Resources
A growing archive of original documents, letters, books, images, audio and teachings relating to the history and development of Om Mandli and the Brahma Kumaris.
The materials below include authenticated copies of primary sources, arranged broadly in chronological order and accompanied, where useful, by short annotations and contextual notes.
The archive includes material from the earliest years in Sindh through to the development of the Brahma Kumaris as an international organisation.
Browse by type:
c. 1942, The earliest known drawing of the cycle
Early text and images files documenting the founding years of Om Mandli from 1938 to 1950. This period covers their time in Pakistan (India before Partition) up to their move to Rajasthan, India.
Om Mandli Bhaibund Committee Report (1938)
Committee Report
Critique of the Om Mandli by the families of Om Mandli members.
Is This Justice (1939)
Published Account
"Being an account of the founding of the Om Mandli and Om Niwas and their suppression by application of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908."
A Reply to Is This Justice (1940)
Published Response
"Om Mandli: A true authenticated story abouts its activities being a reply to 'Is This Justice'. By Anti-Om Mandli Committee, Hyderabad Sindh."
Letters to VIPs (1939-1942)
Correspondence
Letters sent to figures including Mahatma Gandhi, Princess Elizabeth, and the Viceroy and Vicereine of India, reflecting the community’s growing conviction that its message had global significance.
Class No. 162 (1942)
Teaching Transcript
"Conversation between Divine Ones and Divine Mother Radhe in the premises of the Imperishable Divine Yagya. The ever-revolving wheel of the eternal creative play, consisting of four epochs and four castes, which takes 5000 years to complete one rotation."
World Drama Cycle #1 (1942)
Teaching image
An early visual representation of the 5,000-year Cycle. Compare with later versions to trace the development of Brahma Kumaris cosmology.
This Preordained War of Mahabharat (Hindi, June 1942)
Published teaching text
An early Hindi text interpreting contemporary world conflict through the framework of the Mahabharata and the emerging theology of the yagya.
The Preordained World-Wide War of Mahabharata and It's Result (English, August, 1943)
Published teaching text
An English-language exposition of the same developing worldview, identifying Prajapati Brahma as the Gita knowledge-giver within the unfolding World Drama.
Tree #1 (1942)
Teaching image
One of the earliest known representations of the Kalpa Vriksha, or World Tree, depicting a 5,000-year cycle of human history.
The Tree #1 and Cycle #2 (1942-1943)
Teaching images
Early Tree and Cycle images showing the community’s understanding of God as Infinite Divine Light.
World Drama Cycle #2 (1943)
Teaching image
A later version of the Cycle, revealing changes in language, symbolism and the community’s understanding of world transformation.
World Drama Cycle # 3 (1949)
Teaching image
A further development of the Cycle showing the evolving relationship between Prajapati Brahma, sovereignty and world transformation.
Kalpa Tree (1949, Red and White)
Teaching image
An important early Tree image identifying Prajapati God Brahma as Creator and referring repeatedly to Infinite Divine Light.
Kalpa Tree (1950, Colour)
Teaching image
A later colour version of the Tree. Comparison with earlier versions reveals changing theological understandings and clarifications within the community.
Note the difference between this tree and the earlier tree indicated by the arrows at the bottom of the picture. This indicates their change in understanding and clarifications.
Documents, photos and teachings from 1951-1969, covering their relocation into their new home of Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India; their expansion through India; and the first contact with people from foreign lands. Resources listed chronologically.
Second, Third and Fourth World Religion Congress,
Shimizu, Shizuoka-Ken, Japan conducted in 1954 and 1955 (complete).
A substantial collection of primary-source material documenting how Brahma Kumaris teachings were presented internationally during the mid-1950s. These texts are especially valuable for tracing the development of the community’s theology during a period of transition.
Second World Congress (1954)
First speech (Miss Prakashmani and Miss Ratanmohini)
Second speech (Miss Prakashmani)
Third speech (Miss Ratanmohini)
Fourth speech (Goddess Mother Saraswati)
Fifth speech (World Goddess Mother Adi Devi Sri Saraswati)
Sixth speech (how Trimurti God incarnates)
Third World Congress (1955)
First speech (India) un-transcribed
Religion of the Brahma Kumaris (India)
Fourth World Congress (1955)
Introduction of Brahma Kumaris Institution (India) (1955)
Special Godly Message (Goddess Mother Sri Jagadamba Saraswati)
Brahma Kumaris Institution (Miss Prakashmani)
Other Original Documents - Religious and Theological
The Huge Contrast (1962)
Published teaching text
“Huge contrast between the Yogas taught by human beings and the Raj Yoga taught by Heavenly God Father Shiva. The Rajoguni and Tamoguni Yogas taught by men led to Hell. The Satoguni Yoga taught by God Father Shiva leads to Heaven.”
The file itself is undated, but the printer was established in 1962. Records relating to the printer are included as an appendix to the document.
One Week Course (Jagdish Chander, N.D. early 1960s)
Teaching course
An early version of the introductory course, presented as a path towards complete purity, peace and prosperity.
The Real Gita (N.D. late 1950's -early 1960s)
Published teaching text
An early exposition by Jagdish Chander reflecting the developing Brahma Kumaris interpretation of the Gita and the identity of its true sermoniser.
Sakar Murlis (July 1964 - Jun 1966)
Handwritten teachings
Scans of original handwritten Sakar Murlis. Image quality varies (digitisation in progress).
The Ladder (1966)
Teaching image
An important visual teaching aid depicting the spiritual rise and decline of humanity and reflecting the expectation of imminent world transformation during this period.
Lakshmi and Narayan (1967)
Teaching image
A teaching poster anticipating the re-establishment of the Golden Age and explicitly predicting world destruction within nine years.
"Corruption, irreligiousness, unrighteousness, vices, insolvency and sufferings will come to an end in Bharat within 9 years and Golden-Aged Deity-World-Sovereignty of Shri Lakshmi and Shri Narayan will come to be re-established soon after the forthcoming huge world destruction."
Versions of God Almighty (1969)
Published collection of teachings
A collection presenting its contents as the direct versions of God Almighty or the Gita Sermoniser.
"The heading on this volume might spell a surprise on many a reader, for it claims that knowledge contained in this volume has its source in the God Almighty or in the Gita Sermonizer Himself. But to those who want to be convinced of the bonafides of the claim by no other means than by what the book contains, I cannot but humbly suggest that they make a thorough reading of the contents at least once. For the 'versions' herein throw adequate light, directly or indirectly, on the 'why' or 'wherefore' of the title."
World Drama Cycle #3 (1980)
Teaching image
A later representation of the World Drama Cycle, now explicitly identifying God Father Shiva as the revealer of knowledge.
"Truth about the Creator and His Creation: Being revealed by the Most Beloved World God Father Shiva like Kalpa (5000 years) ago."