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{{short description|The second Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas}}
{{Short description|Second Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox religious biography
{{Infobox religious biography
| name             = Baba Sawan Singh
| name               = Baba Sawan Singh Ji
| alias            = Sawan Singh
| honorific-prefix   = Hazur Maharaj
| honorific-prefix = Hazur Maharaj
| image             = RS sawan.jpg
| image           = RS sawan.jpg
| religion           = Sant Mat, [[Radha Soami]]
| religion         = [[Sant Mat]], [[Radha Soami]]
| parents            = Subedar Major Sardar Kabal Singh Grewal (Father),<br />Mata Jiwani Kaur<br /> (Mother)
| nationality     = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| spouse            = Mata Kishan Kaur
| citizenship     = British subject
| children          = Three; Sardar Bachint Singh,<br />Sardar Basant Singh,<br />Sardar Harbans Singh Grewal
| birth_date       = 20 July 1858
| relatives          = Sardar Sher Singh Grewal (Grandfather)
| birth_place     = Jatana, Ludhiana, [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], Indian Empire
| nationality       = [[Indian people|Indian]]
(Ancestral village : Mehma Singh Wala, Ludhiana, Punjab)  
| citizenship       = British subject
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=y|1948|4|2|1858|7|20}}
| birth_date         = 20 July 1858
| death_place     = Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, [[Beas City|Beās]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Pañjāb]], Indian Empire
| birth_place       = Jatana, Ludhiana, [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], Indian Empire
| alma_mater       = [[Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee|Thomason College of Civil Engineering]]
(Ancestral Village:Mehma Singh Wala, Ludhiana, Punjab)
| occupation       = civil engineer, Military Engineering Service
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=y|1948|4|2|1858|7|20}}
| institute       = [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]
| death_place       = Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, [[Beas City|Beās]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Pañjāb]], Indian Empire
| period           = 1903–48
| alma_mater         = Thomason College of Civil Engineering
| predecessor     = Baba [[Jaimal Singh]]
| occupation         = Civil Engineer, Military Engineering Service Sikh Regiment No. 14(Up to 28 years) and later
| successor       = Sardar Bahadur Maharaj [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Jagat Singh]]
Spiritual Leader of Radha Soami Satsang Beas sect
| post             = [[Satguru]]
| institute         = [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]
| known_for       = Developed Dera Baba Jaimal Singh colony
| period             = 1903–48
| influences       = Baba [[Jaimal Singh]]
| predecessor       = Baba Jaimal Singh
| influenced       = Sardar Bahadur Maharaj [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Jagat Singh]], Maharaj [[Charan Singh (Sant)|Charan Singh]],  [[Julian Johnson]]
| successor         = [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Maharaj Jagat Singh]]
| background       = #FFC569
| post               = [[Sant (religion)|Sant]] , Satguru
| known_for         = Developed Dera Baba Jaimal Singh colony
| influences         = Baba Jaimal Singh
| influenced         = [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Maharaj Jagat Singh]], [[Charan Singh (Sant)|Maharaj Charan Singh]],  Julian Johnson
| website            = https://www.rssb.org/
| background         = #FFC569
}}
}}


'''Hazur Maharaj Baba Sawan Singh''' (1858-1948), also known as "The Great Master" or ''Bade Maharaji'', was an [[Indian people|Indian]] Saint or ''Sant''. He was the second [[Satguru]] of [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]] (RSSB) from the death of Baba [[Jaimal Singh]] in 1903 until his own death on 2 April 1948.<ref>Sondhi, S. L. (Ed.) (1981). ''Radha Soami Satsang Beas: Origin and Growth''. Dera Baba Jaimal Singh: [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]].</ref>
'''Baba Sawan Singh Ji''' (1858-1948), also known as '''The Great Master''' or '''Bade Maharaj ji''', was an [[Indian people|Indian]] Saint or ''Sant''. He was the second spiritual head of [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]] (RSSB) from the death of Baba Jaimal Singh in 1903 until his own death on 2 April 1948.<ref>Sondhi, S. L. (Ed.) (1981). ''Radha Soami Satsang Beas: Origin and Growth''. Dera Baba Jaimal Singh: [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]].</ref>


Before he died, he appointed [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Sardar Bahadur Maharaj Jagat Singh]] as his spiritual successor.<ref>''Radhasoami Reality: the logic of a modern faith'' by [[Mark Juergensmeyer]]. p.52. Princeton University Press, 1991</ref><ref>David Lane. ''The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Successorship'' (1992). Garland Publishers, New York {{ISBN|0824052471}} {{cite web |url=http://elearn.mtsac.edu/dlane/rs3.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-10-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810193224/http://elearn.mtsac.edu/dlane/rs3.html |archivedate=2011-08-10 }}</ref>
Before he died, he appointed [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Sardar Bahadur Maharaj Jagat Singh]] as his spiritual successor.<ref>''Radhasoami Reality: the logic of a modern faith'' by [[Mark Juergensmeyer]]. p.52. Princeton University Press, 1991</ref><ref>David Lane. ''The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Successorship'' (1992). Garland Publishers, New York {{ISBN|0824052471}} {{cite web |url=http://elearn.mtsac.edu/dlane/rs3.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-10-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810193224/http://elearn.mtsac.edu/dlane/rs3.html |archivedate=2011-08-10 }}</ref>
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*Hazur Maharaj
*Hazur Maharaj
*Sawan Shah
*Sawan Shah
*the Great Master
*The Great Master
*Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj<ref>{{cite web |title=A brief life-sketch of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj |url=https://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/BabaSawanSingh.htm |website=www.ruhanisatsangusa.org}}</ref>
*Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj<ref>{{cite web |title=A brief life-sketch of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj |url=https://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/BabaSawanSingh.htm |website=www.ruhanisatsangusa.org}}</ref>


==Life==
==Life==


Baba Sawan Singh Grewal was born into a Grewal [[Jat people|Jat]] [[Sikh]] family in the village of Mehma Singh Wala, District Ludhiana, in pre-partition Punjab. His father was Subedar Major Kabal Singh Grewal and his mother was Jiwani Kaur. He was married to Kishan Kaur and together they had three children. He passed engineering at [[Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee|Thomason College of Civil Engineering]], Roorkee and later joined the Military Engineering Service.
Baba Sawan Singh Grewal was born on 20 July 1858, into a Grewal [[Jat people|Jat]] [[Sikh]] family in his mother's home at the village of Jatana, District Ludhiana, in pre-partition Punjab. Baba Sawan Singh Ji’s ancestral village was Mehma Singh Wala, District Ludhiana in Punjab. His father was Subedar Major Sardar Kabal Singh Grewal and his mother was Mata Jiwani Kaur. He was married to Mata Kishan Kaur and together they had three children. He passed engineering at Thomason College of Civil Engineering, Roorkee and later joined the Military Engineering Service.


He studied scriptures of various religions but retained a strong connection with the [[Guru Granth Sahib|Gurbani]] of the Sikh religion.<ref name=Gems>Spiritual Gems, Letter No.1.</ref>
He studied scriptures of various religions but retained a strong connection with the [[Guru Granth Sahib|Gurbani]] of the Sikh religion.<ref name=Gems>Spiritual Gems, Letter No.1.</ref>
Line 50: Line 55:
:"I associated with him for several months and during that time he showed supernatural powers on several occasions. When I asked him if he would shower grace upon me by initiating me, he answered: 'No, he is somebody else; I do not have your share'. I then asked him to tell me who that person was so that I could contact him. He replied: 'When the time comes, he will himself find you'."<ref name=Gems />
:"I associated with him for several months and during that time he showed supernatural powers on several occasions. When I asked him if he would shower grace upon me by initiating me, he answered: 'No, he is somebody else; I do not have your share'. I then asked him to tell me who that person was so that I could contact him. He replied: 'When the time comes, he will himself find you'."<ref name=Gems />


Later when Baba Sawan Singh was stationed at Murree, he met Baba [[Jaimal Singh]], who said to his companion that he had come to initiate Baba Sawan Singh. After much philosophical debate, discussion and several conferences with Baba Jaimal Singh, Baba Sawan Singh became thoroughly convinced and received initiation from Baba Jaimal Singh into the practice of [[surat shabd yoga]] on the 15th day of October, 1894.
Later when Sawan Singh was stationed at Murree, he met Baba Jaimal Singh, who said to his companion that he had come to initiate Sawan Singh. After much philosophical debate, discussion and several conferences with Baba Jaimal Singh, Baba Sawan Singh became thoroughly convinced and received initiation from Baba Jaimal Singh into the practice of [[surat shabd yoga]] on the 15th day of October, 1894.


Baba Sawan Singh retired on government pension in 1911 to Dera Baba Jaimal Singh (Beas), the "camp of Baba Jaimal Singh" where Baba Jaimal Singh had settled in 1891. During his ministry the Dera expanded greatly, with houses for both permanent residents and guests, a library and a Satsang Hall. Sawan Singh sheltered victims of the communal holocaust of the [[Partition of India]]. His following included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and for the first time, thousands from abroad. He had initiates from America, England, Switzerland, Germany, most notable of whom being the Americans physician-surgeon Dr. [[Julian Johnson]] and chiropractic-osteopath Dr. [[Randolph Stone]] and the Swiss physician-homeopath Dr. Pierre Schmidt.
Baba Sawan Singh retired on government pension in 1911 to Dera Baba Jaimal Singh (Beas), the "camp of Baba Jaimal Singh" where Baba Jaimal Singh had settled in 1891. During his ministry the Dera expanded greatly, with houses for both permanent residents and guests, a library and a Satsang Hall. Baba Sawan Singh sheltered victims of the communal holocaust of the [[Partition of India]]. His following included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and for the first time, thousands from abroad. He had initiates from America, England, Switzerland, Germany, most notable of whom being the Americans physician-surgeon Dr. [[Julian Johnson]] and chiropractic-osteopath Dr. [[Randolph Stone]] and the Swiss physician-homeopath Dr. Pierre Schmidt.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Radha Soami]]
* [[Radha Soami]]
* [[Surat Shabd Yoga]]
* [[Surat Shabd Yoga]]
* Seth [[Shiv Dayal Singh]]
* [[Shiv Dayal Singh]]
* Baba [[Jaimal Singh]]
* [[Charan Singh (Sant)|Charan Singh]]
* Sardar Bahadur Maharaj [[Jagat Singh (Sant)|Jagat Singh]]
* [[Kirpal Singh]]
* [[Charan Singh (Sant)|Maharaj Charan Singh]]
* [[Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj|Kirpal Singh]]


==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==
Line 69: Line 72:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Sawan Singh, ''Dawn of Light''.
*Baba Sawan Singh, ''Dawn of Light''.
*Sawan Singh, ''Discourses on Sant Mat''.
*Baba Sawan Singh, ''Discourses on Sant Mat''.
*Sawan Singh, ''My Submission''.
*Baba Sawan Singh, ''My Submission''.
*Sawan Singh, ''Spiritual Gems''.
*Baba Sawan Singh, ''Spiritual Gems''.
*Charaṇ Singh, ''Spiritual Heritage''.
*Maharaj Charan Singh, ''Spiritual Heritage''.
*Jaimal Singh, ''Spiritual Letters''.
*Baba Jaimal Singh, ''Spiritual Letters''.
*Kapur, Daryailāl, ''Call of the Great Master''.
*Kapur, Daryailāl, ''Call of the Great Master''.
*Kapur, Daryailāl, ''Heaven on Earth''.
*Kapur, Daryailāl, ''Heaven on Earth''.

Latest revision as of 02:41, 2 July 2023


Hazur Maharaj

Baba Sawan Singh Ji
File:RS sawan.jpg
Personal
Born20 July 1858
Jatana, Ludhiana, Punjab, Indian Empire (Ancestral Village:Mehma Singh Wala, Ludhiana, Punjab)
Died2 April 1948(1948-04-02) (aged 89)
Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, Beās, Pañjāb, Indian Empire
ReligionSant Mat, Radha Soami
NationalityIndian
SpouseMata Kishan Kaur
ChildrenThree; Sardar Bachint Singh,
Sardar Basant Singh,
Sardar Harbans Singh Grewal
ParentsSubedar Major Sardar Kabal Singh Grewal (Father),
Mata Jiwani Kaur
(Mother)
CitizenshipBritish subject
Alma materThomason College of Civil Engineering
Known forDeveloped Dera Baba Jaimal Singh colony
OccupationCivil Engineer, Military Engineering Service Sikh Regiment No. 14(Up to 28 years) and later Spiritual Leader of Radha Soami Satsang Beas sect
RelativesSardar Sher Singh Grewal (Grandfather)
InstituteRadha Soami Satsang Beas
Senior posting
Period in office1903–48
PredecessorBaba Jaimal Singh
SuccessorMaharaj Jagat Singh
PostSant , Satguru
Websitehttps://www.rssb.org/

Baba Sawan Singh Ji (1858-1948), 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 Baba Jaimal Singh in 1903 until his own death on 2 April 1948.[1]

Before he died, he appointed Sardar Bahadur Maharaj Jagat Singh as his spiritual successor.[2][3]

Honorifics[edit]

Although he did not refer to himself with these, the following appellations and honorifics have been used to refer to Sawan Singh:

  • Bade Maharaj Ji
  • Hazur Maharaj
  • Sawan Shah
  • The Great Master
  • Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj[4]

Life[edit]

Baba Sawan Singh Grewal was born on 20 July 1858, into a Grewal Jat Sikh family in his mother's home at the village of Jatana, District Ludhiana, in pre-partition Punjab. Baba Sawan Singh Ji’s ancestral village was Mehma Singh Wala, District Ludhiana in Punjab. His father was Subedar Major Sardar Kabal Singh Grewal and his mother was Mata Jiwani Kaur. He was married to Mata Kishan Kaur and together they had three children. He passed engineering at Thomason College of Civil Engineering, Roorkee and later joined the Military Engineering Service.

He studied scriptures of various religions but retained a strong connection with the Gurbani of the Sikh religion.[5]

He had contact with a mystic of Peshawar named Baba Kahan who he hoped to get initiation from but was refused:

"I associated with him for several months and during that time he showed supernatural powers on several occasions. When I asked him if he would shower grace upon me by initiating me, he answered: 'No, he is somebody else; I do not have your share'. I then asked him to tell me who that person was so that I could contact him. He replied: 'When the time comes, he will himself find you'."[5]

Later when Sawan Singh was stationed at Murree, he met Baba Jaimal Singh, who said to his companion that he had come to initiate Sawan Singh. After much philosophical debate, discussion and several conferences with Baba Jaimal Singh, Baba Sawan Singh became thoroughly convinced and received initiation from Baba Jaimal Singh into the practice of surat shabd yoga on the 15th day of October, 1894.

Baba Sawan Singh retired on government pension in 1911 to Dera Baba Jaimal Singh (Beas), the "camp of Baba Jaimal Singh" where Baba Jaimal Singh had settled in 1891. During his ministry the Dera expanded greatly, with houses for both permanent residents and guests, a library and a Satsang Hall. Baba Sawan Singh sheltered victims of the communal holocaust of the Partition of India. His following included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and for the first time, thousands from abroad. He had initiates from America, England, Switzerland, Germany, most notable of whom being the Americans physician-surgeon Dr. Julian Johnson and chiropractic-osteopath Dr. Randolph Stone and the Swiss physician-homeopath Dr. Pierre Schmidt.

See also[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ↑ Sondhi, S. L. (Ed.) (1981). Radha Soami Satsang Beas: Origin and Growth. Dera Baba Jaimal Singh: Radha Soami Satsang Beas.
  2. ↑ Radhasoami Reality: the logic of a modern faith by Mark Juergensmeyer. p.52. Princeton University Press, 1991
  3. ↑ David Lane. The Radhasoami Tradition: A Critical History of Guru Successorship (1992). Garland Publishers, New York ISBN 0824052471 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "A brief life-sketch of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj". www.ruhanisatsangusa.org.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Spiritual Gems, Letter No.1.

Further reading[edit]

  • Baba Sawan Singh, Dawn of Light.
  • Baba Sawan Singh, Discourses on Sant Mat.
  • Baba Sawan Singh, My Submission.
  • Baba Sawan Singh, Spiritual Gems.
  • Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Heritage.
  • Baba Jaimal Singh, Spiritual Letters.
  • Kapur, Daryailāl, Call of the Great Master.
  • Kapur, Daryailāl, Heaven on Earth.
  • Kirpal Singh, A Brief Life Sketch of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj.
  • Moss, Cami, Glimpses of the Great Master.
  • Munshi Ram, With the three Masters.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sawan_Singh&oldid=387312"