Mangaluru : “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..”–Heb.3:7. For the last three days, thousands of faithful have flocked to take part in the “Mega Retreat” held at Milagres Church ground, where Fr Anil Dev from Matridham Ashram- Varanasi preached the words of Lord on eternal life. This retreat has been a Lenten Spiritual Journey with the Lord for many devotees, where they got an chance to renew the spirit of the Christian life. Today, Wednesday, 25 February is the last day of this Mega Retreat- so be there by 5pm at Milagres Church grounds.
Fr Anil Dev says people are fascinated by the relationship to a personal and living God who loves them unconditionally. Thousands of such seekers come to the ashram. Many are healed; others give up vices like drinking, and others experience a deep transformation in their lives. The movement is the result of the Satsangs (prayer meetings) held at the Ashram in 1993-1994. At present, at least 4,000 people come every Sunday to attend such meetings out of about 30,000 members of this devotional movement, more than the total number of Catholics in the diocese.
He says that most Khrist Bhakta members come from a reality of spiritual and social bondage; many suffer enslavement in a patriarchal society. “Ours is primarily a movement of spiritual liberation. Encountering the Gospel is a life-changing experience; it gives a new identity, a culture of prayer and brotherhood that transforms people and the society in which they live. The Gospel is for everyone, not only for those who desire baptism, if these poor illiterate people, as well as educated people, come here to enrich their lives with the teachings of Jesus Christ. That in itself is evangelization” says Fr Anil.
What draws these “devotees”? People find inspiration in the person of Jesus and his teachings. They are attracted to his suffering and his love for the poor. The experience of expressive praying, especially in community, which is not in the mainstream Hindu religious system, is a new experience that gives them a sense of freedom and contentment. Many of the Khrist Bhakta suffer social obstacles and often ostracism and here relate to a personal and living God. They experience the freedom of a relationship, free from fear, with a Father who unconditionally loves as opposed to deities who need to be propitiated.
How can you be fascinated by the Gospel and not convert? First, we must accept the movement is a work of the Holy Spirit; it was initiated, strengthened and led by the Holy Spirit alone. Secondly, in appreciation of the values of the Lord, devotees gradually achieve certain conformity with Jesus Christ and begin to live out his values. So far, few have asked to be baptised.
Asked whether he has been threatened or attacked by Hindu extremists for your work? His answer-” Why should they? We do not force anyone to come to us. All we do is freely communicate the teachings of Jesus. Some people come from neighbouring towns and villages, some walk great distances to attend out Satsangs, and they return home, transformed, their lives and burden lightened and continue to remain in their own culture. Why should anyone persecute us?
The Varanasi-based Indian Missionary Society, a Catholic Religious congregation, started the movement 13 years ago. The movement aims to help people, who may face ostracism from society and family if they were to be baptized, live out their Christian beliefs as fully as possible. The movement has now spread to most of the northern Indian states. According to Father Anil Dev, the movement’s founder, the movement does not register its members, but thy are growing not only in numbers but also in Christian maturity. He notes that many of them could face trouble from family members and their castes, including acts of violence, if they were to become Christians formally. The priest said the movement has helped people move from “shallow superstitious” rituals to a “deeper faith” based on the Word of God.
About Matridham Ashram :
Fr Anil Dev comes from Matridham Ashram in Varanasi- the ashram by its very name radiates an Indianized cultural framework.Matridham Ashram is a spiritual retreat centre managed by Fr. Anil Dev and team, where thousands of people from all over India come with different types of physical and mental illnesses to get healed by God. It could be the cream apostolate of the IMS (Indian Missionary Society) in North India. It is an Ashram as any Indian Asharam would be, but maintained by the IMS Fathers. Many retreats are held here, and Christa-Bhaktas or the groups of non-Christian people come with tremendous faith in front of the Lord and receiving innumerable blessings.
It was in November 1941 that Fr. Gasper A. Pinto, the founder of the Indian Missionary Society landed in Varanasi. When pressurised by the SVD Missionaries of Indore and the condition of the Church in North India during the Second World War, to found as Indian Missionary Society, he first thought of Varanasi to be its centre. It was his conviction that the sacred work of spreading the light of Christ in north India must begin with and from the religious capital of India, i.e. Varanasi, then known as Banares. The Lord fulfilled his dream by planting the Society in Varanasi itself. Despite the many storms of uncertainty that shook the foundations of the society, the Indian Missionary Society today is comfortably established here with its Generalate, and one of the provincialates and many centres in the vicinity of Varanasi city.
The grace filled journey of Matridham began as the first novitiate house of the IMS. After the canonical erection of the IMS as a religious on 25 January 1953 both the sacred congregation of Propaganda and the Papal internuncio in India wanted that the IMS establish its own novitiate as early as possible. On 1 May 1955 work started on a model hut made of mud for the ashram. By July 1955, twenty mud huts were completed, spread out in a circle like a lotus in the midst of which was a shed to be used as a chapel. This formed the novitiate buildings of the new religious institute.
The novitiate programme at Matridham was discontinued from 1960 due to various unfavorable circumstances and events like attacks by dacoits. From 1960 Ashram was used for some years for recollections, retreats, conferences etc. Gradually the mud huts remaining uninhabited and poorly maintained crumbled down and were eventually removed. However in 1960 the catholic information centre (Mashihi Suchana Kendra) was started in the building on the roadside of the Ashram.
In 1975 inspired by the spirit of the Lord Fr. Dayanand IMS came forward to take up the responsibility of developing this dry, unfertile land in to a ‘Tapovan’. Giving surprise to the world he caused a green – revolution here and just in a few years time he converted the whole land in to a green forest. With his deep experience in contemplation and ashram life he then gave a new life and look to the whole ashram – premise attracting many ‘Seekers’ to it. The third year students of Philosophy from Vishwa Jyoti Gurukul, the philosophate of the IMS joined him sooner. From then as a rule every year the third year students pursued their studies living in the Ashram under the guidance of the Acharya. The tradition continues till today except that one year- stay is reduced to one month stay.
In 1983 Swami Ishwar Prasad IMS, well-known all over India as a champion of inculturation took up as the Acharya of the Ashram. With his long-standing experience in ashram-life (He is the founder of Khrist panthi ashram, Varanasi) and deep experience in Indian Spirituality and inculturation, he gave a new direction to the Ashram, and put up some more huts and built a beautiful Chapel in typical Indian style. The Ashram then started attracting many ‘Seekers’ both from India and abroad. It was he who started Indian Spirituality Courses in the Ashram which brought about changes in many religious Congregations in North India.
When Provinces were created in 1992 Matridham was handed over to the Varanasi Province. In April 1992 Fr. Vinayanand took over as the Acharya of the Ashram. With the help of his Asst. Fr. Deen Dayal he introduced regular prayer service for healing the sick on every Sunday evening. In 1995 Fr. Anil was appointed the Acharya. Under his leadership proclamation ministry received special consideration in the agenda of the Ashram. Every month, thousands of people come to the Ashram to hear the word of God and many of them experience physical healing and various blessings.
The Ashram is open to all genuine ‘Seekers’ Irrespective of caste and creed. People of all religions frequent the Ashram. It is a place of Sadhana. The luxurious vegetation around, the birds and animals all moving around in a very homely manner are a great help for the “Seekers’ as nature has ever been a source of inspiration for those who seek the Lord. The Ashram family at the moment is comprised of priests, religious sisters and lay persons. There are also associate members who don’t reside in the Ashram and render their services either in conducting programmes or running the Ashram. Every member of the Ashram-family Strives to live an ashram-life and also render services to the seekers at various levels.
