''Sahaja Yoga'' proponent Mataji Nirmal Devi dead

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Mataji Nirmal Devi, whopopularised the ''Sahaja Yoga'' form of meditation around theworld, has died at the age of 88.

Born in a family of freedom fighters in 1923, thespiritual guru also participated actively in freedom struggleand later founded the Vishwa Nirmal Dharma.

She died in Genoa in Italy last evening, Mataji NirmalaDevi Sahaja Yoga Trust said here today.

Sahaja Yoga, formulated by her as a method of en-masseself-realisation, spread across 120 countries, the trust said.

Thousands of her followers across the globe haveexpressed deep sorrow and grief at her demise, it said.