In the words of Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya (My Life — Its Legacy and Message - 89)
Risis are great men with awakened souls, who had once lived physically in the Himalayas.
None of the ancient Risis have their physical bodies now although their individual consciousnesses still persist in appropriate planes of manifestation. Yugrishi Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya Ji was introduced to all of them and was asked to follow in their foot-prints, establish an Ashram at Shantikunj, Haridwar as a symbol of Devatama Himalaya and execute the programme of revival of Risi traditions in such a way that the transition to the new era may be as smooth as possible.
Shantikunj is a symbolic representative of Devatma Himalaya. The souls of Risis residing in the Himalaya in astral bodies are summoned, invoked and installed here. It is still more important to know that not only mere idols of Risis have been installed here for symbolic worship but anyone sufficiently purified and fine-tuned can feel the strong vibrations of their particular energies. Thus, Shantikunj represent the energies of all the Risis.
Following are the detail of rishis and the activities under taken by Shantikunj.

Jamdagni’s son,
Parashuram, had beheaded several tyrants by his battle
axe. This can be taken as a symbolic description also. He had performed
tapascharya in Yamnotri and had started a campaign for creative
transformation. He destroyed evil tendencies of persons who were engrossed
in immorality and were acting as impediments in the transformation of the
society. He was engaged in the heroic task of rooting out viciousness and
corruption prevalent in the minds of the people of his time. For this
Bhagvan
Shiva gifted him a
Parasu (battle axe). In his latter half of life he had
discarded the axe and had taken a spade in his hands which outwardly was
symbolic of tree plantation but actually meant sowing the seeds of
righteousness and creativity. The written and spoken words emanating from
Shantikunj have played the role of
Parasu in radically transforming the
beliefs, feelings, thoughts and activities of innumerable persons.
Bhagirath had performed rigorous
tapascharya to bring the Ganga from
heavens to earth for removing water scarcity. Bhagirath Shila is situated
near Gangotri. Ganga descended as a result of his
tapascharyaand heroic
industriousness and was, therefore, named as Bhagirathi. Bhagirath was
put through a tough test; he successfully passed the test and earned the
grace of
Bhagvan Shiva. Today, there is an all-pervading famine of faith
which can only be removed by
Gyan Ganga, the divine flow of knowledge.
The present famine in the realms of feelings and thoughts can be removed
by the cleansing stream of knowledge which is flowing constantly from
Shantikunj and it is hoped that goodwill and righteousness will soon be
established throughout the world.
Charak Risi had undertaken thorough research of the inaccessible region
of Kedarnath in the
Himalayas to find out rare medicinal herbs which helped
in healing. It is described in the scripture that Charak
Risi used to have
conversations with such herbs and enquired from them about their
healing characteristics and qualities. He used to collect them at the
appropriate time and conducted research on them. Several medicines
which help in the growth of the life-forces, in pacifying emotions and
mental derangements and which possess the qualities of bringing about
positive changes in attitudes, actions and nature of man are contributions
of his research. Ancient )
Ayurveda
has been revived here and research
on finding out rare medicines and testing their ingredients, qualities
with the help of modern scientific equipments, is being done at
Shantikunj. How the use of only one appropriate medicine at a time can
promote longevity is one of the researches which are being conducted
here in accordance with
Risi traditions of Charak.
Maharsi Vyas had written
Puranas with the help of Ganesh in Vyas
Cave near Vasodhara water-fall between the mountain ranges known
as Nar and Narayan in Badrinath. Seclusion and peaceful and faithfilled
environment is needed for doing any important work. In the present
circumstances, when there is great dearth of good and inspiring
literature, the founder of Shantikunj had, about twenty-five years back,
written commentaries on four
Vedas, eighteen
Puranas, 108
Upnisads,
six
Darsans, twenty-four
Gitas,
Aranyaks, Brahmanas etc. and had
made them easily available to all at modest prices. Appropriate
literature, with a view to providing practical solutions to the forbidding
problems of the present day life, is also being continuously written and
it has influenced the hearts and minds of millions of people. The series
of
Pragya Puranas are a novel creation in which the philosophy of
Upnisads has been explained in simple, easily understandable style
through the medium of tales and stories.
Patanjali had conducted several researches and experiments on the
science of
yoga at Rudra Prayag on the confluence of Alaknanda and
Mandakini. He proved that human body was a storehouse of energy. If
the centres of energy within the body could be awakened a man can be
transformed into a divinised person and he can acquire immense spiritual
powers (
riddhis and
siddhis). In Shantikunj the
sadhaks are imparted
training in
hathayoga, kayakalpa, asans and
pranayam. They are
examined mentally and physically by a team of qualified doctors and
experts with the help of sophisticated scientific instruments and are
advised and guided about the
sadhana which they have to perform.
Yagyavalkya had undertaken research on
yagya at Triyugi Narayan, had
verified its efficacy in promoting the health of living beings and vegetation,
in purification of the environment, inducing rainfall etc. There is a
yagya-kund (hearth) in
an inaccessible place in the
Himalayas in which fire has
been burning uninterruptedly since times immemorial. It is said that it is
aglow since the marriage of Shiv-Parvati and is a symbol of the ancient
tradition of fire. The Brahmavarchas Research Institute has undertaken the
responsibility of conducting research on the ancient science of
yagya
which has become almost extinct these days. A full-fledged laboratory, duly
equipped with modern scientific equipments, is functioning in the campus
of this Institute for conducting researches on
yagyopathy and people are
wonder-struck to see its amazing positive impact on environment, pollution
and treatment of physical and mental ailments, growth of vitality, rainfall
of vital
parjanya
etc.
Vishvamitra is regarded as the Seer of , a creator of a new
world.
Sapta-Risis including Vishvamitra had in the ancient times performed
tapascharyaon the sanctified land on which at present Shantikunj campus
stands and had attained the grace of
Adya-sakti Gayatri. I was inspired by
Gurudev to build an ashram at this very land. The subtle vibrations of
creative
sadhana of Vishvamitra are still intensely active here.
Mahapragya
has been given the status of
Yug-Sakti here and by installing idols of its 24
primary emanations, the message of
Adya-sakti (Primordial Creative Power)
of
vasudhaiva kutumbakam and of steadfast and pure wisdom and
righteousness was proclaimed from here. Several
sadhaks have performed
Gayatri anusthans and have grown spiritually. The Vishvamitra tradition
is being revived here by conducting research about the power of sound and
the technique of
Savitri.
All-round training to
vanprasthis was given in the ancient times in
Gurukul Aranyak of Jamdagni which was located at Uttarkashi.
Facilities were
provided for training of wise, mature and aspiring persons in the performance
of
sadhana and penance. In Shantikunj arrangements have been made to
impart training to
parivrajak vanprasthis and public service workers.
Children are imparted training in moral education in this
Ashrams Gurukul vidyalaya and all-round training is being
given to
sadhaks in
Yug-shilpi vidyalaya.
Devarsi Narada had performed
tapascharya in Guptkashi. He used to play
Veena and was constantly engaged in the work of public awakening. He
used to give righteous guidance to the people by arousing their positive
emotions and tendencies.
Yug-Nirman music training school of Shantikunj
has trained thousands of
parivrajaks, who undertake tours in their regions
and move in a group in jeeps in furtherance of Narad tradition.
Vashishtha had preached
Yog-Vasistha to Ram at Devprayag. He integrated
religion with statecraft. The founder of Shantikunj had participated in the
Independence Movement from 1930 to 1947 and had undergone torture in
jails. Later, the society was guided by him through the medium of books,
literature; and everything which could be possible was done for the
integration of spirituality and polity.
Adya Shankaracharya had performed
tapascharya at Jyotirmath and had
established four
dhams (spiritual centres) in four corners of the country.
His object was to integrate different cultures and to awaken people through
religious institutions. This work of spreading
Yug-chetna is now being
conducted by Shantikunj through the network of
Gayatri Saktipithas, Pragya sansthans, Svadhyaya mandals etc. which have been established throughout
the country in the tradition of Adya Shakaracharya.
Risi Pipplada had conducted research near Rishikesh on the effect of food
on mind. He maintained himself on the fruits of pipal tree and attained selfrealisation
by exercising restraint and self-control. I strictly restricted myself
to a diet of barley bread and butter-milk for twenty-four years, while
performing
Gayatri anusthans. Even thereafter, I have been living on boiled
foodgrains and vegetables.
Amritasan experiments are being conducted in
Shantikunj in this respect. Soot-Shounik
Risis used to hold sessions of
discourses at Rishikesh by narrating ancient tales relating to the scriptures.
The discourses of
Pragya Purana
in the present times have become so
popular that people call it
Yug-Purana
. Four volumes of
Pragya Purana have already been published and subsequent volumes are planned to be
published in due course.
Harshvardhan had donated all his wealth at the time of
Sarva-medh yagya which was performed at Har-Ki-Pouri, Haridwar. The founder of Shantikunj,
too, had donated all his property for the construction of Gayatri Tapobhumi
at Mathura and a high school in the village of his birth-place and kept
nothing for himself or his family members. This tradition is now being
followed by other workers who are permanently linked with Shantikunj.
Kanada Risi had conducted research about nuclear science and scientific
aspect of spirituality according to the research traditions of
Atharva Veda.
The intelligentsia today can be convinced not by words but by logic, facts,
figures and evidence. In Brahmavarchas Research Institute, research is being
conducted for integration of science and spirituality and the world is eagerly
awaiting its results.

The
parivrajaks of
Buddha had undertaken extensive tours to spread the
message of
dharma (religion) throughout the world. In Shantikunj,
parivrajaks are being trained for spreading the message of divine culture
throughout the world. In India itself about a lakh
Pragya-putras are engaged
in this work of spreading
Yug-chetna from house to house.
Aryabhatta was a great scientist who conducted astronomical researches to
examine the influence of other planets of the solar system on the earth, its
atmosphere and living beings. An observatory has been set up in Gayatri
Nagar, astronomical researches are being conducted and an almanac based
on
drisya Arithmetic is being published from here. The spiritual teachings
of the saints of the middle ages, viz. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sant
Gyaneshwar, Samarth Guru Ramdas, Prannath Mahaprabhu, Ramkrishna
Paramhansa in regard to the spread of righteousness are being followed in
Shantikunj.
It is most important to stress that the atmosphere of this
Asram is so
surcharged with piety and righteousness that it automatically attracts people
towards spirituality. This is due to the presence here of
Risis in their astral
forms. They must definitely be quite happy to see revival of their ancient
traditions here. This earth has been blessed by the
tapascharya performed
here by the
Risis. Lav-Kush were brought up and trained in Valmiki Ashram,
Bharat in Kandva
Asram
, Rukmini performed
tapascharya in Badrinarayan
and gave birth to Pradyumna who, in valour and wisdom, was equal to his
father, Shri Krishna. Pavan and Anjani gave birth to Bajarangabali in the
Asram of Poosha. These are miraculous boons of
tapascharya, sadhana
performed in this holy region of the
Himalayas.
There are several instances of advantages accruing to faithfilled persons
from contacts with saints and by visiting holy places. A drop of water of
svati naksattra falling in an oyster-shell becomes a pearl. It becomes
vansalocan when it falls on a bamboo tree and camphor when it meets a
plantain tree. A piece of iron when it touches
paras becomes gold. My
guide,
Gurudev, has been living since several centuries in his astral body at
Nandanvan in the
Himalayas, which is known as heaven of the earth, the
gateway of which is Haridwar, wherein Shantikunj is situated. He summoned
me to the
Himalayas from time to time to recharge my spiritual battery,
whenever I was to be entrusted with new responsibility. I always experienced
having returned from the
Himalayas with an immensely augmented store
of energy.
I often invite awakened souls,
Pragya-putras, to Shantikunj to undergo
training or perform
sadhana to acquire competence to play the role akin to
the bears and monkeys of ,
Treta Yug, of
gval-bals of
Dvapar Yug in the
tasks of ushering in the new golden era. This place has its own significance
on account of divine patronage. Persons residing here even for a short time
feel that they are being rejuvenated. In fact it is a spiritual sanatorium.
The
ghrit lamp which has been alight for the last sixty years, performance
of
yagya for two hours daily in the morning and
Gayatri Mahapurascaranas
in both the
navratris, daily
jap by
sadhaks in this
sadhana Aranyak, all
combine to create a sanctified divine environment here, as one finds in
Malayagiri by the sweet smell of sandal wood. Even without doing
sadhana
a person feels unalloyed joy as if his entire time here has been spent in
tapascharya and
sadhana. Shantikunj
Gayatri Tirtha
is a sacred
Siddhapitha
because the
Risis in their astral bodies are present here, overseeing the
various kinds of activities being carried on here pertaining to their particular
traditions.
The most important work of life has been to make direct and indirect,
visible and invisible efforts to change the present milieu. These days there
is intense crisis of faith. People are bent upon breaking all principles of
propriety, morality and conduct. This has resulted in the growth of evil
conduct and licentiousness. Today, neither an individual is happy nor is
there any stability in the society. Problems, calamities, horrors are increasing
day by day. The efforts to stem this overwhelming tide of unrightousness
are not succeeding anywhere. The remedy lies only in the refinement of the
minds and emotions of the masses and inspiring growth of righteous
tendencies. This has to be done directly by constructive, reformative work
and indirectly by invisible spiritual influence. This is being done and the
entire energy is being mobilised to attain this objective. The results attained
so far are encouraging and the results visualised in future will be
unprecedented.
In short,
Risi traditions have been adopted and revived by a
brahmana
mind in all earnestness. Persons who are engaged in such a work not only
do good to themselves but also promote the welfare of others.