The 'Paramhansa Advait Mat' Book

The Indian Background Index

Download The Paramhansa Advait Mat' Book as a text file.

Background

This book was published by the 'Advait mat' group in Guna, India, in order to document the lineage, lives and teachings of their 'Satgurus'. As you will see, they refer to their past spiritual leaders as 'The First Master', 'The Second Master ' and so on. (The 'Advait mat' group also has its websites where you may find more details: Shri Nangli.)

Students of Maharaji, who has gained popularity in the West over the last 27 years, may be interested to note that the 'Second Master' in this lineage (Shri Swami Swarup Anand Ji Maharaj), whose words and deeds are documented in the book, is claimed to have been the Guru of Maharaji's father, Shri Hans. The main sections that refer to the origins of the Sant mat group, Sarupanands' life, and his disputed successorship are reproduced in full.

It would seem probable that Shri Hans must have formed a separate group after, or even perhaps during, the lifetime of Sarupanand (who died in 1936) with himself as the 'Satguru'.

so when he met Swami Swarupanand, the saint who became his Spiritual Teacher, he devoted himself totally and dived into the infinite ocean of spiritual wisdom. His Guru declared, "I am in Hans' heart, and he is in mine", and he became the spiritual successor to Swami Swarupanand. In the early days of his mission, Shri Hans Ji Maharaj disseminated Spiritual Knowledge in Sind and Lahore.From 1930 he started teaching in Delhi....

(Satpal Ji's website: http://www.manavdharam.org/shjm/1_brief_into.html)

On his death in 1966 the role of 'Master' was passed to Shri Hans' youngest son Prem Pal (now known simply as 'Maharaji'). This outcome was disputed by some followers and members of his family (see 'Satpal' links above and below).
It is generally believed, within these groups, that there can be only one living Satguru (Master) at any one time. Thus it is easy to see how, on the occasion of the death of a Master, there can easily arise confusion, divided loyalties and power struggles. Historically this is certainly more often the case than not.

It may not seem so surprising therefore that the 'Advait Mat' book does not anywhere mention Shri Hans Ji , even though he is claimed by some to have been the successor to Sarupanand. The book clearly paints a different version of events, whereby Sarupanand is described as appointing a disciple named 'Shri Swami Vairag Anand Ji Maharaj' as his successor (see pages 244-247 of the book).
It is probable that the current Advait Mat group do not recognise Shri Hans as a bonafide successor to Sarupanand. Neither is it likely that they will recognise Shri Hans' eldest son Satpal (formerly known as Bal Bhagwan Ji), who also has a following today, both in India and the West. (His followers are almost certainly not as numerous as those of his younger brother, PremPal).

Divine Light Mission published their own history of events in 1970. It can be seen from this extract that they were keen to present Shri Hansji as Sarupanand's chosen successor and Vairag Anand as the scoundrel-like imposter.

Later, a very close disciple of Maharaj Ji disclosed the following incident. Once, all the disciples of Dada Guru (other name for Maharaj Ji's guru) were sitting together in the presence of their master. The Dada Guru lifted Shri Maharaj Ji's hand and declared to his disciples that they should follow Hans after his death. The story has an ironic end. A small group dominated by one Varaganand disobeyed their Master and after his death declined to follow Shri Maharaj Ji. Varaganand claimed the property of his late Guru and set himself up as his own right. Shri Hans Ji Maharaj was not attracted to the perishable wealth of this world, having already been bestowed with the divine property of Ram Nam. So, accordingly to the commandment of his Master, he started propagating the Holy Name.

(Excerpt from 'Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj', Published by Divine Light Mission in 1970, B-19/3, Shakti Nagar, Delhi 7, India - Page 3)

Radhasoami connection

It has to be said that the Radhasoami Tradition have some way of dealing with the seeming paradox of there being concurrently living 'Masters'. This is explained more clearly in Mark Jurgensmeyers book 'Radhasoami Reality' (see Similarites with the Radhasoami tradition). Basically, the two main branches of the Radhasoamis (respectively at Agra and Beas in India) draw their own distinctions between the highest form of Guru , a 'Param Sant Satguru' and lesser 'Gurmukhs' . The former "has been born into the highest states of consciousness rather than acquiring them during his lifetime" .

Agra's incarnational theory posits that the divine current rises and ebbs . When it is present, it exists only in one person, the Satguru of that generation; when it is not, the current has temporarily withdrawn. According to the Beas teachings only a few param sants have appeared in world history-Kabir and Swami Shiv Dayal, for example . But there are many gurmukhs. At least one must be present in the world at all times, and there may be several: "There may and there may be several: "There may be many Masters living in different parts of the world.'

(page 70 - 'Radhasoami Reality' by M.Jurgensmeyer)

Prof. David Lane (author of 'The Radhasoami Tradition' and webmaster of The Neural Surfer website) has made some comments regarding the connection of Divine Light Mission with Radhasoami groups (notably that Shri Hans was also initiated by one of their Gurus, Sawan Singh) and the Advait Mat group (which is the subject matter of this book). You may read his comments here.

The book contents:

The index to the contents of the 'Shri Sadguru Devai Namah Shri Paramhansa Advait Mat' book is reproduced below with links to some sections of the text. 

	CONTENTS	Page	Link to text
1.	PREFACE	1	Page 0-14 (New)
2.	MANGLACHARAN	8
3.	VANDANA	11
4.	THE PRECEPT OF SADGURU	15	Page 15-30
5.	THE PHILOSOPHY OF SANT MAT'	23
6.	THE ADVENT OF SHRI PARAMHANSA ADVAIT MAT	31	Page 31-79 (New)
7.	SHRI SHRI 108 SHRI SWAMI ADVAIT ANAND JI MAHARAJ	34
(i)	BIRTH	34
(ii)	Meeting Of Shri Paramhansa Dayal Ji With The Second Master	60
(iii)	AARTI	78
(iv)	STOTRA	81
(v)	Merger Of The Finite Into Eternal	85	Page 84-111 (New)
(vi)	Observations Made By Shri Paramhansa Dayal Ji	89
8.	SHRI SHRI 108 SHRI SWAMI SWARUP ANAND JI MAHARAJ	112	Page 112-228
(i)	Birth (Incarnation)	114
(ii)	State Of Fearlessness	128
(iii)	Meeting Of The Third Master with The Second Master	142
(iv)	Acquisition Of The Stage Of Par Sant By The Second Master	144
(v)	Spiritual Succession	148
(vi)	Satsanga In N. W. F. P.	151
(vii)	Advent In The Punjab	180
(viii)	Visit To Sind	210
(ix)	A Few Glimpses	229	Page 229-287 (Pages 244-247 contain reference to the succession of VairagAnand from Sarupanand)
(x)	Shri Nangli Sahib	247
(xi)	Merger Of The Finite Existence into Eternal	250
(xii)	Observations Made By The Second Master	256
9.	SHRI SHRI 108 SHRI SWAMI VAIRAG ANAND Jl MAHARAJ	315	Page 312-389 (New)
(i)	Birth (Reincarnation)	317
(ii)	Meeting With Shri Sadguru Dev Ji Maharaj The Second Master	326
(iii)	Sadhu's Garb	334
(iv)	Spiritual Succession	355
(v)	At Shri Anandpur	366
(vi)	Shri Sant Nagar	389
(vii)	Naya Gaon	410
(viii)	The Fifth Master's Visit To Shri Anandpur	430
(ix)	Shri Anandpur Trust	435
(x)	Shri Anand Bhawan Simla	435
(xi)	Shri Anandsar	440
(xii)	A Few Glimpses	459
(xiii)	The Unfortunate Dismal Day	499
(xiv)	Observations Made By Shri Shri 108 Shri Sadguru Dev Maharaj Ji The Third Master	504
10.	Shri Shri 108 Shri Swami Beant Anand Ji Maharaj	545
(i)	Birth (incarnation)	546
(ii)	Initiation By The Master	550
(iii)	Ideal Guru-Bhakti	558
(iv)	Guru-Gaddi (Accession)	584
(v)	At Shri Anandpur	601
(vi)	Shri Prayag Dham	612
(vii)	A Few Glimpses	617
(viii)	Final Beatitude	627
(ix)	Observations Made By Shri Shri 108 Shri Sadguru Dev Maharaj Ji The Fourth Master	631
11.	THE FIFTH MASTER OF ADVAIT MAT (Emperor of The Spiritual Domain of The Age)	660	Page 660-683 (New)
12.	IDEAL LIFE	661
(i)	Shri Shri 108 Shri Paramhansa Dayal Ji (The First Master)	662
(ii)	Shri Shri 108 Shri Paramhansa Sadguru Dev Ji (The Second Master)	666
(iii)	Shri Shri 108 Shri Paramhansa Sadguru Dev Ji (The Third Master)	669
(iv)	Shri Shri 108 Shri Sadguru Dev Maharaj Ji (The Fourth Master)	683
13.	Shri Anandpur Satsang Ashrama Shri Anandpur	689
14.	Deposit	704
15.	Rules for the Bonafide Ashramites of Shri Ananandpur	720	Page 720-end (New)
16.	The Sacred Places of Worship	722
(i)	Shri Anandsar	723
(ii)	Shri Paramhansa Advait Mandir	725
(iii)	Shri Anand Shanti Bhawan	726
(iv)	Shri Anand Shanti Dham	727
(v)	Shri Anand Amrit Kund	728
17.	Hearty Desire	729
18.	The Devotee's Prayer	730
19.	Glossary
20.	Corrigenda

Further links may be added in the future, but those seeking further information may approach one of the contacts mentioned below to obtain the entire book.

Publisher

The book was originally published by: -

SHRI ANANDPUR TRUST
P. O. SHRI ANANDPUR
Distt: Guna (M. P.) (1975)

and printed at:-

ANAND PRINTING PRESS
SHRI ANANDPUR

and is maybe still obtainable from:-

ANAND SANDESH KARYALAYA
P. O. SHRI ANANDPUR
Distt: Guna (M. P.)

This book is available at:-

UCLA in Los Angeles, California, USA

and at the

Widener Library - Harvard University, Massachusets, USA.