As soon as attributes of a br³hmaña awaken in the inner-self of an individual, saintliness is effortlessly expressed in his actions. A br³hmaña means a person who possesses the moral strength to overcome allurements and greed. He resists temptations and is happily contented in leading the life of an average citizen. I received guidance from Gurudev in the early days of my life how to cultivate these attributes of a br³hmaña. Thus, I was truly reborn as a br³hmaña; my physical birth from br³hmaña parents was of no significance. I might have assumed and shed human bodies carrying an animal-like soul during many lives in the past. I have no recollection how many times during this immortal and eternal journey, I had led sinful, animal-like lives, heavy-laden with sin and consequent suffering. But I feel blessed and blissful with the achievements of this life, which can be truly called of a br³hmaña. It is in this very birth that I have had the rare opportunity and joy of transforming myself into a divinised man in an animal body. A br³hmaña has a huge fund of surplus energy at his disposal, as he spends only a small fraction of it to satisfy his personal and family needs. Elephants, camels, buffaloes, have big stomachs. One can understand why they spend so much time in filling up their stomachs. A man with two dexterous and skillful hands, a mind capable of finding out thousand ways and means to earn necessary resources and cooperation of family and friends, should be able to earn his livelihood easily. Man has a very small stomach. Even peacocks, pigeons earn enough to meet their daily needs. There is thus no problem, as such, for man to earn his livelihood. It can be done within a few hours, leaving many spare hours for altruistic efforts. Persons in whom saintliness awakens think only as to how best and where to utilise their spare time, labour, resources and talents.

It does not need much time to find a reply to this question. The lives of illumined personalities provide us the demonstrations in this respect. One is free to accept any of these divinised personages as his role model. Only demons have unrestrained and insatiable cravings and desires. It is they who plan to amass unlimited wealth and resources and to enjoy them without restraint; but none, right from Hiranayaksha to Sikandar, was able to fulfil such a desire.

Divine man, Dev-m³nav, emerges at the meeting point between the soul and God. He has several other names like a great man, a saint, a reformer, a martyr etc. In ancient days such persons were known as RiÌis whose needs were the minimum and who applied the savings of their resources, money etc. in tasks which were essential to fulfil the needs of the Time Spirit. They helped in enhancing righteous tendencies. They did not allow the evil designs of those who were bent upon causing destruction to succeed. RiÌis mobilised all their efforts directly or indirectly in this direction. They did immense work by moving ahead in positive pursuits step by step and by accumulating a reservoir of excellence, drop by drop.

I fail to appreciate that devotion (bhaktº) in which there is emotional effervescence, without any moral restraint. I found the RiÌi path of life worth emulation and tried to mobilise all my time and resources in the revival of these traditions. Those engaged in constant single-pointed effort are able to amass huge wealth through small earnings over a time. A bird collects straws one by one and prepares a beautiful nest. It was my good fortune that I got an opportunity to revive RiÌi traditions and it has shown good results.

Different RiÌis had undertaken different assignments in the ancient times and had accomplished them satisfactorily. They had sufficient leisure and opportunities to do so. But in these days of emergency several things are to be done simultaneously with great speed. If a house is on fire, the work of rescuing children and valuable goods has to be done at the same time. I am facing a similar situation and different tasks which different RiÌis had entrusted to me were to be accomplished simultaneously. I have received inspiration, guidance and help from my great Gurudev and I have done whatever I was required to do with utmost willingness. The ancient story of Shri Krishna acting as charioteer and Arjun handling the Gandiva bow seems to have been repeated in my case.

A momentous task like transforming of an epoch is accomplished by the will, plan and power of God but the credit for it is given to liberated RiÌi-kalpa souls. This alone is the best reward for their s³dhan³, their competence. I also got the opportunity of getting this credit and I feel blessed and fulfilled. As I am able to clearly foresee even at this moment the events that are to happen in the distant future, I have no hesitation in making this statement.

None of the ancient RiÌis have their physical bodies now although their individual consciousnesses still persist in appropriate planes of manifestation. I was introduced to all of them and was asked to follow in their foot-prints, establish an Âïram at Shantikunj, Haridwar as a symbol of Dev³tm³ Him³laya and execute the programme of revival of RiÌi traditions in such a way that the transition to the new era may be as smooth as possible.

RiÌis, great men with awakened souls, who had once lived physically in the Him³layas and about whom Gurudev had referred in my third pilgrimage to the Him³layas, were Bhagirath (Gangotri); Parashuram (Yamunotri); Charak (Kedarnath); Vyas (Badrinath); Yagyavalkya (Triyugi-Narayan); Narad (Gupta Kashi); Adya Shankracharya (Jyotirmath); Jamdagni (Uttrakashi); Vashistha (Dev Prayag); Pippalada, Soot-Shounik, Lakshman, Bharat and Shastrughna (Rishikesh); and Daksha Prajapati, Kanada, Sapt-RiÌis including Vishvamitra (Haridwar). I was given glimpses of the lives and works of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sant Gyaneshwar and Tulsidas and was directed to spread the parivr³jak dharmacakra (reawakening movement) of Bhagv³n Buddha throughout the world in the light of present circumstances through the medium of music, sankºrtan and discourses of Pragy³ Puraña and thus enable Pragy³vat³r to fulfil the latter half of the mission of Buddh³vat³r. Gurudev had already given a hint during my pilgrimage to the Him³layas that just as gymnasiums, Mahaveer temples were got established by me, in one of my earlier births as Samartha Ramdas, I have to give them new forms as Pragy³ sansth³ns, Pragy³pºÚhas, CarañapºÚhas, Gy³n-mandirs, Sv³dhy³ya mañÃals etc.

The direction of transforming Shantikunj as a symbolic representative of Dev³tm³ Him³laya was not an easy task. It needed labour, money and cooperation of the colleagues. The souls of RiÌis residing in the Him³laya in astral bodies had to be summoned, invoked and installed here. Temples of various gods have been built at various places but living installation of the souls of all the RiÌis at one place cannot be found elsewhere. It is still more important to know that not only mere idols of RiÌis 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 and Brahmavarchas represent the energies of all the RiÌis.

To commemorate His victory over Lanka and establish R³m-r³jya, Bhagv³n Ram had built the temple of Rameshwaram and installed the idol of Shiva. It is my good fortune that I had got an opportunity to build a temple and install the living soul of Dev³tm³ Him³laya in Shantikunj as a living symbol of my single-pointed pursuit (param puru̳rtha) towards the ushering in of the new era. The grand temple of Dev³tm³ Him³laya can be seen here along with five Prayags, five Kashis, five sacred rivers, five sacred lakes as well as the respective places of tapasy³ of the RiÌis. This is thus a unique temple. Those who have not visited the difficult regions of the higher Him³layas can have the satisfaction of having a view of Dev³tm³ Him³laya in miniature at 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 tapaïcary³ 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 Bhagv³n Shiva gifted him a ParaÌu (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 ParaÌu in radically transforming the beliefs, feelings, thoughts and activities of innumerable persons.

Bhagirath had performed rigorous tapaïcary³ 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 tapaïcary³ and 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 Bhagv³n Shiva. Today, there is an all-pervading famine of faith which can only be removed by Gy³n Gang³, 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 RiÌi had undertaken thorough research of the inaccessible region of Kedarnath in the Him³layas to find out rare medicinal herbs which helped in healing. It is described in the scripture that Charak RiÌi 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 RiÌi traditions of Charak.

MaharÌi Vyas had written Pur³ñas 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 Pur³ñas, 108 UpniÌads, six Darïans, twenty-four Gºt³s, Ârañyaks, Br³hmañas 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 Pragy³ Pur³ñas are a novel creation in which the philosophy of UpniÌads 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 s³dhaks are imparted training in haÚhayoga, k³y³kalpa, ³sans and pr³ñ³y³m. 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 s³dhan³ 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-kunà (hearth) in an inaccessible place in the Him³layas 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 G³yatrº mantra, a creator of a new world. Sapta-RiÌis including Vishvamitra had in the ancient times performed tapaïcary³ on the sanctified land on which at present Shantikunj campus stands and had attained the grace of Âdya-ïakti G³yatrº. I was inspired by Gurudev to build an ashram at this very land. The subtle vibrations of creative s³dhan³ of Vishvamitra are still intensely active here. Mah³pragy³ has been given the status of Yug-Ïakti here and by installing idols of its 24 primary emanations, the message of Âdya-ïakti (Primordial Creative Power) of vasudhaiva kuÚu®baka® and of steadfast and pure wisdom and righteousness was proclaimed from here. Several s³dhaks have performed G³yatrº anuÌÚh³ns and have grown spiritually. The Vishvamitra tradition is being revived here by conducting research about the power of sound and the technique of S³vitrº.

All-round training to v³nprasthºs was given in the ancient times in Gurukul Ârañyak of Jamdagni which was located at Uttarkashi. Facilities were provided for training of wise, mature and aspiring persons in the performance of s³dhan³ and penance. In Shantikunj arrangements have been made to impart training to parivr³jak v³nprasthºs and public service workers. Children are imparted training in moral education in this Âïram’s Gurukul vidy³laya and all-round training is being given to s³dhaks in Yug-shilpº vidy³laya.

DevarÌi Narada had performed tapaïcary³ 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-Nirm³ñ music training school of Shantikunj has trained thousands of parivr³jaks, who undertake tours in their regions and move in a group in jeeps in furtherance of Narad tradition.

Vashishtha had preached Yog-VaïiÌÚha 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 tapaïcary³ at Jyotirmath and had established four dh³ms (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-cetn³ is now being conducted by Shantikunj through the network of G³yatrº ÏaktipºÚhas, Pragy³ sansth³ns, Sv³dhy³ya mañÃals etc. which have been established throughout the country in the tradition of Adya Shakaracharya.

RiÌi Pipplada had conducted research near Rishikesh on the effect of food on mind. He maintained himself on the fruits of pipal tree and attained self-realisation 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 G³yatrº anuÌÚh³ns. Even thereafter, I have been living on boiled foodgrains and vegetables. Amrit³ïan experiments are being conducted in Shantikunj in this respect. Soot-Shounik RiÌis used to hold sessions of discourses at Rishikesh by narrating ancient tales relating to the scriptures. The discourses of Pragy³ Pur³ña in the present times have become so popular that people call it Yug-Pur³ña. Four volumes of Pragy³ Pur³ña 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 RiÌi 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 parivr³jaks of Buddha had undertaken extensive tours to spread the message of dharma (religion) throughout the world. In Shantikunj, parivr³jaks are being trained for spreading the message of divine culture throughout the world. In India itself about a lakh Pragy³-putras are engaged in this work of spreading Yug-cetn³ 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 driÌya 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 Âïram is so surcharged with piety and righteousness that it automatically attracts people towards spirituality. This is due to the presence here of RiÌis 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 tapaïcary³ performed here by the RiÌis. Lav-Kush were brought up and trained in Valmiki Ashram, Bharat in Kandva Âïram, Rukmini performed tapaïcary³ in Badrinarayan and gave birth to Pradyumna who, in valour and wisdom, was equal to his father, Shri Krishna. Pavan and Anjali gave birth to Bajarangabali in the Âïram of Poosha. These are miraculous boons of tapaïcary³, s³dhan³ performed in this holy region of the Him³layas.

There are several instances of advantages accruing to faithfilled persons from contacts with saints and by visiting holy places. A drop of water of sv³ti nakÌattra falling in an oyster-shell becomes a pearl. It becomes vanïalocan when it falls on a bamboo tree and camphor when it meets a plantain tree. A piece of iron when it touches p³ras becomes gold. My guide, Gurudev, has been living since several centuries in his astral body at Nandanvan in the Him³layas, which is known as heaven of the earth, the gateway of which is Haridwar, wherein Shantikunj is situated. He summoned me to the Him³layas 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 Him³layas with an immensely augmented store of energy.

I often invite awakened souls, Pragy³-putras, to Shantikunj to undergo training or perform s³dhan³ to acquire competence to play the role akin to the bears and monkeys of Tret³ Yug, of gv³l-b³ls of Dv³par 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 G³yatrº Mah³puraïcarañas in both the navr³trºs, daily jap by s³dhaks in this s³dhan³ Ârañyak, all combine to create a sanctified divine environment here, as one finds in Malayagiri by the sweet smell of sandal wood. Even without doing s³dhan³ a person feels unalloyed joy as if his entire time here has been spent in tapaïcary³ and s³dhan³. Shantikunj G³yatrº Tºrtha is a sacred SiddhapºÚha because the RiÌis 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 my 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, RiÌi traditions have been adopted and revived by a br³hmaña 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.

1: THE NEED FOR IN-DEPTH SURVEY OF MY PRESENT LIFE SOJOURN
2: THE SUNRISE OF MY LIFE’S FORTUNE
3: GUIDELINES BY GURUDEV ABOUT MY FUTURE LINE OF ACTION
4: FIRST CALL OF GURUDEV – TESTS AT EVERY STEP
5: PILGRIMAGE AND PROJECTION OF THE FIELD OF WORK
6: SOWING SEEDS FOR SUBLIMATION OF ATTITUDES AND THOUGHTS
7: REVELATION - TECHNIQUE OF THE SUBLIME TRANSFORMATION
8: SOWING THE SEEDS OF RIßI TRADITIONS
9: MIND OF A BRÂHMANA – ACTIONS OF A RIßI
10: VISIBLE ATTAINMENTS OF SÂDHANÂ (SIDDHI)
11: FOURTH AND FINAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE HIMÂLAYAS
12: TRANSFORMATION OF THE PHYSICAL INTO ASTRAL