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    The enlightened vision of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, founder of All-World Gayatri Pariwar, had envisaged ‘Scientific Spirituality’ as the beacon light of golden future for humanity. In his opinion — “the rigid convictions and practices of spirituality weaken their authenticity without scientific spirit and openness. The philosophy and teachings of spirituality without having scientific approach lose their relevance and originality in the smog of blind faith and superstitions.  Science also remains narrow and incomplete without incorporating spirituality. Science without spirituality has no bonds of values and so there is an obvious danger of its becoming aristocratic and apathetic”.

We all know that scientific and technological development may produce wealth, comforts and prosperity but not the elixir of peace, harmony and love. The light of sagacity and the perpetual power of inner strength too are attained only through spiritual progress. But most of us have somehow ignored the necessity of our own spiritual aspiration and progress. Or, we have confused ‘spirituality’ with some rigid traditional teachings and/or the ritualistic form of religion. Acharya Shriram Sharma realized the root cause of this ‘folly’ of the wise and progressive minds of today and showed the path of scientific spirituality.

He conceptualized God as an absolute ensemble of highest order of virtues and the purest reflection of ultimate evolution of consciousness. He experienced the presence of Almighty as much in the altruistic sentiments of humanity as in the deep-ecological discipline of Nature and the driving force of cosmic order.

He regarded a human being not as a mere social animal but rather as the crown prince of God who has lost his way and forgotten his identity.    

He defined scientific spirituality as evolved psychology that enlightens the human mind and awakens divine sensitivity in the human heart. He regarded scientific spirituality as the key to holistic management and progress of human life on personal, familial and social fronts.  He stressed the necessity of positive attitude and focused and thoughtful zeal towards self-refinement and self-development as essential features of scientific spirituality and designed effective methods and training programs to achieve this.

Normally, he used to formulate and commence the major annual tasks of his mission of social, spiritual and cultural elevation of mankind, as per the celestial inspirations of his Master, the angelic Himalayan yogi Swami Sarveshawaranand, on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami.  But something unique happened on his thirty-fifth birth anniversary, in September 1946! His mind was deeply engrossed in planning something; perhaps it was reading the course of events that were to occur soon to materialize his ideas.

He had received some sublime messages in a state of trance during Gayatri Sadhana. It was not a new experience for a spiritual saint like him, who, like Vedic Rishis, was a mantra-drishta — a visionary of the sublime realms of Nature who could grasp the subtle sound of Vedic Mantras and their cosmic vibrations. What he had ‘heard’ this time were two letters – “Vigyan” (Science) and “Adhyatma” (Spirituality). He, who had pioneered renaissance of the rishi-culture in new scientific light and incorporation of spiritual values in daily life, could easily decipher the meaning and implications of this new ‘mantra’ of “Scientific Spirituality”.  As a dedicated scientist thoughtfully plans investigations on his novel ideas or hypotheses, he was also thinking on different aspects and multiple dimensions of scientific spirituality.

This day was also special because, as per the sublime indications, he had got a relevant message from somewhere in this physical world too!  It was a letter of Sri Ramnarayan Kediya from Calcutta. Sri Kediya had come in contact with Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya through “Akhand Jyoti” (magazine). He was reading this magazine since past couple of years and was also inspired by Acharyaji’s saintly affection. He used to visit the “Akhand Jyoti” publication centre in Mathura and meet the latter every year.  He used to write to Acharyaji quite regularly. In this letter, which was received on his birthday in September 1946, Sri Kedia had written about his recent visit to Shantiniketan. His house in Calcutta was not far from Shantiniketan so he had visited this unique university of art and culture several times. In his recent visit that was referred in this letter, he happened to have met noted scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi. Shri Dwivedi was a renowned critic and scholar of Hindi literature. He had been a Professor of Hindi in the Vishwa Bharati University at Shantiniketan since 1930.

Upon his meeting with Prof. Dwivedi, Shri Kediya presented him some recent issues of the Hindi monthly “Akhand Jyoti”. This magazine was edited by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya and most articles in this unique magazine of social reformation and spiritual upliftment were written by him only. Prof. Dwivedi was very much impressed by the purpose, the originality of its style of writing, its sagacious level, lucidity of language, and innovative way of explaining spiritual concepts. He expressed the desire to meet the editor of “Akhand Jyoti” and asked Shri Kediya to invite Acharya Sharma.

All this was reported in the above-referred letter of Kediyaji.  While reading this letter, Acharyaji’s extraordinary brain could also sense the ideal time for visiting Shantiniketan. He immediately called someone from the “Akhand Jyoti” office and gave him instructions to book his tickets for Calcutta for a particular date and to also inform Kediyaji via telegram. He had been to Calcutta earlier and had also visited Shantiniketan and met Shri Rabindra Nath Tagore there. The latter was very sick at that time but had still given time to Acharyaji.  However, Prof. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was out of town at that time.

Within a fortnight or so after receiving Shri Kediya’s letter Acharyaji reached Calcutta; and they both went to meet Prof. Dwivedi. The latter was meeting Acharyaji (Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya) for the first time. Prof. Kshitimohan Sen and Shastri Vidhushekhar were also with him. Acharyaji’s personality was majestic — tall, fair, straight, with an illumined aura of tapa on his face, and radiating eyes.  His eyesight seemed to have just frozen for a few moments, while looking at him. He greeted Acharyaji with a feeling of reverence.

It was a great coincidence that Nobel Laureate Sir Dr. CV Raman’s lecture was also scheduled there the same evening. He was going to deliver a popular lecture on wider role and expansion of science in human life. After brief discussion, they all went to the auditorium. The lecture began.

Dr. CV Raman was a genius of Physics and also a good orator. He had great respect for Mahatma Gandhi. The story of Siddharta’s (Buddha’s) renunciation and books like “The Light of Asia” had great impact on him since young age. He had great regard for human values and Indian philosophy that nurtured them. He always had a holistic view of science. He thought nature is the best teacher. He used to say: “What is science in the last analysis but the study and the love of nature, displayed not in the form of abstract worship but in the practical form of seeking to understand Nature…” He also remarked: “One aspect of Indian culture was its profound understanding of Nature. Much of India's philosophy related itself to the understanding of the rationale and the meaning of the phenomena of Nature.”

That is what was vividly reflected in his speech that day. Wearing a black long gown, that the Vishwa Bharti University had adorned him with, as a mark of honor, he was speaking fluently. He reminded the audience that the 20th century had been the age of science. No front of life in this world was isolated from its magical developments. If there were any, those too would be embraced by it sooner or later. He also emphasized and cautioned that progress of science should aim at welfare of the world and that this was the greatest challenge for science as well as challenge before humanity. Neither science nor the scientists should be apathetic or sans human sentiments and values; he continued… Every word of his speech was thought-provoking and was touching the hearts of audience.  

Sir Dr. Raman’s faith in spirituality was clearly expressed in simple terms in the context of what Mahatma Gandhi taught. In this regard he used to express his views that “His (Gandhiji's) teachings stressed the supreme virtue of the human spirit, utterly indestructible and unconquerable. India can never hope to find a place in the Sun, unless it upholds the values of the human spirit.”

As Dr. Raman had visited Shantiniketan earlier, Prof. Dwivedi was known to him. “Let us meet the eminent speaker”, he told Acharyaji and others with him after the talk.

Dr. Raman emphasized the need for implementation of the ideas into reality for the benefit of mankind. Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (Acharyaji) remarked: “The same is required in the field of spirituality as well. Spirituality can’t be adopted only through lip-service or by ostentatious rituals and orthodox customs. One does not have to renounce the world and go to the forests or remote mountains to practice it. There is no place for blind faith or superstitions in it. However, it will need the support of science to cast out the prevailing misconceptions and delusions. It will have to prove its authenticity. Spirituality and science should support, guide and supplement each other.”   

Everyone present there concurred with these comprehensive views of this young, trenchant spiritual yogi.

Cultivation of the “supreme virtue” of human spirit in science that Dr. Raman emphasized in his speech and in the ongoing discussion conveyed the crucial role of spirituality in every aspect of science. In this context his views implied that the 20th century might have been the age of science but the future would lie with its holistic version integrated with spirituality.   

Thus the joint views of the two preeminent masters of spirituality and science clearly indicated that the 21st century would witness the era of “Scientific Spirituality” - the ‘mantra’ that the spiritual acumen of Acharyaji had perceived from the invisible folds of time.  

After returning to Mathura he published a special issue of “Akhand Jyoti” pertaining to different facets of scientific spirituality. The bottom line of his editorial on its very first page said – “(Dear) Readers of Akhand Jyoti! Please note, what is of foremost importance to be read and grasped (in human life) is “Scientific Spirituality”. This is a super science gifted by vedic rishis and also practiced (for holistic development)”.

Through this distinct magazine of Thought-Renaissance, he propagated the need for modifying the prevalent forms of religious philosophies and practices in scientific light with prudent acumen to eliminate baseless, preposterous convictions, blind faith, superstitions and meaningless rituals.  He showed the practical ways of how the commonality between scientific and religious approaches could be used towards social upliftment and welfare. He also guided how the similarities and mutual complementarity of the findings of the two streams could be channelized for viable progress.

Way back in the early 1940s he had initiated dissemination of spiritual knowledge and ancient Indian cultural values in scientific light. He also advocated integration of science and spirituality in a practical way for global welfare. Through his mission of “Yug Nirman Yojna” (literally meaning - Plan for ushering of new era), he propagated and launched several welfare projects for men, women and children from all walks of life to train them in the art of holistic living. The Gayatri Tapobhumi at Mathura and the Shantikunj Ashram and Brahmavarchas Research Institute at Haridwar established by him stand as living models of how the shape of human society would be if scientific spirit and spiritual values were adopted in day-to-day life.

His monumental writings of over 2400 books are a unique source of illuminating multiple dimensions of life with the glow of scientific spirituality.

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