Maria Wirth is a German and came to India on a stop over (that’s at least what she thought) on her way to Australia after finishing her psychology studies at Hamburg University. She visited the Ardha Kumbha Mela in Haridwar in April 1980 where she met Sri Anandamayi Ma and Devaraha Baba, two renowned saints. With their blessing she continued to live in India and never went to Australia…
She dived into India’s spiritual tradition, sharing her insights with German readers through articles and books.
For long, she was convinced that every Indian knows and treasures his great heritage. However, when in recent years, she noticed that there seemed to be a concerted effort to prevent even Indians (and the world) from knowing how valuable this ancient Indian heritage is, she started to point out the unique value of Indian tradition also in English language and shares them on this blog.
Meanwhile i wrote the book “Thank you India – a German woman’s journey to the wisdom of yoga”. It can be bought via the link from Garudabooks for a discount (at present only 274 Rs). it’s also available on Amazon.in and Flipkart.
https://www.garudabooks.com/thank-you-india-by-maria-wirth/
Kindle edition is also available, both on amazon.com (for those abroad) and amazon.in.
i would like to thank all who commented on the different articles. Many comments are very insightful and knowledgeable and some provoke lively discussions.
Email: mariawirth12@gmail.com
[…] https://mariawirthblog.wordpress.com/about/ […]
[…] About […]
Thank u Maria Wirth !
I am grateful to know you. Internet connects us all. May you be in peace, may you be prosperous, may you be fulfilled, may you be good. This is my wish. Stay blessed.
Thank you so much. All best wishes for you too
Ms. Wirth, keep up the excellent work. It’s wonderful to see a foreigner understand the core of Sanatan dharma, and carry the torch forward.
Stay blessed.
Dhanyawaad MariaJi – You are a TRUE Valiant Hindu!! You are inspiration to many #Hindus across globe!! Keep the good work for #HinduDharma !!
Thank you
Many among the so-called intelligentsia fall into the trap of viewing Hinduism either as a ritual-heavy religion or as something which is a ‘way of life’ hence so deeply personal that they will not discuss it..either way, it’s essence is totally missed, and their ignorance is kept under wraps. Many Hindus, do not even know enough to have an erudite discussion on the subject. Some also go overboard in projecting themselves as ‘secular’, liberal and tolerant, so much so that that they will organise and take part in rallies if a ‘minority’ religion is being ‘hounded’ or if it’s tenets and practices are being questioned. Hindus I believe really sell themselves short and some are almost apologetic about being one. A shame really 🙁
i am sure you must have read “hindutva” by Vinayak Damodar Savrkar if not please read
Haven’t read it.
I feel that Hindus think they are practising Hinduism and ARE Hindus because they are following all the RITUALS and adhering to all the rules and regulations that are mentioned in some texts. If these texts are not the Vedas and the Upanishads then their validity and purpose is HUGELY questionable. No where in the Vedas or Upanishads is the caste system mentioned, leave alone exhorting people to adhere to it in their everyday life. Think it was a plot and ploy by the ‘higher’ caste to subjugate the ‘lower’ caste so that they could crown themselves socially superior and also get the ‘menial’ jobs done by their ‘inferiors’ so they could live a life of ease.
I also find a majority of the visibly practising ones to be total hypocrites. They’ll be praying to the ‘Mother Ganga’ but just look at the state in which our sacred rivers are. People are defecating near it, washing clothes in it, throwing all their ‘pooja’ stuff in it, all harmful chemical effluents are being freely dumped in it by ‘Hindu’ business men also..their rapacious actions defy logic.
Each day you can see businessmen and traders bow and pray before a temple on their way to work, and, more significantly, on their way back they’ll touch their ears as if asking forgiveness for all their cheating and misdeeds done during the day!! So in their minds it’s ok to cheat and lie as long as you ask for forgiveness later, and God always forgives, so it’s ok to keep doing the same on an ongoing basis- and that makes them practising Hindus!! How ludicrous is that??!!
I feel that they are confusing religious rituals and spirituality. Spirituality would lead you to make yourself a better human being by being humane, just, kind, gentle, even-handed, being kind to Gods creatures- great and small etc.
THAT is the essence of Hinduism-Spirituality, not religious rituals that don’t make you a better human being.
I’m happy reading your post!
Namaste Mariaji,
First of all thank you so much for your enlightening blogs and comments in Twitter about Santana dharma! I live in Germany and I must say here Hinduism is willified so much that people don’t even feel sensitive whenever they make igrnorant hurtful about Hinduism and no explanation seems to change their mind because they think we are defending and could be lying! That is why I was wondering maybe you can write in German as well so that for German people I can give your reference or use your words- since you can write better in German-? Whether or not, thank you anyway for doing such a good work for sanatana dharma!
Lots of love from Mainz
Mahesh
https://wayofdharma.com/de/2018/10/15/offener-brief-an-papst-aus-indischer-sicht-von-maria-wirth/
I have plenty of articles in German but didn’t get down to put them on the net… mainly because I don’t know how… The above website asked me if they can put them up.
There are several now.
Also, you can Google my name and Yoga Aktuell. They also put some up.
Please share. I know the bias against India there.
Maria the fact that you are looked up to, in India, to defend Hindus is the very same complex of inferiority the Hindus, have not overcome yet
Sad but true ! I am first generation British Born . And yet several Indians put me down by branding me ‘ india’ becoz they are complexed and envious that I am naturally western with genuine British accent mannerisms they have deep inferiority complex and are fake white wannabes!
I am greatful to know about you from a swyamsevak. Later on internet provided me something of your work. I am thankful to you.
Ganesh
Happy to know this
Thank you.
Perform AGNIHOTRA. For more details in German, connect with metzger.engen@t-online.de.
Visit: http://www.vishwafoundation.com
Hi Maria,
I commented on your most recent FB post from 7th October about Quora removing one of your posts.
I posted a comment regarding a hateful, Hinduphobic troll called Sebastian Thomas who has posted vitriolic messages about Hinduism and Hindus in general and gloated about it. He may be the person who sent you a friend request and proceeded to post false comments attributed to Swami Vivekananda. This person is disturbed and obsessed with a civilizational conflict of some sort. Can you please block him permanently from your timeline and let me know when this has been done so I can confirm? Here is his profile – https://www.facebook.com/sebastian.thomas3.
Please respond via the Facebook message or email as I can pickup either. Hope this can be done and wishing you the best on your work to spread the truth.
Shanker
I replied to you on FB. It should be ok now?
It was very refreshing to read your writings. You have analysed Hindus and Hinduism very differently. Pl continue with your great work.
Thank you. Nice to know
Respected Maria,
For the first time, I saw a crystal clear unbiased analysis on the state of affairs in India related to all the so called pseudo secularists. Your boldness and clarity for supporting and lauding Sanathana Dharma is nothing but God sent blessing. This is purely because you have understood the essence of Dharma. The Indian invocation summarizes it all. लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु । Let there be happiness, joy in all the worlds.
All those who practice the Sanathana Dharma will relish the fruits and all those who despise it will meet their own ends.
The problem of Hindus : Hinduism is divided into : 1. Vaishnavism & 2. Shaivism. These two sects Again sub divided into Four sub sects : Brahmanism. Vyshyas. Kshatriyas & Shudras. These 4 sub sects again divide into thousands of castes. So Eradicate casteism for Hindus to prosper
these subdivisions live side by side. no one way for all. everyone has different sanskaras. No division claims it alone is true, except mayve for ISKCON, which is influenced by westerners
Maria, wenn DU es bist, und ich Dich so erreichen kann: BITTE MELDE DICH BEI MIR!
Siemen
Namaste Maria ji,
I was wondering if we can correspond by email about any possibility of you being a guest speaker in our forum. My email address is: amitgore2000@yahoo.com.
Thank you.
Regards,
Amit Gore
[…] all over the world to India’s Spiritual traditions. “Thank You India” is one such story of Maria Wirth who chanced upon India, and then stayed for 40 years, sustained by her spiritual journey. True […]
[…] all over the world to India’s Spiritual traditions. “Thank You India” is one such story of Maria Wirth who chanced upon India, and then stayed for 40 years, sustained by her spiritual journey. True […]
Hi,
Greetings..!!
I am highly impressed with your knowledge, ideology and writing.
I would request you to kindly read my book DECODING THR GOD AND RELIGION- Volume-1
Best Regards
Akhil
You are just a looser who seeks attention and that’s why you changed your faith.
Excuse me! Who are you casting aspersions and leveling opprobrium on Maria Wirth who has recognized, cherished and absorbed the ancient rich spirituality of india with which her spirit freely resonated and expanded her consciousness whereas you obviously have a total mental disconnect with India’s ancient spiritual ethos and essence and voluntarily and ignorantly choose to remain confined to narrow dogmatic chauvinistic ideologies .
Dear mam
You are great inspirational for all Indians mam, my name is murli manohar Gupta a devotee of lord krishna, I want to meet with you madam regarding business, so in India where you reside kindly whatsapp me or email me your address.
Thanks
Murli Manohar Gupta
New Delhi India
91-8459052424
sorry, i missed your comment, see it only now
Why Canada is mourning the deaths of 215 children
Some 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were taken from their families during this period and placed in state-run boarding schools.
When attendance became mandatory in the 1920s, parents faced threat of prison if they failed to comply.
The policy traumatized generations of Indigenous children, who were forced to abandon their native languages, speak English or French and convert to Christianity.
Christian churches were essential in the founding and operation of the schools. The Roman Catholic Church in particular was responsible for operating up to 70% of residential schools.
“It was our government’s policy to ‘get rid of the Indian’ in the child,” said Chief Bellegarde. “It was a breakdown of self, the breakdown of family, community and nation.”
sorry for seeing it only now… thank you. now again we face the same problem on an even bigger scale…
Hi Maria, my name is Nuria Hernandez and I am currently working on a documentary TV series that airs on the History channel. I came across your book “Thank You India: A German’s Woman Journey to the Wisdom of Yoga” and read about your experience meeting Devraha Baba. We are interested in learning more about your experience and would love to connect and share more details about the opportunity.
My email is: nuria.hernandez@prometheuspix.com
Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you!
Hi Nuria, my email is mariawirth12@gmail.com
Namaste mam,
Kindly share your address ….I wish to send a book on Traditional games of India.
Email id or contact number also if you are comfortable sharing.
Namaste ji, kind of you, but i need to decline. i have too many books waiting to be read. i hope you understand. traditional games are important, but it is not my focus. i hope you understand.
Thank you for your great service to Sanatan 🙏🏼
Namaste Maria,
I just came across your writings, and must say it is indeed refreshing to see your objective views on Sanatan Dharma, and to see how you are doing your bit to create awareness of its true essence, which the Western world tried to chop off at the roots.
Dhanyavad and stay blessed!
Yogesh
Thank you