The Divine History of Sant-Mat: From Param Sant Kabir Saheb to Yug-Pravartak Baba Jaigurudev Ji Maharaj

Whenever the influence of Kaliyuga (the dark age) increases on this earth and souls begin to wander, Sant-Mat (the Path of the Saints) manifests for the salvation of beings. Although Saints and great spiritual masters exist secretly in every era, their open manifestation for the complete salvation of souls happens during Kaliyuga. The current stream of Sant-Mat, which emerged through Param Sant Kabir Saheb about 700 years ago, has journeyed through generations to reach the Jaigurudev Mission today.

Presented here by the Jaigurudev Ashram is a description of this glorious history of Sant-Mat, the Guru-disciple tradition, and some inspiring divine plays (leelas) of these great spiritual masters:

The Initial Expansion of Sant-Mat and the Secret of Goswami Tulsidas Ji

The knowledge of the glory of ‘Naam’ (the Divine Name) and ‘Shabd’ (the Divine Word), which began with Kabir Saheb, reached the masses through various great masters. Following the spiritual discourse between Kabir Saheb and Guru Nanak Dev Ji, this knowledge continued to distribute peace and solace in Punjab through the Sikh Gurus for 10 consecutive generations. Through Shah Ibrahim Badshah Balkh Bukhari, it reached Islamic countries (Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia). It further progressed through Sant Ravidas Ji.

When Goswami Tulsidas Ji Maharaj understood Sant-Mat, he first composed the ‘Ghat Ramayan’. However, due to opposition and disputes from scholars in Kashi (Varanasi), he had to hide it. Following this, he composed the ‘Ramcharitmanas’, in which he secretly embedded Sant-Mat (the glory of Naam and Shabd) like hidden diamonds in various places. It is noteworthy that the mention of ‘Satlok’ and ‘Satnaam’ is not found in the Vedas or ancient scriptures; its first description appeared in Kabir Saheb’s great scripture, the ‘Anurag Sagar’, from where the world first learned the secret of the immortal realm and the ‘Surat’ (soul). Dadu Saheb, Dariya Saheb, and the saints of Bhurkura Dham in Ghazipur carried this spiritual light forward.

The Manifestation of Radhasoami Faith in Agra

During the British Raj, this spiritual wealth manifested in Panni Gali, Agra. Here, Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji Maharaj incarnated in a Khatri-Baniya family that had settled from Sindh. He revealed the name ‘Radhasoami’, where ‘Radha’ means Surat (soul) and ‘Soami’ means Kul-Malik (the Supreme Lord). Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji Maharaj had three supreme and perfect disciples, whose stories of Bhakti Yoga (devotion) continue to inspire us today:

1. Baba Jaimal Singh Ji (Founder of Dera Beas): He was a Sikh Sardar from Punjab who served in the army and remained a lifelong celibate. Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji Maharaj commanded him to go to Punjab and awaken the true knowledge of ‘Shabd’ within the Sikh community, as people had become entangled merely in rituals. Following his Guru’s command, he established his Dera (ashram) on the banks of the Beas River, known today as ‘Dera Beas’. His disciple was Babu Sawan Singh Ji, who spread this knowledge to foreign lands.

2. Huzur Rai Saligram Saheb (The Unmatched Devotion of a High Officer): During the British era, he was the Postmaster General (PMG - an ICS officer) of Uttar Pradesh. He was so deeply immersed in devotion to his Guru that the people of Agra started calling him the “Mad Officer”. At that time, there was no water facility in Agra, so he would go one mile away to the Yamuna River every morning at dawn to fetch water in a pitcher for his Guru Maharaj’s bath. When he learned that people were taunting him, saying, ‘The Sahib is ashamed to fetch water during the day’, he tied ghungroos (ankle bells) to his feet. He would walk along the banks of the Yamuna with the ghungroos chiming, shouting, “Look, people of the world, Rai Saligram is going to fetch water for his Guru.” Despite holding such a high rank, he renounced all worldly prestige and attained the ultimate spiritual state.

3. Baba Garib Das Ji (The Yogi of the Himalayas): He was a great Hatha Yogi who performed intense spiritual practices standing on one leg in the Himalayas. When Baba Jaimal Singh went to the Himalayas in search of God, he met Baba Garib Das. Baba Garib Das revealed that he heard a celestial voice (Sound of the Sky) saying that the incarnation of the Supreme Lord had already taken place in Agra, and that He was living as a householder. Hearing this, Baba Jaimal Singh came to Agra. While strolling along the banks of the Yamuna, he heard two disciples of Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji Maharaj discussing the Satsang, and he followed them to Panni Gali. Upon seeing him in the Satsang, Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji said, “My companion from past lives has arrived today.” Later, Baba Garib Das also reached Agra in his search. Swami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji commanded Baba Garib Das Ji to spread the Naam (Divine Name) in Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh (the Jat belt).

The Sacred Lineage of Pujya Dada Guru Ji Maharaj

The history of our Pujya Dada Guru Ji Maharaj connects to this sacred mission of Baba Garib Das Ji. Pujya Dada Guru Ji Maharaj incarnated in a Sharma (Brahmin) family in the village of Chirauli, near Iglas in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh.

His elder brother, Pujya Vishnu Dayal Sharma Ji, and his mother had gone to Delhi and were already initiated by Baba Garib Das Ji. When the mother would take the younger Dada Guru Ji to the Satsang, Baba Garib Das Ji commanded the elder brother, Vishnu Dayal Ji, to initiate his younger brother and take care of his spiritual journey. Thus, the elder brother was accepted as his Guru. This is an extraordinary event in the history of Sant-Mat, where two perfect Saints incarnated from the womb of the same mother.

The Arrival of Yug-Pravartak Baba Jaigurudev Ji Maharaj

In 1896, our most revered Guru Maharaj (Baba Jaigurudev Ji Maharaj) incarnated in a middle-class farming family in the small village of Khitaura in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. After losing his parents in childhood, an intense yearning to find God and a true Guru awoke in his heart.

After a long and arduous spiritual journey and a relentless search for a true Guru, he finally reached the feet of the perfect Saint, Pujya Dada Guru Ji Maharaj, in the village of Chirauli. He upheld the great worldly tradition of “Guru Bin Hoi Na Gyan” (No knowledge without a Guru) before the world, took refuge in his Guru, and attained the ultimate state of a Perfect Saint.

The Void of 1948 and the Establishment of the Mission in 1952: The year 1948 brought a massive void in the spiritual history of India. In this very year, Babu Sawan Singh Ji of Dera Beas, Babu Ji Maharaj of Agra, and our Pujya Dada Guru Ji Maharaj left their physical bodies. The spiritual seats (Guru Gaddis) became empty.

To fill this spiritual void and for the salvation of souls, our Guru Maharaj laid the historic foundation of the ‘Jaigurudev Mission’ on the banks of the Ganges in the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi) on July 10, 1952.

‘Science of Soul’ and the Vegetarian Way of Life: Guru Maharaj explained the ‘Science of Soul’ to the whole world. His clear message was that by studying material sciences (Physics, Chemistry), you can become a doctor, engineer, or scientist; you can even build atomic bombs and go to the moon; and all this is possible even while consuming a non-vegetarian diet.

However, for Spiritual Development and union with the Supreme Lord, complete purity of diet is absolutely mandatory. The eternal principle is—“Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” (Non-violence is the ultimate duty). Until one’s diet is strictly vegetarian, one cannot perform true meditation or worship, as it is said, “Bhajan Na Hoihein Tamas Deha!” (True devotion cannot happen in an impure body). Carrying this message of the vegetarian religion and the practice of Naam-Bhajan, the Jaigurudev Mission is continuously engaged in the welfare of humanity today.