Aims and Objective
- Dissemination of pure intelligence in society
- Building strong will-power and character (sadachar) in every aspect of life through the philosophy of Gayatri (Righteous knowledge)
- Value-based mass teaching programs for youth all over the globe
- Scientific spirituality to be established as a religion of tomorrow
- Promoting principles of deep ecology all over the society
- Spreading knowledge and wisdom of the VEDAS
- Yagna for purification of the Subtle atmosphere
- An alternative system of Medicine to be made easily accessible for one and all
- Be a helpful hand
Brief History of Gayatri Pariwar in North America
Gayatri Pariwar is a living model of a futuristic society, being guided by principles of humanity and equality based on the age-old wisdom of Vedic Rishis, who practiced and propagated the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, the concept of Universal Family. Millions of people all over the world has joined this movement.
Vedmurthy Taponishtha Pt. Sriram Sharma Acharya, a sage, a social reformer, and a visionary of Thought Revolution, started Shantikunj, a unique center and fountain-head of the global movement for the Reconstruction of the Era (Yug Nirman Yojna) for moral-spiritual regeneration, in Haridwar , India, under Gayatri Pariwar.
Dr. Pranav Pandya is renouned world over as a pioneer of scientific spirituality . As the Head of the Organization, he disseminated the message of Indian culture around the world.
In the U.S.A, several members of Gayatri Pariwar who migrated in the early 1970s onward till 2000, started performing Yagyas and other Sanskars. However, the unification of these members of different States was the vision of Dr. Pranav Pandya who is a close and direct disciple of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya and a pioneer of scientific spirituality.
He formed in 2001, A Central Working Committee (CWC), selecting different members from different areas for brainstorming the needs in U.S and to disseminate the message of Gayatri Pariwar.
Shraddheya Shailbala Pandya: Embodiment of boundless love and affection for each and everyone, Shraddheya Shailbala Pandya is revered as Jiji by all parijans of Gayatri Pariwar. Hundreds of parijans come to Shantikunj , Haridwar everyday to seek blessings of Guru satta from her. Her mere darshan and compassionate words alleviate sufferings of people.
Masters in Psychology from Devi Ahilya University Indore. Present Head of Shantikunj , the headquarters of All World Gayatri Pariwar, Yug Nirman and Vichar Kranti Abhiyan .
The Vision of Shraddhey Dr. Pranav Pandya Ji
He formed in 2001, A Central Working Committee (CWC), selecting different members from different areas for brainstorming the needs in U.S and to disseminate the message of Gayatri Pariwar.
The first meeting of CWC took place in Austin, TX in 2001 for three days and the following
Was primary the result:
- To open three Gayatri Centers in U.S, namely, New Jersey, Chicago and Los Angeles.
- To have curriculum for the need of the children growing up in U.S.
- To have Summer Camps organized for children during summer months, and to extend it
- to adults for their development.
- To unify the Gayatri Pariwar members from different cities and the resources.
The second meeting took place in Vraj in 2002, in PA, where many more members joined. It continued with three days meeting and discussed in details to move forward in details with the above items. Soon, the first Summer Camp was organized in Pocono Mountains, PA in 2002 where 200 people attended and was a great success, followed by Los Angeles, CA and Chicago, Il. The Camps were very successful and started taking place everywhere. The third meeting took place in 2003 in Los Angles where Dr. Pranavbhai Pandya was also present. It discussed the formation, the articles of incorporation and also many other items where members of many other cities also joined.
In 2012, at the Antaroorja Yuva Jagriti Training Camp, at Yosemite, which was attended by forty youth, some of them had grown up in the U.S. in Gayatri Pariwar. They mentioned that they experienced awakening of inner spiritual energy at the Camp and a pledge was taken by all under the vision of Dr. Pranav Pandya to have a training location of Gayatri Pariwar in Yosemite National Park vicinity, California in future. After the camp, Shantikunj of North America (SONA), a committee was formed in 2012, this extended and included members from different cities of Canada.
In the past twenty years, we achieved much more than what was discussed, with more Centers coming up in U.S and Canada, better programs for children, camps in Canada as well, Yoga, Pranayam, and Maun Sadhna camps, and conducting of all 16 Sanskars in various cities in North America. Today, we are proud to announce the vision of Dr. Pranav Pandya was met by a devoted member. The member helped in obtaining the land and now with all the members of “Shantikunj of North America, the Center for Holistic Wellness” is established and plans to open a spiritual training Center undertaken on 640 acres of land. The seed that was sewn in 2001, now after 20 years, has blossomed into a KalpaVriksha, a Wishing Tree, where the collective efforts of young and old, all the members of U.S.A and Canada has unified and has reaped into this beautiful project which future generations to come will be proud of. It is purely a bliss and grace of Gurushakti.
Constitution of New Era - Our Solemn Pledge
युग निर्माण शत संकल्प
Firmly believing in the Omnipresence of God and His Unfailing justice, we pledge to abide the essential disciplines of Divine principles (Dharma).
Regarding the body as the Temple of God, we will be ever watchful to keep it healthy and full of vitality by adopting the principles of self-restraint, order and harmony in our daily-lives.
With a view to keeping our minds free from the inrush of negative thoughts and emotions, we will adopt a regular program of study of ennobling and inspiring literature (swadhyaya) and of keeping the company of saints (satsang).
We will vigilantly exercise strict control over our senses, thoughts, emotions and in the spending of our time and resources.
We will consider ourselves inseparable parts of the society and will see our good in the good of all.
We will abide by basic moral code, refrain from wrong doing and will discharge our duties as citizens committed to the well-being of the society.
We will earnestly and firmly imbibe in our lives the virtues of Wisdom, Honesty, Responsibility and Courage.
We will constantly and sincerely endeavour to create an environment of loving kindness, cleanliness, simplicity and goodwill.
We will prefer failure while adhering to basic moral principles to so-called success obtained through unfair and foul means.
We will never evaluate a person's greatness by his worldly success, talents and riches but by his righteous conduct and thoughts.
We will never do unto others what we would not like to be done unto us.
Men and women while interacting with each other will have feelings of mutual respect and understanding based on purity of thoughts and emotions.
We will regularly and religiously contribute a portion of our time, talents and resources for spreading nobility and righteousness in the world.
We will give precedence to discriminating wisdom over blind traditions.
We will actively involve ourselves in bringing together people of goodwill, in resisting evil and injustice, and in promoting New Creation.
We will remain committed to the principles of national unity and equality of all human beings. In our conduct, we will not make any discrimination between person and person on the basis of caste, creed, color, religion, region, language or sex.
We firmly believe that each human being is the maker of his own destiny. With this conviction, we will uplift and transform ourselves and help others in doing so. We believe the world will then automatically change for the better.
Our Motto is: 'Hama Badalenge – Yuga Badalega', 'Hama Sudharenge – Yuga Sudhrega'. The trends of our times will transform, when we transform ourselves. When we reform ourselves, the world will be reformed.