‘Gayatri Mantra is path to complete transformation’: HM Amit Shah at Shatabdi Samaroh 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday described the Gayatri Mantra as a path to complete transformation, saying its teachings can help individuals develop positive qualities and contribute to society and nation-building.

Addressing the ‘Shatabdi Samaroh 2026’, organised by the Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Pariwar at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Shah said the centenary celebrations marked three significant milestones: 100 years of the manifestation of Akhand Jyoti, the birth centenary of Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma and the completion of 100 years of spiritual practice by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya.

Union Minister Durgadas Uikey, Gayatri Pariwar's Dalnayak Dr Chinmay Pandya and several other dignitaries were present at the event.

Describing the occasion as a day of faith, service and resolve, Shah said the gathering had come together to pay tribute to Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma and work towards building the India envisioned by Maharshi Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda.

He said the number 100 symbolised completeness and that the three milestones coming together this year made it an important period for Indian culture and its spiritual journey.

Recalling Mataji's contribution, Shah said she had performed austerities and shown others the path of service. The flame lit a century ago, he said, had now become a source of welfare for people in more than 100 countries and over 15 crore families.

Referring to the four-day conference held in Haridwar in January, the Home Minister said members of the Gayatri Pariwar had come together around the message of Akhand Jyoti. He also highlighted the Deep Mahayajna, describing it as a symbol of sacrifice, cooperation and dedication.

"Every lamp that is lit is a resolve that we shall use our strength for society, spirituality and the nation," he said.

Gayatri Mantra can bring complete transformation: Shah

Explaining the significance of the Gayatri Mantra, Shah said it was not merely a religious or spiritual ritual but a means of bringing out the best qualities within an individual.

"By experiencing the positive energy inherent in the mantra and enabling the mind, body and soul to realise it, it becomes a great path for bringing out the 'sattva' (essence) within us to the fullest," he said.

Shah said the 24 letters of the Gayatri Mantra were directly connected with 24 auspicious centres within the human body. With the guidance of a Guru and the correct pronunciation of the mantra, these centres could awaken positive qualities and suppress negative tendencies, he added.

He listed foresight, restraint, austerity, courage, discrimination, intellect, service, vitality, love, valour and concentration among the 24 qualities associated with the mantra. According to Shah, the development of these qualities could lead an individual towards spiritual liberation, or moksha.

Praising Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya for taking the Gayatri Mantra to the masses, Shah said his contribution to Indian culture and spiritual consciousness was comparable to that of the country's great sages and thinkers.

Calling Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya the "doctor of our spirituality", Shah said the correct chanting of the mantra, from the navel to the mouth, activated 24 auspicious centres, helping develop positive qualities.

He also spoke about the benefits experienced by young people through the practice of the Gayatri Mantra, saying it had helped improve their positive thinking, courage, memory, ability to interpret situations and decision-making skills.

Shah said Gurudev had taken the teachings of the mantra to 15 crore families, giving a new lease of life to Indian spirituality and spiritual practices. He called for carrying this message forward to younger generations.

"The movement rising through the Gayatri Pariwar is a sacred duty of all of us to take forward," he said.

He added that the responsibility was to bring together positive forces across the world and guide humanity towards the path of righteousness.

"We must continue this work until the last moment of our lives," Shah said.

Three-day centenary festival draws thousands

The three-day birth centenary celebrations of Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma began at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Saturday with flag hoisting and Vedic rituals. More than 20,000 people attended the opening day.

The festival was inaugurated through a joint flag hoisting by Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra and Dr Chinmay Pandya, followed by Vedic chanting led by acharyas from Shantikunj, Haridwar.

A major highlight was the release of a commemorative postage stamp in memory of Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla released the stamp issued by India Post.

The first day was dedicated to Matrishakti and women's empowerment. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, who participated in discussions on the subject, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts for shifting the focus from women's empowerment to women-led development.

Birla said the Gayatri Pariwar was spreading the message of individual, family and nation-building through character development and value-based education.

Referring to the centenary of Akhand Deep, he said, "This eternal flame will keep burning until its light reaches the last person in society."

He also said that the organisation had been working to promote peace through spirituality at a time when several parts of the world were witnessing unrest.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia described the commemorative stamp as a tribute not only to Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma but also to her ideology, resolve and spirit of motherhood.

He urged participants to take three pledges: promote motherhood, love and brotherhood; respect women and support their progress in every sphere; and preserve Indian culture while passing its values and spiritual traditions on to future generations.

Around 650 students from Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, were involved in organising the festival and presenting cultural programmes. Forty students performed Pragya Yoga, while folk and tribal dances from Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh highlighted India's cultural diversity.

The celebrations also saw a record-setting performance of Samuhik Pragya Yog, with thousands of trained practitioners performing a 16-position yoga sequence in unison while chanting the Gayatri Mantra. The achievement was officially confirmed on November 1, 2026.

The Delhi event is the second phase of the celebrations, following the first phase at Vairagi Dweep in Haridwar earlier this year. It is focused on reviewing the resolutions of individual, family and nation-building and deciding the way forward.

The second day features programmes on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and universal brotherhood, along with a mass Deep Yagya dedicated to world peace and harmony.

The three-day festival will conclude on November 2 with the Maha Sankalp of Yug Nirman.

(With inputs from ANI)