Brahma Baba, originally known as Lekhraj Khubchand Kirpalani (1876–1969), was the founder of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya).
Here are the key points about him:
* Early Life: He was a wealthy diamond merchant in Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan), and was known as Dada Lekhraj.
* Spiritual Awakening: In the mid-1930s, around the age of 60, he reported having a series of profound spiritual visions. These experiences led him to retire from his business and turn completely to spirituality.
* Founding the Organisation: In 1936, he established a spiritual organisation originally called 'Om Mandali' in Hyderabad. This was the nucleus of the Brahma Kumaris.
* Role as an Instrument: Followers of the Brahma Kumaris believe that he became the first human medium through whom the Almighty God, referred to as Shiva (or Shiv Baba, the Supreme Soul), spoke the spiritual knowledge, hence his spiritual name Prajapita Brahma (Father of Humanity), or Brahma Baba.
* Core Legacy: He is credited with placing women at the forefront of the spiritual movement, which was a radical step at the time. His teachings emphasized the importance of Raja Yoga meditation, self-transformation, purity, and spiritual equality, seeing everyone as a soul.
* Headquarters: After the partition of India, the group moved its headquarters to Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India, in 1950, where it is known as Madhuban.
* Death: He passed away on January 18, 1969, and this day is observed as Smriti Divas (Day of Remembrance) by the Brahma Kumaris.
