Shriram Sharma Acharya

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

Pundit Shriram Sharma Acharya (September 20 1911 – June 2 1990) was a seer, sage and a visionary of the New Golden Era - Founder of All World Gayatri Pariwar.

Pundit Shriram Sharma Acharya undoubtedly belongs to a category of divine rishis. His life and work represent a marvellous synthesis of the noble thoughts and deeds of great personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi, Socrates and Confucius.

Rev. Pt. Shriram Sharma was a rishi of the present age whose heart pulsated with compassion for all beings. Every moment of his life was devoted to the welfare of people and the refinement of the moral and cultural environment. He also pioneered the revival of spirituality, creative integration of the modern and ancient sciences and religion relevant in the challenging circumstances of the present times. His personality was a harmonious blend of a saint, spiritual scientist, yogi, philosopher, psychologist, writer, reformer, freedom fighter, researcher, eminent scholar and visionary.

Contents

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Biography

Acharya Shriram Sharma (revered as “Gurudev” by his disciples) was a great devotee of Goddess Gayatri and had attained perfection in realizing its utmost potential. He successfully practiced and mastered the highest kinds of sadhanas described in Hinduism. He also deciphered the hidden science of Tantras. He attained the supreme knowledge of the philosophy and science of the Gayatri Mantra and yoga. He pioneered experiments on simple sadhanas, which could be easily pursued by the common masses. He initiated programs of spiritual and intellectual refinement of millions of people without any discrimination of religion, caste, creed, gender, or social status. He propagated this knowledge for the enlightenment of people across the globe.

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Birth and Early life

Shriram Sharma was born on the 20th September 1911 as the son of Pt. Roopkishor Sharma and Mata Dankunvari Devi in Anvalkheda (Dist. Agra, India). Even in his childhood, Acharyaji showed that he was concerned for the welfare of common masses as he took a brave step of nursing an old “untouchable” woman suffering from leprosy against the strong disapproval and displeasure of his family.

The Great freedom fighter and founder of Banaras Hindu University, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya solemnized his sacred thread ceremony (Yagyopaveet) and initiated him in Gayatri Mantra.

At the age of fifteen, his Spiritual Guru (initiator), a great Himalayan Yogi, Sarveshwaranandji appeared in his vision during the worship in the astral form. As per Sarveshwarandji's instruction, Gurudev performed twenty-four lakh times (2.4 million) recitation of Gayatri Mantra each for twenty-four years (24 mahapurashcarañas). He visited Himalayas four times for higher spiritual attainments and at the same time took active part in India's freedom movement.

Pundit Shriram Sharma Acharyaji visited Shri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry, Maharshi Raman's Ashram at Tiruvannamalai, Santiniketan of Shri Rabindranath Tagore and worked with Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. He was sent to jail thrice for his participation in freedom movement, where he came in close contact with eminent leaders of Indian freedom movement. Fellow freedom fighters nicknamed him as "Shriram Matt" (the Intoxicated ) on account of his dedication and devotion.

Acharya Sharmaji was a dedicated freedom fighter who had sincerely participated in the movement of India’s independence. He did not accept any award or citation in his life-time. In 1992, the Govt. of India had released a postal stamp in his honour posthumously.

In 1943, he married Bhagwati Devi, and ever since, the saintly couple dedicatedly pursued the noble mission of spiritual upliftment of humankind.

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The Yearning for Literature

Pundit Shriram Sharma Acharya's spiritual wisdom had its reach into the deepest depths of the human mind. He also had the unique ability to feel the pains of humanity in his heart. As a result, his aim was to diagnose the root cause of the ailing state of the world today and enable the upliftment of society. Acharyaji recognized the crisis of faith, people’s ignorance of the powers of the inner self, and the lack of righteous attitude and conduct.

Realizing the potential of inspirational literature and its importance in sparking an intellectual evolution, he had chosen writing as the principal mode towards uprooting the evil tendencies and blind faith from people’s minds and arousing the indwelling wisdom, strength and spiritual bliss.

Shriram Sharma initiated the unique movement of Vichara Kranti (thought revolution) with the very first issue of “Akhand Jyoti”. By 1960, he had translated the 4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 6 Darshanas, 18 Puranas, Yogavashishtha, and hundreds of Aranyakas and Brahmanas in Hindi with lucid commentaries to enable the masses to understand the knowledge contained in them. The translation was also aimed at eliminating misconceptions, superstitions and blind customs, which were propagated in the medieval era by deliberate misinterpretations of the Vedas and other scriptures. This invaluable contribution to the world of knowledge and human culture was highly acclaimed and appreciated by savants and saints like Dr. S. Radhakrishana and Acharya Vinoba Bhave; the distinguished title of “Vedmurti” was conferred upon him in its recognition.

Understanding the modern day psychology of the people, and recognizing the non-relevance, in the present times, of the mythical characters and the background of life depicted in the Puranas, he wrote “Pragya Purana” in the narrative and conversational style of the ancient Puranas to preach the eternal principles of happy, progressive and ideal life with practical guidance relevant to the modern age.

He wrote about 3500 books on almost all aspects of human life, whether it be the elucidation of the esoteric aspects of the subtle science of spirituality, research directions on brain and consciousness, discussions on child psychology and family institutions, guidelines on mental, emotional and physical health, and cheerful attitude in daily life. In his comprehensive and penetrating analysis we find no place for delusion, confusion or misconception. Through his literature he strikes a chord of empathy in the reader. The message conveyed in the literature touches the reader’s heart with deep sensitiveness, producing a sea of change in his attitudes and ideologies.

His discourses manifested similar perfection of eloquence. The simplicity of language in his orations and his ability to establish a rapport with the audience had a hypnotizing effect on the listener’s mind. The spiritual radiance and integrity of his character, faultless synchronicity of his deeds with the principles he preached and the purity of his sentiments added to the motivating power of his pen and voice.

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A Global Movement

On the completion of the 24 mahapurashcarañas, Pt. Shriram Sharma established Gayatri Tapobhumi at Mathura, India in 1953. He organized a grand Gayatri Yagna in 1958, which served as a base to launch the Yug Nirman Yojna, a global movement for moral, cultural, intellectual and spiritual refinement and reconstruction. The objectives of this movement are to reform the individual, the family and social values of mankind and to change the current ideologies and concepts of morality and social structure for a better tomorrow.

Through various activities at Mathura, including the performance of yagnas on large scale, Acharyaji gathered a team of dedicated men and women. Thus the organization called “Gayatri Pariwar” was born.

As per the plans projected under the Yug Nirman Yojna, the mission has contributed to the upliftment of the personal, familial and social aspects of human life. Its major activities include mass awareness and education on cultural values through small and large scale Gayatri Yajnas and collective projects of social transformation with people’s voluntary participation. Propagation of ideal marriages without dowry and extravagant shows has been a significant and trend-setting achievement, especially in the Indian context. Other achievements include upliftment of the social status of women and an integrated and self-reliant development of villages.

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The Establishment of Shantikunj

According to the pressing need of the present times, he developed Shantikunj, as spiritual center for implementing the teachings of Great Rishis (Saints) into practice. He established Brahmvarchas Research Institute at Haridwar, a center for inter communion of science and religion. The prime aim of establishing the Brahmavarchas Research Institute is to establish the ancient Indian Yogic Philosophy as the science and art of living.

Gurudev pioneered the resurrection of the rishi culture by simultaneous renaissance and expansion of the reformative and constructive endeavours of the leading rishis of the Vedic Age. He reviewed the immortal contributions of the divine culture of India to the rest of the world and endeavoured for nurturing and re-establishing the foundational elements of the Indian Culture and the roots of its divine nature in new scientific light through several activities of the Gayatri Pariwar.

As a part of his intensive study of the Indian culture and religious philosophy, he rediscovered the sociological and psychological importance of pilgrimage. He taught us how the ancient glory and the real purpose of the tirthas (sacred places of pilgrimage) could be revived in the present times for the welfare of the masses.

The Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (Divine Culture University) recently inaugurated under the auspices of Shantikunj is an instrument for the revival of the Divine Indian Culture as per his vision.

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Scientific Spirituality

Gurudev was convinced that modern man could not be persuaded to accept the values of life patronized by ancient spirituality until and unless these were proved to be scientifically viable for the welfare of the individual and the society. This was indeed a Herculean task, given the trends of intellectual and scientific evolution over past millennium and almost simultaneous deterioration of religion and culture, which had resulted in a near total neglect of spirituality in the human life and the emergence of blind faiths, misconceptions, and prejudices. The Brahmavarchas Research Institute founded by him in 1979 near Shantikunj stands as a living example of how his ideas could be implemented and researched in the modern laboratories.

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The Dawn of the New Era

During 1984-1986, he carried out the unique spiritual experiment of sukshmikaraña, meaning sublimation of vital force and physical, mental and spiritual energies. He authored a special set of 20 books (termed Revolutionary Literature or Krantidharmi Sahitya) highlighting the future of the world and conveying the message of the dawn in of the New Era of Truth during the 21st Century. On 2nd June 1990, he voluntarily shed his physical sheath.

Thereafter, his soulmate revered Mata Bhagavati Devi guided the series of Ashwamedha Yagyas, which accelerated the pace of global expansion of the mission during the critical juncture of the decade of change of a millennium and change of an era. She too joined Acharya Sharma in the subliminal domains of divinity after leaving her physical body on the 19th September 1994.

The divine light of knowledge and human glory kindled by them continues to illuminate the excelling path of their great mission under the auspices of Shantikunj and promises the ushering of “The Age of Truth” in the years to come.

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Selected Works by Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

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External links


--Angel 19:04, 30 May 2006 (CDT)

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