raj Banchary Devi

Braj Banchary Devi, founder of Shri Kripalu Kunj Ashram, is affectionately known as Didi Ji.
She is one of the foremost disciples and senior-most teachers of Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj
(Shri Maharaj Ji), the fifth original Jagadguru in the history of India. Didi Ji has spent her entire
life in the service of her revered Guru.

Didi Ji was born in the Pratapgarh District of Uttar Pradesh, India, to a religious-minded family.
Her father, Shri H. P. Mahabani, was a close devotee of Shri Maharaj Ji and was well known for
his devotional nature. On his invitation, Shri Maharaj Ji lived in Didi Ji's family's home for 15
years, beginning from when she was an infant. As she had the unique fortune to grow up in Shri
Maharaj Ji's close association, she learned her first lessons of spirituality in early childhood,
when Shri Maharaj Ji had not yet even started spreading the word of God to the world.

Didi Ji grew up to be a brilliant student. According to her interests, she earned a double M.A. in
Sanskrit and Music. After this, she miraculously completed her studies of the Vedas and other
Hindu scriptures from Shri Maharaj Ji in a period of just four months. In 1974 on the auspicious
day of Sharad Poornima, Shri Maharaj Ji bestowed upon Didi Ji the saffron garments of a
sannyasi and changed her name to “Braj Banchary”. Shri Maharaj Ji blessed Didi Ji her with the
service of propagating his philosophy. At that time she was just 22 years old.

Subsequent to becoming a preacher, Didi Ji lectured in India for 9 years. Impressed by her
dedication and skill, Shri Maharaj Ji sent her abroad to teach the philosophy she had learned
from him. In 1982, Didi Ji went to Sweden, various cities in the US, and was later invited to
Canada. The Canada devotees were so impressed by her knowledge that they insisted she stay
there permanently. Under her guidance, in 1983 they established the International Bhaktiyog
Sadhana Society (IBYSS), a nonprofit religious organization. This organization is still spreading
the teachings of Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj and the philosophy of the Hindu scriptures through
Sadhana Mandir, the IBYSS center she established that organizes regular devotional services,
special spiritual retreats and celebrations of religious holidays.

In 1986, Didi Ji established IBYSS in England, following an enthusiastically received lecture

tour. After spearheading this effort for several months, the continuing work of the UK-based
organization was passed on to other preachers of JKP, who are successfully continuing this
mission.

Didi Ji's teachings have deeply touched thousands of families over the years. Because of her
association, several of the current sannyasi preachers of JKP - who were once children of these
families - were inspired to dedicate themselves to become lifetime teachers of Shri Maharaj Ji's
philosophy. She has also mentored many more preachers in their study of this philosophy, as she
does even today.

In 2007, with Shri Maharaj Ji’s instruction, Didi Ji established Shri Kripalu Kunj Ashram, a
nonprofit charitable organisation and ashram based in Houston, Texas. Regular devotional
services offer kirtan, spiritual discourses and children’s religious education.

Didi Ji conducts spiritual retreats every year at the end of December and July. These retreats are
organized to give practical instruction in bhakti sadhana, and teach how to integrate and evolve
this experience in one’s daily life. Didi Ji provides ample time in the retreats for question and
answer sessions, which many testify have removed lifelong doubts about their spiritual path.
These family-oriented retreats offer many other activities such as devotional plays, talent shows,
and dances, as well as music lessons for the harmonium, dholak (Indian drum) and manjira
(cymbals), which are inspiring for both parents and children. During these times, Didi Ji freely
shares the experience of her lifelong association of Shri Maharaj Ji, as each and every part of her
life is related in one way or another to this.

Testimonials
"Didi Ji is a unique sannyasi and spiritual teacher as she is dedicated with absolutely every
fiber of her being to the teachings of her divine Guru. There is no doubt that being raised from
earliest childhood around Sri Maharaj ji, and being cared for and repeatedly blessed by him
throughout her whole life has granted her a special divine place among Sri Maharaji ji's closest
family and associates.

Being around her, one can surely sense she has no one and nothing in her life but Sri Maharaj
ji. Her uncompromising attitude with the material world is a blessing to behold as she tirelessly
helps all those who come to her for guidance. Her lectures are spontaneous and right to the point,
always taking the listeners to deeper and more profound levels of surrender and realization of the
divine presence.

One of the many benefits of her association for me has been that the path to our universal
divine goal has been cleared of obstacles, made more enjoyable, and simultaneously made
simpler than it was before meeting her. Didi Ji's ability to open the receptive listener's mind to
even the most intimate loving exchanges between the Lord and His devotees is enlightening and
amazing.

I am grateful to be blessed by her association, and always feel helped by being in her satsang."
DB, Houston, Texas, USA

“Braj Banchary Didi Ji has been a source of tremendous inspiration for me. The first time she
conducted satsang at our home, the way she explained philosophy and resolved your doubts
made me feel as if Shri Maharaj Ji himself was there. Her kirtan is melodious and fills you with
divine love. She talks fondly of her childhood association with Shri Maharaj Ji. She paints a
living picture of Shri Maharaj Ji's life from those days which seems to come alive. Learning
about Shri Maharaj Ji from Didi Ji is a unique and a very pleasant experience.It seems the
philosophy of divine love is part of the very fiber of her being.”

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