Sahaja Yoga (Nirmala Srivastava)
Movement founded by Nirmala Srivastava ('Mataji', 'Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi') in 1970 teaching kundalini awakening. Followers believe Srivastava was a divine incarnation. Long-running disputes over Britain's Sahaja Yoga school led to closure.
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BITE breakdown
0 — guru-centric movement; founder revered as divine incarnation by followers.
In context
Sahaja Yoga teaches a self-realisation experience said to awaken kundalini through founder Srivastava's grace. Followers ('Sahaja Yogis') consider her the Adi Shakti incarnate. Critics document patterns of arranged international marriages, separation of children into ashram schools (notably the closed UK school), and substantial financial expectations. Movement continues post-Srivastava (d. 2011) under family-led trust.
Key control doctrines
- Srivastava as Adi Shakti incarnate
- Kundalini awakening through her grace
- Arranged international marriages
Notable public ex-members
- Multiple ex-members documented in BBC and Guardian coverage
Legal cases & controversies
- UK school closure following Ofsted concerns
Timeline
- 1970Srivastava's first 'self-realisation' experience
- 1990sInternational expansion; UK / Italy schools established
- 2011Srivastava dies in Italy
Sources
- Judith Coney, 'Sahaja Yoga: Socializing Processes in a South Asian New Religious Movement' (1999)
- BBC documentary on Sahaja Yoga school closures
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.