Radhasoamis cont'd

There are major differences between the original Radhasoamis at Agra, and those of Beas. Indeed, the Agra-based Radhasoamis state that 3 days before his death, Partap Singh, the brother of Shiv Dyal, excommunicated Jaimal Singh for proclaiming himself as the true Guru of the Radhasoami faith. However, at present, the Beas-based sect has many more adherents than those based at Agra.

Partap Singh
The third Master of the Dera Baba Bagga Singh, Tarn Taran

Another split occurred amongst the Beas-based Radhasoamis whereupon after the death of Sawan Singh, a Kirpal Singh set himself up as Guru in Delhi, in opposition to Jagat Singh. In order to appeal to the Sikhs, he made a preposterous claim, which was in parallel to the Namdhari belief of living Gurus. Kirpal Singh spread word that Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh had not died in Nander, Maharashtra, but had in fact traveled amongst the Maratha Peswas (confederacies).

Sardar Bahadur Jagat Singh
Jagat Singh had the shortest reign of any Beas Guru,
and one of the shortest tenures of any master in Radhasoami history

During his time there, Kirpal Singh instructed Rao Peshwa in the teachings of ‘Shabad Surat Yoga’. In time, this Maratha Royal settled in Hathras, and changed his name to Tulsi Sahib (who in turn revealed his knowledge to Shiv Dyal). The Agra-based Radhasoamis dismiss claimed made by Kirpal Singh in his text, ‘A Great Saint – Baba Jaimal Singh: His life and teachings’.

Kirpal Singh
Head of the larger of the two Beas factions

The Beas-based Radhasoamis are today the predominant of the two factions. They believe in a living Guru, one who is considered to be their supreme spiritual guide. Their meditation involves visualizing their Guru and concentrating upon their ‘Treh Kutia’ (3rd eye), whilst repeating a ‘Mantra’ given to them by their Guru. Their aim is to fall into deep meditation and hear the mystical ‘Anahan Dhun’ (unstruck melody), and be at one with God.

Baba Bagga Singh
One of the successors of Jaimal Singh and a close associate of Sawan Singh (Beas)