The
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (
Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya or
BKWSU) is a
new religious movement that originated in
Hyderabad, Sindh, during the 1930s.
[1] The Brahma Kumaris (
Sanskrit:
ब्रह्माकुमारी, "daughters of Brahma") movement was founded by
Dada Lekhraj Kripalani, who later took the name Brahma Baba.
[2] It is distinctly identified by the prominent role that women play in the movement.
[3]
It teaches a form of meditation that focuses on identity as souls, as opposed to bodies. They believe that all souls are intrinsically good and that God is the source of all goodness.
[4] The university teaches to transcend labels associated with the body, such as race, nationality, religion, and gender, and it aspires to establish a global culture based on what it calls "soul-consciousness".
[2][5]
In 2008, the movement claimed to have more than 825,000 regular students, with over 8,500 centres in 100 countries.
Early history
The Brahma Kumaris, originally called
Om Mandali, started in
Hyderabad, Sindh in north-west
India.
[5] It received this name because members would chant "Om" together, before having discourse on spiritual matters in the traditional
satsang style. The original discourses were closely connected to the
Bhagavad Gita.
[5]
The founder,
Dada Lekhraj Khubchand Kripilani (who became known in the group as "Om Baba") was a wealthy jeweller who was respected in the community for his piety.
[5] He reported what he said were a series of visions and other transcendental experiences that commenced around 1935 and became the basis for the discourses. He said he believed there was a greater power working through him and that many of those who attended these gatherings were themselves having spiritual experiences. The majority of those who came were women and children from the Bhaibund caste
[6] - a caste of wealthy merchants and business people whose husbands and fathers were often overseas on business.
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