Tai Ma’s profound vision - wherever there is a temple, there must also be a school - “Jaha Jinalay, Vaha Vidyalay” - became one of the defining pillars of her life’s work.
She was deeply saddened to witness the culture of dependency that had developed around many pilgrimage centres, where villagers, including children, often relied entirely on the generosity of visiting pilgrims for survival. There was little access to education. Few opportunities. Very little hope for self-reliance.
Tai Ma would ask, “Why not transform the entire village into a temple?”
For her, a true temple was not merely a place of worship, but a sanctuary where every child is nurtured, where human potential is awakened, and where nature and all living beings are protected with care and reverence. She believed there was one transformative force capable of bringing about such change: education.
Inspired by this vision, schools were established across India in:
At the heart of all her work was a deep commitment to empowering young girls through education and vocational training - something she believed could transform not only individual lives, but uplift entire families and communities.
Here are Pujya Tai Ma’s deeper thoughts on education and transforming lives:
