in Sangeet (music).

Occasional trainings of officers, and employees of Govt., local bodies, Corporations, Banks, factories etc. are also organized on:

• elegant life style
• organizational management
• efficient working methodology
• work culture
• glory of labor
• health
• behavioral science
• value of time
• inculcation of discipline
• duty consciousness
• national integration.

For the all round development of villages and self-employment generation, 9 days training is also imparted to selected village folk. Training relates to:

• agriculture
• horticulture
• herbal production
• Dairy and Cottage industries.

All these trainings aim at the all round development of the nation & integration of the country by inducing noble sentiments in the minds of individuals by adoption of scientific ways of spirituality, which can provide a remedy for all the ills afflicting the nation.

Following is a description of the different kinds of course programs and training sessions that are run here regularly.

Nine days Sadhana Shivirs (Art of Living & Art of Relating training camps) for spiritual refinement of personality

Five days special higher-level Sadhanas (Art of Being & Art of Thinking training camps) in silence for awakening of inner energy

One month “Yug Shilpi Sadhana Satra” (Art of Serving & Art of Leading training camps) for practical training towards:
(i) promotion of human values through devotional music, performance of sacramental rites and inspirational talks
(ii) promoting self–reliant development projects.

One month “Parivraajak Satra” for:
(i) temple management course for spreading the Mission’s constructive activities through the local centers;
(ii) dissemination of the message of Indian culture and mass education from religious platform.

Three Months “Yug Shilpi Seva Satras” for practical training of grass-root work in the rural areas and for psychological and educational uplifting of the masses and carrying out our basic developmental and initiating self-employment schemes.

Short term Moral Education and Stress Management

Programs for Govt. officials and professionals

Network of Shantikunj

Shantikunj has a vast network of about 4000 Shaktipeeths-Pragya Peeths (Centers of knowledge and Divine power), 25000 Pragya Sansthans & 30,000 Swadhyaya Mandals (self-study groups) etc., which regularly organize satsang (spiritual discussion), discourses, inspiring songs, discussions on various problems in their areas to advance the noble cause of the Mission. Infact, these serve as local centers of which Shantikunj is the Headquarter.

Rich Literary heritage

The intellectual giant, the saint, and savage, who established these organizations was also blessed with boundless gift of literary capability, which may be realized from more than 3000 books published by him, the essence of which is being summarized in 108 volumes of “Vangmaya”. The exceptional literary contribution of moral, cultural, ethical and spiritual glory of the Yug Rishi furnishes ample proof of his outstanding knowledge in various fields. Gurudev initially started a monthly magazine “Akhand Joyti” in 1937 in Hindi with a humble beginning of 250 copies, circulation of which has now risen to 1.5 million per month. It contains articles on moral, cultural, spiritual, ethical and social life style, national integration, amity, unity and brotherhood. Elimination of ignorance, fanatism, jealousy, hatred, strife and all sorts of evils afflicting the human race is the avowed objective of this publication. There is no subject of human welfare beginning from the most mundane to the highest level of spirituality, which remains untouched by this magazine.

Achievements

Shantikunj has performed gigantic tasks unknown in the history of thousands of years of this country. After the magnificent 1008 Kundi (altar) Maha Yagya in 1958, it has performed 24 similar Gaytri Mahayagyas in each of which 0.2 to 0.3 million persons participated. Besides these, 28 Ashwamedha Yagyas were also organsied for Global awakening of people in each of which 1 to 1.5 million people took part. Yug Sandhi Mahapurashcharan of 12 years penance was celebrated in two installments. The first Maha purnahuti was organized in 1995 at the birth place of Revered Gurudev at Anwalkhera, Agra, in which 3 to 4 million people participated. It was the grandest celebration of the Mission. The second Maha puranahuti was organised at Hardwar in the year 2000 in 5 steps in which almost ten million devotees participated.

Besides the performance of gigantic Yagyas, more than 250 Sanskar Mahotsawa (festival) of magnanimous form were also organized in different parts of the country for revival of the ancient practice of Sanskar in the most elegant manner, which transformed even the mental plane of hard criminals. They refined themselves and started living a civil life afterwards. In this process, the organization has proved to be a unique spiritual sanitorium for people of all walks of life from India as well as different parts of the world.

Temples of Prakhar Pragya & Sajal Shraddha

The splendid Prakhar Pragya and Sajal Shraddha, two tiny temples made up of marble contain the Charan Peeths (foot impressions) of the intellectual giant Param Poojya Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya and Vandneeyaa Mata Bhagawati Devi Sharma. These are the monumental source of inspiration for self enlightenment and fulfillment of cherished desires. Thousands of men, women and children daily pour in to offer prayer for bestowal of all round peace, prosperity and success in their life. Young couples pray for unbroken companionship, amity and fidelity worth commendation.

Just in front of these tiny temples, are the sacred tombs of the departed Rishiyugm made of sparkling granite stone, which draw enormous reverence from the people and are fully charged with celestial life consciousness.

Akhand Deep

Most pious “Akhand Deep” (lamp) ignited by the Yug Rishi, as back as in 1926 is still lighting. In its proximity he conducted 24 gigantic Purashcharans of 2.4 million recitations of Gayatri Mantra each, in 24 years. On their completion, 1008 Kundi (altar) Grand Gayatri Mahayagya was performed in 1958, which resulted in the attainment of immense super-natural power by him and benefited millions of other people. Akhand Deep is still-incessantly wiping out the gloom. Mere sight of this Akhand Deep alleviates sorrows and sufferings and delivers divine grants. Thousands of men, women and children daily throng for its Darshan (glimpse).

Splendid Yagyashala (place where Yagna is done)

Owing to enormous increase of visitors, Shantikunj Ashram has also made tremendous expansion during the last one decade to accommodate the visitors. Many new buildings have been constructed. Three splendid canopies for performing Yagna have been constructed, which present a memorable sight in the morning hours, when thousands of devotees clad in saffron colour clothes perform Yagna in the blazing flame with chanting of Mantras and seek inspiration from Yagna for making sacrifice for welfare of all living beings on Earth. All the Sanskars are also performed, free of cost, in the morning time in various canopies and buildings for refinement of personality.

Devatma Himalaya

It is a live monument of pilgrimage centers of the sacred Himalaya, where ancient Rishi’s (saints) lived and performed their penance. Made in circular form and oval shape for performing Dhyan Sadhana in a calm, quiet and a peaceful atmosphere, it can accommodate thousands of devotees at a time for meditation. With audiovisual feedback from multimedia projection Dev Sanskriti (Divine Culture) is also exhibited. Devatma Himalaya is surrounded by lush green vegetation, exhibition of medicinal plants and Haritima Devalaya.

Hospital & Dispensaries

Elegant dispensaries of Aurveda, Homeopathy and Allopathy are other attractions, where qualified Doctors render free service to patients. Medicines are also supplied free of cost on their prescription. They also render free advice for maintenance of sound health and improvement of natural immunity of the body system.

Daily Routine at Shantikunj

The daily routine here begins at 3:30 a.m. with collective prayer followed by special “Gayatri Mantra chanting and Sun Meditation” and Akhand Deepak (lamp) darshan. Yagna is also performed every morning, which reminds one of the Vedic days in the ashrams of the Rishis. Two meals are offered free of cost here to every visitor and resident.

Morning and afternoons are scheduled for lectures/discourses and practical and field work under different kinds of courses/training programs. Two special kinds of meditations are also performed – one (the Jyoti Avadharan Sadhana) in the afternoon and the other (Nad Yoga Sadhana) in the evening for 15 minutes each.

Apart from the trainees, Shantikunj is visited by thousands of other people from all walks of society. The spiritually purified and energetic ambience here attracts and impresses everyone who has ever visited this place.

Daily Routine	April – September	October – March
Awaking prayer & freshening	3.30 a.m.	4.00 a.m.
Morning-Aarti	4.00 a.m.	4.30 a.m.
Collective Morning Meditation	4.30 a.m.	5.00 a.m.
Akhand-Deep Darshan, Pranam of Poojya Gurudev’s & Vandaniya Mataji’s Charan Padukas	5.15 a.m.	5.45 a.m.
Yagya and all Sanskaras	5.15 a.m.	5.45 a.m.
Collective Jap (Recitation)	5.15 to 6.00 a.m.	5.45 to 6.30 a.m.
Meeting – discussions with Sharaddheya Dr. Pranav Pandya & Sharaddheyaa Shail Jiji	7.00 a.m.	7.30 a.m.
Morning sermons and discourses	8.30 a.m.	8.30 a.m.
Meals – Rest	10.00 a.m.	10.00 a.m.
Akhand-Deep Darshan, Pranam of Poojya Gurudev’s & Vandaniya Mataji’s Charan Padukas	12.00 to 1.30 p.m. & 2.00 to 4.30 p.m.	12.00 to 1.30 p.m. & 2.00 to 4.30 p.m.
Jyoti Avdharan Sadhana	1.30 to 2.30 p.m.	1.30 to 2.30 p.m.
Noon classes, Meetings	2.30 to 4.00 p.m.	2.30 to 4.00 p.m.
Evening Meals	4.30 to 6.00 p.m.	4.30 to 6.00 p.m.
Evening Aarti	5.00 to 5.30 p.m.	5.00 to 5.30 p.m.
Naadyog Meditative cult – Congregational music	6.00 to 6.15 p.m.	6.00 to 6.15 p.m.
Collective Jap	6.15 to 7.00 p.m.	6.15 to 7.00 p.m.
Discourses or Video	7.00 to 8.30 p.m.	7.00 to 8.30 p.m.
Night-Rest	9.00 p.m.	9.00 p.m.