सन्तमत के सदगुरु महर्षि मेँहीँ परमहंस जी महाराज

Sadguru Maharshi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj is a great Sant of 20th century. He did not established any new creed rather than He became a legendary Spiritual Master in the most ancient tradition of SANTMAT. Naturally a question arises, "What is Santmat ?" Is this a new creed? Who was the founder of Santmat? In His words, the definition of Santmat is as following: --- 

"Stablemindedness or unfickleness of mind is the name of Shanti (peace or tranquility).

He who attains Shanti is a Sant (i.e. God realized soul). 

The creed or faith of the Sants is called Santmat.

The urge for attaining Shanti is natural in human heart. Inspired by it the ancient rishis (sages) made a complete search for Shanti and its attainment and embodied their findings in the Upanishads (scriptures). Sants like Kabir Sahab and Guru Nanak Sahab etc. also made similar attempts and embodied their faith and experiences in Bharati (Hindi) and Punjabi languages for the good of the general people. Their faith and belief are called Santmat. But Santmat bases itself upon the hymns of Upanishads, for the highest wisdom and the special means of Naadaanusandhaan or Surat Shabd Yoga (the yoga of sound) which Santmat propounds and which lends it a unique distinction are derived from the wisdom shining undimmed in the Upanishads from the immemorial ages. There appear differences in the views and faiths of the sants but their differences are all due to different names given to them at different times and places by their followers out of excessive regard for their spiritual preceptors. But if the rituals and orthodoxies of the sants are excluded and if the fundamentals of their views and faiths are taken into consideration, then it would appear that the basic principles of Santmat are essentially the same." 

Maharshi Mehi has clearly stated that Santmat is not a new creed. It is a union of all the Sants (God-realized soul). We respect all the sants. We study the speeches of all the saints and remember them, and follow them. If we dive into the opinions of sants (saints) like Buddha, Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak, Dadu, Sant Tulsi Das, Sant Paltu, Swami Ramkrishna, Sant Tulsi Sahab, Baba Devi etc. you will get one and only one way to attain salvation. There will never be a little bit difference among their views on Drishti Yoga (the Yoga of Vision) and Surat-Shabda Yoga (the Yoga of Sound) for self-realization and God-realization. 

God exists from the beginning and even before the creation of world. Nobody knows who is the first person or Guru who learnt the way of meditation and taught the world. Also, the way to achieve God is inside all the human beings naturally. Only God is the creator of that way and He has established this path naturally inside the human. He was the first who established the relationship between Sadguru and disciple. Nobody can claim that he is the inventor of that path. Yes, Only God can be the first entity who established the path of meditation, and Master-pupil relation. Maharshi Mehi says, "The person who advances on this path and achieves self-realization and salvation while alive becomes Sant (i.e. God-realized soul) and each Sant becomes a new link added in the Santmat. This is the continuous ceaseless flow of Santmat dynasty." God exists from the beginning and even before the creation of world. Nobody knows who is the first person or Guru who learnt the way of meditation and taught the world. Also, the way to achieve God is inside all the human beings naturally. Only God is the creator of that way and He has established this path naturally inside the human. He was the first who established the relationship between Sadguru and disciple. Nobody can claim that he is the inventor of that path. Yes, Only God can be the first entity who established the path of meditation, and Master-pupil relation. Maharshi Mehi says, "The person who advances on this path and achieves self-realization and salvation while alive becomes Sant (i.e. God-realized soul) and each Sant becomes a new link added in the Santmat. This is the continuous ceaseless flow of Santmat dynasty."

Maharshi Mehi was born on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakh in the year 1885 (Tuesday, 28th April, 1885). He was spiritually inclined from the childhood. He used to read the holy book of "Raamcharit Maanas" in childhood. He left his study in 1904 and wandered for the search of Sadguru. He spent his 5 years in search of Sadguru. He lived with many sages, and used to go to meet Guru whenever he heard of any name. But He did not get the real thing and his eyes always wept for the real Sadguru who could provide the real path of his goal.

At last, He came in contact of Santmat in the year of 1909. Shri Ramdas ji and Shri Dhirajlal Gupt were the first two persons who understood Him the knowledge of Santmat. Inspired by its knowledge, Maharshi Mehi agreed to take initiation in Santmat. He began to request to Dhirajlal Gupta for initiation. Then Shri Dhirajlal wrote a letter to Shri Ramdas who was in the accompany of Baba Devi at that time. Shri Ramdas told Baba Devi the complete story of Maharshi Mehi. Baba Devi listened and became silent. Next day, Sadguru Devi said voluntarily, "Who is that Mehi? My mind thinks about him frequently. I see him as if he is before me. Tell Dhirajlal to give him initiation of Drishti Yoga (the Yoga of Vision, Yoga of One-pointedness, Bindu-Dhyaan)." Respected Dhirajlal sent Him to Shri Rajendranath Singh (a disciple of Baba Devi). Then Shri Rajendranath Singh gave initiation of Drishti Yoga. After initiation Maharshi Mehi was bowing to his feet for salutation, but Babu Rajendranath told him, "Baba Devi is His Sadguru. Please don't touch my feet as you are a sage." He replied politely, "I have not seen Baba Devi till now and so I accept you as my teacher." On the holy festival of Dussehara, Maharshi Mehi got the opportunity to meet Baba Devi. Shri Rajendranath Singh held Maharshi Mehi's hand and took Him to Baba Devi and told Maharshi Mehi pointing to Sadguru Baba Devi, "Now I have completed my job and showed you Sadguru. He is your Sadguru." Maharshi Mehi became very glad to find Baba Devi as spiritual master. He quenched His thirst of real knowledge with accompany of Baba Devi. He served Baba Devi with His body, mind and everything whatever He possessed. He had dedicated His each breath for Sadguru Devi and Santmat. Later Baba Devi gave Him initation of Surat-Shabda Yoga (the Yoga of Sound, Naadaanusandhaan) and ordered, "I had practiced Drishti Yoga for thirty years. You must do it for alteast ten years." When Maharshi Mehi met Baba Devi first time, Sadguru Baba Devi asked him "What did you use to practise earlier?" Maharshi Mehi replied,"I was being initiated by Dariyaapanthi Guru with a Maanas Jap and Maanas Dhyaan. I was practising that only." Then Baba Devi told, "Now you are a Samudra Panthi." (Dariyaa means pond , a small river. Samudra means sea, ocean. Its meaning is, "Earlier you belonged to a river, and now you belong to Sea." Dariyaa Sahab Bihari was a great sant. On his name people called his creed as Dariyaapanthi. But as time passed after Dariya Sahab's departure from the body, that real knowledge was obscure and could not be preserved by His attendants. So, that Dariyaapanthi Guru (by whom Maharshi Mehi had been initially initiated) was not aware of real methods of Meditation. Baba Devi used to call Santmat as Samudra (Sea) where all the rivers meet. Similarly, all the sants, all the creeds, religions meet in Santmat.

By the supreme grace of Baba Devi and His hard practice, He advanced in spiritual journey. Now He needed to do Surat-Shabda Yoga in alone and peaceful place. For some time He dig the earth and made a small underground cave. He started the practice of Surat-Shabda Yoga there so that outer sound could not reach there as disturbance. He used to take food only once a day. Doing it your face became pale and weak. After that He left it and was in search of such good place for Naadaanusandhaan practice.

He came to alone and isolated caves of Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur (Bihar, India). This cave was located on the bank of the holy river Ganga. He cleaned the cave that was too long inside and started His continuous hard practice of Surat-Shabda Yoga from March, 1933 to November, 1934. He achieved self-realization and attained ultimately salvation by practising Surat-Shabda Yoga in alone isolated caves of Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur (Bihar, India). This cave has been the holy evidence of His spiritual aura. He embodied His self-experienced knowledge in His book "Moksha-Darshan (Philosophy of Salvation), "Satsang-Yoga", "Shri Gita-Yoga Prakash", "Raamcharit Maanas Saar-Satik", "Maharshi-Mehi-Padaawali" and many others. "Maharshi-Mehi-Padawaali" is the prose collection penned by Himself. The time when He started constant and ceaseless meditation of Drishti-Yoga and Surat-Shabda Yoga, He gave words to His experiences with great excitement. He depicted in the prose whatever He had seen in the inner journey. He brought His emotion out on the page filled with tears of devotion. Really, "Maharshi-Mehi-Padawaali" is the litmus paper of spiritual journey. He became a great Sant in the splendor history of Sanmat.

Maharshi Mehi Paramhansa has written in His book named "Philosophy of Salvation" --- "The practitioner should live on the earnings of his own sweat. The best for him is to cultivate a habit of keeping himself content with a few things."

He Himself was an evident example of self-supporter. He used to cultivate for His livelihood and propagate Santmat villages to villages without discrimination of caste, creed and nationality. He has said, "All the human beings are authorized equally for devotion to God."

He was the live example of carrier of Santmat. It is the nature of Sants' heart that they want the goodness of other people too. Maharshi Mehi started his journey for propagation of Santmat. Those were days when communication system was very poor in India. There were not roads and vehicles for the villages. People used bullock-cart. Sometimes He used to travel bare footed, carrying His luggage on His shoulder, without caring rains, winter and summer where no transportation means available. Today, Santmat has taken the shape of large huge tree which was a plant in those days. Sadguru Mehi preached the people whatever He learnt from Baba Devi, whatever He learnt from His meditation practices and His self- experiences

There is great importance of real knowledge. Just like in this world, we keep a talented and well-behaved teacher for our children so that our children could not be misled. If we move on the wrong path, we can never reach the right destination. So, to know right path, we need right knowledge. And the knowledge is obtained in Satsang ( company of like-minded spiritual people who sit together and discuss on God, meditation, Sants' greatnesses and devotion) or in accompany of Sadguru. How will you recognize a perfect Sadguru? It is very hard. But Maharshi Mehi has given some indications: -

"The meeting with the perfect and true spiritual preceptor is equal to the meeting with Supreme Sovereign God, Himself. The perfect and true spiritual preceptor is that Life-liberated great Sant-soul whose consciousness-force has immersed into Shabdaateet Pad ( the Nameless State) at the time of Samaadhi (stage of spiritual tance or god-realized state), transcending all the non-conscious concealments and while working whose mind remains uninvolved and its consciousness force being connected with the Essential Divine Sound (Saar-Shabda)." 

"The recognition of a perfect and true spiritual preceptor is most difficult; nevertheless, to keep faith in him and to accept him as the spiritual preceptor is not improper who has purity of character (i.e. rectitude), practises constantly, daily and regularly the Yoga of sound and can explain and preach well Santmat (the creed of the Sants). Without rectitude or purity of character, in spite of possessing a lot of other qualities, one cannot be accepted as the spiritual preceptor. If unknowingly, he might have been accepted as the spiritual preceptor, he must be deserted on one's being aware of his vices (bad character). His association is not favorable because of his loose character in spite of his good intellectual knowledge. The disciple is affected much more by the character of the spiritual preceptor than by other qualities. The purity of character with the other associated virtues is the gravity and preceptorship of the spiritual preceptor, in its absence, is no more than cattle (cow, ox etc). The spiritual preceptor lacking either purity of character or other necessary virtues for perfect and true spiritual preceptor, is a false preceptor."

In Santmat, Sadguru is accepted at the highest prestigious post and treated even greater than God. Sadguru's supreme blessings can accelerate our meditation and spiritual advancement. So, the practitioner must serve Sadguru with utmost devotion and dedication. Once a disciple had asked a question to Maharshi Mehi, "If Sadguru is not alive by His body, then how would a disciple perform his devotion to Him?" Maharshi Mehi replied, "Devotion to Sadguru is not confined with His physical service to Him. Making bathing Him, offering foods, fruits, saluting on His feet are not only His devotion. Following His instruction with pure heart and soul, Obeying His each word, Studying Sant-Vaani (speeches of Sants), Practising meditation and doing Satsang --- all these are devotion to Sadguru." Maharshi Mehi Paramhansa Ji Maharaj was self-realized and God-realized soul. Nothing was left to know for Him. Still He used to do meditation regularly till the very ripe age of 102. He wanted to give message to human beings by His regular routine of meditation practice. 

Meditation feelings, self-realization and God can not be expressed in words. It is to practise, and realize within oneself. "Do and Get" rule is applied here. Maharshi Mehi has told, "Santmat is like that shop which does not believe in debt. As much you do the practice of meditation, more will you get instantly." Maharshi Mehi has given instruction for meditation ---

"A sedentary practice by any Aasana (posture of sitting) keeping the head, neck and trunk straight and steady, must be exercised. Without a sedentary practice of steady posture of sitting, the meditation cannot be practised. The meditation should be practised being alert of sleep, shutting the eyes comfortably, without turning the eye-balls or pressing them in any way. The practice of meditation must be exercised regularly and daily in Braahmamuhoorta (pre-dawn), just after taking bath in the day, and in the evening (Sunset) time. At the sleeping hour at night, one should fall asleep being engaged in the practice, lying on the bed. Maanas Jap or Maanas Dhyaan even at the time of working is good to practise." 

"The acceptance of the Soundless State (or the Nameless State), and the four practices viz. Maanas Jap, Maanas Dhyaan, Dristi Yoga and Naadaanusandhaan to attain that state are found in the literature of the Sants. Therefore, the method of all the mentioned four regular practices must be accepted in Santmat. Without achieving perfection in the practices of Naadaanusandhaan, Supreme Sovereign God cannot be realized or the perfect knowledge of the Self cannot be attained." 

He commanded His disciples to keep themselves away from five deadly sins such as falsehood, stealing, intoxication, violence and adultery. For, without the purity of personal life, one cannot go ahead on the path of salvation. 

At the ripest age of 102 on 8th June, 1986 He left for the Eternal Abode as a perfect yogi (in the evening hour of meditation) while fully absorbed in the meditation according to the Gita's injunction-- "He and he alone reaches that Supreme Divine Purusha who at the time of departure from the body is fully absorbed in seeing the form of the Supreme with great reverence and having holding the life-breath in the space between the two eyebrows by yogic power." 

He discarded His perishable body to maintain the law of nature. But His immortal literature, glories and greatnesses will exist till the existence of the sun and the moon in the universe. Sants are generous. They incarnate in the world for the goodness of people. Once Maharshi Mehi told, "I will come again and again in this world and will take many others with myself."

.