Radha Soami- Encyclopaedia of Saints of India (Part-19)

Radha Soami Mat is a school for spiritual enlightenment and realization of reality. Like Guru Nanak Dev, Kabir, Tulsi Sahib and other saints, Soamiji is also a true and perfect saint. Soamiji lays much emphasis on satsang, satguru and Name, Nam or Shabad. Guru is God Himself in the human form and we should search for a true and perfect Guru. We should sacrifice our body and develop extreme love and devotion for our Guru. Then the form of our Guru will stay in our heart. The theme consists of twelve chapters i.e. sketch of Soamiji, the Sant Mat, role of the Guru, True Name, Simran, Dhyan, Satguru, Satsang, Meditation, the Inner Voice, our actions and Guru or Master.

This work would be useful for teachers, students and followers of Soamiji.

Contents include: Brief Sketch of Soamiji; The Sant Mat; Role of the Guru; True Name; Simran; Dhyan; Satguru; Satsang; Meditation; The Inner Voice; Consequences of our Actions; Guru or Master.

Dr. S.R. Bakshi, Ph.D., D.Litt. is an eminent scholar of Modern Indian History and is the author of several works on Indian nationalism and freedom movement. His recent works include 'Encyclopaedic History of Indian Culture and Religion' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Marathas' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Rajputs' (in 6 Vols.), 'B.R. Ambedkar: His Political and Social Ideology' (in 2 Vols.), 'Encyclopaedic History of The Sikhs and Sikhism' (in 6 Vols.), The Great Moghuls' (in 8 Vols.), and 'Development of Women, Children and Weaker Sections' (in 5 Vols.). Dr. Bakshi is member of several academic institutions having deep bearing on historical research.

Dr. Sangh Mittra, LL.B. Ph.D. from Lucknow University, is Dy. Director (Research) in Indian Council of Historical Research. Her Ph.D. thesis on 'Iconographic Study of Minor Brahmanical Deities in Northern India' is published along with more than 20 Research Papers in reputed historical journals. She is Life Member of several academic institutions and a reputed examiner of Ph.D. thesis of Universities of North India. Besides she has actively participated in numerous national and international Seminars.

Soamiji was born in Panni Gali, Agra on 25 August, 1818. From his childhood he started practising 'Surat Shabd Yoga,' the practice of merging the soul in the divine current of the Supreme Being's melody and power, in an interior room of his house and continued like this for fifteen years or so. On 15 June, 1878, he shed his mortal coil.

Soamiji was very closely associated with the great saint, Tulsi Sahib who was then staying at Hathras, near Agra. The two saints had deep and powerful love for each other. The mother of Soamiji, as well as other members of the family were keenly devoted to Tulsi Sahib.

In 1861. Soamiji started publicly explaining the method of saints (Sant Mat) to a few people who gathered at his place. This satsang (true association) continued for nearly seventeen years, during which period about four thousand persons-men and women-Hindus, Muslims, Jains and a few Christians were initiated by him into Sant Mat (the path of the Saints) i.e. Radha Soami path (the path of the Supreme Being). Most of these were house- holders, but some (about three hundred) were sadhus also.

The Like Guru Nanak Dev, Kabir, Tulsi Sahib and other saints, Soamiji was also a true and perfect saint. He says that our True Home (Sach Khand or Sat Lok), the realm of 'Sat Nam' or 'Sat Purush', is beyond all gods and goddesses, beyond Om or Brahm, beyond the three words mentioned in religious books.

**Contents and Sample Pages**