Firm resolutions have a tremendous power that makes the accomplishment of even seemingly impossible tasks possible. The story of the beginning of Akhand Jyoti magazine that is now in our hands is also a tale of a superhuman resolve. It is worth narrating it again from today’s perspective. When Pujya Gurudev published the first issue of Akhand Jyoti magazine in 1940, he wrote very clearly – “The next issue of Akhand Jyoti magazine will be printed by a fixed date next month and dispatched in the service of the readers. Without a registered number for the magazine, the postage charges are three times higher. So kindly wait for the magazine till the end of February. Akhand Jyoti will surely be dispatched by Feb 28th even at three times postage charges if the registration number is not received by then.”It is difficult to imagine that Pujya Gurudev, who somehow made arrangements for publication of Akhand Jyoti, selling all the jewelry of Mataji and whatever that belonged to him, was not ready to compromise on this assurance to the readers despite all the difficulties he faced.He alone could have taken such a superhuman resolve in the adverse circumstances that prevailed then. It was a period of great turmoil in India and the whole world. But he still gave an assurance to deliver to each and every home of the subscribers a magazine that was being printed without any advertisements. With the strength of his resolve, he single-handedly arranged for correspondence, self-study, writing, formatting, publishing, arranging for paper for printing, registration number, and so on, at a time when British rule was at its peak of suppressing and torturing Indians and when even getting items for basic needs was quite tricky. But in these tumultuous circumstances also, he had so much confidence that he neither asked for any resources nor any financial help for publishing this magazine. Right from the beginning, except for a few articles in the initial issues, he wrote all the articles of the magazine himself.Akhand Jyoti was first published on the Vasant Panchami of 1940, but his decision to start the magazine was taken a few years earlier. This is why he sent the first copy to 2000 people, explaining the background and the purpose behind the magazine. He also emotionally appealed that if the recipients liked the magazine, they should forward the same to 5 more people and subscribe to it at their convenience. Each issue cost nine paise and the yearly subscription Rs 1.50!The magazine’s primary purpose right from the beginning was to encourage the readers on the path of
spirituality and spiritual practices. In the August issue of 1940, he expressed his sentiments in these words – “I am quite sure that readers of Akhand Jyoti magazine must be following some kind of religious practices like prayers, bhajan, kirtan, chanting mantras, etc. Whatever you do out of your own religious beliefs, we urge you to find 15 minutes, either in a day or at night, to contemplate in solitude upon who you really are. You must ponder over the thought – are you truly fulfilling all the responsibilities assigned to you in this human birth? Ask your mind to tell you clearly, frankly, and truthfully what all your vices are.”
The first 13 prints of the magazine were published from Agra, and later Pujya Gurudev made Mathura, the birthplace of Shri Krishna, his place of residence. So all the arrangements for publishing the magazine had to be made again from Mathura. All the contacts for the publication had to be reestablished. But despite these adverse circumstances, he ensured that there wasn’t even a day’s delay in printing and dispatching the magazine.
Since the magazine was being published from Mathura, the front cover page of the first few issues of Akhand Jyoti carried the image of Lord Krishna standing in the war field.
The sentiment behind this choice was probably to make all readers of Akhand Jyoti understand that Lord Himself was protecting them in the then prevalent conditions of war. Tiding over all the challenges and difficulties, the readership of the magazine rose from 2000 to millions with the progress of time.
It was the result of the power of his resolve that starting from just a few houses, the magazine reached out to a vast number of homes. He knew from the beginning that this whole process would not be easy, and probably this is why he wrote in the early editions of the magazine – “Before the seeds of nectar are sown, deadly poison from the churning of seas need be drunk. Man has to wear the crown of death and live for the benefit of the whole world.”
Pujya Gurudev lived the life of a valiant ascetic only to safe keep the whole world’s future. This is why he wrote in those days of struggle – “Of clay is made this body-lamp, to burn is its heritage.” He had started Akhand Jyoti as an invocation to divine consciousness. He had a single-minded objective – attempting to awaken the dormant divinity within humans and transform this earth into a heavenly land. And so, the first few lines of Akhand Jyoti claimed – “It is not the message of heavens that I bring, I have come to transform this whole world into heaven.”
When the entire world was fighting against the extremities caused by the second world war, Pujya Gurudev had started writing and giving indications of the possible descent of the new
the era in a time frame of about 100 years – by about 2042. He assured everyone that these catastrophic situations would get over soon. After 1947 he started writing elaborately on the essential ideas of spirituality so that the philosophy of Gayatri could reach everyone and that people could overcome their misgivings and lead purposeful lives.
As time progressed, Pujya Gurudev made Akhand Jyoti a medium to convey the essential concepts of scientific spirituality. He also published a series of articles titled ‘Higher Level Spiritual Practices of Gayatri’ for serious spiritual aspirants.
Thus, Akhand Jyoti is not just a beautiful outcome of the personal struggle of Pujya Gurudev; it also represents the divine flow that is helping create a background for the transformation of the era. The present times are posing several challenges and problems similar to the ones faced by Pujya Gurudev at the beginning of Akhand Jyoti. So, it becomes as relevant today as then that we become conduits to distribute this magazine, which is the pranic energy of Shantikunj, to as many people as we can.
Akhand Jyoti Magazine Jan-Feb 2022