Radha Soami

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Radha Soami
SethShivDayalSingh.jpg
Shiv Dayal Singh, a.k.a. Soami Ji Maharaj
Total population
c. 3,000,000 [1]
Founder
Shiv Dayal Singh (1861) [2] [3]
Regions with significant populations
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India [3]
Beas, Punjab, India [2]
Religions
Sant Mat
Scriptures
Sar Bachan [4]
Languages
Hindi  • Punjabi  • English

Radha Soami is a spiritual tradition or faith founded by Shiv Dayal Singh in 1861 on Basant Panchami Day in Agra, India. [1] [2] [3] [5] [6]

Contents

His parents were Nanakpanthi, followers of Guru Nanak of Sikhism, and were also followers of a spiritual guru from Hathras named Tulsi Sahib. Shiv Dayal Singh was influenced by the teachings of Tulsi Sahib, who taught Surat Shabd Yog (which is defined by Radha Soami teachers as “union of the soul with the divine, inner sound”); guru bhakti (“devotion to the master”); and high moral living, including a strict lacto-vegetarian diet. Shiv Dayal Singh frequently accompanied Tulsi Saheb, but did not take initiation from him. The movement does not promote celibacy, and most of the masters in its various lineages have been married. The teachings seem to be related to forms of 18th- and 19th-century esoteric mysticism that were circulating at the time in northern India. The founding date of the movement is considered to be 1861 when Shiv Dayal Singh began publicly to give discourses. [7] [8]

As per some subtraditions, it derives its name from the word Radha Soami means Lord of the Soul. "Radha Soami" is used to indicate towards Shiv Dayal Singh. [9] The followers of Shiv Dayal Singh used to consider him the Living Master and incarnation of Radhasoami Dayal. After his death, Salig Ram and his other followers started the Radha Soami movement, which later got separated into different branches/denominations, including the Radha Soami Satsang Soami Bagh Agra, Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Radha Soami Satsang Dayalbagh, Radhasoami Satsang Pipal Mandi, and Radha Swami Satsang Dinod.

Nomenclature

According to Mark Juergensmeyer, the term Radha Soami literally refers to Radha as the soul and Soami (swami, lord). [10] According to Salig Ram, quotes Juergensmeyer, these terms are symbolic and mean "master of energy", derived from the Vaishnava understanding of "Radha as the power of energy of God" (Shakti). It is a referent to the consciousness in a person and the cosmic energy source, states Juergensmeyer. [10]

The writings of Shiv Dayal Singh, Sar Bachan, use the term Sat Nam , rather than Radha Soami. The gurus and the tradition that followed him used the term Radha Soami during the initiation rites, meditation practices and as mutual greeting. This has led to the fellowship being commonly called Radha Soami. [10] In some subtraditions of Radha Soami, states Lucy DuPertuis, the guru's charisma is considered as the "formless absolute", being in his presence is equivalent to experiencing the incarnation of the Satguru, the guru is identified as the Radha Soami. [11]

Founder

The Radha Soami tradition can be traced back to the spiritual master Shiv Dayal Singh (honorifically titled Soami Ji Maharaj) who was born on August 25, 1818, in the north Indian city of Agra. His parents were followers of Guru Nanak of Sikhism and a spiritual guru Tulsi Saheb from Hathras. After completing his education, Shiv Dayal Singh gained employment as a Persian language translator, left that role and spent increasing amount of his time to religious pursuits. He was influenced by the teachings of Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, who taught Surat Shabd Yoga (which is defined by Radha Soami teachers as “union of the soul with the divine, inner sound”); guru bhakti (“devotion to the master”); and high moral living, including a strict lacto-vegetarian diet. He accompanied Tulsi Saheb a lot. He did not take initiation from him, however. The founding date of the movement is considered to be 1861 when Shiv Dayal Singh began publicly to give discourses. [7] [12]

Successors and branches

Ajaib e sirio.jpg
Sirio satsang.JPG
Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi.png
Radha Soami fellowships and sects have featured gurus from many parts of the world.

After Shiv Dayal Singh 's death in 1878 he was succeeded by several disciples, including his wife Narayan Devi (“Radhaji”); his brother Partap Singh (“Chachaji Saheb”); Sanmukh Das (appointed head of the sadhus); the army havildar/sergeant Baba Jaimal Singh, Gharib Das of Delhi; and the postmaster general of the Northwest provinces, Salig Ram (alias Rai Salig Ram), each of whom started their own distinct centers. According to some scholars, Shiv Dayal Singh passed leadership to Salig Ram. [13] After their deaths, multiple followers were claimed to be the rightful heirs, and this eventually led to a large proliferation of various masters and satsangs (“fellowships”) throughout India that were regarded by their followers to be the true manifestations of Shiv Dayal Singh and his teachings, described as Sant Mat (“the path of the saints”). [14]

The masters gave birth to over 20 lineages (guru-shishya traditions), most of which already disappeared. [3] [14] The most famous living branches are Radha Soami Satsang Soami Bagh Agra, Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Radha Soami Satsang Dayalbagh, and Ruhani Satsang. [3]

The Radha Soami Satsang Beas based out of Beas, Punjab, India is the largest group. Gate 3 - Radha Soami Satsang Beas - Mohali 2016-08-04 5915.JPG
The Radha Soami Satsang Beas based out of Beas, Punjab, India is the largest group.

The largest branch is the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) with the headquarters in Beas City, established by one of Shiv Dayal Singh 's disciples, Jaimal Singh, in the North Indian state of Punjab in the 1891, who practised Surat Shabd Yoga on the bank of river Beas. [15] [3] The Beas has grown enormously over the decades under the guiding hands of each subsequent successor (from Sawan Singh to Sardar Bahadur Maharaj Jagat Singh and Maharaj Charan Singh to the current master, Gurinder Singh). There are estimated to be two million initiates of the Beas masters worldwide. The one of a split the Beas is Dera Sacha Sauda (1948) led by Mastana Balochistani. [16]

In Agra, the birthplace of the movement, there are three main satsang centers of branches. The Radha Soami Satsang Soami Bagh Agra with center at Soami Bagh occupies the original site in Agra, where a large memorial tomb is being built to honor the movement founder, and administered by the Central Administrative Council which established by second successor Maharaj Saheb in 1902. [3] [12] The second center is Peepal Mandi, which was founded by Rai Salig Ram who was then succeeded by his son, grandson, and currently his great-grandson, Agam Prasad Mathur. And the largest of the Agra-based branches is Radha Soami Satsang Dayalbagh with center at Dayalbagh, which is located across the street from Soami Bagh. This branch was founded in 1907 at Ghazipur by Kamta Prasad Sinha and in 1913 the headquarters were moved to Agra, [3] it has flourished under the following leadership of Anand Sarup, Gurcharandas Mehta, Dr. M.B. Lal Sahab, and most recently as of this date Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi.

The Ruhani Satsang (a.k.a. Kirpal Light Satsang) in Delhi, founded by Kirpal Singh, a disciple of the Beas master, Sawan Singh, became popular in the United States under the leadership of Thakar Singh. [1] [3] [12] The Ruhani Satsang followed by the Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission and its international organization Science of Spirituality (SOS), founded by Kipral Singh's son. [1]

Radha Swami Satsang Dinod, lineage. Rssd lineage.png
Radha Swami Satsang Dinod, lineage.

Other Radha Soami subtraditions and groups that have garnered a significant following include Manavta Mandir, established by Baba Faqir Chand in 1962 at Hoshiarpur in the Punjab; the Tarn Taran satsang founded by Bagga Singh; Radha Swami Satsang Dinod, founded by Param Sant Tarachand Ji Maharaj (Bade Maharaj Ji), current master Param Sant Huzur Kanwar Saheb Ji Maharaj and several others scattered through North and South India. [12]

In addition, there are Radha Soami-influenced, derived from the Radha Soami often westernized groups but denies their connection, namely the Eckankar led by Paul Twitchell (a former disciple of Kirpal Singh), the similar American syncretistic Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness of John-Roger Hinkins, the linked to the Beas Elan Vital (formerly Divine Light Mission), established by Hans Maharaj, and "Quan Yin method" of Ching Hai (a female student of Thakar Singh). [1] [13] [12]

List of notable gurus

General founder

Radha Soami subtraditions

Radha Soami Satsang Beas lineage
Radha Soami Satsang Dayalbagh lineage
Ruhani Satsang lineage
Manavta Mandir
Others
Dera Sacha Sauda
Elan Vital
Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
Science of Spirituality
Others

Beliefs and practices

To the Radhasoamis, six elements form the framework of their sect: [17]

The Radha Soami Satsang believes that living gurus are necessary for a guided spiritual life. [2] They do not install the Guru Granth Sahib or any other scriptures in their sanctum, as they consider it ritualistic. Instead, the guru sits in the sanctum with the satsang (group of Sikh faithfuls) and they listen to preachings from the Adi Granth and sing hymns together. [2] They believe in social equality, forbid caste distinctions and have also attracted Dalits to their tradition. They are active outside India too. [2]

They are active in charitable work such as providing free medical services and help to the needy. They do not believe in orthodox Sikh ritual practices such as covering one's head inside the temple or removing shoes, nor do they serve karah prasad (offering) at the end of prayers. [2] Their basic practices include Surat Shabd Yoga (meditation on inner light and sound), initiation of disciple into the path by a living guru, obedience to the guru, a moral life that is defined by abstinence from meat, drugs, alcohol and sex outside marriage. They also believe that jivanmukti or inner liberation is possible during one's lifetime with guidance of the living guru. [18] However, some of these practices vary depending on the branches of the Radha Soami sect (Beas, Dayalbagh, Dinod).

Vegetarianism

The Radha Soami are strict lacto-vegetarians for ethical and spiritual reasons. [19] They do not consume eggs, meat, seafood or alcohol. [20] In Radhasoami vegetarianism, all life forms are respected and meat is considered unethical. Meat is also said to produce bad karma from those who slaughter the animal and those who buy and consume the products. [19]

Radha Soami hold the view that eggs are essentially a fetus whether they are fertilized or not; thus are non-vegetarian. Eggs and meat are believed to incite animal instincts and impair spiritual growth. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

David Christopher Lane is a professor of philosophy and sociology at Mt. San Antonio College, in Walnut, California. He is notable for his book The Making of a Spiritual Movement: The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar which exposed the origins of Eckankar and demonstrated the plagiarism of its founder, Paul Twitchell. He is also notable for introducing to a wider audience the teachings of Baba Faqir Chand, the Indian exponent of Surat Shabd Yoga from Hoshiapur in the book, The Unknowing Sage: The Life and Work of Baba Faqir Chand. Lane founded the journal, Understanding Cults and Spiritual Movements in the 1980s which featured critical studies of John-Roger Hinkins and Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, Adi Da, and Sathya Sai Baba. His most recent book, The Sound Current Tradition (2022) was on Nada Yoga and Surat Shabd Yoga in new religions and was published by Cambridge University Press. He also co-authored an annotated bibliography on the Radhasoami Tradition with Mark Juergensmeyer for Oxford University Press (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirpal Singh</span> Indian guru (1894–1974)

Kirpal Singh was a spiritual master (satguru) in the tradition of Radha Soami.

Contemporary Sant Mat Movements, mostly among the Radha Soami tradition, are esoteric philosophy movements active in the United States, Europe, Australia, Latin America, and especially India. These movements assert that Sant Mat shares a lineage with Sikhism and contains elements of thought found in Hinduism, such as karma and reincarnation. They further assert that Sant Mat also contains elements found in Sufism and has inspired and influenced a number of religious groups and organizations. They refer to this spiritual path as the "Science of the Soul" or 'Sant Mat', meaning 'teachings of the saints'. More recently it has been described as "The Way of Life" or "Living the Life of Soul". It incorporates a practical yoga system known as Surat Shabd Yoga.

Surat Shabd Simran is a type of spiritual meditation in the Sant Mat tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Soami Satsang Beas</span> Indian religious organisation

Radha Soami Satsang Beas is a spiritual organisation in Radha Soami movement. It is headed by Gurinder Singh. The main centre of Radha Soami Satsang Beas is located on the banks of the Beas River in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiv Dayal Singh</span> Founder and first master of Radha Soami sect

Shiv Dayal Singh, known by the honorific "Param Purush Puran Dhani Huzur Soami Ji Maharaj" by his disciples and devotees, was an Indian spiritual guru and founder of Radha Soami, a 19th-century spiritual sect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawan Singh</span> Second Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas

Sawan Singh, also known as The Great Master or Bade Maharaj ji, was an Indian Saint or Sant. He was the second spiritual head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) from the death of Jaimal Singh in 1903 until his own death on 2 April 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anand Swarup</span>

Sir Anand Swarup, also known as Param Guru Huzur Sahabji Maharaj, was the founder of Dayalbagh. He was the fifth revered leader, or Sant Satguru, of the Dayalbagh branch of the Radha Soami sect, who succeeded Sarkar Sahab in 1913. He also laid the foundation of Radha Soami Educational Institute, a co-educational middle school which opened in 1917 and later expanded and developed as Dayalbagh Educational Institute. He wrote many holy books on the Radha Soami sect, explaining the concepts of Surat Shabd Yoga and objectives of Radha Soami in general.

Sant Mat was a spiritual movement on the Indian subcontinent during the 13th–17th centuries CE. The name literally means "teachings of sants", i.e. mystic Hindu saints. Through association and seeking truth by following sants and their teachings, a movement was formed. Theologically, the teachings are distinguished by inward, loving devotion by the individual soul (atma) to the Divine Principal God (Parmatma). Socially, its egalitarianism distinguishes it from the caste system, and from Hindus and Muslims. Sant Mat is not to be confused with the 19th-century Radha Soami, also known as contemporary "Sant Mat movement".

Julian P. Johnson (1867–1939) was an American surgeon and author of several books on Eastern spirituality. He spent much of 1932 to 1939 in India, was associated with the Radha Soami Satsang Beas spritual society and Surat Shabd Yoga, and wrote five books as a result of his experiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charan Singh (Sant)</span> Fourth Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas

Charan Singh, was the spiritual head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, after he was named successor by the preceding Beas guru Jagat Singh, in 1951. Charan Singh served as the guru for the Beas Dera for almost four decades, until his death from heart failure in 1990 at the age of 73. Before his appointment in 1951, he had practiced law in Hisar and Sirsa, India. He was an initiate of Sawan Singh's, who was his paternal grandfather and the predecessor of Jagat Singh. Charan Singh assigned the duties of his successor and Guru to his initiate and nephew Gurinder Singh.

Dayalbagh or Dayal Bagh means 'Garden' (bagh) of 'Merciful' (dayal), inferring "Garden of the Merciful", is a locality in metropolitan Agra in western Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of the Dayalbagh subsect of the Radha Soami sect where the 8th revered leader lives and presides over the satsang.

Jaimal Singh (1839–1903) was an Indian spiritual leader. He became an initiate of Shiv Dayal Singh. After his initiation, Jaimal Singh served in the British Indian Army as a sepoy (private) from the age of seventeen and attained the rank of havildar (sergeant). After retirement, he settled in a desolate and isolated spot outside the town of Beas and began to spread the teaching of his guru Shiv Dayal Singh. The place grew into a colony which came to be called the "Dera Baba Jaimal Singh", and which is now the world centre of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas organisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagat Singh (Sant)</span> Indian spiritual leader

Jagat Singh (1884–1951) was an Indian spiritual leader and the head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. He served as the guru for Beas Dera for three years, until his death in 1951 at the age of 67. He worked as a college chemistry professor at an Agricultural College and was honoured for his service by the British as Sardar Bahadur. After retirement he was chosen by his spiritual master to be his successor, becoming the third spiritual head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. Jagat Singh assigned the duties of his successor and guru to his initiate Charan Singh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Swami Satsang, Dinod</span> Indian spiritual organisation

Radha Swami Satsang, Dinod (RSSD) is an Indian spiritual organisation with its headquarters in Dinod village in the Bhiwani district of Haryana state. It promotes the Radha Soami sect that was founded by Shiv Dayal Singh on Basant-Panchami day in January 1861. The Radha Swami Satsang at Dinod (RSSD) was founded by Tarachand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salig Ram</span> Hindu guru (1829–1898)

Salig Ram, popularly known by the honorific "Huzur Maharaj" and by the government-conferred title "Rai Bahadur," was born in Peepal Mandi, Agra, on 14 March 1829. He served as chief inspector of post offices in British India, and, in 1881, was Postmaster-General of the North-Western Provinces, based in Allahabad. He was the first Indian to hold the position.

This is a list of gurus who gave teachings about the Path of Sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Soami Satsang Sabha</span>

Radhasoami Satsang Sabha is the Chief Working Committee of Radhasoami Satsang Dayalbagh. The teachings of Radha Soami sect are based on the spiritual teachings of Shiv Dayal Singh. The Present spiritual leader of Radha Soami Satsang Dayalbagh is Prof Prem Saran Satsangi who is a retired academic Dean Of IIT Delhi and a System Scientist and Physicist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurcharan Das Mehta</span>

Gurcharan Das Mehta, also known as Param Guru Mehta Ji Maharaj, was the sixth Revered Satguru of the Radha Soami Satsang Dayalbagh. He was born on 20 December 1885 in Batala, to a respectable Punjabi family. His father was Shri Atma Ram Sahab Mehta. He studied from Thomason College of Civil Engineering, Roorkee and served in Punjab Government.

Satsang is an audience with a Satguru for religious instruction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Zoccarelli, Pierluigi (2006). "Radhasoami movements". In Clarke, Peter B. (ed.). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. London; New York: Routledge. pp. 507–509. ISBN   9-78-0-415-26707-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kalsi, Sewa Singh (2005). Sikhism. Religions of the World. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers. pp. 12–13. ISBN   0-7910-8098-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Radhasoami Movement". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor. New York: Facts On File. pp. 344–345. ISBN   978-0-8160-5458-9. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
  4. ↑ Singh Ji Maharaj 1934.
  5. ↑ Juergensmeyer, Mark (1991). Radhasoami Reality: The Logic of a Modern Faith. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN   0-691-01092-7. p. 90 note 5, Quote: "The date of Seth Shiv Dayal's first public discourse is Basant Panchami Day, February 15, 1861".
  6. ↑ Lorenzen, David N. (1995). Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action. State University of New York Press. p. 67. ISBN   978-0-7914-2025-6., Quote: "The movement traces its origins to Seth Shiv Dayal Singh, who began his public ministry in Agra in 1861."
  7. 1 2 Juergensmeyer 1991, pp. 15–19, 38–42 with footnotes.
  8. ↑ Juergensmeyer, Mark; Lane, David Christopher (24 May 2018). "Radhasoami Tradition". oxfordbibliographies.com. Oxford Bibliographies. doi:10.1093/OBO/9780195399318-0203.
  9. ↑ Saarbachan Radhasoami Vartik.
  10. 1 2 3 Juergensmeyer 1991, pp. 41–42 with footnotes, Quote: "The word Radhasoami literally refers to lord (swami) of his Souls., Radha" (p. 41); "The Beas group translates Radhasoami as 'lord of the soul' (p. 42).
  11. ↑ DuPertuis, Lucy (1986). "How People Recognize Charisma: The Case of Darshan in Radhasoami and Divine Light Mission". Sociological Analysis. 47 (2). Oxford University Press: 111–124. doi:10.2307/3711456. JSTOR   3711456., Quote: "Various branches of Radhasoami have argued about the incarnationalism of Radhasoami Dayak (Lane, 1981)”
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Juergensmeyer, Mark; Lane, David Christopher (24 May 2018). "Radhasoami Tradition". oxfordbibliographies.com. Oxford Bibliographies. doi:10.1093/OBO/9780195399318-0203.
  13. 1 2 Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Sant Mat movement". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor. New York: Facts On File. pp. 383–384. ISBN   978-0-8160-5458-9. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
  14. 1 2 Lane, David Christopher (1992). The Radhasoami tradition: a critical history of guru successorship. Sects and cults in America, Bibliographical guides, v. 14; Garland reference library of social science, v. 623. New York: Garland Publishing. ISBN   978-0-8240-5247-8. OCLC   26013140.
  15. ↑ Juergensmeyer 1991, pp. 16–17 with footnotes.
  16. ↑ Lane, David Christopher (12 December 2015). "Split i the Radha Soami Movement". Sach Khand: The Journal of Radhasoami Studies (10): 11. ISBN   9781329755628.
  17. ↑ Juergensmeyer 1991, pp. 11–12, 40–42.
  18. ↑ Lewis, James R. (2002). Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Amherst, NY: Prometheus. pp. 590–592. ISBN   978-1-61592-738-8.
  19. 1 2 3 Juergensmeyer, Mark. (1991). Radhasoami Reality: The Logic of a Modern Faith. Princeton University Press. pp. 129-131. ISBN   0-691-07378-3
  20. ↑ Lewis, James R. (1998). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Prometheus Books. p. 394. ISBN   1-57392-222-6

Further reading

Primary sources

Radha Soami-related groups
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