Huzur Maharaj's name was Salig Ram. He had his early education in a Maktab (primary school for boys) where he acquired proficiency in the Persian language. No University having then been established, he passed the Senior Examination in English from the Agra College, Agra. It was the highest degree in those days. Huzur Maharaj took interest in Astrology, Logic, Theology and Philosophy as well, which he studied as hobbies. He used to explain intricate and subtle points of Astrology with such felicity and clarity that left the listeners wondering. He translated Sanskrit books of Astrology into Persian, and thus made this science available to Persian-knowing people.
The spiritual instinct of Huzur Maharaj had begun to manifest itself in his very childhood. When according to the custom prevalent in his community, he was required to take initiation from the family guru, the Gosain of Mathura Bindraban, at the age of eight or nine years, he put to him some intricate questions which the latter could not answer satisfactorily. Huzur Maharaj refused to have him as his Guru. However, when pressed, he agreed on the condition that whenever he found out a true and perfect adept, he would be free to accept him as his Guru.
The first memorable meeting between Soamiji Maharaj and Huzur Maharaj took place in 1858. A Sunday was fixed for the interview. Huzur Maharaj came in the morning. Soamiji Maharaj cordially seated him in the same room where He used to perform Abhyas and which is inside another room. Huzur Maharaj related all about himself and asked several questions on Parmarth (religion), to which he received very satisfactory answers. This first audience lasted for nearly five hours. On coming out, Huzur Maharaj broke forth that he had found the One whom he had been seeking for so long. He added that since his very boyhood be had been praying, 'O my Lord! meet me Thyself'. His prayer had been granted, He had met the Supreme Being Himself.
The family of Huzur Maharaj consisted of religious-minded persons with catholic virtues. His Father Munshi Bahadur Singh, a lawyer by profession, was a great devotee of Shiva. He kept with him only as much as was needed to meet the household expenses. Rest, he gave away in charity. So would Huzur Maharaj place his entire monthly emoluments at the Holy Feet of his Guru, Soamiji Maharaj. Huzur Maharaj's mother was a good natured, intelligent and pious lady. After the demise of Huzur Maharaj's father, she brought up and educated the children astonishingly well.
Huzur Maharaj's was a full-fledged household life with large progeny and great fortune, entailing at the same time, equally great responsibilities and burdens. Even amidst the hustle and bustle of such a life he performed devotion, singular in its kind, to Soamiji Maharaj. Huzur Maharaj, in general appearance, was well built above medium height and graceful in gait and speech. His refulgent forehead, flowing beard, uplifted eyes and beatific countenance struck men at once with reverence and love. He exercised an irresistible personal charm and attraction on all those who came in contact with Him. The whole atmosphere of the place in which He lived was surcharged with love and attraction which even a casual visitor would feel and realize. He was generous and benevolent to the extreme, just as a mother is to her children. Huzur Maharaj's place was verily a perennial source for the flow of spirituality from the Feet of the Supreme Father to this arid and barren part of creation.
At the age of 18, Huzur Maharaj entered Government service. He got an appointment in the office of the Postmaster General. He was deputed to Saharanpur in 1850, and then to Allahabad in 1851, on special duty, and in recognition of his good work, was made, on 1
st April 1852, an Inspecting Postmaster. On 1
st July 1852, Huzur Maharaj was made the Head Assistant in the office of the Postmaster General. In 1868, Huzur Maharaj was promoted as Personal Assistant to the Postmaster General and on 31
st August 1871, the title of Rai Bahadur was conferred on him as a mark of personal distinction. He was, since then, known in official circles as Rai Salig Ram Bahadur. On the 28
th April 1881, he had the unique honour of being the first Indian to be made the Postmaster General of the North Western Frontier Provinces which then included Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Huzur Maharaj's name is still remembered in connection with the introduction of one-pice post card and is associated with many reforms relating to cheap postal services and facilities of which the inhabitants of poor and economically under-developed countries like India could take full advantage. He was recognized as the beacon light of truth, virtue and efficiency in the department. Throughout his career, Huzur Maharaj won praise and admiration everywhere. Although almost the whole of his time and attention were devoted to the service of Soamiji Maharaj, there was not the least deterioration in the quality and the magnitude of the work entrusted to him as an important and high officer of the postal department. Without a single mistake, He discharged his duties well. He moved from one department to another, accepting added responsibilities with cheerfulness and efficiency. In consideration of his distinguished services, his excellent conduct, the Secretary of State for India, granted him a special pension. Huzur Maharaj, throughout his service career, experienced special grace and mercy of Radhasoami Dayal. Often, while on tour, he had to pass through dangerous routes, forests and hillocks, and cross swollen rivers and brooks, at any hour of the day or night. But the protecting hand of Radhasoami Dayal was always on his head.
Huzur Maharaj was in Soamiji Maharaj's Satsang for about twenty years during which period he served his Guru with his body, mind and riches with singular loyalty and singleness of devotion of which it is impossible to find a parallel. For a long time he used to fetch a pitcher of pure water on his shoulder for Soamiji Maharaj from a well two miles away. For this he walked barefooted on the stone pavements in hot summer of May and June. He used to grind flour for Soamiji Maharaj's bread. He used to press the Feet, operate manual fan, fill the Huqqa, cook food, bathe Him, clean and paint the house, pluck twigs from Neem trees to be used as brush, clean toilet & drain, wash dishes, bring goods from the market, lift Him on his shoulders, carry the palanquin, run with the vehicle, offer spittoon, handle the whisk etc. He used to dig deep to get clean earth for washing His hands. Every morning he used to sweep the rooms and verandahs of Soamiji Maharaj's house. He performed all kinds of high and low services. All these gave him pleasure and satisfaction. Huzur Maharaj performed these Sewas (services) with a verve and gusto that was a pure joy to watch.
Huzur Maharaj attended on Soamiji Maharaj from twelve to fifteen hours a day. After the establishment of General Stasang in 1861, when Soamiji Maharaj took up the composition of Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Huzur Maharaj would take down dictation for hours together. He would also attend on Soamiji Maharaj's correspondence. The historic letter given in chapter 27, Biography of Huzur Maharaj, was written by Huzur Maharaj under instructions from Soamiji Maharaj.
Soamiji Maharaj had ordained that, in future, Satsang would spread far and wide. This exactly happened in the time of Huzur Maharaj. On His retirement from Government service, when Huzur Maharaj held Satsang at Agra, thousands of people received initiation into Radhasoami Faith. They flocked from every part of India, viz., Bengal, Punjab, Sindh, Deccan, Rajputana, Bombay, Central India, etc., and received spiritual benefit. Satsang was held several times during day and night. Huzur Maharaj's discourses were very sweet and impressive. He used to reveal the secrets of Radhasoami religion in such a unique and new manner every time that the audience was wonder struck. Sometimes persons would come in batches at different hours and Huzur Maharaj would discuss religion with each of them in entirely different manners, from different viewpoints and in new and varied forms. A listener would, at once, become His slave. Adhikari Jivas were coming over from long distances as if under a magnetic pull. Satsangis used to get many experiences of grace, mercy and protection, but were forbidden to disclose them to anybody. "It is the pleasure of the Supreme Being that whatever He does by His grace and mercy should not be made public. It, therefore, behoves a true Parmarthi not to speak out to anybody about the grace which he experiences internally or by which his affairs are satisfactorily managed. He should offer thanks to the Supreme Being internally. Of course, he is not prohibited from giving indications of such experiences to Parmarthis and loving devotees on some special occasions, because they also have experiences of such grace and mercy and Mauj in their own affairs". He was all-powerful. He showed that no one can know the secrets of Sants unless They themselves are pleased to impart the same to Jivas. Huzur Maharaj used to give very patient hearing. Satsangis would often relate their petty household affairs. But Huzur Maharaj would never scold anybody. At the most, He would say, "Brother, you are talking about such a proposition that nothing can be said". Anger was miles away from Him. He used to take very little rest. All the time He was busy in holding Satsang, delivering discourses, explaining Parmarth to new entrants, dictating replies to the letters of Satsangis and Bachans of Prem Patras. Huzur Maharaj used to put on different types of dresses. It was really a wondrous sight to see Him in coat and cap made of velvet with embroidery work on them, walking down the incline, on His way to Panni Gali, with His hand resting on the shoulder of Maharaj Saheb and Satsangis following in procession.
About a week before His departure, Huzur Maharaj strolled a few rounds in the verandah of Prem Bilas, casting His gaze on the Satsangis present. Someone said, "Today Huzur's health appears to be better. Huzur Maharaj observed, "Sants are great Thagias (masters at befooling)". On the evening of 6
th December at 6:40 PM, Huzur Maharaj enquired as to what time it was then and ordered the pillows and bolsters to be arranged on the bedstead. And after five minutes He left his mortal coil. His eyes were shining and face was lustrous and refulgent. Huzur Maharaj's body lay in state for three days to allow numerous Satsangis from far off places to have a last glimpse of Him. Huzur Maharaj's Samadh was built in Prem Bilas exactly on the spot where He left His mortal coil. His first Bhandara was held on 27
th December 1898.
A large number of books, big and small, and treatises in prose and verse, were written to the dictation of Huzur Maharaj, all printed and published in His time. They can be classified in four categories viz. (i) Prem Bani in verse, (ii) Prem Patra in prose, (iii) Booklets in Hindi and Urdu and (iv) Radhasoami Mat Prakash in English.
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