Born on September 1926, in a famous priestly family, Mata Bhagwati Devi (Mataji), since her childhood, was more interested in worshipping God. After her marriage to Acharyaji, Mataji took over the responsibility of looking after visitors and guests. She willingly donated all her personal jewelry, which she received at her wedding for establishment of Gayatri Tapobhumi at Mathura.
In 1975, under the leadership of Mataji, Mahila Jagran Abhiyan (movement for emancipation of women) was initiated. Soon, about 4000 branches of Mahila Jagran Abhiyan were established with more than one million active participants.
Mataji considered everyone as part of her family. It was of prime importance to her, to arrange for their comfortable stay and spiritual guidance. Such was the love and affection that people come to Shantikunj for recharging themselves and to experience the peace and tranquillity in their personal lives.
When Gurudev took Mahasamadhi on June 02, 1990, Gayatri Jayanti day, Mataji took over all the responsibilities of the mission and carried them over with great courage. In October 1990, under Mataji's guidance, Grand Shraddhanjali Samaroh, a program to pay homage to Gurudev, was organized . Over 15,00,000 devotees from all over the world participated in it, and resolved to carry-on the works of Gurudev, for dissemination of philosophy of Gayatri and Yagna.
In 1992, on Gayatri Jayanti Day, Mataji disclosed about Gurudev's message from subtle and astral realms for the spread of Dev- Sanskriti (divine Indian culture or religious culture) all over the world for which series of Grand Ashwamedha Yagyas were to be performed. The series of Ashwamedha Yagnas started from Jaipur in Nov.1992. Till now, twenty-seven such grand Ashwamedha Yagnas have been celebrated in INDIA and abroads, besides the grand Anwalkheda (birthplace of Acharyaji near Agra, city of Taj) Pratham Poornahuti Samaroh in 1995.
Mataji visited UK, Canada and USA in three Ashwamedh yagnas in Leicester-UK, Toronto -Canada and Los Angeles - USA. Mataji initiated millions of people into Gayatri Mantra and with this, a new wave of character-building and social reform started. Mataji too, withdrew to the astral realm, to join her aradhya satta there, on September 19, 1994, Bhadrapad Mahapoornima day.
