The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 1 of 5
Radhasoamis
(also known as Radha Soami and Radha Swami)
Time of origin: mid 1800s
In 1818, Shiv Dyal Singh was
born to a Khatri Singh named Dalvali
Singh and his wife Mahamai
Kaur in the city of Agra. He grew up
to marry Bibi Radha Bhai. Shiv
Dyal Singh attained his spiritual wisdom from
a Nirmala ‘Mahant’ (temple custodian)
of Mai Than named Baba Daya Singh.
Swami Shiv Dyal Singh
Also known as 'Swamiji Maharaj', founder of
the Radhasoamis
Baba Daya Singh’s ‘Guru’
(teacher) was Baba Mohr Singh Kati Yoga
Raj Nirmala who resided in Bbecksar,
Amritsar. Shiv Dyal, on studying with his Nirmala
Guru came to love Adi Guru Durbar. Pundit Ganesha
Singh Nirmala writes:
‘He began to spend
all his time reading Guru Durbar. In his
mind inclination towards detachment increased.
Then from the Mahant he learned
some ‘Surat Shabad Da Abihas’
(technique of meditation) and began to like
sitting alone in his house. After
this, for 17 years he in his own house -
gathered people in holy congregation, started
to teach ‘Sant Matt’ (teachings
of Saints) the teachings of Radhasoami sect.
First he only taught women then
from 1861 he began to preach to everyone.’
‘Bharat Mat Darpan’, by Pandit
Ganesha Singh Nirmala, 1926, Pa. 269
Another influence on Shiv Dyal was Baba Tulsi
Sahib, a Hindu saint who introduced Shiv Dyal
to the esoteric Yoga of ‘Shabad
Surat’. Shiv Dyal Singh went
on to author two texts - ‘Sarbachan
Gadh’, and ‘Sarbachan
Padh’. As Shiv Dyal’s followers
increased, his sect of Sikhs came to be known
as, ‘Radhasoami’.
The literal translation of this name arises
from ‘Soami’ (meaning
master/husband) of ‘Radha Bhai’,
the wife of Shiv Dyal.
Baba Tulsi Sahib
An early sketch of the Hindu saint who assisted
Shiv Dyal on his spiritual quest, circa late
19th century
Over time, the followers of Shiv Dyal began
to propagate another interpretation to the term
‘Radhasoami’. Quoting a line of
Bhagat Kabir’s texts, translated ‘Radha’
as ‘Atma Dhara’
(flow of ‘Atma’ - spiritual power),
the name of whose immortal place is ‘Swami’
(meaning highest God).
Kabir
The great Hindu Muslim saint, who's works are
found in Adi Guru Durbar, circa early 19th century
