ADI DEV The First Man by Jagdish Chander Hassija
Adi Dev is the foundation book of the Brahma Kumaris. Written by the late Raj Yogi
Jagdish Chander, official spokesman for the Brahma Kumaris until his passing in 2001. Adi Dev was published by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University in 1981.The English translation was edited and introduced by Robert Shubow, a San Francisco lawyer
and BK adherent. (Robert reinvented himself some years later as Shunyamurti, and is now director of the Sat Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. www.satyogainstitute.org )
Adi Dev, is a colourful and dramatic
hagiography. The book tells about the life and times of the founder, and the adventures of his young followers in what is now Pakistan, and their move to India in 1951, till Brahma Baba's death in 1969.
The
book also purports to be the unambiguous story of the instantaneous Descent of the One True God into Dada Lekhraj in 1937, as witnessed by Mrs Radhika Kisinchand, mother of two, and the daughter-in-law of Bhai Lekhraj.However, recent disoveries in the
British Library, as well as chats with Dadi Gulzar and Dada Lekhraj's son Narain, have shown this tale to be quite spurious. This tale as presented in Adi Dev is a reworking by Radhika, later Dadi Brijindra, of an event that occurred in 1937 within a group,
reinterpreted after the founder's passing 30 years later, then written up in the 1971 'World Renewal" by Brother Jagdish to justify the Brahma Kumaris 'Instantaneous Descent of the One True God' into Dada Lekhraj claim, till finally published in
Adi Dev in 1981 and 2003. As BK historian Dr Wendy Sargent noted in her internal report to BK management in 2010 'the real story is quite different'.
And as the murli of 27/03/2007
says: 'You children would not be able to say when Baba (God) entered into him (Lekhraj). Did He come when he had divine visions or when? Similar divine visions occur on the path of worship also. It cannot be known at what time Baba came. The time of the arrival
of Krishna is depicted : but there is no time,etc for the arrival of Shiv Baba. Baba is a Master. It cannot be known when He comes'.'
The real story is incredibly more complex, more credible, and took 30 years to
become the 'knowledge' BK has today, and evolved in fits and starts over that time. Briefly, the tale involves the Om Mandli belief in Dada Lekhraj as Prajapati God Brahma, God manifest, with God unmanifest perceived as Infinite Divine Light. There were
various interpretations and understandings of religion culled from a fairly superficial comprehension of Indian scriptures, but insightful interpretations of Hindu religious symbolism. As well there were ongoing revelations and visionary experiences, and a
firm belief that World War 2 was the Great Mahabharat War, and that the Final Destruction (Vinash), and ultimate settling of all negative karma (actions) would be in 1950, followed by the Age of Truth (Satyug). And... that all of history is wrapped up in an
eternally repeating 5,000 year cycle of time. The University's knowledge base, that is 'what God Himself really says to His children', only became official and publishable in 1964. Though even these published teachings, or murlis, are 'revised'
that is to say the University censors aspects of murlis that God tells His children that the University wishes God hadn't, presumably to present a more acceptable institutional face to adherents and the world.
Adi
Dev continues to be promoted and sold from BKWSU central in Mt Abu, and in London, for distribution around the world : www.bkpublications.com. (In Australia following revelations in the documentary The Avinashi Social Club made
by enlightened BK adherents in 2011, the book was quietly withdrawn from sale to the general public). A Hindi CD of Dadi Brijindra's telling her 'experience' is played by BK Senior Admin to adherents at various times, especially to the generally more devotionally
minded Indian BKs, in attempts to discredit truth seekers within BKWSU.
Adi Dev is the primary source for books, news and academic articles on BKWSU. Our discussions with leadership make it clear
that senior management has no intention of withdrawing the book from sale, or of publishing an accurate version of this Momentous Event for the illumination of adherents and the people of the world🙂For more on the real BK History, by BK academic Dr Wendy Sargent, click here DR WENDY
SARGENT
#brahmakumaris,#BKWSU,#adidev,#brahmakumarishistory