Yogi Mahila Kendra, the Women’s wing is a registered NGO and non-profit charitable organization, formed on 19th August, 1978. Yogi Mahila Kendra works for the Social, Educational, Moral, Religious and Spiritual Values as well as for the Health awareness of the Women in the society.
The whole world has appreciated and honored the selfless dedication of Mother Teresa in her era of social service. It is a remarkable co-incidence that she chose her field of work to be India - the land of the glorious heritage of culture, religion and spirituality. Yogi Mahila Kendra’s sisters are also now actively involved in society, striving to raise awareness for the need of socio-religious values and spirituality in life, more especially among the women.
The Golden Step
One of the many revolutionary crusades of Lord Swaminarayan was geared towards the upliftment of woman in the society in the 19th century. Victims of social traditions like child-marriages and the horrific "sati" system, the people found a Savior in the image of Lord Swaminarayan. He encouraged education for women, which was unheard of in those times. For women who had no desire for the worldly life, Lord Swaminarayan arranged for special facilities to live a life with chastity and devotion to God. This tradition was given a revolutionary turn in the early 1950's when, for the first time in the Swaminarayan Faith, women were allowed to formally renounce the world and spend their lives in social and religious services just like the male ascetics ('Sadhus') of the renunciate order.
Supreme in the Saffron takes the Decision
This was sanctioned and blessed by Guruhari Yogiji Maharaj, fourth heir in Lord Swaminarayan's living tradition of Gunatit Saints - Perfect Spiritual Masters. This was the beginning of the spiritual development of the women's wing in the 'Satsang' fraternity. The spiritual pioneers of the 'Sadhvi' wing - P. Sonaba and P. Shantaben performed the first initiation ceremony - 'Bhagwati Diksha' (a saffron clad initiation). This tradition is now followed by 'Brahmanishtha' Sadhvi Sisters performing the initiation ceremony.
Start of New Era
Yogi Mahila Kendra works through its 200 ascetic sisters called 'Sadhvis' by the compassionate sankalp (wish) of H.H. Yogijimaharaj and divine inspiration and blessings of Guruhari H.H. Hariprasadswamiji. There are more than 400 satsang centers in India and abroad engaged in the social, cultural and spiritual upliftment of women in the society. There are more than 2500 initiated housewives called “Sahradayee” who are determined to do social and cultural activities under the guidance of their Spiritual Master in the prime priority of their lives overcoming their worldly desires.
‘Bhakti Ashram’ is the Centre of organization from where all the social and relief activities are conducted under the guidance of Sadhvi Suhrad. The sisters of Bhakti Ashram counsel married women of the fraternity and inspire them to make their homes into holy temples. They also guide young girls towards a life of righteous conduct and constructive goals.
Sadhvis here also conduct weekly youth forums, youth seminars and quarterly and half yearly youth camps for teenage girls and young women for holding discussions on various topics of awareness like Equal rights, Education for their young daughters etc. The committed efforts of the trust have enabled it to achieve its goals in women education and upliftment. More than 15,000 young women today are motivated to fight against the social evils.
The trust organizes various activities for development of the society like plantation of the trees on very large scale, free medical camps, disaster relief camps etc.
The Sadhvi Sisters also travel to different states of India to impart the guidance to the women devotees of the fraternity. A delegation of these Sisters also travels every year to the countries like the USA, Canada, England, France, Germany and New Zealand where they works for the upliftment of social and cultural values.
These Sisters also counsel and settle marriage as well as family discords, inspiring ideals of love and sacrifice, mutual understanding and compromise. This has resulted in a reduced rate of divorces in the community and more harmony in family atmospheres.
Yogi Mahila Kendra has spearheaded a series of social service projects to celebrate our transition into the new Millennium. We are committed to the realization of H.H. Hariprasad Swamiji's progressive spiritual vision as a milestone of the new harmonious world…..
