Jaimal Singh
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Jaimal Singh (1839 - 1903), also known as "Babaji Maharaj," was the first Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) until his death in 1903. Baba Sawan Singh succeeded him as the second RSSB Satguru.
Singh was born in village Lath Ghuman near Batala, Distt. Gurdaspur, Punjab, India, in July, 1839. His father was Sardar Jodh Singh Ji and mother was Sardarni Daya Kaur ji. He was initiated by Swami Ji of Agra in 1856.
During his army days, whatever happened, wherever he went, Singh let nothing interrupt the routine of his spiritual sadhnas. Like a lover in the frenzy of love, he was forever centered in the joy of the inner life. Even when his regiment was in action in the Northwestern Frontier during the Anglo-Afghan War in 1879, he would leave his quarters at night, go into the wilderness, dig a pit, and with his rifle tucked under his knees, get lost in meditation.
Singh retired from the Army on June 7, 1889 and started living in his village, and later built a hut in village Bal Saran at the bank of river Beas, Punjab, India, and started living there. Slowly the number of devotees increased.
Singh spent his whole life in the service of Dera Beas and its devotees. Once he went to Mari Pahar, a city in H.P., where he initiated Baba Sawan Singh Ji, the second Satguru of Dera Beas.
Other disciples who formed spiritual missions elsewhere include Bagga Singh. A chart of this Jaimal Singh and related lineages helps show the connections among Satgurus dating back to Shiv Dayal Singh. As a group, this lineage often is referred to as Sant Mat, a movement of Surat Shabd Yoga, which includes esoteric teaching about the Shabd.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Sondhi, S. L. (Ed.) (1981). Radha Soami Satsang Beas: Origin and growth. Dera Baba Jaimal Singh: Radha Soami Satsang Beas.
- ^ Sant Mat - Surat Shabd Yoga: Contemporary Guru Lines & Branches
