Akhand Jyoti magazine may seem like an ensemble of papers, but the reality is that the divine spirit of our revered Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya floats on its pages, which envelops the readers. The pens that write the articles of Akhand Jyoti are blessed and guided directly by some divine authority. In fact, in Gurudev’s own words “It is guided by the well- synergized spirit of the sages engaged in Tapa in the divine regions of Himalayas, without which, it would not have been possible, to carry out the seemingly impossible task of the ushering in the new era through this magazine.”
Akhand Jyoti (Hindi) of January 1988 was published as “Jyoti Jagran Visheshank” (A special issue for igniting the flame of learning). This article cites snippets from various articles of this edition. Akhand Jyoti not only provides a solution to the problems of our day- to-day lives but also feeds us with the doses of Sanjeevani (a magical herb that infuses life) in today’s circumstances of nebulous darkness. It helps readers assimilate nobility, inspire regular self- study and mobilize the positive thought process.
“Faith is a seamless, indestructible bundle of light and a warehouse of energy in the space of human consciousness. And, Akhand Jyoti is its visible form. Just like the formless gods are consecrated honorably in their visible form as idols in the temples; similarly, it must be believed that the uninterrupted, ever-incandescent lamp has found its incarnation in Akhand Jyoti.”
“As the Sun rises, its reactions become visible in many forms in the world. The lotus flower spontaneously blooms, the birds come out of their nests and start chirping and fluttering, and the light breeze carrying the cool freshness starts flowing. Similarly, wherever Akhand Jyoti spreads its radiance, its positive effect can be seen in the hearts and minds of the readers.”
The package of printed papers that the reader is carrying in his hands may seem like an ordinary booklet amongst the many published magazines. Paper and printing may also not be top-notch. It may not have a multitude of pictures or any entertaining spicy material. But, it holds a place of its own. Its continuous publication for the past 96 years and the clear possibility of its flow continuing in the future is amazing. With a few exceptions, almost all other magazines survive on advertisements. Even the magazines that have taken a commercial perspective or have acted with strategic smartness are in bad shape. However, earning from the advertisements for its survival never seemed aligned with the principles of Akhand Jyoti. Hence it has abandoned this policy from the very beginning. It was like willingly taking a financial risk.
“The magazines that come out with loads of advertisements and pictures have very little solid content despite their size. In this competition, Akhand Jyoti is far ahead. In its cover and text pages, Akhand Jyoti carries such an abundance of solid content that even magazines of double its size do not.” “In such a situation, commercially, it is amazing how Akhand Jyoti has survived. Even after not accepting any amount in grants or donations, how does it bear the expenses of paper, printing, and postage? Only people who delve into the details of this mystery may lay their hands on the secrets and facts behind it. The excellence of the articles is well known. Each of these is written based on deep research and broad studies. These can be considered like the 14 jewels that came out of the churning of oceans (Samudra Manthan in Indian mythology). It can also be called the confluence of spirituality and science.”
“Behind the publication of Akhand Jyoti magazine, the purpose was to attain an immense and seemingly unsurmountable goal of reforming people.”
“Akhand Jyoti is published in large numbers. Every month it regularly shakes up the conscience of millions of people. Its effects and results are also clearly visible. A big community of social volunteers (Yugshilpis and Pragyaputras) has emerged like cream from the milk. Immensely talented, highly capable volunteers that take care of Gayatri Tapobhoomi, Yug Nirman Yojana, Shantikunj, Brahmvarchas, and nearly 4000 Shaktipeeths (centers of reformation) are carrying the mission on their shoulders. Looking at the increase in the spread of their numbers and their courage and energy, it is apparent that the dream of ushering in the new era seen many years ago will not remain unfulfilled.”
“There were many roadblocks like lack of help, lack of finances, finding time for writing, amongst many other social services tasks. Due to this, the heavy demand for time to dedicatedly create spiritually uplifting literature (Yug Sahitya) could not be met. Yet the proverb “little drops make the mighty ocean” came true. Besides completing his daily worship routine, the founder of this torch-bearer magazine kept finding four hours every day for writing Yug Sahitya. The result was that the turtle defeated the hare. The eagles reached their destination before the garudas.
“The energy of Akhand Jyoti has infused life in many. The count of members and readers itself is twenty- four lakhs. This perimeter will exceed crores if we count the family members, their friends, and their co-workers. These people, acting as ambassadors of virtuosity, have influenced everyone they come in touch with.”
Source: Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2023 Jan-Feb
