Bhagawati Devi Sharma
| Bhagwati Devi Sharma भगवती देवी शर्मा | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Bhagwati Devi Sharma September 20, 1926 Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Died |
19 September 1994 (aged 67) Shantikunj, Haridwar. |
| Guru | Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya |
| Known for | Cofounder, All World Gayatri Pariwar |
Bhagwati Devi Sharma was an Indian social reformer and a great devotee of Gayatri Mantra. As a cofounder of All World Gayatri Pariwar she started various social upliftment programs and successfully organised a series of Ashwamedha Yajnas. She also published Bhashya of four Vedas.
Early life
Bhagawati Devi Sharma was born on 20 September 1926 in Agra. She was the youngest daughter of Jaswantrao Sharma and Rampyari Sharma. She had religious nature since her childhood. At an age of four years her mother died. In 1945 she got married to Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya. Shriram lived in Awalkhera in Agra. He had actively participated in Indian freedom struggle. He was publishing a Hindi magazine Akhand Jyoti from Mathura for last few years.
Gayatri Tapobhumi
Right after marriage she started managing arrangements of publication work. She also used to help Acharyaji in replying to the letters of readers. With spreading circulation of magazine, number of visitors also started increasing. As, Akhand Jyoti Sansthan (publication office of magazine) was not enough to accommodate increasing number of visitors, it was decided that there must be a dedicated centre, where regular camps of spiritual practices can be conducted. Acharyaji purchased land on Mathura Vrindavan road with all of his savings and was left with no money in hand for construction. At this critical point of time, Bhagwati Devi came forward and donated all of her jewelry for the purpose.[1]
Regular camps started from 1953 in this center named as Gayatri Tapobhumi. After Sahasra Kundiya Yajna of 1958, activities increased manifold. By then members of organisation had started calling her as Mataji. During Himalaya visit in 1960, Acharyaji handed over management of Gayatri Tapobhumi to her.
Shantikunj
In 1971, head office of All World Gayatri Pariwar shifted from Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mathura to a newer establishment Shantikunj in Haridwar. Camps for higher levels of spiritual practices were started at Shantikunj. After death of Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya in 1990, responsibility of organisation came on her shoulders. She took over editorial work of Akhand Jyoti. She also led a team of scholars to publish Bhashya of four Vedas as instructed by Acharyaji.
Devsanskriti Digvijaya
On the occasion of Gayatri Jayanti, 1992, she announced the program of Devsanskriti Digvijaya in a grand Shapath Samaroh (oath taking). Under this program, a series of Ashvamedha Yajna had to be conducted across the world. These Yajnas were to be performed without conducting any violence against a general perception of animal sacrifice in Ashwamedha Yajnas.[2] First program in this series was organised in Jaipur. Series continued in various cities of India and abroad in succeeding two years. She attended these programs despite her deteriorating health. Last program attended by her in this series was in Chitrakoot. Yajna was performed on 1008 fire altars and attended by over a million devotees.[3]
She died on 19 September 1994 in Shantikunj Haridwar. Her organisation All World Gayatri Pariwar is still continuing various social upliftment and women emancipation programs started by her.