Salig Ram
Salig Rām, 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.[1] 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.
Huzur Maharaj Salig Ram | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 14 March 1829 Agra, Ceded Provinces, British India |
| Died | 6 December 1898 Agra, North-Western Provinces, British India |
| Religion | Radhasoami Faith |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Peepal Mandi, Agra, North-Western Provinces, British India (present-day Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India) |
| Period in office | 1878-1898 |
| Predecessor | Shiv Dayal Singh |
| Successor | Ajodhya Prasad, Brahm Shankar Misra, Shivbratlal |
Salig Ram came in contact with his guru, Shiv Dayal Singh, in 1858 in Agra. Salig Ram recognised his guru as the first physical incarnation of the Supreme Being, whom Salig Ram called by the name "Radhasoami." Salig Ram served Shiv Dayal Singh for many years and, after Shiv Dayal Singh's death, Salig Ram retired from his job, established the Radhasoami Faith in Agra, and took up the role of guru. He died on 6 December 1898.
Successors
Several teaching lineages have descended from Salig Ram. Some of the more prominent are:
The Radhasoami Faith
Located at: Huzuri Bhavan (Huzur's Center), Peepal Mandi, Agra city (now in Uttar Pradesh). This is Salig Ram's home, where his direct descendants conduct Satsang today. The place is also known as Huzuri Samadh which is believed to be a holy place and Satsang takes place every day. The lineage of gurus runs: Salig Ram — Ajudhya Prasad (son of Salig Ram) — Gur Prasad — Agam Prasad Mathur (present guru).
Radhasoami Central Administrative Council
Located at: Soami Bagh, Agra. Lineage: Salig Ram — Brahm Shankar Misra (founder) — Maheshwari Devi — Madhav Prasad Sinha.
Dayalbagh Sabha
Located at: Dayalbagh, Agra. Lineage: Salig Ram — Brahm Shankar Misra — Kamta Prasad Sinha — Anand Swarup (founder) — Gurcharan Das Mehta — Mukund Behari Lal — Prem Saran Satsangi. Dayalbagh was founded by Sir Anand Swarup, Kt.[2] The present Guru[3] Prem Saran Satsangi[4] is a retired physicist and system scientist[5] of IIT Delhi. The 200th birth anniversary of Shiv Dayal Singh was celebrated in Dayalbagh from August 2017 to 24 August 2018.[6][7]
Radha Swami Dham
Located at: Gopi Ganj, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. Lineage: Salig Ram — Shivbratlal Varman (founder).
Be Man Temple
Located at: Manavta Mandir, Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Lineage: Salig Ram — Shivbratlal Varman — Faqir Chand (founder) — Bhagat Munshi Ram & Ishwar Chandra Sharma.
Radha Swami Satsang, Dinod
Located at: Dinod, Bhiwani, Haryana. Lineage: Salig Rām — Shivbratlal Varman — Ram Singh Arman — Tarachand (founder) — Kanwar Singh.
Books
Salig Ram published "abstracts" of the talks of Shiv Dayal Singh, as well as his own writings. He wrote following books:[8]
- Prem Patra Radhasoami (six volumes)
- Prem Bani Radhasoami
- Radhasoami Mat Prakash (English)
- Radhasoami Mat Sandesh
- Radhasoami Mat Upadesh
- Sar-Upadesh
- Nij-Upadesh
- Guru-Upadesh
- Jugat Prakash
See also
References
- Devotees who worship Salig Rām as God regard it blasphemous to call him by name. Instead, they use the honorific "Huzur Mahārāj" ("Our Great King," similar to the English "My Lord") or the government title "Rai Bahadur" ("Noble Hero").
- http://www.dayalbagh.org.in/
- http://www.dayalbagh.org.in/radhasoami-faith/sant-satguru.htm
- http://www.dayalbagh.org.in/radhasoami-faith/sant-satguru.htm
- http://www.sysi.org/chapters.html
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/agra-temple-113-years-in-the-making-inches-towards-completion/articleshow/59040687.cms
- https://www.dei.ac.in/dei/files/events/2017/Bicentennial_Celebration_Closing_Function_August_24_2018_Flyer.pdf
- Santmat-meditation.net: Literature of Hazur Rai Saligram