The
founder of the Radhaswami Faith
was an incarnation of the Supreme
Creator, Radhaswami Himself. He
manifested Himself in a respectable
family of Khattris at Agra in 1818,
and was known by the name of Shiv
Dayal Singh. At the age of five,
he was sent to school where he learnt
Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Gurumukhi.
Later he acquired proficiency in
Arabic, Sanskrit and Persian and
wrote a book in Persian language.
Deep religiosity became evident
in Him from early childhood and
he started regular spiritual practice
expounded in the Radhaswami faith,
at the age of six.
Shiv
Dayalji was selected direct from
school to act as a Persian expert
in a government department, but
he gave up this job and took another
as a teacher of Persian with a talukdar
of Ballabhgarh estate where he had
to go for only two hours daily.
His spiritual cravings, however,
were so intense that worldly attainments
no longer attracted him and he gave
up even this lucrative job. He returned
home for devoting his entire time
to religious pursuits.
Soon
His reputation as a great spiritualist
and saint spread far and wide. Even
when he was a boy, he delivered
discourses on metaphysical topics.
High philosophical ideas and spiritual
sermons delivered by an adolescent
amazed the people who listened spellbound.
Soon a large number of sadhus, faqirs
and seekers after truth flocked
around him. He met many challenges
from prominent ecclesiastics of
the day with remarkable success.
He was able to convince most of
them about the superiority of the
spiritual truth revealed to Him.
His
gracious and serene personality
and extraordinary powers of sanctity
and holiness left a deep imprint
upon many a learned men who became
His ardent followers. On the request
of His most beloved disciple, Rai
Saligram, he laid the foundation
of the Radhaswami Satsang on Basant-Panchami
day in January 1861. Now he became
famous by the name Swami ji Maharaj.
The Satsang grew rapidly and the
number of devotees in his life-time
rose to three thousand, which included
men and women from all the major
communities of India. For full seventeen
years He presided over the Satsang
meetings at his residence, Panni
Gali, Agra.
In
this incarnation of the true Creator
all the actions were regulated by
the currents coming direct from
the Supreme Creator Himself, as
in the state of somnambulism, all
the functions of body and senses
are performed from a plane higher
than that which the soul occupies
in the wakeful state,
He
departed from this world on June
15th, 1878 on a predecided date
in a unique and most dignified way.
He compiled two works in vernacular
upon Radhaswami Faith, one is Sarbachan
in prose and the other Sarbachan
in verse.
The
only true successor of Swami ji
Maharaj deputed as per the last
utterings of the latter was His
chief disciple, Rai Bahadur Saligram
Saheb. He was born in a kayastha
family of Peepal Mandi, Agra, on
14 march 1829. He served as chief
inspector of post offices in India,
and in 1881, promoted as the Postmaster
General of the North Western Provinces
with headquarters at Allahabad.
He was the first Indian to hold
this coveted post.
His
undivided and extraordinary devotion
towards Swami ji Maharaj attracted
wide attention. Once upon the time,
when Swami Ji was asked about Salig
Ram, He stated 'I do not know if
I am his guru, or he is mine.' The
satsang of Salig Ram Maharaj exploded
with disciples from all over India,
including a Viceroy. Salig Ram wrote
several volumes of popular books
on Radhaswami Faith. For twenty
years (1878-1898) He served humanity
at large and spread the divine light
of love which he had received from
His master. He left for his heavenly
abode on December 6th, 1898.
One
of his chief successors was Maharshi
Shivbrat Lal Maharaj who started
His satsang at Allahabad (U.P.).
He was born in Bhadoi Distt. of
U.P. State. He was a post graduate
and edited tens of spiritual periodicals
and authored almost 3000 books in
Hindi, Urdu & English in his
life time and travelled many places
in India and abroad for the service
of humanity. He departed from this
world in Feb. 1939.
One
of his successors was Ram Singh
ji Arman, who was born in a Yadav
family of Jui Village, Haryana.
He was initiated by Maharishi ji
on July 18th, 1920 in Lahore (now
in Pakistan) He was a teacher by
profession. He devoted most of his
time in Surat Shabd Yoga, and wrote
a very popular book 'Arman Sagar'.
In 1930, when he went to Allahabad
to have darshan of his beloved Master,
Maharishi ji said to Him that I
am very happy with your spiritual
progress. Now onwards I depute you
as the Saint of Haryana, and you
may now start initiating the seekers.
But Arman Sahib requested 'I am
not sure that I can perform such
a great job', upon this Maharishi
ji said "Don't worry, start
your work and my full spirit force
has already come in your area to
help you and It will expand your
satsang to thousands of times, these
are my words to you, wait for It."
Again
on 31.07.1935, Maharishi ji authorized
Arman Saheb for initiation via a
post. Arman Saheb lead a simple
life and did not start any Ashram
in his life. He was a real hermit
and lead a life of quietude. He
presided over the Satsang meetings
in his small house only, in the
village. He arrived on this planet
on ninth of Ausouj (month by Indian
calendar) and chose the same date
in 1976 for departure from this
world and revealed this decision
three days in advance. On this foresaid
date He left His body in meditation.
The
full spirit force of Maharishi ji
manifested in 1925, in the form
of Param Sant Tara Chand ji Maharaj,
in a very poor family in village
Dinod in Haryana. His spiritual
cravings were very intense and started
his search for the Supreme creator
in the age of six only. He liked
the company of the mystics &
saints very much. He visited almost
all prominent mystics of his time.
He did not even enter into marriage
institution and remained celibate
for whole life to achieve his Supreme
goal. He developed some supernatural
powers even before he met his Master.
After initiation he remained in
continuous meditation for days together.
Love of Arman Sahib for Him was
the deepest ever known in the history
of Santmat.
Baba
Faquir Chand of Hoshiarpur was also
very much impressed upon him, in
one of his visits to the Ashram
of Tarachand ji, He uttered (now
written in His books also) following
words : "I had come from Hoshiarpur
to bow my head at the hallowed feet
of my Sat Guru Dev Sant Tara Chand
Ji." ..... I attained the Sublime
Knowledge from Sant Tara Chand Ji
and my other such disciples. Thus
I have come here to pay my respects
to Tara Chand Ji, a True Form of
my Sat Guru."
The
present Ashram in Dinod was founded
only by Param Sant Tara Chand ji
Maharaj, today known as Bade Maharaj
ji.
Name
and fame of Param Sant Tarachand
ji Maharaj as a True Saint spread
not only in all parts of this country,
but in many other countries also,
including European States. He departed
this world on Jan 3rd, 1997.
His
successor, Param Sant Kanwar ji
Maharaj, the present Master arrived
on this planet on March 2nd, 1948.
His mother was a lady of high spiritual
eminence. He is a post graduate
in Political Science from Jaipur
University. His spiritual fervent
cravings brought Him in this Ashram
in the young age of thirty. His
very first meet with His Master
produced a great phenomenal effect
upon Him that He then did not return
to his home and declared that I
will breathe my last in this Ashram
only. His services to the Holy Feet
of His Master for almost 20 years
and for this satsangs are among
the rare examples in the history
of Santmat. He devoted days and
nights in meditation and authored
four popular spiritual books. He
also served the education department
of the state as a Senior Teacher
for almost thirty years. In 1997,
after departure of His Master, He
resigned from his government post
to carry out the holy job assigned
to Him. Like all previous saints,
He does not spend a single penny
of the satsang trust for his personal
use. He however,donates the surplus
money to the satsang from the pension
He receives. Now like other true
saints, countless miracles are attached
to His name. He leads a very simple
life and is easily approachable
even to the poor. He has got a serene
personality and is providing eternal
peace to millions of seekers of
the Supreme Truth in India and abroad
by his splendid powers of sanctity.
If anybody wants to realize the
Supreme force, here and now,with
certitude,he/she must seek His blessings
and initiation. He is using the
same Holy Name (single name) and
method of initiation which was used
by the august founder saints in
Agra. His discourses are a simple
chat even a street man can easily
grasp these. His perseverance has
given an all-round progress to this
satsang in this short duration of
six years.
Radha
Swami
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