The Founder
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
Founder of Sahaja Yoga
Shri Mataji discovered a unique method of meditation called Sahaja Yoga that enables inner enlightenment and reveals the true potential of humanity. She devoted her entire life to sharing this experience, and today hundreds of thousands of people around the world practice Sahaja Yoga.
She taught that a motherly spiritual energy, Kundalini, exists within every person. When awakened, it leads to a state of spontaneous meditation and deep inner peace.
The great master of yoga
Shri Mataji showed that a motherly spiritual energy called Kundalini exists within each person, and that its awakening leads to spontaneous meditation. She was able to awaken this energy in thousands of people, which distinguishes Sahaja Yoga from other methods and helps reveal our best qualities.
A life dedicated to humanity
Shri Mataji founded and supported many non‑profit initiatives: centers for destitute women and orphans, international schools with a balanced curriculum, health centers applying Sahaja Yoga, and academies teaching classical arts.
Her vision was always to offer inner transformation freely, without dogma, so each person could discover what is beneficial for their own spiritual development.
Life among great people
Shri Mataji was raised among scholars and political activists involved in India’s liberation movement, and Mahatma Gandhi recognized her exceptional spiritual potential.
Her husband, Sir C. P. Srivastava, rose through public service to become Private Secretary to India’s Prime Minister and later served as Secretary‑General of the International Maritime Organization.
Early years
Shri Mataji was born as Nirmala Salve on March 21, 1923, in Chindwara, India. Her family descended from the Shalivahana dynasty. Her forefathers converted from Hinduism to Christianity, and she was raised Christian. Her parents were deeply involved in India’s independence movement.
Her father was a lawyer and scientist, fluent in many languages and known for translating the Qur’an into Hindi. Her mother was the first woman in India to receive an honors degree in mathematics.
As a teenager she participated in the liberation movement and was detained by British soldiers. In 1947, she married Chandrika Prasad Srivastava, later known as Sir C. P. Srivastava, and they had two daughters.
The founding of Sahaja Yoga
Shri Mataji sought a way to help people reach a higher awareness of themselves. After deep contemplation, she experienced the awakening of her Kundalini and the opening of the Sahasrara in May 1970. She then discovered the method of meditation she later named “Sahaja Yoga,” meaning “spontaneous union.”
She began teaching this method to a few individuals, awakening their Kundalinis and giving them Self‑Realisation. Over time, thousands experienced inner freedom and a cool breeze on their palms and above the head.
Sharing the experience
After moving to London, Shri Mataji taught Sahaja Yoga publicly, offered lectures and interviews, and gave individual attention to seekers. She never charged for Self‑Realisation, insisting it is the birthright of every person.
A global vision
From the 1980s onward she travelled across Europe, North America, Australia, South America, Asia, and the Pacific region, sharing Sahaja Yoga with people of all backgrounds.
Education and the arts
Shri Mataji emphasized education grounded in moral and spiritual growth. She created schools based on Sahaja Yoga and highlighted the value of discipline based on love and respect.
In the arts, she supported Indian classical traditions and helped establish an Academy of Arts in Maharashtra (India). Students from many countries study music, dance, and painting there, and she also supported humanitarian projects such as the Nirmala Prem Center for orphans.
A holistic approach to health
Shri Mataji studied how meditation affects the subtle energy system of chakras and channels and how balance can be restored through Kundalini awakening. She emphasized that while Sahaja Yoga may improve health, its goal is spiritual awakening.
Dr. Ramesh Manocha cited positive effects of Sahaja Yoga meditation for conditions such as hypertension, asthma, and ADD. In 1996, Shri Mataji founded the Sahaja Yoga International Research & Wellness Center in Belapur near Mumbai, integrating Sahaja Yoga with Ayurvedic practices.
Pure creativity
Shri Mataji saw art as a means of self‑expression and a way to preserve world cultures. She supported artists and helped create spaces where classical traditions could flourish.
“They must take care of this world.”
— Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi