03/15/2026
ENLIGHTENED WOMEN - Homage to them on this March the 8th, International Women's Day
"Yatra narya pujyante tatra ramente devata."
No, this is not greek. This is Sanskrit, a sacred language and this phrase means: "Where the women are respected and respectable, there resides the Gods of our well-being"
This phrase was quoted by Dr.(Mrs) Nirmala Srivastava in a lecture given at the Round Table of the Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing, on September 13, 1995. At that time, She mentioned problems which the women were facing in those days with such wisdom that this lecture became a historical document. This, along with numerous actions She has performed towards the well-being of humanity may have lead to her nomination for the Nobel Peace Award.
She said that women still cannot manifest their full potential as wielders of powers similar to those of Mother Earth: "It is evident that women are the creators and the preservers of the entire humankind. This is the role that the almighty God has assigned to them. Seeds cannot create anything by themselves. It is the Mother Earth which provides the flowers and the fruits and other bounties. Similarly, it is the woman who creates the child, who nurtures the baby and eventually brings up the citizen of tomorrow. Women must therefore rank with Mother Earth as the edifice of the entire humanity."
Shri Mataji, as She is kindly addressed by her fellow countrymen, has envisioned a brilliant solution to not only help women manifest their innate qualities, but all human beings wishing to have a better human condition. She proposed the awakening of an emotional and spiritual coefficient through Self-realization, a meditation method She named Sahaja Yoga. This method enables one to achieve the ideal of personal realization which is aspired by all human beings. It promotes a state of consciousness, which is joyful, free, deep, peaceful, creating self-knowledge and balanced attitudes.
It suggests collective emancipation and the ascent of human consciousness to a level where she/he can identify, recognize and manifest qualities that will enable a healthier lifestyle.
In simple terms, Shri Mataji proposes to bring light to the innermost corners of our being, allowing us to achieve the much aspired Enlightenment. In particular, women who lead regular lives, working, studying, sustaining households, will be touched by the Light of the Spirit, reaching their brains, hearts and paths. Maybe the search for a better world will become easier for their children in the dawning of a tomorrow which seems so uncertain, dark and unpredictable...
In the vision of Her enlightened Being, She has eyes to see the greatness of life, without leaving a single thing unobserved. To men She also has a word of wisdom and love, and sais: "Even if there is fragrance on mother Earth, unless and until you have the flowers, how will you know there exists fragrance on Mother Earth? Men are very important, otherwise what would they (women) do? All their energy would be wasted. So, if women are the Mother Earth, you (men) are the flowers. What is the advantage? You are the people who...everybody sees you."
Women of light like Her, deserve our tribute every day. But on this day, March 8, International Women`s Day, we would like to share a little of Her wonderful work towards the emancipation of humankind.
"Shri Mataji`s discovery brings genuine hope to humanity"
Claes Nobel, (grandnephew of Alfred Nobel, creator of the Nobel Foundation and chairman of United Earth Organization)
Text by Valéria Ferreira
Read more: www.sahajayoga.org.br
https://shrimataji.org/un-womens-conference/
