Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 195.82.106.244 (talk) at 00:47, 30 November 2006 (Reverted to earlier edit until discussion of controversial material is resolved. No, it is not vandalism Luis.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, a millenarianist New Religious Movement of Indian origin."”The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU) teaches a form of meditation involving spirit channeling, it calls Raja Yoga but which should not be confused with classical Raja Yoga as described by Patanjali." A New Religious Movement with core Millenarianism beliefs concerning the imminent destruction of the current impure Kali Yuga world by a World War between America and Russia, civil war in India, widespread natural disasters and nuclear holocaust followed by the reward of a paradisiacal Sat Yuga or " Golden Age " which will take place on the Indian subcontinent for its faithful followers. Followers of the BKWSU are known as " BKs ", Brahma Kumaris or Brahma Kumars ; literally, the daughters or sons of Brahma.

History

Formed in Sindh, now Pakistan, during 1937 by businessman Lekhraj Kripalani, a Sindhi follower of the Vaishnavite Vallabhacharya Sect. Kripalani experienced a series of what he considered to be divine visions and then possession by a spirit he considered to be God, the Supreme Soul, . This spirit the B.K.s name as " Shiva Baba ", took over control of his bodily organs in order to express a message to humanity and teach their form of Raja Yoga. Followers, known as his " mouth born progeny ", believe that Lekhraj Kripalani is God's only direct medium or instrument. God being a soul which cannot express its message other than through this human body and this time being the only time in history that God intervenes in human destiny. B.K.s believe that their god " Shiva Baba " renamed Lekhraj Kripalani " Brahma Baba " and that he was the incarnation of the Hindu god Brahma, Prajapita or, literally, the Father of Humanity. Baba means " father " in Hindi.

Originally called "Om Mandali" or " Rajswa Ashvamegh Avinashi Geeta Gyan Yagya ", in the early days Lekhraj Kripalani attracted mostly women and their children belonging to the exogamous Bhaiband business caste of Hyderabad and along with them created much controversy until the Indian Congress party and the Arya Samaj denounced the Om Mandali community. Dada Lekhraj, known then as " Om Baba ", in turn denounced the Congress as "Kansa" or wicked and under pressure of Hindu public opinion, the Sindh government reluctantly banned the Om Mandali, which went to court and had the ban order quashed.

A year after its establishment, the organization moved from Hyderabad to Karachi for fourteen years, now part of Pakistan but at that time part of colonial India until after the Partition of India and Pakistan. The founding group of approximately 300 individuals lived as a self-sufficient community spending their time in intense spiritual study, meditation and alleged self-transformation. During this time, mediumistic female followers known as " Sandeshputris " or trance messengers helped add to their spiritual knowledge through psychic visions and allegedly direct contact with God. In 1950, the community moved to Mount Abu, mainly due to the religious resistance to its activities in Pakistan. In 1969 it was formally establish as the World Renewal Trust with a male trustee.

Following Lekhraj's death in 1969, a new female medium within the organization called Hirdaya Mohini or Gulzar continued channelling both the soul called Shiva, whom the BKs believe is God or the Supreme Soul and the deceased Kirpalani allowing them to lead the organization "from beyond the grave" through channelled messages called Murlis. Central to these teachings is that the current impure world has to be destroyed in order for the new age of spiritual purity to come about. The current world is ending and the Brahma Kumaris believe that they must prepare for life in the glorious new age rather than attempting the impossible of halting the inevitable, indeed desirable destruction of the world by unpeaceful means. .

From the very beginning of the life of the organization Kirpalani gave special encouragement to women to develop their spiritual lives and take leadership positions devolving his fortune and the responsibilities of administering it to a trust of nine women. Rejecting the Hindu practice of restricting the elevated status of celibate seeker to men, anyone who was prepared to adopt chastity and follow purity rules concerning diet and alcohol was eligible to join and be a full member of the organization. A high proportion of early members were women and their children. Today the leadership of the BK movement in India remains heavily female.

• The Indian version of the group's history can be found at http://www.brahmakumaris.com/aboutus/history.htm
• The international version can be found at http://www.bkwsu.org/whoweare/history.htm

Foundation Course

Lekhraj had from the very beginning published numerous pamphlets and written a huge amount of letters to important national and international figures in which he interpreted contemporary events with reference to his channelled knowledge. Later, a seven-lesson courses in the group's teachings was offered to outsiders. This has now been modified to suit different cultures and markets. ' An overview of the foundation course can be found here: under "Foundation Course in Raja Yoga Meditation."

These lessons include:

• The Soul
• The Supreme Soul
• The Law of Karma
• The Cycle
• The Tree of Religions
• The Founder Brahma Baba
• Brahma Kumaris' Lifestyle and Principles

The Soul

Brahma Kumaris teach dualism. That is human beings are a soul or spirit living inside the physical body which is not the individual but a "costume". The soul's form is a point of light and it is situated in the forehead of the body. The soul is described as having 3 functions: Mind, Intellect and Sanskars. The sanskars, or record of experiences, are transmitted from birth to birth. Brahma Kumaris believe in human reincarnation but unlike classical Hinduism and Buddhism, they do not believe in transmigration, or re-incarnation between different species. Brahma Kumaris teach that there are only 5.5 billion human souls.

The Supreme Soul

Brahma Kumaris believe that their "God" is a soul or spirit identical to the human soul, also in the form of a point of light but that this soul cannot take birth in a human form. Their "God" remains disincarnate, eternally unchanged and so therefore is the only individual that can purify impure incarnated human being souls through its knowledge and by their mentally connecting to him through the practise of their Raja Yoga. This entity then is able to channel his psychic energy through the Raja Yoga practitioners to other human beings and into the World. The practice of this form of Raja Yoga and the allowing of their god Shiva to channeling his energy through them is said to be an intense spiritual fire burning away the practitioner's previous personality and eradicating their sins.

Raja Yoga meditation

Not to be confused with classical Raja Yoga as taught by Patanjali, the BK form of Raja Yoga starts with the experience of the self as a soul separate from the physical body and then initiates the mind of the student into a relationship with the channelled being known as Shiva and said to be God by the BKWSU. BK Raja Yoga is the connection of mind of human beings with the mind of Shiva.

The Law of Karma

Similar to many Eastern religions, the Brahma Kumaris believe that Karma is a law controlling actions and reactions ; that every action creates a reaction and that individuals experience the effects of those reactions either as happiness or suffering. These reactions can be experienced in the current or a following lifetime. Thoughts being the origin of actions.

The Cycle

Using the symbolism of classical Hinduism, Brahma Kumaris believe that time is cyclical and follows a pattern of a cycle which lasts for 5000 years. This is referred to as "The Cycle" of 4 or 5 Ages or Yugas ; Satya, Thretha, Dwapara and Kali in Hindi. Each cycle is identical to the one that came before it and to the one that will come after it. They call this the 'Eternal Drama'. God, souls and the 'Eternal Drama' have no beginning or end (Anadi and Avinaashi ). The souls keep on entering the physical body (birth) and leave (death) them as per the rules of the 'Eternal Drama'.

It starts with a paradise or "Golden Age" of 900,000 human beings, all followers of their religion. This then declines to a slightly less paradisiacal "Silver Age" in which humans are also naturally spiritual minded. Then after 2,500 years, the Earth declines further to enter into a "Copper Age" where humanity experience the duality of spirit and matter. Suffering is experienced for the first time, the search for God and religions are created for the first time. 1,250 years later, a totally impure "|Iron Age" of suffering, injustice and irreligiousness begins. Brahma Kumaris believe this "|Iron Age" is our current age and that it is "Hell". The opposite of their "Golden Age" 5,000 years before - or a few years into the future. They teach that at the end of the Iron Age, the World must be completely destroyed by a nuclear war between Russia and America, natural disasters and a blood bath of civil war in India.

At the end of Kaliyuga, BKWSU teach that the moral status of humanity deteriorates to such an extent that negative tendencies dominate human relationships and their god Shiva adopts the body of Lekhraj Kripalani to teaches souls how to remove these negative tendencies and instill divine qualities in their place. Those who follow the BKs will contribute to the creation of a "heaven on earth" and will naturally end up in Golden Age or Silver Age of the next cycle. All others, and non-BKs will start taking birth from Copper Age and Iron Age.

Between the lowest entropy of the "|Iron Age" and the high spiritual state of their "Golden Age", there is a brief period of 100 years when the work to establish the Paradise must takes place. This period of time is known as the "Confluence Age" and was originally taught to be 40 years. When the World did not end, it became 100 years; 50 years for destruction of the World through "the jaws of death, the wail of horror, the rivers of blood and pus, the panic and the desperation, and then, the final death", followed by another 50 years for the creation of Heaven on Earth.

However, "Destruction", as it is known, did not happen according to their timetables :

• first in 1976, one hundred years after the death of Dada Lehkraj,
• then some time between 1985 and 1996, 50 to 60 years after the alleged incarnation of Shiva Baba
• Year 2000

Every soul will return to its Nirvana, also known as Shantidham or the Land of Peace.

The Tree of Religions

The Brahma Kumaris use the symbolism of "The Tree" to represent the evolution, or rather decline, of the human family of souls. The root of the tree is made up by Brahma Kumaris followers currently practicing their Raja Yoga only. These individuals alone are to become the residents of "Heaven on Earth", symbolised by the trunk of the tree, where humanity is one and experiences Golden Age and Silver Age.

"The Tree" is then illustration to split in 5 major branches. Humanity, they teach, forgets its original nature and each branch represents one of the 5 major religious traditions or seeking for god and divinity ; Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and renunciate tradition of India called "Sanyasism" and manifestation of this newly impure world.

The outer branches of "The Tree" are said to symbolise the "|Iron Age" of a fractured humanity where even major religions are split into many small branches, representing scientific beliefs, religious cults and political movements. Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Shankaracharya and all other religious founders are said to incarnate at the beginning of their religion and then continue to reincarnate through out the history of their religion until coming to the "end of the world" at this time and seeking out the Brahma Kumaris for re-education in spirituality. It is specifically taught that none of the other religious founder have a direct connection with God nor are they able to escape human reincarnation many times over as is believed by Sanyasin, Buddhists, Muslims or Christians.

"The Tree" of humanity must be destroyed each "Cycle" in order that a new "Tree" repeats the pattern exactly. The "seed" for this new tree is their "God" Shiva Baba alone and they are the only true source of this knowledge.

The Founder

Under the inspiration of their god, businessman Lekhraj Kirpalani became known as "Brahma Baba" and was said to have had 84 human births. Believed to be the maximum number of births for any human soul. The Brahma Kumaris believe that Lekhraj Kirpalani was the first pure being in the world known as "Adam" or "Krishna".

Since they believe that their god needs a human body through which to communicate, and Lekraj Kirpalani was considered to be the most experienced of all human beings, their god took possession of his mental faculties and body in order to communicate with body conscious, impure humanity. Lekhraj Kirpalani is considered by the Brahma Kumaris to be number one soul, higher in divinity than Jesus Christ, Mohamed, Buddha and all other religious founders who must come to him, or his followers, for re-education in spirituality. Lekhraj Kirpalani by his actions in a previous incarnation 2,500 years ago is also taught to be the individual that led humanity to "The Fall", that is out of divinity and heaven on earth and into dualistic suffering.

Followers believe that this Supreme Soul, known to them as Shiva or "God", and Lekhraj Kirpalani continue to be channelled on a regular basis by a senior BK sister called Gulzar at their headquarters in India. Also that Lekhraj Kirpalani's soul will reincarnate as Hindu god Krishna in his next birth.

BK Principles

The final lesson traditionally taught by the Brahma Kumaris relates to the lifestyle and disciplines they follow, called Maryadas, as regards to religious practices, food, sex and relationships.

Murli

The last lesson introduces the actually words of the soul they consider to be God. Brahma Kumaris teachings and spiritual study are based on the "Murlis". These are channelled messages spoken by Shiva through the bodies of the organization's mediums, initially Lekraj Kirpalani and currently Hirdaya Mohini. Formally, the movement does not have a ‘holy book’ or scripture. Murlis are not available for sale and one must complete the Brahma Kumaris foundation course in order to begin listening to them. Murli class is held in the early morning every day at all BK centres around the world between 6 and 8 am.

Dr. Howell points out to underline the uniqueness of the University: "Through the channelled messages it became clear that Shiva was not to be understood as one of many Hindu gods, but in monotheistic terms as ‘The Supreme Soul.’’

Practice

Teachers of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga state that their practice is aimed at purifying oneself by realizing one's identity as soul and maintaining a state of communion with their God.

Followers take upon themselves a disciplined lifestyle which involves;

• Complete Celibacy involving no procreation, no sex within marriage, or masturbation.
• Sattvic Vegetarianism, i.e. lacto-vegetarianism excluding eggs, onions, garlic and food cooked by non-believers including one's biological family which are considered impure.
• Keeping a "Daily Chart" or journal.
• Complete avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Ritual cleanliness after toileting involving washing genitals or entire body and changing clothes.
• Regular daily meditation at 4 a.m. and throughout the day.
• The pursuit of purity in all aspects of life.
• Evangelism or proselytizing activities of their religion and beliefs, called "service", as defined by their senior sisters.
• Segregation between men and women in housing and activities.
• Detachment whilst living with one's biological family including children and spouse in many cases.
• VIP service of "influential individuals" in government or society.

Students wake up for 45 minutes meditation at 4 am. They then attend a daily morning class at 6.00 am, work or keep their household during the day and then return to evangelize, teach or do more meditation in the evening. B.K.s make regular donations or contributions to the Raja Yoga centre irrespective of means . Donations are generally not accepted from non-B.K.s as their money is considered as " impure ". B.K.s are encouraged to visit the headquarters located in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India once a year if possible.

In the main, " service " means teaching their version of Raja Yoga or evangelizing their " Knowledge " and B.K.s were instructed not to do general social work nor perform what is generally understood as charity. Spiritual efforts are directed at overcoming what are seen as " The 5 Vices " ; greed, lust (sometimes called 'sex lust') anger, ego, attachment.

The Brahma Kumaris offer courses in their raja yoga meditation as well as in ‘Positive Thinking, ‘Stress-free Living’, ‘Self-Managing Leadership’, and ‘Secrets of Self-Esteem’. Followers use the traditional Hindu mantra " Om Shanti ", understood to mean " I am an eternal and peaceful soul ", as an all purpose general greeting and to recognize each other.

Achievements

1986 Recipient of seven UN Peace Messenger awards for the Milion Minutes of Peace project. Granted International Peace Messenger Initiative status by the U.N.for the Global Co-operation for a Better World campaign.

Front Organizations

A list of BKWSU front organizations and business that are run and staffed by BKs involved in promoting BKWSU beliefs. At events promoted by any one of these entities, one might find other BKs present under the mantle of "representing" one of the other organizations rather than the BKWSU in a self-reciprocating manner.

• the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation/Organization
• Inner Space
• Visions of a Better World Foundation
• Brahma Kumaris Spiritual Study Foundation
• Brahma Kumaris Educational Society
• Global Retreat Centre
• BK Publications
• World Renewal Trust
• Janki Foundation

The Advance Party

Walliss mentions the start of a splinter movement in 1976 which saw as an internal response to the University's worldly ambivalence. Known as Prajapita Brahma Kumaris or PBKs, Walliss refers to them as the Advance Party. . There is reported animosity between the two groups because the 'Advance Party' see themselves as being more 'advanced', or metaphorical, in their beliefs. The PBKs teach that Brahma Baba was the vehicle through which the 'Supreme Soul' Shiva played the part of the World Mother but the part of the World Father is being played out by a new medium, a former BK Veerendra Dev Dixit, in New Delhi.

Controversy

Also seen by many as a cult, and sharing many attributes of cult-like behavior, the BKWSU claims that all the major religions were inspired by their teachings 5,000 years ago while maintaining that the organization itself is not religious. Based in India, and incorporating lifestyle principles also found in the orthodox Hindu practices, the group claims that they are both not Hindu and that Hinduism is actually the impure aftermath of their way of life. Likewise that the devotional practices relating to religious icons in Hinduism are actually memorials to themsevles. This has caused severe rifts with the wider Hindu community at times, especially with those of the Hindu reform movement Arya Samaj.

• Brahma Kumaris only eat food cooked by those within their organization.
• Documented incidents of child abuse within the organisation brushed aside by leaders as due to the bad karma of the children suffering sex abuse and outside of their responsibility, the perpetrators avoid punishment or reporting to police.]
• Social and psychological problems faced by ex-followers including two suicides within one family.
• Rape and physical violence from families and partners of Brahma Kumaris.
• Discreet historical revision and re-writing of their "God's" spoken word to avoid controversy, to accommodate increased world population, to change speculation over the timing of destruction of the world and other matters.
• Self-proclaimed "University" status not recognized by any external authority. * Name changing from University to Organisation.
• From a theological point of view, B.K.s claim that the Hindu spiritual scripture Bhagavad Gita is actually the teachings of Shiva and that it is misinterpreted by other Hindus and that the current version of the Bhagavad Gita has been modified and enlarged by human beings.
• Beliefs that they are the only true and direct representatives of God.
• Beliefs that they, and only they, are angels, or are training in order to become angels, and that their senior practitioners are already well developed as angels so as to appear in visions or traveling around the world in their angelic forms.

Destruction

Similar to the belief in Armageddon, core to the BKWSU teaching is that the current impure world is going to be imminently destroyed. Within their community, this is referred to as "Destruction" the timing of which is the topic of much speculation. As above, it is taught that this destruction will take place through civil war, natural disasters and, ultimately, nuclear holocaust between Russia and America.

Although the planet Earth will not be destroyed, all other continents except for Indian sub-continent, and life as it is known, will disappear below the oceans. Modern civilisation with them. Within a period of less than 30 years though, India will be rebuilt as a paradise and a Golden Age for faithful B.K.W.S.U. followers begin. Initially, it was thought that Destruction would take place 100 years after the birth of Kirpalani and in 1976 there was a false alarm that encouraged many followers to leave. Then it was taught that this period of destruction and re-creation would take 50 years and 50 years respectively ending in the mid to late 1980s. However, the organisation is now celebrating its 70th year. Despite taking part in many peace, and even anti-nuclear campaigns, they believe that "Destruction" is unavoidable.

Quote from B.K.W.S.U. teaching poster called, "Truth about The Creator and His Creation by Most Beloved World God Father Shiva Kalpa (5,000 years) Ago."; "... the Iron Aged irreligious world destroyed through Shankar by goading Yadvas ". See; .

Virgin Birth belief

Contrary to orthodox Hinduism, of which they see themselves the originators of, the BKWSU also teach the immanent birth of Sri Krishna through non-sexual procreation in order that he can be crowned Emperor Narayan at the start of the Golden Age, in approximately 30 or 35 years time, and that non-sexual procreation through the mouth and power of Raja Yoga will be the norm for the next 2,500 years.

External links

Brahma Kumari

• http://www.bkwsu.org/ Official International website.
• http://www.brahmakumaris.com Official Indian based website
• http://www.brahmakumaris.info/ Independent website on the B.K.W.S.U. with no affiliation to the B.K.W.S.U.
• http://www.rajyoga.in/ e-learning site by B.K.W.S.U.
• http://www.peacevillage.com/ B.K. sponsored Peace Village Retreat Center, USA.
• http://www.globalretreatcentre.com/index.htm Global Retreat Centre, UK.
• http://www.geocities.com/bro_khem/ Articles written by BK author including scriptural quotations.
• http://www.brahmakumaris.org.in/Landmarks.htm Detailed historic timeline.
• http://www.bkun.org/bkfocus.html B.K.W.S.U. and the United Nations
• http://www.jankifoundation.org/home/index.php The Janki Foundation for Global Health Care
• http://www.livingvalues.net/ Living Values Education Program, BKWSU front.
• http://brahmakumaris.com.au/php/forum/index.php BK Discussion Forum
• http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Brahma+Kumaris Google Video BKWSU clips including Descent of God and Destruction / Creation
• http://www.abia29.hemscott.net/Inner_Dialogues.htm Time and Eternity "Inner Dialogues" by Paul Brocklehurst 2003

B.K. teaching posters

• The World Drama Cycle and Trimurti (Text)
• Lakshimi and Narayan (Text)
• The Human World Tree (Text)
• The Ladder of 84 Births

Advance Party

• http://www.shivbaba.org.pl/
• http://www.creator-creation.com/

Third party

• http://www.bkwsu-critique.com/ Balanced critique of the B.K.W.S.U. to counter the mostly negative critiques currently available on the internet
• http://xbkinfo.infogami.com/ A guide to life after leaving the Brahma Kumaris
• http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~eromain/childprotection.htm Report on Child abuse within BKWSU and response by Senior Administrators.
• http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=206345
• http://www.cesnur.org/testi/bryn/br_kranenborg.htm
• http://www.virusmyth.net/aids/books/nhbrevobser.htm Neville Hodgkinson, 'AIDS; The Failure of Contemporary Science, UK 1996
• http://ips.org/geneva/2906/meditate.htm TerraViva IPS, Meditating on Politics, Geneva 2000, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (Copenhagen+5).
• http://www.reachouttrust.org/articles/othergrp/brahma.htm Reachout Trust report .
• http://www.islamicvoice.com/august.99/dialogue.htm view from "Islamic Voice" Islamic

References

1. Reflexive Traditions: New Religious Movements and the 'Negotiation' of Identity.-John Wallis, Ph.D University of Warwick, UK.
2. Gender Role Experimentation in New Religious Movements: Clarification of the Brahma Kumari Case, Howell, Julia. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; Sep98, Vol. 37 Issue 3, p453-461, 9p. Julia Day Howell is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Asian and International Studies, Griffith Universtiy, Australia
3. From World Rejection to Ambivalence:The development in Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris." by John Walliss. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol.14,N 3, 1999
4. Dr. Julia D. Howell. Changing Meanings of Religious Pluralism, 2003
5. From World Rejection to Ambivalence:The development in Millenarianism in the Brahma Kumaris." by John Walliss. Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol.14,N 3, 1999

Bibliography

• Dr Julia D. Howell, Asian and International Studies, Griffith University, Australia & Dr Peter L. Nelson, Nelson Center for Humanities and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia. "Surviving Transplantation: The Brahma Kumaris in the Western World".
• Dr. Julia D. Howel. Changing Meanings of Religious Pluralism, , 2003.
• John Walliss, Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies, Aldershot. "The Brahma Kumaris as a ‘reflexive Tradition’: Responding to late modernity ", 2002 ISBN 0-7546-0951-0
• Reender Kranenborg, Free University of Amsterdam. "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion? ", 1999.
• Peter Clarke, "Dada Lekhraj" & "Brahma Kumaris." Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Routledge 2005.
• William Shaw , "Spying in Guruland: Inside Britain’s Cults", Fourth Estate, London, England 1994.
• Lawrence A. Babb, "Amnesia and Remembrance in a Hindu Theory of History", Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 41, No. 1 (1982), pp. 49-66.
• Lawrence A. Babb "Indigenous Feminism in a Modern Hindu Sect", Signs, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Spring, 1984), pp. 399-416.
• Mayer, Jean-François et Reender Kranenborg, Geneve, Suisse. "La Naissance des Nouvelles Religions". 2004 ISBN 2-8257-0877-1
• Frank Whaling, Emeritus Professor of the Study of Religion, University of Edinburgh. "Understanding the Brahma Kumaris", 2006. ISBN 1-903765-51-X.
• Suma Varughese. "Satyug is as Sure as Death". 1998
• BK Jayanti. "Valuing the Future : Education for Spiritual Development", 1999
• Interreligious Insight. "Brahma Kumaris, World Spiritual University",
• Ken O'Donnell. "Raja Yoga for beginners", 1987.
• Jagdish Chander, Translated from original Hinu by Shanta Trivedi, PhD , Edited by Robert Shubow, J.D. "Adi Dev: The First Man", 1981.
• Dadi Janki, "Companion of God", 2003 ISBN 0-340-82915-X
• BKWSU. "World Drama", unknown date.
• BKWSU. "Easy RajYoga", unknown date.
• BKWSU. "The Seven Day Course" Pamphlet series, unknown date.
• B.K.Jagdish Chander, Eternal Drama of Souls, Matter and God. Three volumes. Mt. Abu 1983
• Near-Death Experience/Heide Fittkau-Garthe, 1998.
• Report on Child Abuse,Beliefs and Lifestyle
• Pamphlets Take a Closer Look,The Successful Subtle Soft-sell of Raja Yoga By CCG Training Insititue, Australia March 1989

See also

• New religious movement/Cult
• Hinduism
• Yoga
• Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• Raja Yoga
• Prajapita Brahma Kumaris
• Millenarianism
• End times
• Channeling
• Channeling (mediumistic)
• Meditation

Part of a series on
Hinduism
Hindus Mythology
OriginsHistorical History Indus Valley Civilisation Vedic Hinduism Dravidian folk religion Śramaṇa Tribal religions in India Traditional Itihasa-Purana Epic-Puranic royal genealogies Epic-Puranic chronology
Sampradaya (Traditions) Major Sampradaya (Traditions) Vaishnavism Pancharatra Shaivism Kapalika Pashupata Pratyabhijña Shaktism Smartism Other Sampradaya (Traditions)
Deities Absolute Reality / Unifying Force Brahman Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Other major Devas / Devis Vedic Deities: Tridasha Adityas Rudras Vasus Ashvins Mahadevi Other Vedic Deities Post-Vedic: Avatar Dashavatara Durga Navadurga Mahavidya Kartikeya Ganesha Hanuman Radha Shakti Sita Devatas Vishvakarma Kubera
Concepts Worldview Cosmology Mythology Ontology Tattvas Subtle elements Panchikarana Gross elements Guṇas Purusha Prakṛti Supreme reality Brahman Nirguna Saguna Om Saccidānanda God Ishvara Devas / Devi Devatas God in Hinduism God and gender Puruṣārtha (Meaning of life) Dharma Artha Kama Moksha Āśrama (Stages of life) Brahmacharya Gṛhastha Vānaprastha Sannyasa Three paths to liberation Bhakti yoga Jnana yoga Karma yoga Liberation Mokṣa-related topics: Paramātman Maya Karma Saṃsāra Mind Ātman (self) Anātman (non-self) Sūkṣma śarīra (subtle body) Antaḥkaraṇa (mental organs) Prajña (wisdom) Ānanda (happiness) Viveka (discernment) Vairagya (dispassion) Sama (equanimity) Dama (temperance) Uparati (self-settledness) Titiksha (forbearance) Shraddha (faith) Samadhana (concentration) Arishadvargas (six enemies) Ahamkara (attachment) Ethics Niti śastra Yamas Niyama Ahimsa Achourya Aparigraha Brahmacharya Satya Damah Dayā Akrodha Arjava Santosha Tapas Svādhyāya Shaucha Mitahara Dāna Sources of dharma Epistemology Pratyakṣa (perception) Anumāṇa (inference) Upamāṇa (comparison, analogy) Arthāpatti (postulation, presumption) Anupalabdi (non-perception, negation) Śabda (word, testimony)
Practices Worship, sacrifice, and charity Puja Ārtī Prarthana Śrauta Temple Murti Bhakti Japa Bhajana Kīrtana Yajna Homa Tarpana Vrata Prāyaścitta Tirtha Yatra Tirthadana Matha Nritta-Nritya Dāna Sevā Yoga Meditation Tapas Dhyana Samādhāna Nididhyāsana Yoga Sadhu Yogi Yogini Asana Sādhanā Hatha yoga Jnana yoga Bhakti yoga Karma yoga Rāja yoga Kundalini yoga Arts Bharatanatyam Kathak Kathakali Kuchipudi Manipuri Mohiniyattam Odissi Sattriya Bhagavata Mela Yakshagana Dandiya Raas Carnatic music Pandav Lila Kalaripayattu Silambam Adimurai Rites of passage Garbhadhana Pumsavana Pumsavana Simantonayana Simantonnayana Jatakarma Nāmakaraṇa Nishkramana Annaprashana Chudakarana Karnavedha Vidyāraṃbhaṃ Upanayana Keshanta Ritushuddhi Samavartanam Vivaha Antyesti Festivals Diwali Holi Maha Shivaratri Navaratri Durga Puja Ramlila Vijayadashami-Dussehra Raksha Bandhan Ganesh Chaturthi Vasant Panchami Rama Navami Janmashtami Onam Makar Sankranti Kumbh Mela Pongal Ugadi Vaisakhi Bihu Puthandu Vishu Ratha Yatra
Philosophical schools Six Astika schools Samkhya Yoga Nyaya Vaisheshika Mīmāṃsā Vedanta Advaita Dvaita Vishishtadvaita Achintya Bheda Abheda Shuddhadvaita Svabhavika Bhedabheda Akshar Purushottam Darshan Other schools Ājīvika Buddhism Jainism Charvaka
Gurus, Rishi, Philosophers Ancient Saptarshi Vashistha Kashyapa Atri Jamadagni Gotama Vishvamitra Bharadwaja Agastya Angiras Aruni Ashtavakra Jaimini Kanada Kapila Patanjali Pāṇini Prashastapada Raikva Satyakama Jabala Valmiki Vyasa Yajnavalkya Medieval Abhinavagupta Adi Shankara Akka Mahadevi Allama Prabhu Alvars Basava Chaitanya Ramdas Kathiababa Chakradhara Chāngadeva Dadu Dayal Eknath Gangesha Upadhyaya Gaudapada Gorakshanatha Haridasa Thakur Harivansh Jagannatha Dasa Jayanta Bhatta Jayatīrtha Jiva Goswami Jñāneśvar Kabir Kanaka Dasa Kumārila Bhaṭṭa Madhusūdana Madhva Matsyendranatha Morya Gosavi Mukundarāja Namadeva Narahari Tirtha Narasimha Saraswati Nayanars Nimbarkacharya Srinivasacharya Prabhākara Purandara Dasa Raghavendra Swami Raghunatha Siromani Raghuttama Tirtha Ram Charan Ramananda Ramanuja Ramprasad Sen Ravidas Rupa Goswami Samarth Ramdas Sankardev Satyanatha Tirtha Siddheshwar Sripada Srivallabha Sripadaraja Surdas Swaminarayan Śyāma Śastri Tukaram Tulsidas Tyagaraja Vācaspati Miśra Vadiraja Tirtha Vallabha Valluvar Vedanta Desika Vidyaranya Vyasaraja Modern Aurobindo Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Bhaktivinoda Thakur Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Chinmayananda Dayananda Saraswati Jaggi Vasudev Krishnananda Saraswati Mahavatar Babaji Mahesh Yogi Narayana Guru Nigamananda Nisargadatta Maharaj Prabhupada Radhakrishnan R. D. Ranade Ramakrishna Rama Tirtha Ramana Maharshi Ravi Shankar Ramdas Samarth Sathya Sai Baba Shirdi Sai Baba Shraddhanand Satyadhyana Tirtha Siddharameshwar Maharaj Sivananda Trailanga U. G. Krishnamurti Upasni Maharaj Vethathiri Maharishi Vivekananda Yogananda
Texts Sources and classification of scripture Śruti Smṛti Ācāra Ātmatuṣṭi Scriptures Timeline of Hindu texts Vedas Rigveda Yajurveda Samaveda Atharvaveda Divisions Samhita Brahmana Aranyaka Upanishads Upanishads Rigveda: Aitareya Kaushitaki Yajurveda: Brihadaranyaka Isha Taittiriya Katha Shvetashvatara Maitri Samaveda: Chandogya Kena Atharvaveda: Mundaka Mandukya Prashna Vedangas Shiksha Chandas Vyākaraṇa Nirukta Kalpa Jyotisha Other scriptures Bhagavad Gita Agamas (Hinduism) Itihasas Ramayana Mahabharata Puranas Vishnu Purana Bhagavata Purana Devi Bhagavata Purana Naradiya Purana Vāmana Purana Matsya Purana Garuda Purana Brahma Purana Brahmanda Purana Brahma Vaivarta Purana Bhavishya Purana Padma Purana Agni Purana Shiva Purana Linga Purana Kūrma Purana Skanda Purana Varaha Purana Markandeya Purana Upavedas Ayurveda Dhanurveda Gandharvaveda Sthapatyaveda Shastras, sutras, and samhitas Dharma Shastra Artha Śastra Shilpa Shastras Kama Sutra Brahma Sutras Samkhya Sutras Mimamsa Sutras Nyāya Sūtras Vaiśeṣika Sūtra Yoga Sutras Pramana Sutras Charaka Samhita Sushruta Samhita Natya Shastra Panchatantra Naalayira Divya Prabandham Tirumurai Ramcharitmanas Yoga Vasistha Swara yoga Panchadasi Stotras, stutis and Bhashya Kanakadhara Stotra Shiva Stuti Vayu Stuti Tamil literature Tirumurai Naalayira Divya Prabandham Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai Tiruppukal Kural Kamba Ramayanam/Ramavataram Five Great Epics Eighteen Greater Texts Eighteen Lesser Texts Athichudi Iraiyanar Akapporul Abirami Antati Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam Vinayagar Agaval Other texts
Hindu Culture & Society Society Varna Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Shudra Dalit Jāti Gotra Hindu Art Hindu art Hindu iconography Shilpa Shastras Rasa (aesthetics) Indian aesthetics Yantra Hindu Architecture Hindu architecture Hindu temple architecture Vastu shastra Talamana Hindu Music Hindu music Shruti (music) Svara Alankāra Tala (music) Raga Rasa (aesthetics) Sangita Vadya Natya Shastra Food & Diet Customs Ahimsa Diet in Hinduism Sattvic diet Mitahara Jhatka Vrata Time Keeping Practices Hindu units of time Hindu calendar Panchangam Vikram Samvat Shaka era Hindu Pilgrimage Pilgrimage sites Other society-related topics: Discrimination Persecution Nationalism Hindutva Organisations Reform movements
Other topics Hinduism by country Greater India Balinese Hinduism Caribbean Shaktism Template:Hindu scriptures and texts Hinduism & Other Religions Hinduism and Jainism / and Buddhism / and Sikhism / and Judaism / and Christianity / and Islam Other Related Links (Templates) Hindu Scriptures & Texts Hindu Philosphy Sampradayas (Traditions) Shaivism Vaishnavism Shaktism
Glossary Outline Hinduism portal
v t e

• Yoga organizations
• 1937 establishments
• Spirituality
• Meditation
• New religious movements
• Hindu movements and organizations