Satguru Mangat Ram ji

India is, and has been a land of seers since the beginning of history. Satguru Mahatma Mangat Ram stands in this great tradition connecting the past with our present, and with the future of mankind. He was the most profound exponent of “Samta” or oneness. His teachings are the quintessence of Samta. He taught nothing that he did not practice, and practice to perfection. It is only in the family of chosen once that a man of god is born. Blessed also is the land where such an event takes place. Shri Mangat Ram Ji incarnated in a pious family in village Gangothian Brahmana, Tehsil Kahoota in Rawalpindi district (Pakistan) on Tuesday 24 November, 1903. Even as a child of four/five years, Satguru Mangat Ram ji would get up in the middle of the night and start meditating for hours well past into midnight rather than to sleep. He was admitted to school at the age of five. By the age of eight years. Satguru started leaving home at midnight. He would go to a deep ravine near the village and sit in contemplation on a stone by the river. It was no ordinary feat for a child to leave the comfort of home for hard penance at a desolate place. He was good at studies and was personally offered a scholarship by the headmaster not only to complete his high school studies but right up to post graduation. He, however consciously renounced formal education at this point of his life. This seemed to him to be too self centered. As he said of himself later, “This one’s concern was with the knowledge of god that alone could benefit the ignorant of the world.” He spent most of his time in meditation in high altitude areas, dense forests and other lonely spots. Open sky remained his night companion for life. A wandering Fakir with no possessions but a love of God : his living was star tingly simple. For years at a stretch, he sustained himself on a single glass of milk-tea per day. He overcame sleep, hunger and thirst. He took up a job at the behest of his mother but gave it up when she died. He remained in service of his mother till her death in March, 1928 and felt released thereafter from his final domestic responsibilities. He remained a bachelor and a true ‘brahmchari’ throughout his life and led an ascetic life of intense unremitting contemplation. He was an embodiment of simplicity, humility & intellectual excellence with complete dedication to meditation.

CHALISA: As already mentioned, Satguru was dyed deep in God love right from childhood. When he was studying in class VII, he went into uninterrupted meditation for 40 days, such a penance was no easy task. He attained self-realization at the age of thirteen. All those living around were surprised. His body has become weak but his face shone with unique brightness.

MAHAMANTRA: Three days after this incident he was sitting near the banks of rivulet outside his village. Suddenly the first three words of the “MAHAMANTRA” appeared to him, thus: “Om, Brahma, Satyam”. The second day he emerged with “Nirankar, Ajanma, Advait Purukha ”. On third day he was blessed with words “Sarvabyapak, Kal Yan, moorat, Parameshwaraya, Namastang”. Each he would note them down on a piece of paper. How child-devotee Mangat Ram found God or came across the divine light of truth has been described in the sacred words of the “Mahamantra” for the edification of seekers of God. Later he fully expounded the significance of this “Mahamantra” in a section of his magnum opus “Shri Samata Prakash”. In that work, he has explained in some detail each words of this 13 word mantra.

Readers may find the mantra in its original form at the beginning of this book. It is enough to say here that this “Mahamantra” carries a significant effect. There is a special power inherent in it. Sincere and repeated recitation of this “Mahamantra” has been found to bring great benefit. It is also helpful if recited before starting any auspicious undertaking. He spent most of his time in meditation in high altitude areas, dense forests and other lonely spots. Open sky remained his night companion for life. A wandering Fakir with no possessions but a love of God; his living was startlingly simple. For fourteen years at a stretch, he sustained himself on a single glass of milk-tea per day. He overcame sleep, hunger and thirst. Sat Guru Mangat Ram sees similarity in the teachings of the founders of all religions the world over. The principle aim was to redeem man from the transient world he is born in and enable him to realize the bliss that is true and real. Sat Guru Mangat Ram had deep respect for all great souls. He accordingly advised study of their lives and teachings with reverence. However, cautioned against the futility of study if it was merely a mental preoccupation. He says: “The greatness of prophets and saints alone will not bring salvation unless their noble principles are actually adopted in life.” The revelatory verses of the “Vani” welled-up from the depth of his “Samadhi” and flowed for hours together.Bhagat Banarsi Dass who served at the master’s feet for over 16 years collected as many of these as he could and compiled them into Granth Shri Samta Prakash. The prose sayings on questions of applied Dharma and the way to right living are conserved in the Granth Shri Samta Vilas. Revelation and doctrine converged on a single focus: Samta - the point where difference and duality vanish, the state wherein the mind ascends the world of senses, and where phenomenon entities and experiences disappear and the individual being merges into the Supreme Being leaving behind the limit of time and space.

LIFES MISSION: With deep meditation, constant Self-remembrance and complete Brahmacharya (celibacy), Sat Guru Mangat Ram Ji had attained the supreme state of yoga. Vairagya (dispassion) within him had grown to boundless proportions. There was nothing more to be attained. The only mission before him now was to people who were burning in the fires of desires and snares of the senses. They were to be made aware of the real aim of life and introduced to true happiness and peace. Simple ways of spiritual progress were to be outlined for them. He preached what he practiced on himself. He was an embodiment of exquisite humility, undaunted fearlessness and an un-desiring state of mind: a true example of Selflessness. He left his mortal frame on 4 February, 1954 at the young age of 50 years at Amritsar in Punjab. He was the greatest exponent of Samta which he described copiously in the two “Granths” mentioned above. These scriptures are an ocean of spiritual knowledge for seekers of Truth or Ultimate Reality.