Shri Murli Mohan Shukla (Shukl'acharya's father)

Professional Background:

Shri Murli Mohan completed his college educati0on and joined the corporate world as an executive.

He worked for Sahu Jain Group ( known for Times Of India Publications) and later joined multinational company, ITC, a group company of BAT,UK. Post retirement Shri Murli Shukla has been a consultant to Reliance Group, BILT,

He distinguished himself with excellence and was a well known name in the Paper Industry. He is known for his honesty, integrity and sincerity; an expresion of his `Sanskar`.

Shri Murli Mohan Shukla, aged 75, hails from a family of `Vedic Scholars, Ayurvedic Physicians, Astrologers and Priests`.

Tracing back roots it was found that `Udich Brahmins` lived in in Himalayas in North of India and migrated to different locations all over India and were attached to various kingdoms as `Rajgurus`, `Raj Purohits` and `Rajvaidyas`that is,advisors on matters of religion and medicine.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati who founded `Arya Samaj` was a `Udich Brahmin` Thereafter a large number of `Udich Brahmins` became `Arya Samaajis`.

(Udich Brahmins have maintained their contacts all over India through a publication called `Audichya Bandhu`. `Udichs` are now known as `Audichya Brahmins`)

Shri Murli Mohan`s ancestors migrated to Siddhpur in Gujrat much before the Moughal Rule to perform `Yagya` for the King. The `yagya` lasted for one one year. The King of Siddhpur persuaded the families to stay back in Siddhpur.

Shri Murli Mohan`s `Gotra` is `Bhargav` which traces lineage to Sage Chayavan who rejuvenated himself with a tonic known as `Chayavanprash`. Sage Chayavan was the son of Sage Brighu, one of the five `Manas Putras`. Sage Bhargav started the practice of `Agnihotra`and local folklore has it that the sage lived in the hills where Satvik Sadanis now located. It is a strange coincidence that after many centuries the family has moved back to the place of its origin.

Shri Murli Mohan`s childhood was spent in an environment where `Sanatan` practices were strictly followed. He had the blessings of Swami Karpatriji, who lived on the banks of river Jamuna near Delhi.

Swami Karpatriji was the Guru` of Shankracharya of Puri, Shri 1008 Swami Niranjan Dev who started the first mass movement against cow slaughter and became a political figure.

Shankracharya came to the residence of Shri Murli Mohan at Patna(Bihar) in 1975 to bless the family.

Shri Murli Mohan completed his college education and joined the corporate world as an executive.

He worked for Sahu Jain Group ( known for Times Of India Publications) and later joined multinational company, ITC, a group company of BAT,UK.

He distinguished himself with excellence and was a well known name in the Paper Industry. He is known for his honesty, integrity and sincerity; an expresion of his `Sanskar`.He has travelled all over the world many times on work and holidays.

In 1961, he married Gayatri Bhatt, daughter of Sri Uday Shankar Bhatt , who was a well known Hindi writer and poet and contemporary of Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Gayatri was also brought up in traditional Indian Culture and shared same values as Shri Murli Mohan. She was a big support to him in bringing up children and running the household while he remained occupied with work and travelled for long periods. Gayatri has a gifted voice and has conducted many kirtana gatherings.

Though working as professional he was continuously in search of a Guru. His search ended in 1979 when he had `Darshans` and blessings of Sadguru,Baba Haidakhan, also referred as Mahavatar Babaji

Shri Murli Mohan says that he owes this blessing from the heaven to his school mate, Late Shri Naveen Joshi of Daniya, Almora who remained his spiritual guide friend and well wisher.

The family was blessed by Babaji in 1981 when he came to their residence in New Delhi along with Shastriji and other devotees.

In 1982, before going for a holiday with the family on a world tour Shri Murli Mohan went to Haidakhan Ashram for seeking blessings of Babaji. Babaji ordered him to perform a `Puja` for world peace at the Ashram. Shri Murli Mohan understood the implication that he should engage himself in an activity which promotes world peace. The Satvik movement is a step in this direction. Shri Murli Mohan is a member of the Executive Committee of The Haidakhandi Samaj and was instrumental in adding `Ayurvedic Treatment Wing at Hairakhan Baba Hospital in Ranikhet. After retirement Shri Murli Mohan gives some time as consultant in his field of Paper Industry but devotes most of his time at 'Shri Kailashmukhi', Bhimtal in pursuit of spiritual practices.