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1
Whenever the almighty lord has mercy on His
souls entrapped in this creation, he sends souls
who have a keen sense of higher purpose into
this world. Such souls who remain completely
assigned to the teachings and orders of Their
Master and having attained liberation and
communion with shabd naam eventually
become GuruMukh (thru whom the Master
speaks) .
The Gurumukh is entrusted the work of
awakening the entraped souls by enlightening
them of their real self and of their true abode
and of Inspiring them to do the devotion of the
Almighty in the manner and technique as taught
by Perfect Masters from time to time.
2
A Pious Soul
Sant Ram Singh Ji was born on April 10,
1954 in Kharsenpur, a small village in the district
Johnpur of one of India’s northern state called
Uttar Pradesh. He was born as the eldest to
Madhuvan Singh and Prabhavati Devi who had
spent five years in prayer and penances for a child.
This went on till he completed his studies up to class 10th, by then he had met
a number of holy persons but had not been able to achieve any progress in his
spiritual aspirations. A learned one from Kashi (the city of Benaras is also known
as Kashi) (the city of Benaras is also known as Kashi) who was also well versed in
astrology used to visit his family often. Once his father requested the learned one
to describe young Ram Singh’s future. Upon which, on examining the palm, the
learned one declared that the boy would eventually become a Sadhu (a person who
has attained perfection in ‘sadhana’- spiritual practices). The learned one also
examined the younger brother’s palm and declared that he would ride a horse and
earn a lot of money.
At the age of twelve, in Benaras, Sant Ram Singh Ji started the devotion of
Lord Hanuman Ji. Lord Hanuman is a revered Indian deity who was known to be
the greatest devotee of Lord Rama and also his most beloved devotee especially
since he had assisted Lord Rama in his war with Ravana. Lord Rama had blessed
3
Hanuman ji with a boon that whosoever would do Hanuman ji’s devotion would
be liberated by him. Therefore in Benaras Lord Hanuman is held in the highest
esteem.
On completing his Tenth grade, which usually marks the completion of school
studies in India, Ram Singh Ji moved to Mumbai because by then his parents had
shifted there. In Mumbai he began his vocational life as a guard. About that time
he met a master who initiated him by giving him the word ‘Omkar’ and asked him
to be devoted to Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is known to be the creator of
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (The three supreme Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu
and Maheshwar are observed as powers of creation, sustenance and destruction
respectively). Ram Singh Ji embarked on this devotion which comprised various
penances, pujas (appeasing rituals), fasts on Mondays besides the simran of the
given word. He was engrossed in this with great dedication and devotion. Within
two years he started getting the darshan of Goddess Durga within. With this he
also attained the power called ‘vaak-sidhdhi’ wherein whatever on says becomes
true.
One evening while returning from his sea side walk at Worli ( one of Mumbai’s
many Localities) he came across a board displaying “ Baba Somnath Maharaj
Radhaswami Satsang- Worli, Kakad Chambers, Satsang daily between 7.00 and
8.00 p.m.”. Next day after taking a bath he attended satsang and heard it with great
love and received answers to a large number of unanswered questions and doubts
hovering in his mind.
He could not even sleep in the nights. The nights were entirely spent in the
yearning. Each day seemed like a year.
4
At the Feet of the Master
The state of deep anguish to meet the Master
had become unbearable. On receiving his salary,
he noted the address of the `Ashram’ ( a place
conducive to spiritual practices and devotion,
established and usually resided by respective saints
or sadhus) from a satsangi called Janardhan and
proceeded, on a single pair of clothes, to Bangalore
to meet the Master.
It was winter and quite cold. Ram Singh Ji had neither a blanket nor had
brought enough clothes along. He was allotted the room otherwise used for ironing
clothes. There on started his seva.
5
Early mornings were spent in milking the cows and buffalows and delivering
cow milk at Babaji’s Bunglow, the day was spent in working at the farm and cleaning
the drains etc.
After a passage of four months, on 2nd April, 1974 Ram Singh Ji was initiated
by Master Baba Somnath Ji with the ‘Naam Dan’.
Just a little before receiving initiation at the ‘Naam Nirnay Mandir’ hall at
the ashram, outside the hall, Ram Singh Ji had a vision in which Baba Sawan
Singh Ji Maharaj appeared before him. Baba Sawan Singh Ji stood n
ear one of the columns of the `Naam Nirnay Mandir’, instinctively Ram Singh Ji
prostrated before the great Master by lying on the ground, head at his feet. Maharaj
Sawan Singh Ji lifted him and embraced him and told him “ Why are you worrying?
Everything will become alright when the time comes.” For half an hour he spoke
to him and held him close.
Baba Somnath Ji’s Ashram at Kengeri was spread over 111 acres of which
80 acres would get the dirty water flowing from Bangalore City this water would
be directed to irrigate the farms. In all there were 110 sevadars at the ashram who
would put in very hard work on the farms. Every harvest would yield 300 bags of
corn and 600 bags of cereal millet. A year passed this way in seva. One evening
Babaji asked “ Will you do the seva of guarding at night ?”. “ I will do whatever
you tell me to.” replied Ram Singh Ji. Thus started the duty of guarding the ashram
at night. Ram Singh Ji took this as the opportunity given by the Master to do
Bhajan – Simran.
The whole night he would guard the place while doing simran. Then between
7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. he would work on the farm. At 1:00 p.m. the lunch bell
would ring and after meals he would rest in the afternoon between 2:00p.m. and
6:00 p.m. This became the routine. Baba Ji had given a blanket and a torch for the
night seva. Doing simiran while on the night duty activated the yearning once
again. The anguish for the darshan of the Master increased. During the daily satsang
he would get the wonderful opportunity of the darshan of the Master for one whole
hour. Due to an hour of satsang and darshan the soul would start withdrawing and
begin moving higher and tears would start flowing from the eyes. The body would
become numb and the with drwal of the soul began to be felt. However this was not
the will of the Master now. After such occurrence for four consecutive days, Babaji
asked “ Does Ram Singh come to satsang?”, “Yes Master” answered Ram Singh Ji
immediately. “ During satsang time you have to go and do the seva at the coconut
groves” said Baba Ji. And there ended the rapturous spiritual one hour spent in the
6
bliss of the Masters’ darshan. But even then the yearning did not reduce. From the
time Baba Ji would walk down to the Satsang hall and up to the completion of the
prayer sung before the satsang, Ram Singh Ji would absorb the darshan and run for
the seva duty, as ordered by the Master, the moment the satsang would begin.
In the beginning a number of sevadars were working alongside, but one after
another they fell ill because they would eat heavily in the night which would cause
indigestion and illness. And they would give up the duty. But Ram Singh Ji would
not eat in the night therefore despite remaining awake thought the night the simiran
would continue easily.
One evening Ram Singh Ji went to take the darshan of Baba Ji, at that time
Pushpamma who used to serve Babji said “ Babaji, Ram Singh works alone at the
night. In the ashram there are trees of sandal-wood, coconut groves and other
valuable trees for which robbers may attempt to rob, besides there are also dangerous
animals around, at such time if any mishap were to take place we would not even
be aware. Some one should be sent along with him.” Babaji closed his eyes for a
few minutes and then said “ My Ram Singh will do the duty alone.” He told
Pushpamma “ From now on the remains of the food which I take should be packed
in a box and sent to him everyday and also send him a cup of milk in the thermos.”
Thereon every night Babaji’s meal leftovers and a cup of milk would arrive. Babaji
had given a torch and an umbrella for the night duty. Later Ram Singh Ji would
take along two dogs viz. `Moti’ and `Ramu’ to the night duty. A rigorous routine
ensued – He would do the night duty till 3.00 a.m., wake up the Westerner satsangis
7
staying at the ashram at 3.00 a.m., and since they made tea he would get tea with
them. He would sit with them in meditation till the ashram morning tea bell at 6.00
a.m. In those days a few of Baba Somnathji’s western initiates would stay in the
ashram for 6 months and return to their home for 6 months. Bernald, Babaji’s
initiate from France, taught Ram Singh Ji how to drive a tractor. After the 6.00 a.m.
tea he would hasten to the cowshed to do the milking seva. The ashram had 100
cows and 25 buffaloes of which 15 cows and 7 buffaloes would give milk every
day. Ram Singh Ji would milk the cowsand deliver the cowsmilk to Babaji’s bunglow
where Pushpamma would give him some bread and a cup of coffee. In this seva
eventually he would have to milk 22 cattle. A cow had a calf who was named
Basavaraj. Since infancy Basvaraj was used to climbing up the stairs of Babaji’s
bunglow to take his darshan.However when Basvaraj grew up and started horning
people Babaji stopped his coming up but would himself visit Basvaraj and give
him prasad. Once a satsangi who was so intrigued asked Babaji “ Why is this calf
so dear to you and why does he love you so much?” Babaji replied, “ In his earlier
birth he was the child of a prosperous family and had attended the satsang of a
saint and had eaten his prashad but since he had not received the naam he had to be
born as a bull. In the future birth he would be born as a human and in the surrender
of saints would attain liberation (saadh gati)”. There also used to be a pigeon
called Raju who would stay in Babaji’s room. He would [(do gutargu)] sit on Babaji’s
feet and take his darshan. Sevadars would get Babaji’s darshan between 7.00 am.
8
and 7.30.am. Babaji would say that Raju (the pigeon) has all the qualities of a
satsangi. Whenever any satsangi would come Raju would look at the him with
great love. Raju had given up the company of all his fellow from his species.
Babaji had a dog named Jimmy who would come to Babaji’s room right at the time
of darshan and would go only after getting a biscuit from Babaji. If at this time he
would be leashed then he would bark and create a ruckus. Babaji would himself
say “Release Jimmy he wants to take darshan”.
This way a year and a half went by on there had been no communication with
his family. So as soon as he wrote the first letter informing them that he was at the
ashram, he started receiving four letters a month “You may go back but come
home at least once”. On reading the letters his mind started changing.
Babaji was to visit Mumbai for the satsang program. Ram Singh Ji requested
“I would like to go with you to Mumbai. And after meeting my parents I shall
return with you”. Babaji laughed and said “You are doing the night duty very well,
if people in the vicinity learn that I am out of the ashram there could be an attempt
of theft. So do your duty till I return. On returning back I will send you”.
Babaji returned after a 20 day tour of Mumbai, Davangiri etc. Ram Singh Ji,
had a surging urge to present his request again. But he thought if I bring up the
topic now, Babaji may get angry since he had barely returned, so he decided to
postpone the request by a day or two. At the morning darshans which followed he
was eager to ask but could not muster the courage when in front of Babaji and
would reconcile that he would do so in the evening. But same was the fate at the
evening darshan. A month an a half passed. Eventually one day mustering up the
courage he stood up and asked “You had said you will send me after your return....?”.
Babaji laughed and asked “Are you thinking of taking up a job in Mumbai”? “Yes
Maharaj! I will have to, for some time”.
Babaji looked at him and cast a glance of immense love and mercy “Arrey! Is
a job paying 400 or 500 a month, a job?”. The Master’s glance which was so
different, was full of such grace that whatever attachments which had arisen and
culminated in his mind for working and earning, of having a familly, of parents,
etc.vanished entirely.
“Aysee kari Gurudev daya, mere moh ka bandhan toot gaya”– Brahmanand.
(“Gurudev showered such grace, all my shackles of attachment was broken”.))
Just before the announcement everybody had had the meals and were in the
seva of placing corn in front of the Satsang hall. On hearing Pushpamma, Ram
Singh Ji’s grief was beyond bounds as he was in his youth with a lifetime ahead to
be spent without the physical company of the Master. It was as though a mountain
of grief had befallen him.
Grief simply pervaded the whole environment, Ram Singh Ji continued the
night duty of guarding the ashram with tears flowing incessantly from his eyes.
“Who will protect me now?”
Four days later when meditating on the ground floor of Babaji’s bunglow, at
4:00 a.m. Baba Somnath Ji gave him darshan. He saw a vision that he and Ganapati
(a satsangi) were pressing the feet of the Master, Babaji was seated on the chair
and said kindly but squarely “ Where have I gone? I am here! When the time comes
everything will be fine.”
After this sentence of Baba Somnath Ji, once again, a few days later during
meditations Ram Singh Ji had darshan that there was a big bhandara and Babaji
was standing in front. “Come Jamal bhai, Baba Charan Singh Ji is standing let us
go and take his darshan” Ram Singh Ji was saying. They both went closer. There
was a big crowd. After satsang when the Saint came close to Ram Singh Ji, the face
was entirely different from either that of Baba Somnath ji or Baba Charan Singh ji.
Ram Singh Ji was only to realize years later that the face which was of Master
Ajaib Singh Ji had been revealed in this vision. Facing was altogether a new
11
Mahatma (a great/realised soul) who advanced
forward and said “You may ask me any question
which you may have”. “I am not able to do bhajan”
said Ram Singh Ji. “Hold the simran, remember the
simran at all time and your work will be done” was
the single sentence reply. “Baba Somnath has left
the physical plane, will I ever meet him again”? Was
the second question. Babaji pondered briefly and
replied “After eleven years”. Exactly eleven years
later Ram Singh Ji met Master Ajaib Singh Ji.
However everything was fine only till Sharnappa Swami announced that a
sage from Benaras had arrived and was meditating in the cave. Soon villagers
began arriving. Four months had been spent in Sharnappa Swami’s cave and a
detachment from the world had awakend. With the arrivals of villagers Ram Singh
Ji realized that further peace and meditation would not be possible in this place.
Therefore becoming ascetics Ram Singh Ji, Ganapathi and Bhuvaneshwar
(another satsangi) departed from the cave to embark towards the great Himalaya
Mountain Range very far away in Northern India. En-route they halted at the nearby
Notes :
1- A neem is an evergreen tree which has leaves with great medicinal and curative properties but
which are extremely bitter and very unpalatable to taste.
12
town of Davangiri. Baba Somnath Ji’s sangat at Davangiri requested him to stay
on for a while but they soon proceeded to another town ahead called Dhareshwar.
After a two days stay they left and spent two more days on banks of River Agnashini.
Close by, where the river meets the Arabian Sea, stands an Ashram of a hermit
called Puttuswami by the sea side. Puttuswami who is an initiate of Baba Sawan
Singh Ji Maharaj is now over ninety years old and is still hale and hearty. They
spent ten days at the ashram. Before leaving the ashram he sent all his clothes to
Ganapati’s village and gifted the watch and some other possessions to Puttuswami.
With two lungees, two vests and a blanket they proceeded. The limbs had become
tender and weak during the stay in the cave. For three continuous days they were
walking without any footwear. The soles of the feet were tattered and sore from
the arduous journey.
After a few attempts a Truck gave them a lift and ferried them to a railway
station called Manmaad. They boarded the Kashi Express. A couple of stations
later the Ticket Checker arrived and demanded to inspect the ticket. They neither
had any tickets nor any money. “Why are you occupying the seat? Go and sit on
the floor near the door!” ordered the T.C. They spread the blanket and sat on the
floor. At `Itaarsi’ station they were de-boarded and the T.C. called the Senior Officer
who asked “ Where do you want to go?”. “To Benaras” Ram Singh Ji replied. The
Officer on seeing the appearance of Ram Singh Ji told the T.C. “They look like
Sadhus. Do not trouble them. Let them go to Benaras”. They were then allowed to
board the same train.
They reached a village close to Benaras, the plan was to go to the Himalayas
after a stay of four days at this village. But Ganapati had become ill due to the food
and water and returned back to Pahad Ashram. Bhuvaneshwar went to a village
just close by. And Ram Singh Ji returned back to his home in Kashi (Benaras)
where his over joyous family clutched him.
For most common souls such predicament and adversities usually induces
a return to the worldly life in the security of the home. But souls whom the
almighty sends into the world with a special mission never get attached to the
worldly life. The pangs of separation from the Master were so overwhelming
that all the pains and tribulations of the reclusive existence endured, seemed
sweet. A spontaneous yearning to meet the master within and astute adherence
to his teachings prevailed with strength emanating from the pain of separation
from the master
master..
He stayed in Kashi for a week. And then borrowing 40 rupees from his grand
mother, under the pretext of desire of Benaras sight seeing, Ram Singh Ji left home
and returned to Mumbai.
13
In Mumbai he stayed at the house of R.R. Singh who was an advanced satsangi
initiated by Baba Somnath Ji. The residence cum shop operated out of a small
room in Bombai’s locality called Dadar on the Bhavani Shankar Road. The single
room served as a shop, a dining room and as a bed room in the night for its numerous
inhabitants.
R.R. Singh was a dealer of Paan leaves1 “Do simran with each leaf, leaf by
leaf!” R.R.Singh’s would order. Therfore with each leaf was to be rememberd the
simran, and if per chance the attention would stray then R.R. Singh would jeeringly
say – “ Simran should be done with each leaf” (“Patta-patta simran karo”).
Daily for attending satsang Ram Singh Ji would walk to Worli Naka which
was about three to four kilometers away and do simran on the way. While doing
simran the soul would start withdrawing. He would then stop for some time and
after regaining awareness of the surroundings and time, he would rush towards
the hall. Having done continuous simiran for one and half months in this way, the
soul had started ascending.
One day, it was announced at Kakkad Chambers Satsag Hall at Worli that a
Saint has come from Rajasthan, he is staying at the house of Mohan Karnani ( an
initiate of Baba Somnath Ji) and whoever wants to have his darshan can do so next
morning at 9.00 a.m. This was December 1978. Following morning Ram Singh Ji,
Bhuvaneshwar and R.R. Singh left for darshan. On the way the talks mostly featured
doubts and estimations. Perhaps it could be some sadhu and may not be a saint.
A few westerner satsangis Graham, Bernard, Dominique and Paul were present
at the venue. The Baba whose name was Ajaib Singh Ji was in his room. The door
was knocked and opened. In front stood Baba Ajaib Singh Ji. The eyes met. The
souls of the trio ascended at the darshan of the Master soul. All three lost all
awareness. R.R. Singh lost consiousness and fell down.
Soon they were helped to sit down and Master Ajaib delivered a satsang.
After satsang he asked the trio. “Ask me, whatever you want to”. The trio was
Notes :
1- A paan is an almost palm size edible leaf available off a creeper, in India a trimmed paan leaf is delicately
folded around an assortment of edible items of flavour and fragrance alongwith small pieces of betelnut placed
in the centre, the parcel so formed is consumed as a post-meal- mouth-flavouring-mint, the paan is also occa-
sionally used to contain chewable tobacco. Before supply the paan leaves are handpicked from the baskets
arriving from the cultivation places and invidually verified for defects to remove the spoilt ones, each good leaf
is then dipped in clean fresh water to relieve it of dust and dirt and then gathered alongwith other similarly
cleaned leaves.
14
mum. There were no questions in the mind.
Thereafter there was a satsang in a church. And for next three days there
were satsangs by Baba Ajaib Singh Ji. There was a satsang at the house of Narayan
Shinkar (another initiate of Baba Somnath Ji). A number of satsangis had gathered
at his house to attend the satsang. And while prostrating to Sant Ajaib Singh Ji
tears flowed thru the eyes of most satsangis in the memory of their Master Baba
Somnath Ji. Santji ( Sant Ajaib Singh Ji) was extremely pleased and touched to see
such love for the Master and declared an eight day Mumbai programme every
year instead of the 3 day programme. During this visit Santji had visited the Kakad
Chamber Hall. He expressed his pleasure on seeing the hall and delivered a satsang
there in which he discoursed some important points as below :
Santji said –
“ Baba Somnath had established this satsang hall. Kabir Saheb says :
“Tarwar Sarwar Santjan chautha barse meh,
“Tarwar
Parmarath karane chare dhare deh.”
Saints come into this world only for the worldly souls. They do not have any
personal desires for doing so. They direct all the souls to the path of almighty
while declaring that if they follow the path then they will be benefited.
This is the way in which this world has been created. Kabir, Guru Nanak,
Swami Ji, Jaimal Singh Ji, Sawan Singh Ji, all these saints have not remained on
this worldly plane forever. All have returned after completing their worldly sojourn.
But the Saints never desert us. So when they leave the worldly plane we must not
weep for they return to Sach Khand. But when Manmukhs1 die it is ok to weep for
they have to take birth repeatedly.
We should bring pride and fame to our Masters name even after his leaving
the body and spread his mission and safeguard the satsang places established by
him. Do not be lead astray. The Satguru sits in Sachkhand and awaits your arrival.
Quite a while has passed now since Master Sawan has left his physical body. Yet
those who tread the path shown by him attain his mercy. His initiates who are
doing their meditations regularly with love and devotion experience the presence
of their Master even today.
Saints come to bring together and not to seperate. You must keep your love
strong. Consider my coming to this satsang hall as his blessing. The westerner
initiates who are present here have no desire for the properties of the satsang here.
Notes :
1-The souls who are attached to their minds and the world.
15
Neither do we have any desire for it. Your satsang hall is your own. We have not
come here to occupy any property. We have plentiful of everything given by our
own Master. This ashram of yours will continue to belong to your Master always.
However if someone is helping us reach our Master then it is not a bad thing to
take the benefit from such person. The path shown by Master has always to be
followed. All saits hail from the same home – Sachkhand.
“Sant-sant ko do kar jani, so jan jaan narak ki khani.”
“Those who believe saints to be apart, such persons will suffer in hell”.
Saints dwell within the orders of the Almighty. Satsang halls have been
established for saints. Please co-operate with the dear one who has organized this
programme. That is our duty. Talk less and do more meditation and maintain love
for one another. Respect each other. Wherever Saints sit the place becomes holy
and pure. In this satsang hall do the meditations and spiritual practices. It is wrong
to even think of bad things here. Sitting in sachkhand your Master awaits you. I
have come to bless you and strengthen your love. I have not come here as your
Master. I have come here as your sevadaar.1 One gardener plants the saplings and
the next one waters the plants after him. I was told by the westerner initiates that
the Bombay sangat is depressed and grieving. Express your sorrows. Your love has
drawn me here. I am thankfull to the sangat. The organizers here have arranged
everything very well. All have to remain together here. I have great respect for
Baba Somnath Ji’s Sangat. You should also respect it. Whoever the saints select,
they take them along others remain thinking.
Jo Jo chor bhajan ke prani, so so dukh sahe
Aalus neend sataaye unko, nit nit bharam bahe
“Those who are thieves of bhajan, they suffer accordingly.
They are troubled by sloth, sleep and are swept away in delusion”.
In this way Sant Ajaib Singh ji told a lot of good things in the satsang. After
Notes :
1-One who serves.
2-Ascetics in India allow hair to grow very long which is then entwined entangled and tied on the head into a
molehill type of bun known as Jatta.
3-In “Dhuniya” hot earthen pots containing embers are placed on the head within the jatta and the ascetics
meditates with the Dhuniya on the head.
4-Taking continuous water drips on the head.
5- Setting out bare foot on long journeys to different holy places.
6- Karmkand means rituals including practices like Dhuniyaa,3 Jaldhara,4 etc.
16
Santji’s Mumbai programme Ram Singh Ji returned to Banglore Ashram (at
Kengeri). Prem Nath Ji who had been made the Guru-in-Peetha,1 after Baba
Somnath, ordered every one that nobody should go here or there (i.e. to any other
saint).
Ram Singh Ji spent two year at the ashram doing the night guard seva and
farming seva. However after Baba Somnath Ji had left his body the environs and
circumstances in the ashram had changed. Not finding the environment conducive
to his earnest urge to do meditations, Ram Singh Ji left the ashram and shifted to
Pahad once again to do spiritual practices. However here too he was told that he
would only be allowed to do the seva as the orders were not to permit anybody to
only do meditations and spiritual practices. So he shifted to another place called
Bada Pahad (larger hill) which had once been used by an ascetic called Mahadev
Swami to do his spiritual practices.
On the Bada Pahad there was a cave, a temple with a large veranda, and a
spontainous spring-well on this stony hill in which there was always water. In
these beautifull surroundings Ram Singh Ji started his spiritual practices of bhajan
and simran. The hill was inhabited by a bear. And the fear of the bear kept people
away from the hill. A young boy who had by chance come up the hill saw Ram
Singh Ji. He broke the news of Ram Singh Ji’s presence when he descended, to
Sharanappa Swami whose cave was at the foot of the hill. Sharanappa Swami
immediately arranged for match box, some earthen pots, some jaggery, wheat flour,
pulses, turmeric and chilli powder, tea, coffee, salt and milk in a parcel and sent it
up with the young boy.
A thought crossed Ram Singh Ji’s mind that the mere desire to meditate had
delivered all provisions without his asking then how could it be possible that the
Master would leave him empty handed after meditations.
Villagers of Tenegal village in the proximity got the news and rushed up with
pots of milk, they cautioned that the place was infested with wild bears. Ram
Singh Ji told them that animals and creatures-bears, snakes and scorpions do not
harm any body sitting in meditation. Next day the villagers returned. And for the
next ten days Ram Singh Ji meditated alone on the hill.
17
Singh Ji who acceeding to the request came down to the foot hills. Ram Singh Ji
was sparsly clothed, a red towel on the shoulder and a red towel tied around the
waist. “Please stay at Enmaldoddi (Pahad).and do your meditations there”. requested
Govindappa. “No. Again you will interrupt my meditations and order me to do
seva for being allowed to stay”. said Ram Singh Ji. “No. If you want we will give
it in writing”. All the satangis wrote it on a piece of paper and signed below. Ram
Singh Ji then returned back to Pahad and started his meditations there.
He was allotted Babaji Somnath Ji’s bungalow above the satsang hall where
Babaji used to stay while at Pahad. Nobody was allowed there. Only the president
of the satsang trust would come up and see Ram Singh Ji.
Ram Singh Ji would fill up four-five vessels with water from the tank below
at two a.m. in the early hours. And remaining out of everybody’s sight, he did his
meditations for six months. Later all the caretakers of Pahad left leaving the key
with Ram Singh Ji and the entire responsibility of administration at Pahad fell on
his shoulder, which he did for the following five years.
After which once again due to compelling developments he had to stay for
two months at Kengeri Ashram Bangalore.
18
The Order by Master Ajaib
19
had also taken his parents to meet Master Ajaib. Santji once again explained to
Ram Singh Ji in presence of his parents who also then acceded. They understood
that Ram Singh Ji would not return home against the order from the Masters. He
persisted in getting his father initiated by Master Ajaib Singh Ji. The interview
lasted 45 minutes and Ram Singh Ji was blessed to receive a lot of spiritual grace
showered by Master Ajaib thru his eyes during the darshan.
Having received the opportunity to do the seva thru the grace of both Master
Somnath and Master Ajaib, the Ashram was named SOM-AJAIB Kripa Ashram
(literally means The Mercy of SOM-AJAIB).
Large sangat from Andhra would accompany Ram Singh Ji for getting initiated
by Santji. It is said that by giving naam daan to one jiva it is like donating a thousand
cows. All this seva was got done by Baba Ajaib Singh Ji from Ram Singh Ji. He
20
says “Like me, he has beholden the arm of many a drowning souls, other wise I
would be washed away”. He remembered Kabir sahib’s words “ My Satguru held
me by my arm else I would be washed away” (Mere Satguru pakadi bah nahi to
mai behe jata-Kabir Saheb.)
In 1989 during the naam daan session at Mumbai, Santji summoned Ram
Singh Ji to be present to explain the process and simran to the Andhra and Karnataka
sangat. Ram Singh Ji pledged that if Baba Somnath Ji is present then he should
give the darshan within, during the practice of “shabd”(listening) his soul ascended,
he saw Baba Somnath Ji was holding a stick and with him was Santji and bot
h were strolling. And ever thereafter Ram Singh Ji’s faith in Sant Ajaib Singh was
firmly established and he recognized Santji to be the same as Bab Somnath Ji.
Baba Somnath Ji has a large sangat in Andhra and Karnatka. The sangat there
is extremely poor and cannot even afford to pay for the fare to reach Mumbai. Ram
Singh Ji requested Santji that if he would come to Bangalore the sangat would be
greatly benefited. Santji said “I’ll let you know after a little thought. I am doing the
Mumbai program on the order of Baba Somnath Ji”.
During every Mumbai program Santji would inquire about the ashram. In
1989 there were only two rooms at the Guddela Ashram. During a Bhandara there
a Manager of a Local Bank who had attended the program said “You construct a
shed for the sangat. I will arrange a loan”. The moment Santji was told of the idea
Santji said that there is no need for a loan. In the Hyderabad program Santji gave
Ram Singh Ji Rs. 30,000/- The people of Mudgal contributed another 10,000/- and
the Hall and rooms on the lower floor were built. Every year Santji would forcefully
hand over the (monetary) seva given to him, to Ram Singh Ji at the end of the
program and ask him to spend all the money for the sangat. In Ahmedabad, he gave
the money for the compound wall of the ashram. Every program Ram Singh Ji
would would take the sangat with him for initiation by Santji. Santji would
mercifully initiate everyone accompanying Ram Singh Ji for the purpose. Once in
1996, 80 persons were taken to the Mumbai program. The goup was asked to stand
in line and Santji cast his glance on each and every one. At the end of the line stood
a low caste cobbler Venkatappa who was present having just consumed alcohol.
“Remove him from the line, he also consumes meat” said Santji. Venkatappa started
weeping and promised that he would never eat meat again. Ram Singh Ji told
Santji, please shower mercy on him. “If he starts consuming meat again you will
have to burden of the Karmas!” said Santji. Ram Singh Ji replied that he would not
have the strength to shoulder the karmas. With great mercy Santji initiated
Venkatappa. After initiation there were a lot of changes in him. He had utmost
commitment in satsang. He had received initiation at the age of seventy years but
would earn his daily bread himself. When he fell ill and was admitted to the hospital
he had the darshan of Santji. “Take me home, my time to depart is near” he said.
21
He departed very peacefully. Before departing he had already distributed all the
photos of Santji in his procession amongst satsangis. Having witnessed all this all
his family members and others from his village sought initiation from Baba Ram
Singh Ji later on.
Baba Ajaib Singh Ji helped and supported Ram Singh Ji spiritually and
financially. Santji said “You will have to go to far places for doing the satsang”.
Ram Singh Ji’s ability and strength to do the satsangh arose from the grace showered
by Santji.
Santji had great regard for Baba Somnath Ji’s sangat. He sent a message to
the entire sangat :
Master
Master’’s beloved sangat,
May the mercy and grace of Huzur Sawan Kirpal reach you. As you all know
that with the mercy of the Huzur the True Emperor ( Master Kirpal) once again we
have been given the opportunity of singing the praises of the Almighty at Mumbai
from 4th January and 12th January. They had left their abode of eternal peace and
22
descended into our world to shower their mercy. And in the way they have cast
their un-fathomable mercy on us, it becomes our duty to derive the maximum
benefit from this program and take something with us back home.
The most important part of Santmat is Bhajan (listening to the sound current)
and Abhyas ( Meditation). All saints have laid great stress on Meditation. In
programs like this we get a very good chance to mature our Simran and practice of
listening to the sound current. Discussing domestic affairs or improving social
circle is not the objective of the program. Therefore I hope that all dear ones will
participate in all the sessions of meditations and derive benefit. It is the duty of all
those incharge of the accompanying outstation sangats to monitor their groups.
And maintain all in check so that other dear ones are not put to inconvenience.
Other than the dear ones from southern India all others are able to understand
my satsang. Ram Singh will do this seva for the South Indian sangat. Besides him,
any other dear one forming a group and engaging in spiritual discussions like Guru
Charcha etc. is only wasting the time. This is a path of doing, not of talking. The
opportunity of meeting saints is attained only with great destiny. And we should
derive benefit from this by doing our bhajan and simiran.
I hope that all of you will accept this request from me.
Lots of Love,
Yours
Ajaib Singh.
In the presence of Santji at the Jaipur program, the sangat which had arrived
from Bharatpur and Gadolli requested Santji for a program of Baba Ram Singh Ji
there. A satsangi Mohan Das who was a Forest Ranger and his wife were in front
of Santji. Santji summoned Baba Ram Singh Ji and asked “Will you be able to go
so far to do the satsang?”, Baba Ram Singh Ji replied “I will be willing to go
anywhere if it is your order”. Thence on began the yearly programs at Jaipur,
Bharatpur and Gadolli.
During the lifetime of Santji there were regular satsangs programs of Baba
Ram Singh Ji at Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Kisannagar, Torti, Bangalore, Kolar. At
a place close to Bangalore called Chansandra, a satsangi called Dasappa donated
land admeasuring three fourth of an acre to the Ashram. Since then the program at
Chansandra has been held. Satsang programs also began at Sirsi, Kumtha, Hubli,
Satara, Wai, Kondla Mumbai and Goa. Later on also at Daulatpura and
Hanumangarh. With the unfathomable mercy of Santji, all these satsangs programs
continue to be held regulary.
Santji’s last satsang program was at Delhi in May 1997. Santji inquired “How
23
is your Ashram?”, “All is well due to your mercy”. Baba Ram Singh Ji replied.
“Do you need any money” queried Santji further. “No, Babaji! We want mercy
there is plenty of money. I would like to sit in meditation for a year”. Said Baba
Ram Singh Ji. Santji was silent for a brief moment and said “Do not do so my
child. Just as I have continued holding satsang while keeping bhajan primary, you
also do likewise”.
And during this program Baba Ram Singh Ji got especially immense spiritual
grace from Santji.
The following day a lady from Anantpur arrived. Baba Ram Singh Ji
immediately took her to Santji for darshan. Santji used to conduct initiation at the
basement of the Building at Behra Enclave. But he told Baba Ram Singh Ji “ Make
her sit ther and give her the naam dan. For I do not understand her language.”
Santji repeated this three times. But Baba Ram Singh Ji refused. “Babaji please
make her sit with others and give the naam-dan. I will explain every thing to her.”
Eventually the lady sat with others and got the naam-dan.
Baba Ram Singh Ji was meditating at Mudgal when Santji left the physical
body. On receiving the news he immediately left for Rajasthan. He now understood
why Santji had asked him not to sit in meditation for a year. People had to consoled
there.
On 6th July
July,, 1997 Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Maharaj discarded his physical frame.
24
Letters by Santji
26
The Work of Sangat
The Guddela land which was
acquired in 1986 for the ashram was
haunted by a she ghost. It was of a
woman who had fallen into the well and
had been buried there itself. Every
evening at about 6.00 p.m. she would
be visible to the villagers and therefore
everybody asked Baba Ram Singh Ji not
to establish the Ashram there. He replied “I
will make friends with the ghost”. Being
haunted, the land was purchased at a cheap rate.
On establishing the ashram there he sat in meditation. The ghost vanished.
Baba Ram Singh Ji and a boy called Ashwatha were the two inhabitants of
the ashram. The House was open. There were only two rooms. Both would sleep
on the roof of the house. There was no water connection. Water would have to be
fetched by climbing down to a well at a distance of a kilometer from the ashram.
There was’nt a tree for eight years. Later a bore well was installed.
At present the ashram has twenty acres of land. There is a garden of Coconut
palms, papaya and other trees. There are about one hundred fifty coconut palms,
about two hundred mango trees, about one thousand betel nut palms and a large
number of banana plantation. The farm crops are mostly rice, groundnut, pulses
and all types of vegetables. The power supply is available for seven hours every
day.
In the initial days Baba Ram Singh Ji and old man Timanna used to sleep on
the roof. One night both were sleeping. He suddenly felt though some one was
squeezing his chest. As though a weight of a quintal was placed on his chest.
Immediately the simran started and the force on the chest instantly ran away. He
saw a black cloud rushing away. A little later Timanna felt a weight of a quintal on
the chest. He began yelling out the names of his mother and father. Baba Ram
Singh Ji woke him up and the black cloud rushed away from Timanna too. Both
saw the black cloud rise skywards. Ghost and lost souls do not do not come when
one is awake. Gradually the place became pure. Timanna the lord of Mysore served
in the Ashram and died there. The entire surroundings of the place which had
27
remained barren for twelve years started getting the crops and harvests.
Bhandara was held in the third year. To arrange for water a bullock cart was
laden with large drums. Ashwatha sat at the rear and was holding on to the drums.
Once the drums were filled with water the bullock cart see-sawed backward and
overturned. But for being blocked by a stone the cart would have fallen into the
well. Baba Ram Singh Ji jumped from the cart. But Ashwatha fell down and on
him fell all the drums. But by the grace of Master Ajaib he escaped unhurt.
28
the ghost was never seen. The lady also has a number of children now.
Ghosts have astral bodies. They can reach up to the door or heavens but
cannot enter it. Those who harbour the propensity of revenge or getting even with
some one within themselves usually become ghosts. Even the impure souls are
sent to ghost cycle.
This is an incident during the Bhandara celebrations. To cook the food, wood
is required frequently. There was a large tree of a diety Maramma. People would
sacrifice fowl or lambs and tie the feet to the tree. The blood of all the animals
would smear the tree. But the tree was very large with lots of wood. When the tree
was assigned to be cut for the wood, people feared that Mariamma Diety would be
offended and unleash calamity. Everybody asked Baba Ram Singh Ji to strike the
first cut. He lifted the axe and saying Radhaswami he struck the tree twice. The
tree was felled by the youth of the village. The wood was laden on a Tractor and
moved to the ashram. Besides providing fuel for two years, the doors and windows
of the ground hall were made out of the same wood. All villagers were worried that
the Baba had done some manipulation. Even some poor harijans aired their worries.
But nothing ever happened. All the slaughter and blood shed of animals to Mariamba
halted.
There was a hill called Timappa facing the ashram. There was a lot of wood
there. The place was also haunted. The woods would whisper- “Don’t Cut”. The
villagers dared Baba Ram Singh Ji that if you are not afraid then cut the wood. He
cut the wood. Every one was astounded a Brahmin had come there to conduct the
29
puja. He too was amazed. But
people were afraid to lend
tractor and bullock cart to ferry
the wood. The wood provided
fuel for two to three years!
With the establishment
of the Ashram the whole
village started getting the
crops. Four years later water
became available. The
Government Collector
recorded the title of the land
in Baba Ram Singh Ji’s name.
He asked Babaji what
infrastructure was required.
Babaji asked for a road and
permission for a bore well. The Collector sanctioned both. The road was eventually
built. And with the grace of the Master everything worked out alright.
Savitri Bhat an elderly satangi in her late eighties was an initiate of Baba
Somnath Ji. She had great love for her master and was a satsangi. Having done a
lot of meditation she had earned good spiritual wealth. She considered Baba Ram
Singh Ji her son. They used to meet a number of times. Back in 1979 they both had
sat for meditation for a month at Pahad. During her last days she was in Mumbai.
In January 2003 She was very ill and on her death bed. Baba Ram Singh Ji was
requested to come and was to arrive in an hour. She uttered that Baba Ram Singh Ji
has come. She had seen his darshan inside. When Babaji arrived an hour later she
was completely attached inside and was not talking. He said that her attention was
attached inside and would leave the body after two days. Exactly two days later
when Savitri Bhatt left the body Baba Ram Singh Ji was discoursing the satsang at
Kondla village near Mumbai. In satsang he told every one that Savitri Bhatt had
gone straight to SachKhand.She had earned a lot of spiritual wealth.
At Gudddela ashram an underground room had been constructed by Babaji
for meditation. From February 2003 Baba Ram Singh Ji sat in meditation in this
room for a year. He would come up every night at 8.00 p.m. and give darshan. In
those days he had adopted complete silence and would not talk to anybody. Once a
month he would come outside and deliver the satsang which was attended by 600-
800 strong sangat from neighbouring villages.
30
In Satsang Baba Ram Singh Ji often says :
Steady the body, Steady the mind and steady the organs of sound and vision,
Says Kabir, for even a blink the mind should not be allowed to conjure
imagination.
This way the ascent of the soul begins and spiritual benefits are derived quickly.
One needs to be steadfast. The mind eventually gets cleansed.
Even if the mind should roam, do not let the body move
For if the rope is not drawn then where can the arrow go.
If one meditates regularly (daily) then the obstructions by the mind disappear.
The Master’s grace is attained. The mind is able to remain still. At times the Master
gives glimpses to strengthen the faith. If the soul descends down in sleep during
dreams, the master draws it up and one gets the darshan. The Master’s darshan can
be had only when the attention is above.
In the Kaliyug all the simran done by us gets accumulated. The Master does
not allow the powers from accumulated simran to be used. At the time of death the
Master arrives with the entire accumulated capital and showers mercy. During the
Satyug and Dwapar Yugas (ages) the Rishis-Munees (Hermits and the realised
ones) used to waste the spiritual wealth acquired from practices through curses.
Great Sages and Yogis like Vishwamitra and Durvasa had wasted spirituality
accumulated over sixty thousand years of harsh penances and austerities performed
by them.
After discarding his physical body the Master sits in the Brahma-Lok plane
and looks after his sangat till all jivas initiated by him reach Sachkhand. Then he
himself enters Sachkhand and never returns to the lower planes ever thereafter.
Sachkhand is an eternal plane where there is no life or death.
31
Describing the importance of
simran bhajan and faith in the
Master, Baba Ram Singh Ji often
relates the story of his past birth as
Yogi Mahadevappa.
By that time Baba Somnath Ji had been to North India. Having come to the
feet of Master Sawan and after being initiated by him he had attained completeness
on the path of the Masters.
32
Mumbai. He had great love for his
Master Baba Somnath Ji. He left for
Mumbai in search of Baba Somnath
Ji. His disciples who were pretending
to see him off at the station boarded
the train and arrived at Mumbai along
with him. Mumbai is a big city having
many railway stations. They got off at
the Dadar Station in Mumbai. Here
they started enquiring and asked the
tongawallas. One tongawallah said “I
have not seen any Yogi but there is a businessman who has a cloth shop at Worli
Naka. In the evening he does satsang”. On his directions Mahadevappa finally
reached Baba Somnath Ji after several inquiries on the way. Mahadevappa now
had a jatta (the long hair tied into a bun above the head) and a flowing beard. Baba
Somnath Ji enquired about the accompanying twenty persons. “These are your
grandchildren, my disciples”. Replied Mahadevappa.
Baba Somnath Ji made Mahadevappa and his sangat hear the satsang for a
week. And said that all should come with him to Beas Ashram to Baba Sawan
Singh Ji Maharaj. Mahadevappa had great love for Baba Somnath Ji but was not
willing to go to Master Sawan Singh Ji, upon which he received the reprimand
from Baba Somnath Ji who said that without being initiated by a perfect saint he
would not get liberation”. Then fearfully they accompanied Baba Somnath Ji to
Beas. There all were initiated. Despite being a Yogi Baba Sawan Singh Ji initiated
Mahadevappa. Baba Somnath Ji also asked Mahadevappa to return and warned
him that he was not allowed to give this naam to anybody else.
Mahadevappa obeyed Baba Somnath Ji but on return to Pahad he re engaged
in the Pranayam Practices. He did not have any faith in surat-shabd naam.
Two or three years passed. Venkatachalpati used to work at Baba Somnath
Ji’s Shop. His Mother and two ladies who used to stay on Pahad were given the
five names by Mahadevappa. When these ladies arrived at Mumbai to Babaji’s
Shop they told that they had received the naam. Baba Somnath Ji enquired which
naam? The five names, they replied, and even recited the five names. Then Baba
Somnath Ji became extremely angry on Mahadevappa and uttered that neither his
beard nor he will remain!
Very soon Mahadevappa had a lot of cough and cold. The incessant cough
got stuck in the beard and it became difficult to even keep the beard clean. Then his
disciples forced him to shave off his beard. After six months of ailment he finally
left his body. His disciples made his Samadhi (grave) atop Pahad. After
Mahadevappa there was inadequate administration at Pahad. Mahadevappa’s sangat
33
wrote to Baba Somnath Ji who then came to
Pahad after touring villages of Chalkeri and
Bellary. Who ever arrived would first prostrate
before the Samadhi of Mahadevappa and then
prostrate before Baba Somnath Ji but at that time
Baba Somnath Ji did not say anything. Later on
he built a bunglow on Pahad and planted coconut
palms. The Samadhi was also no more. P.D.
Laksmaiyah who was the Minister of Anantpur
district was a disciple of Baba Somnath Ji. He
entrusted 25 acres of land on Pahad in the name
of Baba Somnath Ji which were cultivated with
groundnut crop. Another ten acres was acquired
on the small Pahad. Then Mahadevappa’s grave was removed and shifted near the
Anjaneya Temple high above on Pahad. Every one had great faith in Baba Somnath
Ji. The seva of construction of satsang hall was in progress. A very huge boulder
suddenly slipped. It was about to fall on the Hall. A lot Lives of sevadaars would
have been lost. At the time Baba Somnath Ji was at Bangalore Ashram. He raised
his hands there. The boulder’s movement stopped instantly. He pressed the boulder
into the wall. Since then the Boulder stands as a wall even today.
Mahadevappa did not have faith in Baba Sawan Singh Ji or the Surat –Shabd
practices. He had love for Baba Somnath Ji. The following birth was in the house
of an initiate of Baba Somnath Ji but due to Past Karmic debt this birth lasted only
for eight months.
The next (present) birth was at Benaras which is a Religeous Place revered in
India. Only pious souls are born there. Baba Ram Singh Ji’s parents had been
doing penances for five or six years and were praying to god for a child. Therefore
since very young age he is called baba. He is very straight forward. He was named
Ram Singh Ji. And by the young age of 21 years Baba Somnath Ji drew him towards
himself.
On February 27th, 2005 he started giving naam dan. About three hundered
and fifteen persons received initiation. Followed by initiation to about 65 aspirants
in Sirsi in July 2005. The mission of the welfare souls continues thru the initiation
sessions at all the programs.
On the order of Sant Satguru Baba Somnath Ji Maharaj and Sant Satguru
34
Baba Ajaib Singh Ji Maharaj, Sant Baba Ram Singh Ji has been delivering satsangs
and making the sangat sit in their remembrance. And thru the satsangs he continues
to inspire the sangat to awaken and re-focus on the benefits of devotion to the
Master, surrender to the Master and the greatness of Naam, and the real objective
of the human birth to return to the true home and abode of eternal peace by bringing
into practice the teachings of Sant Mat.
∂
WL
WL
35
36
Som Ajaib Kripa Ashram
Via Guddellla, At P.O. Marimkalpallya
Kambadore 515765. Distt. Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh