Nirmala Srivastava

Introduction

Nirmala Srivastava, also known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, was the founder of Sahaja Yoga, a religious movement sometimes classified as a cult. She was born in Chindawara, Madhya Pradesh, India to a Hindu father and a Christian mother.

Early Life

Nirmala Srivastava was born with the name Nirmala Salve, meaning "immaculate". She was the daughter of a scholar of fourteen languages and the first woman in India to receive an honors degree in mathematics.

Shri Mataji claimed to have been born self-realized and was descended from the royal Shalivahana/Satavahana dynasty. During her youth, she was involved in the struggle for Indian independence and was jailed for participating in the Quit India Movement in 1942. She later studied at Christian Medical College in Ludhiana and Balakram Medical College in Lahore.Marriage and Career: Before India gained independence in 1947, Shri Mataji married Chandrika Prasad Srivastava, a high-ranking Indian civil servant who later served as Joint Secretary under Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

They had two daughters, Kalpana Srivastava and Sadhana Varma. In 1961, Nirmala Srivastava launched the "Youth Society for Films" to promote national, social, and moral values among young people. She was also a member of the Central Board of Film Certification.Sahaja Yoga: Shri Mataji is most well-known for being the founder of Sahaja Yoga, a new religious movement that aims to help individuals achieve self-realization through a simple technique. She spent her life working for peace through the promotion of this movement.

Conclusion

Nirmala Srivastava was a notable figure in India's independence movement and was also a member of the Central Board of Film Certification. She is best remembered for being the founder of Sahaja Yoga, a movement that aims to promote peace and self-realization through a simple technique.