The Sant Nirankari Mission ( SNM) and also known as Universal Brotherhood, is an all embracing spiritual movement, cutting across all divisions of caste, color, and creed. The Mission seeks to reveal God, also known as Nirankar, to all human beings irrespective of their religious faith, sect, or community and thus liberate them from the shackles of ignorance, superstition, ritualism, and dogmatism in the name of devotion to God.
It firmly believes that the realization of God is the real objective of human life and this can be achieved only through the benevolence of the living true master: the Satguru (Spiritual Guide). The realization of God not only maintains balance between spirituality and materialism in day to day life, but also takes a person to the cherished achievement of brotherhood of mankind which leads to peaceful coexistence. The meditation here is to feel the existence of God all of the time and everywhere. The Mission also emphasizes the need and importance of the company of fellow enlightened beings (Satsang) and selfless service to humanity (Sewa).
The SNM has over 100 branches outside India, most prominently in Britain and North America. Its world headquarters is located in Sant Nirankari Colony, New Delhi.[SNM 1] The Mission's Spiritual Leader, Baba Hardev Singh, provides spiritual guidance for all.
History[edit]
Baba Buta Singh Ji, the founder and first Satguru of the Sant Nirankari Mission, recognized that adhering to rites and rituals does not enable humans to realize God. That can happen only with the grace of a God-realized soul. In 1929 Baba Buta Singh Ji began to show the path of uniting with God. This is how the Sant Nirankari Mission and Satguru tradition began. The Satguru tradition states that God-realization is possible only through the Satguru, the teacher of God Knowledge. The mission of the Satguru is eternal, for there is always another candle to light, another life to transform.
Spiritual Guide[edit]
Early Life[edit]
Baba Hardev Singh Ji was born on February 23, 1954 in Delhi in the family of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji. As a child, Hardev was very fortunate to have worldly as well as spiritual blessings of His parents and the then Satguru Baba Avtar Singh Ji and Jagat Mata Budhwanti Ji as their grand parents. With the growth of child Hardev, grew his thoughtfulness. He saw every object and observed every event with due curiosity but used to keep silent. Respect, regards for elders and trait of humility could be noticed in him from the very childhood.
Interest in congregations and listening to discourses also became conspicuous in him. The kind and pure hearted child Hardev was never found spend thrift and emotional. Gradually he started taking keen interest in photography. Baba Hardev Singh Ji received his elementary education at home. With his sharp intellect, he learnt alphabets of Hindi, English and counting very quickly. Thereafter, he was sent to Rosary Public School, Sant Nirankari Colony, Delhi, where by sweet nature and intelligence he cast spell on teachers and fellow students. They say that boy Hardev was often found in the class sitting thoughtfully and sometimes with eyes half-shut. But he was always discovered to be fully attentive and responsive to what the teacher taught.
In 1963, Baba Hardev Singh Ji was sent to the Yadvendra Public School, Patiala, a boarding school and an institution of national fame, from where he passed the high school examination in 1969. His co-operative and compassionate nature made him popular with the teachers and the fellow-students alike. His school education was equally supplemented and cemented with spiritual touch received through the letters of his affectionate mother, Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji. During his stay in the school, Baba Hardev Singh Ji also developed keen interest in mountaineering. With his class-fellows and even alone, he would cover difficult terrains to reach certain places. This hobby added the trait of patience and perseverance in his life. He was never found tired or worried. He was also very skill-full in vehicle driving and horse riding. On completion of his school education at Patiala, Baba Hardev Singh Ji returned to Delhi and started further education under Delhi University and also took keen interest in the socio-spiritual activities of the Mission.
He became very regular in Congregations and Sewa. His humility earned him the name 'Bhola Ji'. In 1971, Baba Hardev Singh Ji joined the Nirankari Sewa Dal as its primary member and enjoyed himself serving in cotton Khaki (brown) uniform. He organized "Youth Forum" in 1975, which focused on promoting truthful and simple living, service with devotion and love, refraining from incurring undue expenses and practicing prohibition. During the Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam in Delhi in 1975, Baba Hardev Singh Ji was married in a simple ceremony to Savinder Ji, daughter of devoted saints Shri Gurumukh Singh Ji and Smt. Madan Ji of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. Born on January 12, 1958, Savinder Kaur now addressed out of love and devotion by devotees of the Mission as Pujya Mata Ji, is well educated and duty conscious.
Spiritual Mentor[edit]
Baba Hardev Singh Ji became the spiritual mentor of the Mission under adverse circumstances when it’s Spiritual Master and a crusader for unity, peace and tranquility- Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji- had fallen to the bullets of fanatic element on 24 April, 1980. Young Hardev had lost not only the Satguru but his beloved father also. This was the moment when forbearance, patience and tolerance of every follower of the Mission were under severe stress and a grave test. The very future of the Mission stood challenged. Devotees who had been taught to surrender to the will of God were finding it difficult to accept the verdict of 'destiny' which sounded to them as a deliberate violation of 'divine law' by a handful of misguided men. At the same time, every Nirankari believed that the Satguru is an ever-living entity which would manifest itself in some other physical frame or human body. They had, however, not to wait for long. Immediately after the funeral of the mortal remains of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji in Delhi on 27th April, 1980, Hardev was greeted and hailed as the Head of the Mission and everybody present witnessed the Satguru already manifested in him.
His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji, who was known for his calm nature, addressed the devotees as a perfect spiritual master. He said "Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji's martyrdom is the will of God. Perceptions differ from people to people. The ignorant say that it may lead to bloodshed but the devotees believe that being a supreme sacrifice, it shall usher in peace and harmony. Imbibing such lofty ideals, we should continue to spread the Mission with a greater zeal." Baba Hardev Singh Ji ruled out even the remotest thought of vengeance saying that 'it would go contrary to what Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji lived and sacrificed his life for'. He exhorted devotees to carry on his message of compassion, goodwill, love and truth and pray for the welfare of one and all. The result was quite instantaneous and healthy. Followers remained non-violent even in the face of serious provocations from fanatics and extremists. And when the day came in 1981, Baba Ji ordained it to be experiential as Manav Ekta Divas (Human Unity Day) and not as Martyrdom Day etc.
Peace at any Price[edit]
The supreme sacrifice of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and the first holy discourse by Baba Hardev Singh Ji had far greater and much deeper significance. The former showed that the Mission had paid the heaviest price for the peace. Earlier, more than 60 leading missionaries’ forbearance was put to the hardest test when they were compelled to undergo the agony of judicial custody for about two years for the fault that was found to be not theirs at all. Now the Mission had lost its spiritual mentor whose only fault was that he preached Truth and Peace. From the first holy discourse by Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj and the message contained therein, one could understand his vision for time to come. With his call to devotees to continue to spread the message of love, peace and praying for goodwill for all, a disastrous mishap stood averted. No doubt the followers of the Mission continued to suffer both in terms of life and property here and there, the voice of Truth spread far and wide carrying with it the message of peace, love, humility and tolerance.
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