Thereforedesignpune: made new bio from scratch

2026-04-25T06:24:11Z

made new bio from scratch

New page

{{Short description|Indian spiritual leader (1954–2007)}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image = Guruji.jpeg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|7|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Dugri]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|5|31|1954|7|7|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Delhi]], India
| other_names =
| known_for =
| occupation = Spiritual leader and Guru
}}
'''Nirmal Singh''' (1954–2007), popularly called '''Guruji''' by his followers, was an Indian spiritual leader. He is also known as "Nirmal Singhji Maharaj", "Guru-ji [[Chhatarpur, Delhi Assembly constituency|Chattarpur]] [[Wallah|Wale]]", "Dugri Wale Guruji", and "Shukrana Guruji".<ref name="FT_2023"/>

Born in Dugri, [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], he attained a significant following in North India, particularly in [[Delhi]] and [[Gurgaon]]. In the 1990s, he established a Shiv Mandir in the Chhatarpur area of Delhi, which is referred to by his followers as the "Bada Mandir" and now serves as his burial site or [[samadhi]].<ref name="Zee_2024">{{cite news |title=Meet The Spiritual Guru Of Ananya Panday And Jacqueline Fernandez Who Holds Double Major And Once Worked As Clerical Assistant |url=https://zeenews.india.com/photos/entertainment/meet-the-spiritual-guru-of-ananya-panday-and-jacqueline-fernandez-who-holds-double-major-and-once-worked-as-clerical-assistant-know-his-story-2932827 |work=[[Zee News]] |date=2024-07-16 |access-date=2025-12-29}}</ref> His teachings emphasized the unity of all religions, inner silence, and the performance of selfless service through ''sangats'' (congregations) and ''langar'' (community meals).<ref>{{cite news |title=8 famous teachings of Guruji Nirmal Singh Maharaj |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/soul-search/8-famous-teachings-of-guruji-nirmal-singh-maharaj/photostory/106200166.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=2023-12-22 |access-date=2025-12-29}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Nirmal Singh was born on 7 July 1954 in the village of [[Dugri]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="FT_2023">{{cite news |title=Who is Guruji and why is he so famous? |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-who-is-guruji-and-why-is-he-so-famous-heres-the-story-behind-jacqueline-fernandez-and-rishi-koppoors-spiritual-guru-3121488/ |work=Financial Express |date=2023-06-11}}</ref> During his youth, he spent significant time at the [[Dera (organization)|dera]] of [[Sant (religion)|Sant]] Sewa Das in Dugri. According to accounts from his followers, he displayed what were interpreted as miraculous powers during his childhood, such as allegedly filling the inkpots of fellow students by touch and escaping from locked rooms to visit the dera.<ref name="RR_2011"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Guruji? The story of the beloved spiritual leader |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/soul-search/who-is-guruji-the-story-of-the-most-beloved-spiritual-leader/articleshow/122851814.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=2024-07-24}}</ref> These claims form part of the devotional hagiography associated with his early life, though they lack independent verification.

While his spiritual inclinations began early, Singh pursued formal education to fulfill his father's wishes.<ref name="Zee_2024"/> He moved to [[Malerkotla]] for higher studies, eventually obtaining [[Master of Arts]] degrees in both English and Economics. In 1975, he left home to pursue a spiritual life, staying briefly with various acquaintances across Punjab.<ref name="FT_2023" /> In 1983, he returned briefly to secular employment, joining the [[Punjab School Education Board]] as a clerical assistant.<ref name="Zee_2024" />

== As a spiritual leader ==

As a spiritual leader, Nirmal Singh emphasized the unity of all religions, focusing on love, compassion and service to mankind. He advised his followers to strike a balance between materialism and spiritualism.<ref>{{cite web |title=8 Famous teachings of Guruji, Nirmal Singh Maharaj |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/soul-search/8-famous-teachings-of-guruji-nirmal-singh-maharaj/photostory/106200166.cms |date=2023-12-21 |publisher=The Times of India |access-date=2024-10-22 }}</ref> Gradually, the news of his alleged miraculous powers (including [[faith healing]]) spread across Punjab, and people would come to him to seek solutions to their problems.<ref name="RR_2011"/> His father initially thought of him as a fake [[Godman (India)|godman]], but later changed his opinion.<ref name="FT_2023"/> His parents came to believe that he was the God, and his mother started calling him ''[[Guru]]-[[-ji|ji]]''.<ref name="RR_2011"/>

He stayed at various places including [[Chandigarh]], [[Panchkula]], [[Delhi]], [[Mumbai]], and [[Jalandhar]]. In the 1990s, he commissioned the Shiv Mandir (a [[Shiva]] temple) in the Bhatti Mines area of [[Chhatarpur, Delhi Assembly constituency|Chattarpur]] in Delhi. The structure later came to be known as Bada Mandir ("Big Temple") among his followers.<ref name="FT_2023"/> In 1997, he started living at a house in the Empire Estate colony on MG Road in New Delhi,<ref name="IE_2023"/> owned by his [[Non-Resident Indian]] devotee Sudha Ahuja.<ref name="Outlook_2022">{{cite news |title=Is It Baba Black Sheep Once Again? |date=2022-02-05 |publisher=Outlook |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/is-it-baba-black-sheep-once-again-news-219694 |access-date=2024-10-22 }}</ref> His devotees now call the house Chotta Mandir ("Little Temple"). At times, he also lived at a house in the Defence Colony of Jalandhar, and frequently traveled between Delhi and Jalandhar. In 2002, he settled at the Empire Estate house,<ref name="RR_2011"/> and lived there until his death in 2007.<ref name="IE_2023">{{cite news |title=Woman vs RWA over paying respect to a Guru: Delhi HC offers interim arrangement |date=2023-07-07 |newspaper=Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/woman-vs-rwa-over-paying-respect-to-a-guru-delhi-hc-offers-interim-arrangement-8801161/ |access-date=2024-02-22 }}</ref>

Nirmal Singh held daily ''sangats'' (congregations) that featured meditations, [[satsang]], recitations of [[gurbani]] and [[shabad (hymn)]], and [[langar (Sikhism)|langar]].<ref name="RR_2011"/> At these congregations, the clean-shaven and tonsured Singh would sit on a chair, wearing bright-colored silk clothes, while his followers sat on the floor. He spoke very less, generally communicating through gestures.<ref name="Outlook_2022"/> He would chat with devotees, but did not give any sermons. The crowd at these gatherings comprised mostly [[Punjabis]], including common people as well as well-known politicians, administrators, and socialites.<ref name="HSS_2020"/> His devotees claim that food served at his langar and the tea served as [[Prasad (food offering)|prasad]] during his ''sangats'' miraculously cured people of diseases.<ref name="RR_2011"/><ref name="HSS_2020"/> Rarely, he would attend other functions, including high-profile weddings.<ref name="Outlook_2022"/>

== Death and aftermath ==

Nirmal Singh died on 31 May 2007: his followers regard the event as a ''[[mahasamadhi]]''.<ref name="RR_2011"/> The Shiv Temple (Bada Mandir) in Delhi became the site of his ''[[samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]]'' shrine.<ref name="FT_2023"/> His devotees, including several celebrities, continued to organize the ''satsangs''.<ref name="IT_2024"/>

His followers include several celebrities including poet [[Manjit Tiwana]], writer [[Ganga Prasad Vimal]],<ref name="HSS_2020">{{cite journal |author=H S Shivaprakash |title=The Tragic Death of My Dear Poet Friend, Ganga Prasad Vimal |journal=Indian Literature |volume=64 |issue=3 |year=2020 |pages=15–16 |jstor=27266802 }}</ref> photographer [[Raghu Rai]],<ref name="RR_2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/2011/sep/14/slide-show-1-lensman-raghu-rai-on-the-guru-who-changed-his-life.htm |title=Photographer Raghu Rai on the Guru who changed his life |date=2011-09-14 |publisher=[[rediff.com]] |access-date=2024-10-22}}</ref> actor [[Ananya Panday]] and her father [[Chunky Pandey]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Riddhima Kanetkar |title=Meet Chhatarpur Wale Guruji, Ananya Panday, Hema Malini, Neetu Kapoor's spiritual guru |date=2024-07-23 |newspaper=DNA |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-meet-chhatarpur-wale-guruji-ananya-panday-hema-malini-neetu-kapoor-spiritual-guru-who-is-believed-to-be-3097981 |access-date=2024-10-22 }}</ref> actor [[Hema Malini]], and members of the [[Kapoor family]].<ref name="FT_2023"/> Visitors to the Empire Estate house have included [[L. K. Advani]], [[Arun Shourie]], [[Uma Bharati]], [[Rajnath Singh]], [[Maneka Gandhi]], [[Sudarshan Kumar Birla|S.K. Birla]], [[Kiran Bedi]], [[Rama Pilot]], and [[Kiran Choudhry]].<ref name="Outlook_2022"/> Actor [[Rishi Kapoor]] held a [[satsang]] by Singh at his home. Actor [[Jacqueline Fernandez]] visited his Shiva temple in Delhi.<ref name="FT_2023"/>

After Nirmal Singh's death, his nephew Navdeep Singh alias Gaurav took over the management of his ''ashram'' in the Chhatarpur area of Delhi. In 2020, a woman accused Gaurav (Navdeep Singh) of drugging and raping her in 2019 at a farmhouse near the ''ashram'': she alleged that Gaurav told her that she was destined to give birth to a male child who would take forward the legacy of "Guruji". Gaurav denied the allegations, accusing the woman and her family of trying to extort money from him.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ashlin Mathew |title=Delays in Delhi HC to hear rape case against godman’s nephew lead woman to move SC; asked to take it up |date=2020-12-20 |publisher=National Herald |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/delays-in-delhi-hc-to-hear-rape-case-against-godmans-nephew-lead-woman-to-move-sc-asked-to-take-it-up |access-date=2024-10-22 }}</ref>

In 2023, the Empire Estate Residents Welfare Association (RWA) banned Nirmal Singh's devotees from visiting his former residence (Chotta Mandir), citing disruption and security risk to the local residents. The owner of the residence, a 70-year-old woman devotee, challenged the ban in court.<ref name="IE_2023"/> Subsequently, the [[Delhi High Court]] permitted 500 identified devotees to visit the site in a staggered manner on Singh's birthday, and limited the number of daily visitors to the site to 100.<ref name="IT_2024">{{cite news |author=Aneesha Mathur |title=Delhi High Court allows devotees to visit 'Guruji' on his birthday as RWA objects |publisher=India Today |date=2023-07-07 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/delhi-high-court-allows-devotees-visit-nirmal-singhji-maharaj-guruji-on-birthday-rwa-objects-2403298-2023-07-07 |access-date=2024-10-22 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Ludhiana district]]
[[Category:Indian religious leaders]]
[[Category:Faith healers]]

Nirmal Singh Maharaj - Revision history

Thereforedesignpune: made new bio from scratch