tradition but was not particularly devout at an
early age. He entered the jewelry business and
earned a considerable fortune as a diamond
trader. At age 60, he decided to invest more time
in quiet reflection and solitude. In 1936, while
in a meditative state, he felt a warm flow of
energy surround him and experienced a series of
profound visions that revealed truths about the
nature of the soul and God, the Supreme Soul.
He decided to dedicate his life to understanding
the significance and application of the knowl-
edge he received and to convey this understand-
ing to others in service of world transformation.
In October 1937 he formed a managing commit-
tee of eight young women, and in February 1938
he gave all of his property and assets to a trust
administered by them.
Although the BKWSO is not a women’s orga-
nization per se, it has been largely administered
by women from its inception. The organization
states that it is the need for the traditionally more
feminine qualities of patience, tolerance, sacri-
fice, and love that keeps women in leadership
positions.
The organization came into being under the
name Om Mandali. At first it consisted of a hand-
ful of men, women, and children living in Hyder-
abad. After one year the organization moved to
Karachi, Pakistan, where for 14 years, until after
the partition of India and Pakistan, a group of 300
individuals lived as a self-sufficient community,
spending their time in intense spiritual study and
meditation.
In 1950, the community moved to Mount Abu
in the state of Rajasthan, India. In 1952, Brahma
Baba, as Dada Lekhraj had become known, felt
that outreach was necessary to share the knowl-
edge and experiences of the community. A few
sisters left Mount ABU and moved to Bombay
(Mumbai) and Delhi to serve by establishing
study centers where the knowledge of Raja Yoga
would be taught. The Madhuban community at
Mount Abu remains the nucleus of the Brahma
Kumaris centers worldwide and is a pilgrimage
place for study and retreat.
In 1969, Dadi Prakashmani, one of the original
eight trustees, was appointed chief administrative
head of the Brahma Kumaris. Under her leader-
ship the organization has experienced tremendous
growth, expanding beyond India for the first time.
It now includes 3,200 centers with over 450,000
students in 70 countries. Since 1974, Dadi Janaki
has served as coordinator for all Brahma Kumaris
activities outside India.
Today the BKWSO offers a varied curricu-
lum with classes and workshops on Raja Yoga,
stress-free living, MEDITATION training, community
organization, and development of communicationThe Universal Peace Hall, the main building of the
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization on
Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India (Constance A. Jones)
K 90 Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organizations