Swarupanand
Encyclopedia
Beli Ram, Sri Swami Swarupanand ji Maharaj (1884 - 9 April 1936) was an India
n guru
of the Advait Mat
lineage. He was also known as "Second Master", "Param Sant Ji" and as Sri Nangli Sahib.
Born in Kohat
, India
, the young Beli Ram was initiated into the sanyasas in the early 1900s in Teri
by Advaitanand Ji
, who named him Swarupanand Ji. During Advaitanand's life, Swarupanand created an order of sannyasins (or renunciates) in northern India and founded several centers with the purpose of disseminating his master's teachings.
In 1935 he moved from Punjab
to Delhi
. He died a year later on 9 April 1936 in the village of Nagli, near Meerut. At the time of his death Swarupanand had ten thousand followers and more than three hundred ashrams in northern India. One of his discples was Hans Ji Maharaj
, who went on to establish the Divine Light Mission
. There were reported indications made by Swarupanand about Hans Ji Maharaj being his successor that were later contested by a group of mahatmas that did not appreciate the fact that Hans ji was married, making him a "householder", a status that in their views as renunciates was not acceptable. According to another account, Swarupanand was succeeded by Shri Swami Vairag Anand Ji Maharaj, also known as the "third master".
Swarupanand is sometimes confused with Anand Swarup
of the Radha Soami
lineage.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
of the Advait Mat
Advait Mat
Advait Mat was a cluster of movements in northern India which perceive themselves to be originating from Totapuri in the 18th century.- See also :* Totapuri* Anandpuri Ji* Advaitanand Ji* Swarupanand* Hans Ji Maharaj* Prem Rawat* Divine Light Mission...
lineage. He was also known as "Second Master", "Param Sant Ji" and as Sri Nangli Sahib.
Born in Kohat
Kohat
Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the young Beli Ram was initiated into the sanyasas in the early 1900s in Teri
Teri
Teri may refer to:* Teri * Teri, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a village and Union Council in Karak District, Pakistan* Teries, people from Hawick, Scotland* The Energy and Resources Institute , an Indian research institute* TERI University, India...
by Advaitanand Ji
Advaitanand Ji
Shri Paramhansa Dayal Ji, known also as Advaitanand Ji , or Shri Swami Advait Anand Ji Maharaj , son of Tulsi Das Ji, was born in Pukh, Nakshatra in the province of Bihar, India....
, who named him Swarupanand Ji. During Advaitanand's life, Swarupanand created an order of sannyasins (or renunciates) in northern India and founded several centers with the purpose of disseminating his master's teachings.
In 1935 he moved from Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. He died a year later on 9 April 1936 in the village of Nagli, near Meerut. At the time of his death Swarupanand had ten thousand followers and more than three hundred ashrams in northern India. One of his discples was Hans Ji Maharaj
Hans Ji Maharaj
Hans Ram Singh Rawat, known as Shri Hans Ji Maharaj was born in Gadh-ki-Sedhia, north-east of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. His parents were Ranjit Singh Rawat and Kalindi Devi...
, who went on to establish the Divine Light Mission
Divine Light Mission
The Divine Light Mission was an organization founded in 1960 by guru Shri Hans Ji Maharaj for his following in northern India. During the 1970s, the DLM gained prominence in the West under the leadership of his fourth and youngest son, Guru Maharaj Ji...
. There were reported indications made by Swarupanand about Hans Ji Maharaj being his successor that were later contested by a group of mahatmas that did not appreciate the fact that Hans ji was married, making him a "householder", a status that in their views as renunciates was not acceptable. According to another account, Swarupanand was succeeded by Shri Swami Vairag Anand Ji Maharaj, also known as the "third master".
Swarupanand is sometimes confused with Anand Swarup
Anand Swarup
Anand Swarup was a guru from the Dayal Bagh branch of the Radha Soami tradition, who succeeded Kamta Prasad Sinha in 1913.-Sources: Radhasoami Faith – History and Tenets...
of the Radha Soami
Radha Soami
Radhasoami is a philosophical organization originating in 19th century India, and considered by adherents as a true way to attain God realization...
lineage.