Swami Vivekananda once said, ‘Each nation has a main current in life; In India, it is religion. Religion is the language of this country, the symbol of all its movements.’ These words of Swami Vivekananda are true in letter and spirit. We can clearly feel the flow of faith-filled consciousness in India. According to the census of 2001, there were twenty lakhs temples in India. This number would have certainly increased today. Considering this aspect, several Pragya Sansthans were established by our Mission. Many of them are more than forty years old. In this 51st anniversary of Shantikunj, let us contemplate the purpose of establishing them in the present context.
Pujya Gurudev started establishing the Pragya Sansthans from the Vasant Panchami Day of 1979 to accomplish the spiritual upliftment of the masses through religion. That was the ‘Silver Jubilee Year’ of launching ‘Yug Nirman Yojana’ (literally meaning the plan for ushering of a new era). Considering the topical need of awakening the empathetic emotions in human beings, it was decided first to establish 24 and later on 2400 Pragya Sansthans like Gayatri Shaktipeeths, Pragyapeeths, etc. in India and abroad.
The purpose of establishing these Sansthans was to disseminate the essence and teachings inherent in the Gayatri Mantra and refine the personalities of the masses through this medium. Pujya Gurudev and Vandaniya Mataji had already done the homework for this task in the form of conducting several programs of Yagya all over the country and observed their beneficial effects in the form of refinement of personalities of lakhs of participants. A group of dedicated volunteers, who had uplifted themselves through Prana Pratyavartan and Sanjeevani Sadhana Satras, was already with them. The Pravrajya Abhiyan to spread the consciousness of Gayatri in society had also achieved speed. Years ago, Shankaracharya established four Dhams and did spiritual churning of India to spread the light of spiritual knowledge among the masses. While establishing the Pragya Sansthans, a similar line of thought and sentiments existed in
Pujya Gurudev’s heart. That is why he wrote – ‘I never desired that huge temples should be constructed unnecessarily. Wherever the Pragya Sansthans have been established, they should start constructive activities for making the religion progressive and beneficial to society. Even if such activities are started in the already existing temples, I will consider them new Sansthans.’
What could be more revolutionary and timely thinking that wherever there were resources and emotional involvement of the masses, a new Shaktipeeth could be made. However, if the older temples could be renovated and life was infused into them, the task of mass awakening could be easily achieved. In doing so, justice would also be done to the objective with which Gayatri Pariwar was established.
The resolves of Incarnated great men are manifested immediately. Pujya Gurudev started speaking about Pragya Sansthans in 1979, and within no time, their number reached hundreds. The resolve of Pujya Gurudev began to expand like a Matsyavatara. The reminiscences of many volunteers who became the means for the development of Pragya Sansthans are such that the listeners would be astonished. The economic condition of such volunteers was such that they did not possess enough resources for constructing their own homes. But, it was amazing how and from where they could collect lakhs of rupees for this purpose, and this divine development of Sansthans was made possible.
It was asked to install an idol of Mother Gayatri as a center of faith and construct Yagyashala, Satsang hall, a counter for Misson’s literature, a residential suite for the Parivrajaka, etc. in the Pragya Sansthan’s premises. This godly endeavor caught the speed, and, in no time, thousands of Shaktipeeths were constructed. Through these Pragya Sansthans, many such energetic and dedicated volunteers emerged who could transform the lives of millions of people.
When Pujya Gurudev visited these Sansthans for their inauguration and consecration ceremony of the idols, he made it very clear that these were not mere temples but should serve as the centers of mass awakening. He also warned that no men/women desirous of earning popularity should join these Sansthans; otherwise, the purpose for which they are made would not be served.
The purpose of establishing the idol of Mother Gayatri was to awaken faith in the divine of the visitors to these Sansthans and make them realize the significance of righteous wisdom. The Yagyashala served as a medium for acquainting the visitors about the scientific aspect of Yagya. The main aim of Pragya Sansthans was to serve as the centers of awakening the consciousness of the masses through Yug Sangeet (inspiring music), imparting righteous impressions through the rituals of Sanskaras, establishing Pragya Mandals, Mahila Mandals, Yuva Mandals, etc. Undertaking constructive activities, such as tree plantation, women’s awakening, adult education, Bal Sanskara Shalas, that are beneficial to society, was also the objective of these Sansthans.
In today’s parlance, it is essential that the aim with which these Pragya Sansthans were established should be kept intact. The guidance given by Pujya Gurudev in this regard – ‘these are not the temples, but the centers of mass awakening and social upliftment’ – should always be kept in mind.
(Pranav Pandya)
Source Akhand Jyoti Mar-Apr 2022
