Rämäshram
Satsang was founded in 1923 by Paramsant Dr.
Chaturbhuj Sahai Ji at Etah U.P. to propagate
the teachings of his Samarth Guru, Paramsant Sri
Ram Chandra ji Mahäräj of Fatehgarh who had
evolved a novel but simple new method of
imparting spiritual education; true knowledge and
wisdom. At Etah , this work was continued by him
with unbounded zeal upto 1950; thereafter
considering the poor means of communication to
that town, Etah (which sometimes caused great
inconvenience to the incoming visitors), he
shifted his head-quarters and that of Rämäshram
Satsang in 1951 to Mathura (U.P.).
With a view to spread the message of his Master
to all parts of the country, the idea of bringing
out a monthly magazine was born. It was in August
1932, when the first copy of the monthly
“Sädhan” was published by him.
“Sädhan” now enters the 70th
year of its publication. Many seekers of truth
came to have his Darshan and learn the new
system of Sädhanä, after being
inspired by reading this monthly magazine.
Paramsant Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahai Ji was a
deep thinker and a writer of high calibre . He
wrote extensively. His numerous publications in simple
and lucid Hindi are monumental contributions to
the proper understanding of the various aspects
of Yog. Rev. Doctor Sahib
also travelled very widely and founded numerous
centres of Rämäshram Satsang, in towns and
villages in different parts of the country, where
seekers of the ultimate knowledge could gather
and practice Sädhanä on the new
system.
While leading the life of a Grihastha
(house holder), this great saint of modern India
depicted by his personal example that it was not
a condition precedent to leave the household and
the family for ultimate realisation of God. He
maintained that any setting was good enough for
the purpose.
What impressed people most was his simplicity,
deep sense of humanity and utter humility. He
never appeared to feel any difference between
himself and others, and was never in the least
obsessed with notions of distinctions that he
himself was the Enlightened One, while others
around him were languishing in bondage or
immersed in darkness or ignorance.
He was a real Tyägi (one who
renounces all) in the full and real sense of the
term. Whenever he took somebody under his
guidance, he held himself responsible for the
spiritual advancement of the initiated. His
personality exuded a unique charm which attracted
people towards him so much so, that they would
simply cluster round him just to have a glimpse
of him. He was so serene and so handsome that
everyone’s eyes fell on him. Besides, he had
a deep and abiding sense of humour and a
disarming smile.
He was an embodiment of peace and tranquillity.
In his presence, one could feel these as
emanations; all doubts would vanish, the
turbulence of the mind would cease and peace
would reign both within and without. No effort
was needed to attain these qualities. It was not
the hard work and long meditation on the part of
the disciples but His grace that elevated the
disciples unto such spiritual heights. Love and
affection flowed from his heart, unabated and
alike towards all. Everyone felt that he was
probably the most attached to the Great Master,
much more near to him than anyone else. While
that was so, the Great Master kept himself
completely detached from everything, identifying
himself only with his Lord. That Light, which is
the life of all men, continued to emanate from
him intensely and unabatedly; the flame never
flickered . It enlivened all those who sat near
him. In his presence the vision of the Absolute
lay unfolded beneath one’s own mortal eyes ,
and , happiness, peace and bliss radiated out
unceasingly , reflecting complete harmony and
unison with the Nature.
All powers of the Universe seemed to emanate from
him. He was indeed a true image of God, nay,
probably the God himself, before our very eyes.
The end of Sädhanä seemed to be
the beginning of it.
Indeed so many were his qualities that it would
be impossible to enumerate them or to dwell upon
them in a short article. One may legitimately ask
where did he get that perfection . The answer is
to be found in his Master. He was truly a perfect
disciple, an exact replica of his great Guru-Paramsant
Sri Ram Chandra Ji Maharaj (of Fatehgarh)
whom he followed most faithfully and whose great
qualities and elements of perfection fully
reflected in him.
Paramsant Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahai Ji was born in Sambat
1940 (November 3,1883) in a well known family of
Etah District U.P. When he was only 2 or 3 years
old, his mother left for her heavenly abode
leaving his upkeep solely to the care of his
father-Sri Ram Prasad Ji. After completing his
education, he came to Fatehgarh to practice in
medicine at the age of 18 years. He met his Gurudev
in the year 1910-11 in connection with the
treatment of Rev. Gurumata Ji.
Gradually thereafter, he came into closer contact
and received all the spiritual knowledge from his
Master. Soon he left his private practice to
devote himself fully to the fulfilment of the
command which his Master, Paramsant Shri Ram
Chandra Ji Sähib gave him. The great changes and
simplicity introduced by the great Master in the
system of initiating one into spiritual Sädhanä
were fully brought home and explained in a clear
and scientific manner. No quarter was given to a
dogmatic or orthodox ritualistic approach.
Uniqueness of His Satsang
(i) His doors were open
to all (sixteen years and over), irrespective of
gender, race, caste, creed, religion or faith.
There was no question of adhikäri
or anädhikäri
(the deserving or the undeserving). He maintained
that it was the intrinsic spiritual strength in
the Master that determined the pull on the
Sädhak to lift him from his present mental plane
of existence.
(ii)The age-old tradition of Master-disciple
relationship was set aside; an informal
family-like relationship was established, he
treated those who were about his age as his
brothers or sisters, the younger ones as sons or
daughters. He introduced an era of informality
without impairing discipline.
(iii) It was not the hard work and long
meditation on the part of the Sädhak
(the beginner) but the grace of Him that elevated
the new Sädhak It was not so much
as taking from the Sädhak, as it
was more of giving to him. The responsibility for
the spiritual advancement of the Sädhak
rested more on the teacher than on the Sädhak
The teacher had to maintain himself continually
at the highest level of spiritual attainment.
(iv) The Sädhak had only to
receive, in the region of his heart, the light
which emanated from the Enlightened One and watch
how that brought illumination within and
dispelled internal darkness and rendered the
whole being pure, charged with peace and bliss.
Indeed that illumination could be felt in his
presence all the twenty-four hours. It was
apparent that his mortal frame was but a thin
veil over the light of the Ätmä
that blazed within.
(v) To begin, 5-10 minutes of daily abhyäs
is prescribed, which may gradually be raised to
15 to 20 minutes in the mornings and evenings
that was enough for this Sädhanä
(spiritual practice). Everyone can easily
afford this little time. Gradually the time may
be extended further upto 30 minutes at a time(not
more is required). For ladies, 5-10 minutes are
sufficient. Besides, one had not to leave any pujä
(system of worship or meditation), in case he was
practising one . The new Sädhanä
was to supplement what was being practised, if at
all. Three initial sittings with the Master are
advised, thereafter one can do his/her exercise
anywhere, maintaining contact with the Master
through occasional meetings or through letters.
(vi) The system prescribed is simple, devoid of
rigour and affords universal adoption by people
in any walk of life. No special sitting style was
necessary. The practice could be done while
staying in any convenient posture.
(vii) All Sädhaks old or new ,
attained in his presence same levels of spiritual
heights; of course, the capabilities of the young
and the old Sädhaks differed in
the matter of retaining themselves at those
levels.
(viii) A balance was always advocated between
one’s conduct in both the worlds - the
physical and the spiritual. Due attention was
required to be paid towards the two, and all the
duties in both the domains were to be fulfilled
faithfully.
(ix) The realisation of the exalted plane of
perfect peace, tranquillity and bliss was
constant and fully real. The ultimate goal in Sädhanä
was laid open to every eye and heart. The end of Sädhanä
was the beginning of it. The seeker of Truth got
his vision and knew what stage had to be reached
by constant practice. In this process, there was
no room for suspicion and no room for
imagination. One had to start concentrating on
the real. And in case of difficulty, one had only
to go to the Master to get that light again.
(x) No defects were pointed out verbally. They
come to be noticed within, the Sädhaks
see them disappearing gradually with the grace of
the Master. Great time was thus saved in fighting
to remove what the internal mind (Mann)had
come to acquire erroneously.
(xi) Deep affection towards all and a sense of
renunciation and detachment gradually gets
inculcated within.
(xii) It was first the love and affection, all
for the Master, then for all those who came to
him and sat near; lastly towards all beings of
the Nature as every thing appeared to be a
manifestation of Him.
(xiii) These things still form the edifice of
Rämäshram Satsang (Mathura). Having shown the
path to thousands of men and women going astray
and after completing his part of the job,
Paramsant Dr. Chaturbhuj Sahai Ji left his
mortal frame in the early hours of September 24,
1957 and became one with his Lord. He still
guides the work of the Mission through his cosmic
form, though new professors (Ächäryäs) are
nominated from time to time. Presently,
Parampujya Hemendra Kumar Ji (son of Sri Guru
Maharaj Sahib) is the sanchälak
head of the satsang.
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