Birth and Childhood

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi was born on March 21, 1923 to a Salve family in Chindawara, India. Her parents were Prasad and Cornelia Salve, direct descendants of the royal Shalivahana dynasty. Seeing the beauty of this child who was born with a spotless brilliance, they called her Nirmala, which means 'Immaculate'.
Later on she came to be known by the multitudes by the name of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - the revered Mother who was born with her complete Self Realization and knew from a very young age that she had a unique gift which had to be made available to all mankind.
Her parents played a key role in India's Liberation Movement from under British rule. Her father, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and helped write free India's first constitution. He was a renowned scholar, master of 14 languages, and translated the Koran in Marathi. Her mother was the first woman in India to receive an Honors Degree in Mathematics.

The keyTimeline for selected Work and Achievements...

Shri Mataji travelled throughout her life and during the period from 1970 through to the early 2000s she traveled continuously, offering free public lectures and the experience of self-realization to all. She enabled people to pass this valuable experience on to others, as well as the technique necessary to sustain it, known as Sahaja Yoga meditation.
Here is a condensed sample of events in which she played an instrumental role.

1923

Born on the 21st March in Chhindwara, India

1923

Gives speech at Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati ashram, aged seven

1940s

Attended Christian Medical College, Lahore, India

1947

Education interrupted by turmoil in India
Indian Independence
Marriage to Chandrika Prasad Srivastava
Birth of first daughter, Kalpana

1950

Birth of second daughter, Sadhana

1961

Launched the ‘Youth Society for Films’ and was a member of the Film Censor Board in Mumbai, India

1964

Husband, C.P. Srivastava becomes joint Private Secretary to Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri

1966

Husband, C.P. Srivastava becomes head of Shipping Corporation of India

1970

Opening of the Sahasrara Chakra on the 5th of May in Nargol, India, making it possible for the first time in the history of spirituality for people to receive self-realization en masse First international Sahaja Yoga event in Tehran, Iran

1971

Establishment of Sahaja Yoga

1972

Travels from India to USA by ship

1973

First Sahaja Yoga public program in Dhulia, India

1974

Husband, C.P. Srivastava becomes Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation headquartered in London, UK Family moves to London

1977

First official audio recording of Shri Mataji’s talks begin in India followed by England First Sahaja Yoga public program outside of India at Caxton Hall, London on Oct 20th 1977

1978

First Sahaja Yoga weekend seminar outside of India at Easthampstead Park, Berkshire, UK on 14th/15th Oct 1978

1979

Speaks at Delhi University

1980

Travels to Europe to introduce Sahaja Yoga via public programs

1981

Travels to Australia and North America to introduce Sahaja Yoga via public programs

1982

First of many annual Sahaja Yoga Tours of India

1983

Husband, C.P. Srivastava becomes founding chancellor of World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden

1985

First international seminar of Sahaja Yoga in Ganapatipule, India

1986

Awarded ‘Personality of the Year’ by the Italian Government

1987

Travels to the USSR to introduce Sahaja Yoga via public programs

1989

Travels to South America to introduce Sahaja Yoga via public programs

1990

First program for United Nations staff in New York
Husband, C.P. Srivastava knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in England
Addresses the Medical Conference in Moscow
Establishment of Sahaja Yoga International School in Dharamshala, India

1991

Moves to Cabella Ligure, Italy

1992

First Royal Albert Hall public program in London

1993

Appointed as Honorary Member of the Petrovskaya Academy of Art and Science, St. Petersburg, Russia

1994

Travels to Tunisia

1994

Addresses the Science Conference in St. Petersburg

1995

Speaks at UN conference in Beijing
“Meta Modern Era” book published

1996

Travels to Cairo, Egypt
Sahaja Yoga Health Centre opens in Belapur, India

1997

Establishment of ‘Loving Hands’ NGO for destitute women and children in Delhi, India
Large public program in US at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York

1998

Addresses Medical Conference in Italy
Addresses Science Conference in Russia

2003

Establishes Music & Arts Academy in Vaitarna, India

2008

Addresses a large seminar in northern Italy, the most recent of approx 3,000 recorded talks
Travels to Vienna to inaugurate Nirmal Prasht National Centre

2010

Travels for the last time to India for Diwali celebrations
Celebrates Christmas by hosting an international seminar in Genoa, Italy

2011

Shri Mataji passed away on February 23rd 2011 aged 87 years, in Genoa, Italy.