Rai Saligram - Radha Soami Spiritual Movement

Radha Soami Spiritual Movement

In 1857 there was the Sepoy Mutiny. Huzur Maharaj witnessed the horrors and unforgettable scenes of this conflagration. Thousands of men, women and children were butchered, the rich were reduced to poverty, and the poor were raised to undeserved eminence. This showed to him the world in its ugliest form of nakedness. After the Sepoy Mutiny Huzur Maharaj employed a Pandit who would recite Bhagwat Gita to him. Huzur Maharaj studied Upanishads and other sacred books, performed Pranayam and other modes of Yoga, and so on and so forth. but all in vain. None met his satisfaction. He took up "the Tales from Masnavi" of Maulana Rum who was a high class adept having access to higher regions. These tales had profound effect on Huzur Maharaj. They emphasize the indispensable need of the Guru and the glory of Shabd. Huzur Maharaj's thirst for the true Guru got sharpened. He would set out to meet any guru he heard of but nowhere he got satisfactory answers. It was in this frame of mind that Huzur Maharaj learnt about Soamiji Maharaj through His youngest brother, Lala Pratap Singh Seth alias Chachaji Saheb, who arranged this meeting. In his book "Biography of Soamiji Maharaj" Chachaji Saheb describes this memorable meeting thus. The first memorable meeting between Soamiji Maharaj and Huzur Maharaj took place in 1858, exactly two centuries after the fall of Agra to Aurangzeb (in 1658). A cursory glance of the Sat Guru is enough to render the Gurumukh oblivious to the world and its paraphernalia. He is away only so long as he is absent. The moment he comes before the Sant Sat Guru, his mind becomes restful and inseparably attached to Him. A bee flies about hither and thither, but as soon as it finds honey it clings to it. The first meeting of Soamiji Maharaj and Huzur Maharaj, the Guru and the Gurumukh, was the most important event for the entire creation of Pind and Brahmand. From that day the work of salvation started.

He came in contact with his guru, Swami ji Maharaj in 1858 of Agra. He had a deep faith in his guru and became the follower of Radha Soami spiritual movement. For twenty years (1858–1878) he served his guru in manner unparalleled in the annals of bhakti. His undivided and extraordinary devotion towards Swami ji Maharaj attracted wide attention. Once upon the time, when Swami ji was asked about Salig Ram, He stated 'I do not know if I am his guru, or he is mine.' In 1878, Soamiji died, and two years later Rai Saligram Bahadur was posted to Allahabad. After his retirement from official duties, he finally settled at Agra and devoted his entire time to religious duties. He acted in the role of guru for eleven years (1887–1898) writing many books on Radha Soami Mat in Hindi and the one book in English.

Huzur Maharaj left His mortal coil at 6:45 PM on 6th December 1898. His eyes were shining like diamonds and His body did not turn cold, rather it remained warm and soft. On receiving a telegram Maharaj Saheb came to Agra from Allahabad on the morning of the 8th December by train. When He paid obeisance, Huzur Maharaj's body started turning cold, and its warmth and softness disappeared.