Third Pilgrimage to the Himalayas: Sowing the seeds of Risi Tradition

After the work at Mathura had been established on a satisfactory footing, I received the third call from the Himalayas in which there was indication about the next phase of the assignment to be given to me. There had been considerable pressure in the continuing phase of work which had resulted in exhaustion, although success had been achieved. Under these circumstances, this invitation for recharging the battery was most welcome.

I set out for the pilgrimage on the prescribed day in June 1971. There was no difficulty as I was familiar with the route. The cold was also not as serve as it was at the time of my first pilgrimage. I also did not feel loneliness. I was escorted by Gurudev's messenger from Gomukh to Nandanvan, as usual; the auspicious moment to which I was keenly looking forward throughout the journey ultimately arrived. After exchange of reverent courtesies and blessings, the impartation of guidance started.

Gurudev said, "You have to leave Mathura and shift to Hardwar and start the work of reviving the Risi traditions. You will recall that when you came here for the first time you had met Risis living in this region in their astral bodies and each of them had expressed distress at the extinction of their traditions and you had promised that you would accomplish this task. This time you have been summoned for this purpose.

"God has no physical form. Whenever something epoch-making is sought to be achieved, Risis, who remain engrossed in Tapascarya bestow their powers on Devatmas, great personages and get the work done through them. Vishwamitra took Bhagvan Ram to his Asram (hermitage) on the pretext of defending his yagya, trained him in Bala (Gayatri) and Atibata (Savitri) Vidyas (spiritual knowledge) and got the citadel of demoniac forces demolished, thus paving the way for the establishment of Ram-Rajya (rule of truth and righteousness). Shri Krishna had gone for studies to Sandipan Risi and returned after he had been duly imparted the message of t Gita, his role in Mahabharat epoch and in carrying the Risi tradition of Sudama. Ancient scriptures are full of descriptions how Risis molded great personages and got important work accomplished through them, although they themselves always remained engrossed in spiritual pursuits, Sadhana, research etc. It is this work which you have to accomplish.

"The seer of Gayatri Mantra was Vishwamitra who had lived in Sapta Sarovar, Hardwar and had acquired mastery in the miraculous power of Gayatri. That place is now reserved for you. You will be able to find it out easily. Name it as Shantikunj, Gayatri Tirtha and sow the seeds of all the life transforming traditions which were established by the Risis when they lived in their physical forms. They need a physical medium to get their work done. I too, had felt a similar need, found in you a competent person, contacted you and initiated you in this task. These other Risis have also similar aspirations. You have to sow anew the seeds of old Risi traditions, which is no doubt a difficult task but you will be getting patronage, blessings and divine gifts of executing competence from me as well as from all these Risis and you will proceed in carrying out the given assignments undeterred."

Third Pilgrimage to the Himalayas: Sowing the seeds of Risi Tradition 1

Briefly describing the still incomplete work of the Risis, I was asked to acquaint people with the power of Gayatri Mahamantra according to the tradition of Vishvamitra Risi and to establish a Siddhapitha Gayatri Tirtha; to write books and eighteen volumes of Pragya Puran in Vyas tradition; to extend the science and philosophy of Yog-Sadhana in Patanjali tradition; to build up an atmosphere of refined and ennobling vibrations by eradicating evil tendencies from the minds of the people according to Parashuram tradition; to conduct scientific research and popularize use of medicinal herbs according to Charak tradition; to heal and set right mental disorders by holistic treatments of Yagyopathy in Yagyavalkya tradition; to establish Sadhana-Aranyaks for promoting the growth of goodness and character building in Jamadagni tradition; to lead wandering life of a religious mendicant (parivrajak) with the aim of imparting true knowledge and guidance for the spread of religious and spiritual consciousness in Narada tradition; to provide guidance through the medium of ethics to teh administrative set-up in the tradition of Aryabhatta; to build up Pragya Sansthans at different places in Shankaracharya tradition; to promote all-round health with th help of proper dieting (ahar-kalpa) according to Pippalada tradition and to convince Pragya sammelans from place to place for educating the masses according to Soot-Shounik tradition. Gurudev also indicated the outline of establishing Brahmavarchas Research INstitute for conducting research on scientific lines according to the scientific traditions of Atharv Veda, as was done by Kanada Risi.

I was explained, in detail what I had to do at Hardwar and how difficulties coming in my way were to be resolved. I assimilated each and every word uttered by Gurudev. Last time when I had visited the Himalayas, I was to act according to the directions given by Gurudev alone. This time I was assigned the onerous responsibilities of undertaking additional momentous tasks. This poor donkey was to be more alert and more diligent. Without elaborating, Gurudev simply gave a hint that after doing all this, I will have to pay a fourth visit to the Himalayas and shoulder still greater responsibilities and take steps to withdraw into the astral body.

I was informed that the work at Hardwar would be more difficult than that at Mathura. The onslaughts of devilish elements would have to be faced more resolutely and there would be several ups and downs. After explaining where and how I had to live and perform my daily routine, I was told that I should regard it as a joint program of Gurudev and all the other Risis. I assured Gurudev that for me he was the representative of the Supreme Lord and all the Risis and Devtas; and all his instructions would be complied with till my last breath.

Our talks ended. After bidding farewell, Gurudev disappeared. I was escorted up to Gomukh by his Virbhadra. It is not necessary to mention the place where I was required to stay for about a year as they are inaccessible places in the Himalayas.

While returning, I stayed at the place indicated by Gurudev in Hardwar. It was the tapobhumi of Sapta-Risis, which was lying deserted and was for sale. It was marshy. Ganga used to flow through this land in the past. I liked it. The owner of the land was contacted; the deal was struck and reduced into writing. I had to take decision all by myself. The counsel of the advisors was of no avail, as I failed to make them understand the mystical significance of the place, the purpose for which it was being acquired and the blue-print of the proposed construction. Even the supervisory work of construction had to be done by me. Thus came into being the Shantikunj Saktipitha at Hardwar.

Establishment of Gayatri Tirtha in Shantikunj, Hardwar

I returned from the Himalayas in 1972 to Hardwar where I had already got a small building named Shantikunj built earlier. It was sufficient for the stay of Mataji and devkanyas whop were living with her. More land was purchased and cinctruction work was started. The idea was to develop it into a Risi Asram. In the begining living accommodation for myself, my colleagues and guests along with a kitchen, was built.

This Asram symbolies Devatma Himalaya and hence symbolic temples of Ganga, Uttrakhand and seven Risis, other important Risis were built here. Within two years the temple of Adys-sakti Gayatri, wells and the meeting hall were also built and shantikunj was turned into a tapasthali (a center for spiritual pursuits). A small room for installing the idol of Gayatri Mata and the Akhand Dip had already been built earlier.

Twenty-four purascaranas of twenty-four lakhs each were to be performed to awaken the dormant energy (sanskars) of this land which was lying barren since long. In the begining nine virgin girls performed jap for four hours in tjhe day and four in the night. Later, the number of the girls was increased to 27. They were all trained and taught by Mataji and after a period six years they all attained the standards of graduation and post-graduation. All these girls were suitably married between the ages of twenty to twenty-five years. Earlier, all these girls, numbering more than hundred, were trained in music and in delivering religious discourse and were sent throught the country in batches of five spreading the message of the mission, especially in awakening of women all over the country.

The work of moulding and preparing vibrant and brilliant workers was taken in hand at haridwar and for thgis Pran pratyavartan camps, Yug-shilpi camps, Vanprastha camps of the duration of month each were organized. The holy atmosphere of Shantikunj situated on the banks of the holy Ganga in the lap of the Himalayas surcharged with spiritual vibrations attracted and inspired hundreds of persons who participated in the series of small and big Gayatri- Puruscaranas which were started here for general cateogary of sadhaks. Side by side, the training of self-sacrificing vanprasthis, who had dedicated their sadhaks were supplied with free food. The number of such sadhaks continued steadily increasing. The services of such self-scarifying, devout, full-time sadhaks who were in conscious process of spiritual awakening were needed to revive Risi traditins by engaging them in the spread of this momentous missionary task.

Establishment of Gayatri Tirtha in Shantikunj, Hardwar 1

Two hundred and fifty quarters were built in Gayatri Nagar. A big hall to accommodate about a thousand persons to listen to spiritual discourses and a yagyasala with nine kunds were also built. Yagya is performed at shantikunj in the morning for two hours to promote piety. It was so planned that the permanent residents of the Ashram a purascarana of twenty-four lakh jap daily. A small press was also installed for urgent work. In the meantime the construction of the grand building of Brahmavarchas Research Instituted was taken in hand. His completion of all these words which were necessary for the revival of Risis traditions were also taken in hand according to feasibility.

 Bhagvan Buddha had organized Vihars at Nalanda and Taxila as great and world-renowned centers of higher learning and teaching, where inmates were trained and deputed for delivering spiritual discourses throughout the country and also in foreigh countries. Bhagvan Adya Shankarcharya had established four dhams in the four corners of the country and he had tried to unite and coordinate different schools of philosophy and paths of the spiritual Sadhana which were then prevalent in the country. Both of them had initiated organization of huge conferences and seminars of Kumbha dimensions so that important messages of the Risis could be conveyed far and wide through the participants. Both these activities were taken in hand. It was decided to build and set up temples and working centers in the form of Gayatri Saktipithas and Pragya Sansthans throughout the country to spread the activities and message of t Pragya mission in the surrounding area.

Although it appeared to be a difficult task, inspired and devoted persons took a pledge and within a short period of two years 2400 Saktipitha buildings were erected which are being used a scoters for spreading the light and message of yug-cetna from house to house. This work is so vast and marvelous that evens the work done by Christian missionaries' stands no comparison with it. Churches, temples and other institutions are built by huge donations but our temples have been built by small contributions made by devotees.

A campaign for running mobile Pragyapithas was also launched. These are run by one worker in a mobile push vehicle in his own city or town and also in the surrounding areas. Besides books, other articles are also kept in it. Within a period of two years, about twelve thousand such mobile Pragyapithas were brought in operation. About one lakh persons are being contacted and inspired every day by these permanent and mobile Pragyapithas.

Establishment of Gayatri Tirtha in Shantikunj, Hardwar 2

It was further arranged to celebrate four-day annual functions of all these branches in which at least a thousand persons could participate. A team of four musicians and one speaker was deputed in such celebrations from Hardwar to convey New Year's message to the concerned center. Jeeps were arranged for this purpose so that teh luggage of the workers, musical instruments, loud-speakers etc. could also be taken along with them. The driver of the jeep is a trained mission worker. Every worker is now being trained in the skill of driving so that there may not be any difficulty in this respect.

Most of the important literature had already been published while I was living at Mathura. After shifting to Hardwar, it was decided to write eighteen volumes of Pragya Puran in Sanskrit, along with commentary and illustrations and one folder of eight pages daily to acquaint the people with the methods of working of all the Risis. Four volumes of Pragya Purana have already been published. Four hundred folders have also been written. Most of them have been published in Hindi and other important languages.

In order to make arrangements for the spread of the message in all important languages and prepare trained workers in every region, a school of languages and religious instructions have been started in Shantikunj and it has already started working satisfactorily.

The volunteers of this mission undertake countrywide tours and inspire about ten lakh devotees of the mission. The mission's network has been firmly established in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himanchal Pradesh, Haryana, Orissa and Maharashtra. Attempts are being made to extend the field of operation and publicity, within about four year's time, to the remaining regions of the country which could not be touched so far due to language problems.

Indian migrants numbering really three cores are staying abroad in about seventy-four foreign countries. A successful scheme has been launched to spread the ideology of the Mission amongst these migrants as well as foreigners. It will be possible, in the near future, to spread the light and message of the mission through capable workers in several foreign countries. There is hardly any country inhabited by Indian migrants where a center/branch of this mission has not been set up.

In order to vigorously extend Risi traditions, about a thousand self-sacrificing workers are constantly engaged in this work. For this, a Gurukul Aranyak in the tradition of Risi Jamadagni works regularly at Shantikunj.

In reviving Charak tradition, a garden of rare medicinal herbs has been developed in Shantikunj and research is being conducted with the help of valuable scientific instruments. The theory of treatment by only one medicine at a time is being followed here and the same has proved very efficacious.

Thousands of persons have been trained so far in light music through Yug-Silpi Vidyalaya at Shantikunj and such trained persons are running schools and preparing persons in Yug-Sangit in their respective areas.

Establishment of Gayatri Tirtha in Shantikunj, Hardwar 3

The earth is influenced by inter-planetary atmosphere; Information about this is a great importance. It becomes necessary to rectify deviations in astronomical arithmetic after every five thousand years. To revive this science of Aryabhatt, an observatory (Vedhsala) on the lines of ancient instruments has been built in Gayatri Nagar and planetary observations, including those of Neptune, Plato, and Uranus are made and an almanac, unique of its kind, is published from here every year.

A new project of mass moral education through audio-visual media has been taken in hand. Earlier, slide projectors were sent to al t branches of the mission. Now the medium of video is being utilized. Inspiring films on the basis of music, poems etc. and discourses of eminent persons are being prepared and projected through the medium of video sets. A grand scheme of preparing a film to explain the objects, nature and benefits of the programs of this mission is being taken in hand and is going to materialize shortly.

The greatest creation of this mission is the Brahmavarchas Research Institute. A laboratory consisting of several valuable scientific instruments and apparatus has been set up here to conduct research on synthesis of science and spirituality. It is being manned by workers who are graduates and post graduates in medical science, Ayurved etc. and other branches of modern sciences and who are also spiritually oriented. Research is being conducted specifically in the science of Yagya. Its results have been found to be encouraging with regard to its healing impact on physical and mental diseases, on animals and vegetation and in refining environment and atmosphere.

The health of all t participants attending various camps at Shantikunj is examined and they are advised to do Sadhana accordingly. This is a unique research laboratory, first of its kind in the whole world. People are given inspiration and training in different branches. Other more important projects are going to be taken up in future.

Millions of people of Gayatri Parivar, while going for pilgrimage to Uttarkhand, begin their pilgrimage by paying a visit to Shantikunj and by applying its dust on their foreheads. Considering it a Saktipithas (a dynamo for generation of spiritual power), they visit Shantikunj and get anna-prasan, namkaran, mundan and yagyopavit ceremonies of their children performed here. Arrangements have also been made to perform Sraddha and tarpan rituals of pitras (deceased ancestors). People come here in large numbers to celebrate their birthday and marriage anniversaries. A large number of Parijans come to Shantikunj, Hardwar and Tapobhumi Mathura to get marriages of their sons and daughters solemnized here as per Vedic rites and without incurring avoidable expenses on dowry, receptions, pomp and show and outmoded customs.

Establishment of Gayatri Tirtha in Shantikunj, Hardwar 4

While I was entrusted with the task of reviving the work of ancient Risis, I was in a dilemma, as taking up so stupendous a work in hand needed not only vast sums of money but also committed workers of high moral and spiritual caliber. All other institutions have paid employees. But those who are working in Shantikunj and Brahmavarchas Research Institute are persons who have come after voluntarily resigning their highly lucrative technical posts. Some ot them take meals in Shantikunj kitchen, some pay its cost from the interest of their bank deposits, while some are maintaining themselves on their pension. Several persons swayed by emotions come to join but only those who understand the fundamental objectives of the mission and the ideology of its founder are able to stick and stay here permanently. It is gratifying to note that more and more sincere and devoted persons are getting continuously linked with this mission.

One will hardly find another instance where so many persons would be working for a mission day and night as volunteers without taking a single paisa for their maintenance. Only Shantikunj is lucky in this respect, where highly qualified persons with undergraduate, post-graduate and doctorate degrees in humanities, science, medical science, Ayurved, Sanskrit etc, are working as volunteers. Hardly can one find such humility, service mindedness, industriousness and devotion elsewhere as is found in these dedicated, efficient and intelligent workers.

There has been no occasion to ask for donations from any one for undertaking all these works. The mantra given by Malviyaji about collecting handful of grain and ten paisa daily has worked this miracle. This work is bound to go on extending, a full-fledged high school and an intermediate college and a hospital are functioning at my birth place which I left long back. The work at Mathura has increased almost four times after I left it. Slowly and steadily other competent persons have started shouldering my responsibilities. I am confident that this work will go on increasing as time passes. It is the work of Risis which will go on spreading like Matsyavtar in this era of incarnation of Pragyavatar. I may or may not choose to remain in this physical frame for long but my invisible astral self will go on accomplishing all the work which Risis have entrusted to me.