Guru Maharaj Ji or Guru Maharaji or Maharaji

Prem Rawat has been known by many names and titles since being acclaimed by his family and his father's followers as the Perfect Master or Satguru at the age of 8 on the death of his father and prior Perfect Master. When he came to Europe and America in 1971 he was mainly known as Guru Maharaj Ji or Guru Maharaji or Maharaji. This was generally translated as Guru the "Revealer of Light" and Maharaji = "Great King" or loosely translated as "Lord of the Universe".

Since 1982 he has preferred to be addressed as 'Maharaji' which his internet sites state denotes affection and respect but it is certainly thought provoking that a minor public figure should decide to rename himself but keep the title of "Great Lord" as his preferred mode of address.

• Guru Maharaji: True dispeller of darkness and revealer of light. Guru in Hindi means Teacher, Maharaj means Great King. Guru Maharaj Ji's disciples usually call him Guru Maharaj Ji, often shortened to Guru Maharaji

• Satguru: True dispeller of darkness and revealer of light.

• Perfect Master: English equivalent of Satguru. A Perfect Master is one who teaches the perfect Knowledge and love of God. Christ and Buddha were Perfect Masters in their own times.

• Balyogeshwar Paramhans Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj: Balyogeshwar means Born Lord of Yogis. Paramhans means Highest Soul. Shri Sant Ji Maharaj indicates Prem Rawat who was called Sant (English = 'saint') when young as his father was known as Balyogeshwar Paramhans Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj and called Hans (English = 'soul' or 'swan')

For reasons that are not clear, Prem Rawat has altered the terminology he uses to describe himself and his teachings and that he wishes his followers to use many times in the last 35 years. However the basic, underlying tenets of his public teaching have remained unchanged.

• His Knowledge is a method to contact the source of life within each human being
• There are four physical methods of contacting this Elan Vital in this Knowledge
• He is the only person able to reveal and empower his Knowledge and as such he is unique
• There have been others who have had this unique power throughout human history and they include his father and Jesus Christ
• Despite their inherent capability, these techniques are useless without the student committing to Knowledge and maintaining a connection to him.
• The practice of this Knowledge results in Inner Peace and Joy independent of life's vicissitudes if a connection to him is maintained
• The appropriate mode of connection to him is worship and devotion