Maha Samadhi Day - Honouring the Life of H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 23, 2016) - On February 23, 2016, people all over the world will gather to commemorate the passing and honour the life's work of the founder of Sahaja Yoga, Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. Shri Mataji had dedicated Her life to the spiritual ascent of mankind, visiting every corner of the world, granting people the experience of self-realization and communicating Her message of integration and harmony.

She began Her work in India in 1970 and over a forty-year period, Her vision for a world of peaceful, balanced, enlightened people grew from a handful of devotees to an internationally recognized movement. Her compassion, generosity and powerful message of love and peace led to Her receiving the United Nations Peace Medal and nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Born in India on March 21, 1923, Shri Mataji's unique spiritual predisposition was immediately apparent to all who met Her, including Mahatma Gandhi. She knew from a very young age that She had a unique gift and throughout Her life demonstrated the perfect compatibility of a deeply spiritual life with the ordinary life of a housewife, mother and grandmother.

As a young woman, Shri Mataji studied medicine and psychology at the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana and the Balakram Medical College in Lahore. In 1947, shortly before India's independence, She married Chandrika Prasad (CP) Srivastava, a high-ranking civil servant. The couple had two daughters, Kalpana and Sadhana, and Mrs. Srivastava spent the following years as a housewife, raising Her children and caring for Her husband in his new role as principal secretary to the then Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri.

When their daughters were married and settled Shri Mataji began Her public spiritual work. Thus, on the 5th of May, 1970, while in meditation on a lonely beach of Nargol (India), She discovered the secret to en-masse self-realization through which thousands of people could achieve union with the deepest, most subtle aspect of their being, thereby triggering a process of spiritual self-transformation. Sahaja Yoga was born!

It is estimated that millions of people in more than eighty countries around the world are continuing to practice Her meditation techniques, at centres She established. She is remembered by Her words of wisdom, "You cannot know the meaning of life until you are connected to the power that created you". It is that connection that She sought to give to so many. For more information on Sahaja Yoga free meditation classes and the life of Shri Mataji, please visit our websites: Canada - www.FreeMeditation.com; Worldwide - www.sahajayoga.org; Shri Mataji's Life - http://shrimataji.org.

Vishwa Nirmala Dharma Educational Society/Sahaja Yoga International is a world-wide non-profit organization dedicated to teaching and spreading the art of meditation around the world as well as to provide education on our collective spiritual roots. The principles on which Sahaja Yoga International is based are morality, spirituality, mutual help in our evolution, search for truth, and healing our problems using our inner potential on an individual and collective level. Free classes are offered throughout Canada and the world. Information on locations and times can be found on our website: www.FreeMeditation.com.