Brahma Kumaris facts for kids
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| Formation | 1936 |
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| Founder | Lekhraj Kripalani |
| Type | Spiritual organisation |
| Legal status | Foundation |
| Purpose | Educational, Philanthropic, Spiritual, Meditation |
| Headquarters | Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India |
| Location |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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BK Shivani, Dadi Janki, Dadi Prakashmani and Dadi Hriday Mohini |
The Brahma Kumaris is a spiritual group that started in Hyderabad, Sindh, in the 1930s. The name Brahma Kumaris (Sanskrit: ब्रह्माकुमारी) means "Daughters of Brahma."
This group was founded by Lekhraj Kripalani. Women have always held important leadership roles within the organisation.
The Brahma Kumaris teach that it's important to see beyond labels like race, country, religion, or gender. They believe we are all souls, not just bodies. Through meditation, they help people understand this idea of being a "soul."
Their goal is to create a worldwide culture based on "soul-consciousness." Members believe that all souls are good by nature. They also believe that God is the source of all goodness in the world.
In 2019, the Brahma Kumaris had over 8,000 centers. These centers were spread across 110 countries. More than 1 million people were members of the organisation.
Contents
Early History of Brahma Kumaris
The Brahma Kumaris organisation began in Hyderabad, Sindh. This area was in north-west India at the time. Today, it is part of Pakistan.
At first, the group was called Om Mandali. Members would chant the word Om together. After this, they would have spiritual discussions. These discussions were similar to traditional satsangs (spiritual meetings). Early talks were often connected to the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture.
The founder, Lekhraj Khubchand Kirpilani, was a jewelry businessman. People also knew him as Om Baba. In 1935, he had many spiritual experiences and visions. After this, he decided to leave his business. He then started Om Mandali.
Lekhraj believed a greater power was working through him. Many people who attended his talks also had spiritual experiences. Most of the early members were women and children. They came from the Bhaibund caste. This was a group of wealthy merchants. Their husbands and fathers were often away on business trips.
After three years, Om Mandali became known for its focus on women. It also did not follow the traditional caste system. The group chose a 22-year-old woman, Radhe Pokardas Rajwani, as its president. She was known as "Om Radhe." Her management team included eight other women. People from any caste could join their meetings.
The group also supported young women's right to choose not to marry. Married women could also choose to live a celibate life. In traditional India, these choices were usually made by men. Because of these new ideas, a group of influential men formed the 'Anti-Om Mandali Committee'.
On June 21, 1938, this group protested outside Om Mandali's building. They tried to stop members from entering. This caused a lot of trouble in the community. Women attending the talks faced harsh words. There was even an attempt to burn down the building. The police made several arrests.
The protests led to legal action against both groups. On August 16, 1938, a local judge ordered Om Mandali to stop meeting. However, this ban was overturned on November 21, 1938. This happened after an appeal to the Sindh High Court. The judges criticized the first judge for punishing the victims. They said he had let his personal feelings affect his decision.
After these events, Om Mandali decided to leave Hyderabad. They moved their activities to Karachi in late 1938. About 300 members moved with them.
On March 31, 1939, the government set up a special group to look into Om Mandali's activities. When this group shared its findings, Om Radhe wrote a book. It was called Is this Justice? The book criticized the special group. It said the group had no legal basis and made decisions without hearing from Om Mandali.
In May 1939, the government used the group's findings to ban Om Mandali again. They called it an "unlawful association." But Om Mandali continued its meetings. The government did not enforce the ban. Perhaps because of this, the opposing committee then tried to hire someone to kill Om Baba. But the attempt failed.
Brahma Kumaris Expands
In May 1950, Om Mandali moved to Mount Abu in Rajasthan, India. There, they changed their name to Brahma Kumaris (BK) World Spiritual University. In 1952, they started offering a more organized teaching program. This included a seven-lesson course for the public.
The Brahma Kumaris began to expand internationally in the mid-1950s. From the 1970s, it first spread to London. Then it moved to other Western countries. You can often see their "Spiritual Museums" in major Indian cities.
In 1980, the Brahma Kumaris became a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). This was with the United Nations Department of Public Relations. In 1983, they gained a special status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This status allows them to advise the UN.
Most of the leaders and members of the Brahma Kumaris are women. For example, in the UK, only one-third of their 42 centers are run by men. About 80% of their members are women. As of February 2015, many centers are in followers' homes. Most members tend to be from middle or upper-class backgrounds.
Estimates for their worldwide membership have varied. It was about 35,000 in 1993. It grew to 400,000 in 1998 and 450,000 in 2000. However, some reports suggest that not all members fully followed the group's beliefs.
Brahma Kumaris Beliefs
The Brahma Kumaris group has moved away from its Hindu roots. They see themselves as a way to teach spiritual ideas, not just as a religion.
Understanding the Self
The Brahma Kumaris believe humans have two parts. One is the visible body, which includes things like our social status or possessions. The other part is a subtle energy called the soul. The soul's qualities show up in a person's actions. For example, if someone acts with love or peace, it shows the true nature of their soul.
Brahma Kumaris teach that the soul is a tiny point of spiritual light. It lives in the forehead of the body it uses. They believe all souls originally lived with God in a "Soul World." This world is full of light, peace, and quiet.
Brahma Kumaris teach that souls enter bodies to be born. This allows them to experience life and show their personality. Unlike some other Eastern traditions, Brahma Kumaris do not believe human souls can be reborn into animal bodies.
The Supreme Soul (God)
The Brahma Kumaris use the term "Supreme Soul" for God. They believe God is invisible and eternal. They see God as a point of living light, just like human souls. But God does not have a physical body. This means God does not go through birth, death, and rebirth.
God is seen as perfectly embodying all good qualities, powers, and values. They believe God is the loving Father of all souls. This is true no matter their religion, gender, or culture.
Karma and Actions
The Brahma Kumaris believe that every action a soul performs will have a matching result. They teach that what happens to a soul in its next life depends on how it acts in this life.
Through meditation, people can change their thoughts and actions. Brahma Kumaris believe this can help "cleanse" their "karmic account." This means they can live a better life now and in their next birth.
The Cycle of Time
The Brahma Kumaris do not believe the universe has a beginning or an end. They think it follows an eternal, natural 5,000-year cycle. This cycle has four main ages, called yugas. Each age lasts for 1250 years.
The ages are:
- The Golden Age (Satya Yuga)
- The Silver Age (Treta Yuga)
- The Copper Age (Dvapara Yuga)
- The Iron Age (Kali Yuga)
They also believe that at the end of the Iron Age, there will be a "Destruction." They believe this event will cleanse the Earth. Then, the cycle can begin again. The current time is sometimes called a "Confluence Age." It is seen as the meeting point between the Iron Age and the Golden Age.
The first half of the cycle (Golden and Silver ages) is seen as a time of "soul conscious living." Brahma Kumaris describe this as "heaven on earth." They believe humans are very good and live in peace with nature during this time. People naturally understand that they are souls.
The Brahma Kumaris believe that modern civilization will be transformed by major global events. These events include natural disasters. They see these big changes as part of a natural cycle of transformation.
When the organisation first started, they focused on the idea of a physical destruction of the world. This was based on visions of the founder, Dada Lekhraj. As the group grew, they saw World War II and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They also saw the Cold War. Because of this, the idea of destruction in their teachings changed. It became more about a process of transformation.
Brahma Kumaris Practices
Meditation
The Brahma Kumaris teach a type of meditation. It helps students purify their minds. People sit quietly and think positive thoughts. They affirm that the soul is eternal and pure. They also affirm the good nature of God.
The goal of BK meditation is to stay in a meditative state even during daily life. This is why meditation is usually taught and practiced with open eyes.
Good Wishes and Pure Feelings
The Brahma Kumaris believe everyone is a spiritual being. This leads to their practice of Shubbhawna (pure feelings) and Shubkamna (good wishes). They believe all negative feelings come from judging people by their outer labels. These labels include race, religion, gender, or looks.
But when people practice seeing the good in everyone, they see things differently. They see one Spiritual Parent and one human family. This replaces prejudice with values like respect, love, peace, and happiness. A key saying for the Brahma Kumaris is: When we change, the world changes. Because of this, they believe changing oneself is an important way to "serve the world."
Daily Study (Murli)
Brahma Kumaris students study the murli every day. The Hindi word murli means "flute." It is a spiritual text read aloud each morning in most BK centers worldwide. Brahma Kumaris believe the murlis come from messages received through spiritual mediums.
There are two types of murli:
- Sakar Murlis are believed to be the Supreme Soul speaking through Brahma Baba.
- Avyakt Murlis are spoken by BapDada. Brahma Kumaris believe BapDada is God and the soul of their founder. BapDada is believed to speak through a senior BK medium, Dadi Gulzar.
Avyakt murlis are still spoken at the BKs headquarters in India. Students must complete the Brahma Kumaris basic course. They also need to attend morning Murli class before visiting the headquarters.
The Brahma Kumaris believe God's purpose is to spiritually reawaken humanity. This means removing all sadness, evil, and negativity. They do not believe God created matter, as they see matter as eternal.
Pratibha Patil, a former President of India, once said she spoke to "Baba" (a term BKs use for God). This happened at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University in Mount Abu. Patil stated that Baba told her great responsibility was coming her way.
In his book "Ignited Minds," Abdul Kalam shared a special spiritual experience. This happened on February 3, 2002. He was visiting the Brahma Kumari Spiritual Academy in Mount Abu. Dr. Kalam saw something amazing. One of the disciples, Dhadhi Gurzar, became a medium for Shiva Baba, the deity of the Brahma Kumaris. Dr. Kalam noticed her personality changed. Her face became bright, and her voice deepened. She spoke about four treasures: Knowledge, Yoga, Virtue, and Service.
Lifestyle Choices
Brahma Kumaris suggest a certain lifestyle. This helps members gain more control over their physical senses. However, many people participate in a relaxed way. They choose which beliefs and practices they want to follow from this list:
- Complete celibacy, whether married or not.
- Sattvic vegetarianism. This is a strict lacto-vegetarian diet. It excludes eggs, onions, garlic, and spicy food. Food should only be cooked by oneself or other Brahma Kumaris members.
- Daily early morning meditation. This is from 4:00 to 4:45 am, called 'Amrit Vela'.
- Daily morning class around 6:30 am.
- Brahma Kumaris members often wear white clothes. This symbolizes purity.
- Students often prefer to spend time with other BK followers.
Brahma Kumaris Activities
Education Programs
The Brahma Kumaris traditionally offer an introduction to meditation course. It has seven two-hour sessions. These sessions teach their open-eyed meditation technique and their philosophy.
The organisation also offers courses in "positive thinking" and "self management leadership." They also teach "living values." They have many volunteer programs in prisons too.
With help from Vicente Fox, the Brahma Kumaris introduced their meditation and philosophy to the government of Mexico. This was through the "Self Management Leadership" (SML) program. The SML course is closely linked to the Brahma Kumaris philosophy. It is a key part of their management ideas. Ninety trained teachers ran programs. Through these, 25,000 top government officials participated.
Renewable Energy Projects
The Brahma Kumaris have started several environmental projects. Their work in solar and sustainable energy includes developing the world's largest solar cooker in 2007. They also built a solar thermal power plant in Talheti. This is at the base of Mount Abu, where their main headquarters is located. This 25-acre site is expected to produce 22,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily. The project received financial support from the Indian and German governments.
Sustainable Yogic Agriculture
Sustainable Yogic Agriculture (SYA) is a program that started in Northern India in 2009. This program is a team effort. It involves Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University in Gujarat, India. It also involves the Brahma Kumaris Rural Development wing. The Indian Government has publicly supported this program.
Narendra Modi's cabinet member, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, announced the government's support. With this support, the program was redesigned. It is now called Akhil Bharatiya Krushak Sashakatikaran Abhijan (ABKSA). It launched in December 2015. ABKSA goes beyond the first SYA program. It now includes teaching meditation and self-empowerment to farmers.
ABKSA has three main parts:
- A self-empowerment program for Indian farmers.
- Ongoing research to see if meditation can improve crop yields.
- Education on a mix of traditional and organic farming methods.
A basic idea behind the Brahma Kumaris environmental work is that thoughts and consciousness can affect nature.
In 2012, experiments were done with top agricultural universities in India. They wanted to see if Brahma Kumaris meditation, combined with organic farming, could improve crop growth. An article in the Journal of Asian Agri-History reviewed two studies on SYA. One study was by G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT). The other was by Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDUAT). The review reported that Brahma Kumaris meditation techniques improved seed growth. They also increased seed germination rates and the number of microbes in the soil.
Healthcare Services
In 1991, the Brahma Kumaris, Ashok Mehta, and the brothers Gulab and Khubchand Watumull opened the J Watumull Global Hospital. This hospital is in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. It provides medical care to local people.
UN Consultative Status
In 1998, the Brahma Kumaris gained a special consultative status with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. This allows them to participate in UN discussions and activities.
See also
In Spanish: Brahma Kumaris para niños
- Associated concepts
- Meditation
- Mediumship
- Millenarianism
- Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya
- General
