Shiv Dayal Singh

Infobox Person

Infobox ReligiousBio
background =#FFA500
name =Seth Shiv Dayal Singh


religion =
alias =
location =
Title =Founder of Radha Soami Faith
Period =1861 - 1878
Predecessor =
Successor =Huzur Rai Saligram ji and Baba Jaimal Singh ji [ [http://www.santmat-meditation.net/guru/a1.html Santmat-meditation.net: Successors of Swami ji Maharaj] ]
ordination =
post =
date of birth =August 25, 1818
place of birth =Panni street, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
date of death =June 5, 1878 (60 years)
place of death =Panni street, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
website =

Shiv Dayal Singh (also known as Swami ji) was the first Satguru to start the teachings of Radha Soami faith. His actual name was Seth Shiv Dayal Singh ji. He was born on August 25 1818 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India on the Janmashtmi day. At the age of five, he was sent to school where he learnt Hindi, Urdu, Persian and Gurumukhi. He also acquired a working knowledge of Arabic and Sanskrit. His parents were the followers of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib from Hathras, India. [ [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/9563/chapter2.html#part7 Tulsi Sahib and His Teachings] ] Sant Tulsi Sahib ji initiated him at the age of six. [ [http://www.radhasoamisatsang.org/sm/sm_detail.htm Radhasoamisatsang.org: Life and Teachings of Swami ji Maharaj] ] [ [http://www.angelfire.com/linux/radhasoami/sm/gallery_1.htm Angelfire.com: Life and Teachings of Swami ji Maharaj] ]

He was married at an early age to Naraini Devi, daughter of Izzat Rai of Faridabad. She was of generous disposition and was very devoted to her husband. Shiv Dayalji was selected direct from school to act as a Persian expert to a government officer in Banda. As the job did not suit him, he gave it up and took another job as a teacher of Persian with a talukdar of Ballabhgarh estate. 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. [ [http://www.radhasoamisatsang.org/sm/sm_detail.htm Radhasoamisatsang.org: Life and Teachings of Swami ji Maharaj] ] [ [http://www.radhaswamidinod.org/lineage.htm Radhaswamidinod.org: Life and Teachings of Swami ji Maharaj] ]

He practiced Surat Shabd Yoga for 15 years and started satsang publically on Vasant Panchami (a spring festival) in 1861. This schedule continued for 17 years.

Swami ji named his philosophy "Satnaam Anaami". The movement became known as Radha Soami, "Radha" meaning "Soul" and "Soami" meaning "Lord", hence "Lord of the Soul". The yoga system taught by Swami Ji is known as Surat Shabd Yoga.

Swami ji has described the secret of divine and true 'Naam'.

He wrote Saar Vachan book in two parts named: [ [http://www.radhasoamisatsang.org/sm/sm_detail.htm Radhasoamisatsang.org: Books by Swami ji Maharaj] ] [ [http://www.radhaswamidinod.org/lineage.htm Radhaswamidinod.org: Books by Swami ji Maharaj] ]
* Saar Vachan Vartik (Saar Vachan in prose)
* Saar Vachan Chhand Band (Saar Vachan in verse)Saar Vachan Vartik contain the discourses of Swami ji Maharaj, which he delivered in the satsang up to 1878. They cover important teachings of the faith.His poems in Saar Vachan Chhand Band are replete with emotional appeal - a successful blending of popular poetic expressions from different languages of north India such as, Khari-Boli, Awadhi, Brijbhasha, Rajasthani and Gurumukhi.

He departed from this world on June 15th, 1878 in Agra, India.

ee also

* Contemporary Sant Mat movements
* Dayalbagh
* Radha Soami Satsang Beas
* Radha Swami Satsang, Dinod
* Sant Mat
* Surat Shabd Yoga

External links

* http://www.radhaswamidinod.org/faith.htm
* http://www.aors-dbbs.org/index.html
* http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/movements/radhasoamis/The%20radhasoamis.htm
* http://www.kheper.net/topics/chakras/chakras-SantMat.htm
* http://www.seekersway.org/seekers_guide/radhasoami_1_g.html
* http://www.radhasoami-faith.info/Books_Frame.shtml
* http://www.reference.com/search?db=web&q=Radha%20Soami&start=31
* [http://www.rssb.org/ Radha Soami Satsang Beas]
* [http://www.scienceofthesoul.org/ Science of the Soul]
* [http://www.santmat-meditation.net/guru/chart.html Sant Mat - Surat Shabd Yoga: Contemporary Guru Lines & Branches]

References