Sahaja Yoga facts for kids

Sahaja Yoga is a spiritual movement started in 1970 by Nirmala Srivastava (1923–2011). Her followers call her Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, which means Revered Immaculate Mother, or simply "Mother." People who practice Sahaja Yoga are called Sahaja yogis.

Followers believe that during meditation, they can experience a special state called "self-realization." This happens when their kundalini energy awakens. They also describe this as a state of "thoughtless awareness," where their minds become very calm and quiet.

Shri Mataji taught that Sahaja Yoga is a pure, universal religion that brings together ideas from all other religions. She believed she was a special divine being, like the Holy Spirit or the Adi Shakti (a great mother goddess in Hindu tradition). She said she came to help humanity. Most of her followers believe this too.

What Does the Name Mean?

The word 'Sahaja' comes from Sanskrit. 'Saha' means 'with', and 'ja' means 'born'. So, it can mean "innate" or "born with you." This refers to a natural purity or enlightenment that is already inside us.

Yoga means union with the divine. It also describes a spiritual journey or a deep state of spiritual connection.

Together, 'Sahaja Yoga' means something like "spontaneous union" or "born with you union." It suggests that the kundalini energy is already inside us and can awaken naturally, without a lot of effort. The word 'Sahaja' can also mean 'comfortable', 'natural', or 'uncomplicated' in Hindi.

A Brief History

Before starting Sahaja Yoga, Nirmala Srivastava was known as a spiritual healer. In 1970, she began sharing her teachings in India with a small group of followers.

Later, she moved to London, UK, with her husband. There, the movement grew and spread across Europe. By the mid-1980s, it reached North America. In 1989, Shri Mataji visited Russia and Eastern Europe for the first time.

She never charged money for her classes. She believed that her teachings were a birthright for everyone and should be free. As of 2021, Sahaja Yoga has centers in at least 69 countries around the world.

Beliefs and Practices

Sahaja Yoga teaches that it is different from other types of yoga or meditation. It focuses on achieving self-realization right away through kundalini awakening. Other methods might involve many physical exercises or techniques first.

Followers believe this self-realization is possible because of Nirmala Srivastava's presence, sometimes even through her photograph. The main teachings and practices of Sahaja Yoga come from Hinduism. They include ideas from mystical traditions and Indian customs.

However, there are also some ideas from Christianity, like the idea of a battle between good and evil. Shri Mataji's teachings also include ideas from other religions, spiritual paths, and even some modern scientific ideas.

Kundalini Energy

Kundalini awakening is a very important goal in Indian mystic traditions. It was often thought to be rare and difficult to achieve. Sahaja Yoga is special because it claims to offer a quick and easy way to awaken this energy.

Meditation Practice

Meditation is a key practice in Sahaja Yoga. The main goal of their meditation technique is to reach a state called "thoughtless-awareness." In this state, the mind is calm and free from constant thoughts.

Role of Women

In Sahaja Yoga, Nirmala Srivastava often spoke about women's roles. She saw women as important in the home, focusing on family and being supportive. She believed women are valued as mothers and wives.

Some of her teachings suggest that women should be "docile" and "domestic." While she said women are not inferior, she described men as the "head of the family" and women as the "heart." She felt that society had lost respect for women. However, she did not agree with Western feminism, seeing it as moving away from what she believed was women's true nature.

Family Life

Families in Sahaja Yoga have a special way of life. From a young age, children learn about the movement's beliefs and Nirmala Srivastava's importance. They take part in daily rituals like meditation, foot-soaking, and devotional singing. This is similar to how children in many other religions learn about their faith within their families and communities.

The Subtle System: Chakras and Nadis

Chakra Kundalini Diagram

Sahaja Yoga teaches that besides our physical body, we have a "subtle body." This subtle body has nadis (energy channels) and chakras (energy centers). Nirmala Srivastava connected these traditional ideas to modern science. For example, she linked the Sushumna nadi to the parasympathetic nervous system.

Chakras are not physical parts of the body. However, in many ancient meditation practices, they are believed to be important energy points in the subtle body.

Organization

Vishwa Nirmala Dharma (which means Universal Pure Religion) is the official organization for Sahaja Yoga. It is also known as Sahaja Yoga International. This organization is officially registered in many countries, including Colombia, the United States, and Austria. In Spain, it is registered as a religion.

Membership

There are no exact numbers for how many people are part of Sahaja Yoga. In 2001, it was thought that about 10,000 people were core members worldwide. Another 100,000 people practiced it more casually.

The Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Sahaja Yoga World Foundation says that Sahaja Yoga centers are in over 140 countries. A news article from 2011 also mentioned centers in 140 countries.

International Sahaja Public School

The International Sahaja Public School is in Dharamsala, India. It was founded in 1990. Around 250 international students attend the school each year, and it accepts children from age 6.

Yuvashakti (Youth Power)

Sahaja Yoga has a youth movement called "Yuvashakti." This name comes from Sanskrit words meaning "Youth" and "Power."

Yuvashakti takes part in events like the World Youth Conference. They also work with groups like TakingITGlobal to discuss global issues and find solutions. In 2000, Yuvashakti helped women from poorer communities find work as part of a "Civil Society & Governance Project."

Vishwa Nirmal Prem Ashram

The Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram is a special project by Vishwa Nirmala Dharma (Sahaja Yoga International). It is located in Noida, Delhi, India, and opened in 2003. This ashram helps women and girls by teaching them meditation and other skills. These skills help them recover from difficult experiences.

How it is Funded

The founder, Nirmala Srivastava, said that the methods for practicing Sahaja Yoga should be free. She believed that you cannot pay for spiritual enlightenment.

However, the official Sahaja Yoga website states there is a fee to attend international pujas (religious ceremonies). These fees help cover the costs of these events.

Different Views

Some people have different views about Sahaja Yoga. They might describe it in ways that the followers find upsetting. These discussions often focus on how the group is organized and how members live their lives.

Some former members have shared their experiences, saying they found their time in the movement challenging. They might have felt that the group had a lot of influence over their lives. However, many former members also say they gained positive experiences from being part of Sahaja Yoga.

Organizations in some countries, like Belgium, have looked into Sahaja Yoga. They have sometimes advised caution, especially regarding how new members are invited to join. However, Sahaja Yoga has also won some legal cases that stated it was "not a cult."

A reporter from the Evening Standard attended a Sahaja Yoga event. He noted that the group seemed open and allowed him to talk freely with anyone. He felt there was no aggressive pressure to recruit new members.

The Austrian Ministry for Environment, Youth and Family has stated that Sahaja Yoga sees Nirmala Srivastava as an authority whose teachings should not be questioned.