Brahma Kumaris

Brahma Kumaris
Formation1936; 88 years ago (1936)
FounderLekhraj Kripalani
TypeSpiritual organisation
Legal statusFoundation
PurposeEducational, Philanthropic, Spiritual, Meditation
HeadquartersMount Abu, Rajasthan, India
Location
  • 8500+ centres
Coordinates24°35′33″N 72°42′30″E / 24.5925°N 72.7083°E / 24.5925; 72.7083
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
BK Shivani, Dadi Janki, Dadi Prakashmani and Dadi Hriday Mohini
WebsiteInternational India

The Brahma Kumaris (Sanskrit: ब्रह्माकुमारी ("Daughters of Brahma")) is a spiritual movement that originated in Hyderabad, Sindh, during the 1930s.[1][2][3] Founded by Lekhraj Kripalani, the organisation teaches the importance of moving beyond labels associated with the human body, including race, nationality, religion, and gender, through meditation that emphasizes the concept of identity as souls rather than bodies. It aims to establish a global culture centered around what they refer to as "soul-consciousness".[4][5] The members of the organisation believe that all souls are good by nature and that God is the source of all goodness.[6]

In 2019, the organisation had more than eight thousand centres across one hundred ten countries and more than one million members.[7] Women continue to hold primary leadership positions within the organisation.[8]

  1. ^ Summary of movement. censamm.org
  2. ^ What Does Brahma Kumaris Mean? brahmakumaris.org
  3. ^ Monier-Williams, Monier (1899) Sanskrit Dictionary. Clarendon Press, Oxford. p. 292
  4. ^ Melton, J. Gordon, ed. (2002). Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-57607-223-3.
  5. ^ Tomlinson, Matt; Smith, Wendy; Manderson, Lenore (2012). "4. Brahma Kumaris: Purity and the Globalization of Faith". Flows of Faith: Religious Reach and Community in Asia and Pacific. Springer. ISBN 978-94-007-2931-5.
  6. ^ Jones, Constance; Ryan, James Daniel; Melton, J. Gordon (2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of world religions. New York, NY: Facts On File. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9.
  7. ^ "Our History – The Brahma Kumaris". Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  8. ^ Kranenborg, Reender (1999). "Brahma Kumaris: A New Religion?". Center for Studies on New Religions. Retrieved 27 July 2007. A preliminary version of a paper presented at CESNUR 99