Shriram Sharma

Shriram Sharma Acharya (20 September 1911 - 2 June 1990), also known as Vedmurti Taponishtha Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, was a respected teacher who worked to help people think and feel better about life. He believed in mixing science and spiritual ideas to help everyone.

He started his journey when he was just fifteen years old, spending a lot of time repeating special words called Gayatri mantras to feel closer to something bigger than himself. Later, he helped India during its fight for freedom from British rule.

Shriram Sharma created groups like the All World Gayatri Pariwar and the Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan to teach others about good values and traditions. He wrote over 3,000 books and gave many talks about how to make the world a better place. His famous saying, "Hum badlenge, Yug badlega. Hum sudhrenge, Yug sudhrega" ("We will change, the era will change. We will improve, the era will improve"), still encourages people today to work together for a brighter future.

Life

Shriram Sharma Acharya, known to his followers as "Gurudev," was born in a village in Uttar Pradesh, India, on September 20, 1911. Even as a young boy, he showed care for others and a strong interest in spiritual matters. At nine years old, he began learning a special spiritual chant called the Gayatri mantra.

At fifteen, during a festival, Shriram had a special spiritual experience that guided his life's path. He spent many years in deep spiritual practice and also took part in India's struggle for independence from British rule. After India gained independence, he focused on helping people improve their lives through spiritual teachings.

Shriram made several journeys to the Himalayas, where he sought guidance and practiced spiritual disciplines. In 1953, he started an important spiritual center in Mathura. He began a movement called "Yug Nirman Yojana," which aimed to improve society through spiritual values. He also started a magazine called "Akhand Jyoti" to share his ideas.

In 1972, he established a spiritual center in Haridwar called Shantikunj. He founded a research center in 1979 to explore the connection between science and spirituality. Shriram dedicated his life to helping people recognize their inner strength and live with spiritual values. He passed away peacefully on June 2, 1990, while chanting the Gayatri mantra.

Works

Gayatri and Yajna

Shriram Sharma Acharya worked to solve big problems by focusing on deep, hidden causes. He used special spiritual practices called Gayatri Sadhana and Yajna to improve both the outer and inner world. He wrote a big book named “Gayatri Mahavijnan” about the meaning and science of the Gayatri mantra. He also brought back the practice of yajna, making it easy for everyone to join.

Many big and small yajnas have been held since the start of the Yug Nirman Yojana. One important event was the “Sahastranshu Brahm Yajna” in 1953, after he finished 24 big spiritual tasks. From 1955, many different yajnas began, like the Mahamratuojaya yajna and Rudra yajna. In 1956, 108 Kundiya Yajnas and a grand Narmedha Yajna were held. In 1957, a big project called “Brahmastra Anusthana” started, where people together said the Gayatri Mantra 2.4 million times and made 2.4 million offerings in yajnas. This was to help protect people from bad events. In 1958, a big Sahastra Kundiya Gayatri MahaYagya was done to finish the Brahmastra Anusthana. Many new Vedic yajnas have been done since then, and the teachings about yajna have been made easier for everyone to understand and do.

The Authority of Gayatri

Shriram Sharma Acharya believed in actions based on duty rather than social class. He let people from all backgrounds, including those who were not allowed to take part before, join the Gayatri Mantra and become priests for rituals.

Rights of Women to the Gayatri Mantra_

In the past, women were not usually allowed to say certain holy words. But Shriram Sharma Acharya brought this back by letting women say the Gayatri Mantra and become priests too. Even though many traditional leaders disagreed, he helped many women across the country do this. He wrote about why women should be allowed to join these holy practices, using old holy books to show his point.

Revival of Rishi traditions

Shriram Sharma Acharya brought back the old ways of wise teachers called Rishis. He did this at Gayatri Tirth – Shantikunj. He followed the ways of many Rishis:

• Rishi Vishvamitra: He focused on the Gayatri Mantra, just like Vishvamitra did.
• Rishi Bhagiratha: He worked hard to bring wise knowledge to solve modern problems.
• Brahmarshi Vasishtha: He helped make society united and followed a big plan for change.
• Rishi Yajnavalkya: He made yajnas easy for everyone to do and studied how they help health and nature.
• Rishi Parashurama: He started campaigns to bring back good behavior and thinking.
• Rishi Vyasa: He made old holy books easier to understand and wrote many books to help people.
• Rishi Patanjali: He promoted yoga for health and well-being.
• Rishi Charaka: He studied old medicines and helped find new ways to treat sickness.
• Rishi Pippalada: He taught about healthy eating and inner strength.
• Rishi Kanada: He started a place to study how science and spirituality mix together.
• Rishi Valmiki: He used poetry to teach good feelings and kindness.
• Rishi Suta-Shaunaka: He told stories to inspire people.
• Rishi Narada: He used stories, talks, and music to guide people.
• Rishi Jamadagni: He taught young people good values through special tasks.
• Rishi Bharadvaja: He helped make Shantikunj a special place for learning.
• Adi Shankaracharya: He set up many places for spiritual learning.
• Bhagavan Buddha: He worked to clear up wrong ideas and beliefs.

Yug Nirman Yojana (Campaign for Era Transformation)

The Yug Nirman Yojana is a project to bring people together by helping them find their inner strength. It focuses on improving life for individuals, families, and communities. Activities include big and small Gayatri yajnas, projects to help society, and promoting good marriages without unfair payments. It also works to raise the status of women, teach children good values, stop harmful traditions, help people stay healthy, and support villages to become strong and self-reliant.

Scientific spirituality

Shriram Sharma Acharya believed that people would only accept spiritual values if they could see how they help in real life. He started the Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan to study many topics, like old medicine, the science of holy words and rituals, and how yoga helps health. This work continues today through Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya.

Writings

Shriram Sharma Acharya wrote over 3,000 books on many subjects, like religion, spirituality, health, and how to improve society. He made his books easy to understand and affordable for everyone. He translated many old holy books into simple language so more people could read them. He also wrote special books called “Pragya Puranas” that explain deep ideas through stories.

He started a magazine called Akhand Jyoti in 1938, which is still published today in many languages. It talks about how to use spirituality in daily life. He also started other magazines focusing on family, society, and helping women.

Teachings and Philosophy – Manifesto of “Yugnirman Satsankalpa” (Solemn Pledge of Reconstruction of Era)

Shriram Sharma Acharya taught that changing ourselves can help change our families, and then our whole community. He believed that true spiritual ideas, not tied to any specific religion, can guide us to do good and build a better world. He created a special promise called the Yugnirman Satsankalp for everyone in the Gayatri Pariwar to follow.

This promise includes ideas like believing in fairness and justice, taking care of our health, learning good things, controlling our thoughts and actions, and treating everyone with respect. It also talks about being honest, responsible, and kind. The promise encourages people to focus on doing what is right, not just what is easy or successful. It teaches that everyone deserves respect, no matter who they are, and that we can all help make the world a better place by working together.

Awards and Recognitions

Shriram Sharma was honored with many awards for his work. In 1964, he was called the “Light of India” at a meeting in Ludhiana. In 1976, he became a member of India's important Sanskrit Parishad.

In 1988, the government of Uttar Pradesh gave him special certificates and benefits, but he chose to return them and donate the money to help others. After he passed away, the Indian Government honored him by creating a postal stamp in 1991. In 1995, a former Prime Minister unveiled a memorial pillar at his birthplace.

He helped train health workers and was involved in programs for protecting land and water across many districts in India. Shantikunj, where he worked, is recognized by the Government of India as a center for learning and personal growth.