Param Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj

- Important Dates, Places and Events -

Glimpses from His life, throwing an interesting light on its many
variegated aspects, some of which are compiled here for the benefit
of those interested in the Master and His teachings

1894 – February 6. Kirpal Singh was born in Sayyad Kasran, district Rawalpindi (now part of Pakistan), to Sardar Hukam Singh and Gulab Devi, as the youngest brother of three. His eldest brother was Prem Singh, and His elder brother Jodh Singh. He was brought up in a Sikh household, and was educated at the Edwardes Church Mission High School in Peshawar.

– October. Baba Jaimal Singh Ji and Bibi Rukko were walking along the Kohmari Road of Mari Hills (“Murree Hills”, now in Pakistan), where Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji was inspecting the government work in progress there, in his capacity as Sub-Divisional Officer.

– October 15. Baba Jaimal Singh Ji initiated Baba Sawan Singh.

1898 – Baba Jaimal Singh Ji lived on the edge of the River Beas, where in 1898 the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Jaimal Singh was laid and a Satsang hall built (different from big hall built in 1934).

– Kirpal Singh began meditating at the age of four.

1899 – Kirpal Singh joined the Edwardes Church Mission High School, Kohati Gate, Peshawar.

1903 – December 29. Baba Jaimal Singh Ji left the earthly plane.

1906 – Kirpal Singh read of Ramanuja and, like him, became determined to give out the wealth of spirituality if He one day would receive it.

1908 – Kirpal Singh one day met an old atheist, Darbari Lal, in the Shahi Bagh (Great Garden) of Peshawar, who asked Him, “Where is the Shahi Garden?” and Kirpal Singh replied that it was right there where he was standing. Darbari Lal said, “Here there are only trees and shrubs. How do you say that this is the Shahi Garden?” Kirpal Singh quickly followed the import of the old man’s words and asked him about the Sadhan (method) he was practising. Pointing to his forehead between the two eyes, the old man said, “I derive great peace, solace and bliss when I sit here within, between the two eyes. This is the real Shahi Garden.”

– Kirpal Singh joined the inner circle of the Dev Samaj in Peshawar upon invitation by the son of Shri Dev Guru Baghwan. He met Baba Kahan there, whom He thereafter visited off and on. Hazur Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, too, had been visiting this holy man.

“Our Master used to visit one Baba Kahan at Peshawar. I was then in my school life, I also used to go to him.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, Morning Talks, p. 139)

1908/9 – “When I was in Peshawar, studying in the ninth grade, I used to take my books to study in a garden named Shahi Bagh.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Night is a Jungle, p. 343)

– “As a student, I was reading in the ninth class and the teacher was so satisfied with me that he would leave the class to me for teaching in his absence – that very class in which I was a student. So hard work is another name for genius, mind that.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Light of Kirpal, p. 423)

– “So I always say, ‘Decide what is your aim in life!’ When I was reading in the ninth class, one retired missionary came and gave a talk. One, two, three days, four days. After that, he questioned everybody, ‘What aim have you decided upon?’ Everybody said in his own way, ‘I want to become an advocate’; some said a doctor; some said a businessman, so on. I was sitting in the back row. When I stood up, I said, ‘I read for the knowledge’s sake.’ He gave a one-hour talk about that. So that decision sometimes comes naturally, otherwise we have, by discrimination, to come to that decision sooner or later. Why not start from the experience had by others and start all at once with it? This will save you time. Make the best use of the time you are here.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Decide your Aim in Life”, Sat Sandesh May 1975)

– “I used to study in a Christian school, and always had an inquisitive nature. I knew that we said ‘Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj,’ for in India we attach many respectful terms to the names of Masters and certain respected people, and had noticed that the Christians called their great Saint merely Jesus. So I went to a Christian bishop and questioned him: ‘Why do you not put a prefix to Christ’s name, when even the most insignificant common man is at least referred to as Mr. Somebody?’ The bishop said, and I can still distinctly remember his reply, ‘We consider Christ the son of God, and as we cannot glorify God, so we cannot extol Christ. If we start prefixing his name, we will make him smaller, not greater.’ ” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “To Gain His Pleasure”, Sat Sandesh Dec 1970)

– “When I was in school, there was one geometrical problem and the professor came in to the class and said, ‘You could not solve this geometrical problem last year.’ He addressed me and one or two more, ‘Try tomorrow – tomorrow is Sunday. Try to see if this could be solved.’ The next morning I went and sat down. First I solved that problem in a very long way, then in a short-cut way. On Monday we attended the school. He asked, ‘Well, have you come to any conclusions? Have you solved the problem?’ ‘Yes,’ I told him, ‘I have solved it in two ways.’ I showed him on the board. Teacher naturally likes students like that.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Light of Kirpal, p. 161)

1911 – Kirpal Singh graduated from Edwardes Church Mission High School, Peshawar, at the top of His class. He had by then read the books from two libraries. (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Light of Kirpal, p. 216)

– He was married to Krishnawanti; however lived alone for more years thereafter.

– Death of His mother Gulab Devi, which Kirpal Singh had foreseen 6 months earlier and told her to now give up worldly attachments.

– Baba Sawan Singh Ji retired from Government Service and came to live permanently at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, located three miles away from the Beas railway station. He purchased waste lands and fields and with the construction of new houses the Dera grew considerably.

– Kirpal Singh joined the Military Engineering Service at Peshawar.

191? – Kirpal Singh was transferred to Nowshera, where He used to sit by the banks of the Kabul River for hours.

191? – Kirpal Singh was transferred to Jhelum, where He used to sit by the Jhelum River for hours on end.

1912 – Kirpal Singh was transferred to Lahore to join the Military Accounts Department.

– Refused to take graft from a contractor saying that I am fully paid by the Government for doing the job, even when the colleagues and family members were pressing to take graft.

“When I was in Lahore, I used to go to the Ravi River at night.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “The Temple of God”, Sat Sandesh March 1970)

– Kirpal Singh witnessed a young lady dying and also saw the body of an old man on pyre. On the cremation ground He then saw an inscription on the “smadh” of Munshi Gulab Singh which read: “O ye that move! We too were like you once, enjoying life to the full. But alas! Now we are a handful of dust beneath this stone.” These three scenes in quick succession affected Kirpal Singh to the core. He started night-long vigils ruminating over the enigma of life.

“I may tell you of the condition of my mind in the year 1911 or 1912. In those days I had a great inner urge for God. … I had an opportunity to sit beside a dying person. That had a tremendous effect on me. With the purity of life, I had also developed the faculty to read the future. All these came to me in a natural way. But with all these I could not solve the enigma of life. The sight of the dying one before my very eyes quickened the intensity of my heart. I could feel that there was something that was slipping out of the person, but I could not make out what it was. I had yet no inkling of the life-impulse. While it was still surging in me, it was ebbing out in the other. The lady on the deathbed called her friends and relations to meet them before leaving them for good. And in an instant thereafter she closed her eyes never to open again. This is how she passed away in my very presence, and I felt bewildered. I was flabbergasted to see the dead body before me. The life in her had gone out, but I still felt that it was working in me. I followed the bier to the cremation ground along with others. While on the way, my eyes inquiringly looked at the bier but could not make out anything. Even the learned and the wise do not know how to solve this mystery. Upon reaching the cremation ground, I saw the dead body of an old man being laid on the funeral pyre. Alongside that pyre, we set up another pyre for the body of the young lady that we had carried on our shoulders. The contrast between the two scenes – the young and the old – deepened the anguish in my heart. Neither one could escape the clutches of death. Both were lying lifeless before me. I wanted to know what life was.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Search for Truth, Sat Sandesh March 1969)

– “When I left my school, educational career, I had to decide. What? There were two things before me – God and the world. It took me about seven or eight days, all alone at night, in a very lonely place, reflecting on what should be the aim of my life. I am speaking to you about a question that came up in 1912. I decided: God first and world next. God first and the world next.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Light of Kirpal, p. 209)

– “I can only say for myself that in 1912 it took me ten or eleven days to decide. At night I used to go out when nobody was there; I would decide for and against what should be my aim. I had ambition in life, too, and I had a little background, with God’s grace. So, I decided once for all, God first and world next. All scriptures say you do that and all things shall be added unto you. I had a good position in the office, the highest officer believed in me more than the comptroller. So my point is, decide what you want! Don’t you want to go home?” (Kirpal Singh, “Don’t you want to go Home?”, Sat Sandesh Jan 1975)

– Once in 1912, Kirpal Singh had only one anna (1/16 rupee) left with Him and a week ahead before pay-day. He spent the entire week with that solitary anna, living on gram and water and never stooped to borrowing, and this principle he has held all through His life.

1915 – “In 1915 – long after that I went to my Master – I got a fever that lasted for about eight months. I used to lie there, cover my head and think of the Lord.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Be True to your Own Self”, Sat Sandesh June 1976)

1917 – May. In His meditations, Kirpal Singh began seeing His future Master, Baba Sawan Singh Ji, taking him to be Guru Nanak. This was the result of parental blessings He had received, after He had attended to His father, who, in his old days, had fallen seriously ill, with great care and affection.

“My true birth was in May 1917, the day that I left my body and travelled the heavens with Hazur.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “To Celebrate a True Birthday”, Sat Sandesh Feb 1970)

1919 – Kirpal Singh formed a social service corps in Lahore for the care of the victims of an influenza epidemic which had swept all over India in September 1918, and to bury those who died from the disease, while even their closest relatives fearfully kept away from them. His example also inspired others to help.

– “I will tell you of an instance in India in 1919. There was a friend of mine in Peshawar. At that time influenza was sweeping the country. I went to see him. He was then reading a book on Yoga. When I asked him what he was doing, he said since death was overtaking everybody, he was reading that book to find the Yoga-way. ‘I may as well learn something about life after death and am reading a book on Yoga,’ he added. I told him: ‘Is it not too late now? How can you begin to dig a well when you are dying of thirst?’ A week after this conversation I went to see him again. It was Sunday and the gentleman lay on his death-bed. My words had proved true. It had indeed been too late.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Night is a Jungle, p. 72)

1921 – “In 1921, I was posted in the Accounts Branch of an Indian Army Regiment. An army orderly used to cook my food. I had given him strict instructions not to allow anyone to enter the kitchen, and also told him to recite holy verses while preparing the food. It was my practice to sit for meditation daily in the dead of night. One night I noticed negative thoughts disturbing my meditation. I woke the orderly up and asked him if there was any-one with him in the kitchen that night. He said no, but he was telling a lie. Later he admitted it.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “He came to make us Satsangis”, Sat Sandesh April 1968)

– Kirpal Singh was posted at Dera Ismail Khan as an Accounts Officer of the 36^th Sikh Regiment. A fearful looking dacoit who was personal bodyguard to the Indian Commanding Officer, used to terrorise the people there, but during Kirpal Singh’s absence, he used to clean His residence. When one day He met the dacoit by surprise, the dacoit with folded hands explained that whenever he had a glimpse of Him, he began to tremble and his past sins came before his eyes. Kirpal Singh told him to repeat the Name of the Lord and helped him to turn a new leaf in his life.

– September 14. Son Darshan Singh was born at Kountrila, district Rawalpindi.

1924 – February. While living in Lahore, Kirpal Singh once had a desire to visit the River Beas. One Sunday morning, He arrived at Beas railway station. From the station master He learned that a Saint was living on the bank of the river. Kirpal Singh made His way to the Dera. There he met Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj and recognized in Him the same figure had been appearing to him for seven years before, from 1917 to 1924. He was initiated into the Path of the Masters in the same month.

“I was extremely fond of rivers. Wherever I happened to be, I would look for a stream nearby and find a solitary spot for my meditations. When I went to Lahore, I had the river Ravi. And so it was at Jhelum. For hours together I would sit by the riverside absorbed in thought. While at Lahore it struck me to see Beas river. It was this lure of the flowing water that led me to Beas.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, The Night is a Jungle, p. 135)

“When I met my Master physically and sat at His feet, the month was February; the day was Basant Panchmi.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “To Celebrate a True Birthday”, Sat Sandesh Feb 1970)

– “I was the first man in my village to be initiated, and it started some trouble. I was called to the temple there and I tried to explain to them, finally saying, ‘All right, there is a difference; why not take a few men, say four or five, and we will go and talk together heart to heart – you may choose the most learned men.’ A number of people took a vow to kill me as a result; they fixed a meeting place, choosing the time at ten o’clock at night, with the purpose of killing me as I walked through the village to the appointed place. But when the hour came and I walked to the meeting place, they did meet me on the way but had no courage to attack me. Some months after this incident, the ringleader of this plot came to Lahore and I met him one day in the street. I at once invited him to my home, telling him, ‘Come, dear friend, have your food with me today.’ When we reached my house, he sat down and cried. Naturally, I asked him what was wrong, and he replied, ‘You knew I was the one who led that plot to kill you, and yet you have welcomed me to your home.’ He was quite overcome.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Your life should show criteria”, Sat Sandesh May 1974)

1927 – Had a vision of the passing away of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji as it actually occured twenty-one years later.

1929 – Birth of son Jaswant Singh.

– Kirpal Singh was asked by His Master to hold a central Satsang in Lahore to bring everyone together. As no Satsang hall was available, a large bungalow with a lawn was acquired. Earlier to this, Satsangs took place in different parts of the city; but Baba Sawan Singh was not satisfied with this arrangement.

193? – Once Baba Sawan Singh went to Sayyad Kasran, the village of Sant Kirpal Singh. After the Satsang, the headmaster of the local school stood up and said, “Sardar Sahib, so far as you initiate the deserving ones into the esoteric mysteries of the beyond, it is all right. But when you initiate even the undeserving for the mere asking, it seems rather queer and improper.” Hazur replied, “Brother, if you talk of the deserving candidates, I can tell you in confidence that even I was not deserving when Babaji bestowed on me the riches of Naam.” And then added, “If a wealthy person would like to share his riches with his poor brethren, why should anybody grudge it.”

– Once, Hazur went to the village of Sayyad Kasran for a Satsang. There was a huge gathering. The Akalis likewise held a big dewan (meeting), in opposition to Hazur’s mission. After the Satsang, both in the morning and evening, people would partake the langar – a sort of free community kitchen. On that day, at about 2 in the afternoon, when after serving sangat, the langar had finished, some hundreds of Akalis came and asked for food, just to embarrass the organisers. They were in no mood to wait and asked to be served food immediately. When S. Kirpal Singh was informed of the situation, he hastened to the langar, and finding that there was hardly anything left, ordered that a fresh meal be prepared. The Akalis, however, insisted on immediate service. At this juncture, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji came to the langar and asked, “Kirpal Singh, why don’t you serve food to these people, when there is enough of it for the purpose. Take the basket of chapatis, cover it with a cloth and begin serving them – and do likewise with the vegetables.” No sooner said than done. The chapatis and the vegetables were accordingly served and to the astonishment of those serving the food and those partaking of it, there was no dearth and the Akalis had their fill.

193? – Kirpal Singh was transferred to Rawalpindi. (~1930)

– “In the beginning I used to put in more time. I was transferred to Rawalpindi. The first day I was there, everybody knew it. ‘A follower of the Master!’ They were saying this and that thing. That even came to be known to Bibi Hardevi, who is sitting here. She never knew me before that. People said, ‘Well, he’s here; he’s a very great follower of the Master.’ She said, ‘What greatness lies in him?’ ‘He puts in six hours a day in meditation.’ She said, ‘All right, if he puts that in, then I’ll put in six to seven hours – then I’ll meet him.’ Suchlike competition is good.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “How I met my Master”, Sat Sandesh July 1975)

1934 – September 30, 1 pm. Foundation stone for the big Satsang Hall at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh was laid by Baba Sawan Singh Ji.

1935 – On Ravi Road, land was acquired for the Lahore Satsang Ghar.

1936 – The foundation stone was laid for the Lahore Satsang Ghar by Baba Sawan Singh Ji. Kirpal Singh was entrusted the responsibility of supervising the construction.

1939 – Kirpal Singh initiated around 250 persons at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh as ordered by, and in the presence of, His Master.

“It so happened in my life that once my Master had about 250 people in the monthly Satsang initiated by me. There was a big row started by those who were hankering after the Mastership: ‘The Mastership is gone!’ In His lifetime, no Master would permit that. He can authorize anybody to initiate at a far-off place, but does not do it in His presence in His own Satsang.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Be True to your Own Self”, Sat Sandesh June 1976)

– Kirpal Singh began writing Gurmat Sidhant (in Punjabi), a treatise on science of spiritual, which was on the request of Kirpal Singh was published under the Name of His Master. Kirpal Singh then lived in Ram Gali in Lahore.

“So there was a big row, a great conspiracy against me: ‘He made off yesterday, like that. Master is authorizing him to give initiation in His own presence, in the Dera!’ A whole controversy went on against me like anything – so much so, that there were letters coming in – in all languages – from different towns saying: ‘He’s such a man; he’s such a man.’ And Master was keeping – keeping up – all those letters with Him. At least He knew at heart of hearts what I was. But He sent me a message: ‘Don’t go to any man or attend anything in anybody’s house, except the Satsang. There you may go for holding a Satsang.’ Hitherto, what did I use to do? When I left the office, I used to visit the sick, the poor, the needy and others who wanted help. I gave talks here and there until late at night, until nine or ten. In the morning, it was also like that. So now, because I only had to go to the Satsang place on Sunday, I had ample time. Then I wrote the big book, Gurmat Sidhant. I had ample time at my disposal, you see. So that propaganda was carried out against me for eight or nine months regularly. And the people around Him would not suffer me to go near the Master. Well, at a distance I used to have a look. And His eyes helped me, of course.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Be True to your Own Self”, Sat Sandesh June 1976)

– Sept. 11. Baba Sawan Singh encourages Him in a letter to conduct satsang and complete his spiritual progress in meditation. Further on in the letter, Baba Sawan Singh stated that he was "greatly pleased" with Kirpal Singh, adding that "You [Kirpal Singh] are serving the Lord with all your resources – body, mind and money."

1942 – Baba Sawan Singh immediately retured to Dera Beas from Dalhausie by canceling His further programme after receiving a letter from Kirpal Singh stating that His further separation has became unbearable.

1944 – September 5. Death of His elder brother, S. Jodh Singh.

1946 – July 22. Death of His eldest brother, S. Prem Singh.

1947 – March. Kirpal Singh retired after thirty-six years of meritorious service, as Deputy Assistant Controller of Military Accounts. At the farewell, everyone was in tears. He was loved and admired both by His officers and subordinates.

“I tell you, when I was going to retire, I was in government service as a Military Accounts officer. I was going on a pension, and people advised me to have my pension commuted so that I could continue working for another ten years. Then I told them that I didn’t want to commute my pension. Why? I knew I had my mission before me.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “A Matter of Death and Life”, Sat Sandesh June 1970)

– August. Immediately after India’s partition on August 15, 1947, some 150 Muslims from neighbouring areas, fleeing from the wrath of the Akalis, sought refuge in the Dera at Beas. Hazur asked Kirpal Singh to look out for Muslim caravans trekking their way to Pakistan, and escort these refugees and entrust them to the care of their co-religionists.

– September. Before Baba Sawan Singh went to Amritsar for medical examination, He constituted three committees, one was a committee for management of Dera affairs; 2^nd was for development of land at Dera, and the 3^rd was the Satsang Committee in charge of which was Kirpal Singh.

– October 11. Kirpal Singh went to Amritsar in response to an urgent call from His Master. In a week's time His Master’s condition was again better.

– October 12, 7 am. Kirpal Singh was assigned the task of Naam initiation by His Master.

Baba Sawan Singh approved the plans for Ruhani Satsang submitted by Kirpal Singh – spirituality stripped of all outer encrustations and presented as a science.

1948 – March 28. Last Satsang held by Kirpal Singh in the Dera during the lifetime of Hazur.

– April 1. Last meeting with His Master. Baba Sawan Singh Ji transferred His Spiritual Wealth to Kirpal Singh through the eyes.

– April 2. Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji left the earthly plane.

– April 6. Sant Kirpal Singh left Dera Baba Jaimal Singh in Beas for Delhi. After a brief stay, He proceeded to Rishikesh where He spent five months in retreat and met many holy men in the area, among others Sri Shivananda and Maharishi Raghvacharya.

– Early September. Kirpal Singh gave His first Initiation to Shri Gopal Das, at the behest of his Master.

“When my Master left the body, I had to go to the wilderness. I had some experience of the jungle and secluded places for five or six months. I went to the home of Hindu theology (Rishikesh), so to say. Shivananda, who has since passed away, lived there and many other yogis as well.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “How I met my Master”, Sat Sandesh July 1975)

“When I went to Rishikesh in 1948, I met a yogi (Raghvacharya) who used to leave his body by patanjali yoga. He was about one hundred years old, and welcomed me with all respect and told me, ‘I have spent all my life in learning this yoga, and only after many, many years was I able to leave the body. How did You get it?’ I told him I learned at the Guru’s feet, and explained how a demonstration is given, an inner experience which is increased daily.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Enter at the Straight Gate”, Sat Sandesh July 1974)

-- In Risikesh, Sant Kirpal Singh used to sit in meditation for hours on a big stone which was midway in the waters of river Ganga (Ganges). Once it was announced by administration to vacate lower houses as the water in river Ganga might rise by 5-6 feet. Sant Kirpal Singh remained stable in his meditation and the water only became fast but it did not rise.

-- Sant Kirpal Singh met many Sadhus in Risikesh and once asked them about the Yoga due to which Savitri (after leaving the body) followed Yam Raj or the god of death who was taking the soul of her husband Satyawan. None could explain the mystery.

-- Sant Kirpal Singh once was searching books in Swami Ram Tirath‘s Library in Risikesh. The librarian had been giving books for about 15 minutes and Maharaj Ji also discussed about books for some time. Suddenly the librarian fell on His feet and said: “Your eyes seem to be God’s”.

– December 2. Sant Kirpal Singh started His Mission in Delhi and began giving regular initiations.

1950 – Ruhani Satsang established according to the guidelines previously approved by Hazur Baba Sawan Singh.

1951 – June 11, evening. Sawan Ashram was dedicated at Shakti Nagar, Delhi. It was a hot, humid day with not a speck of cloud in the sky. But when all gathered for the Master’s first talk, a thick cloud spread overhead and Sawan Himself showered His blessings with a fine drizzle, followed by big raindrops.

1954 – December. The publication of Sat Sandesh magazine was started in Hindi and Urdu languages.

1955 – May 31. Sant Kirpal Singh left Delhi for His first world tour.

“Even before I arrived in America, there were people who knew nothing about me who were seeing the Master’s form and also Baba Sawan Singh Ji within. When they saw me physically they told me that they had been seeing me within for months, and some for a year or more. Brothers, it is all His work, not mine.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “To gain His Pleasure”, Sat Sandesh Dec 1970)

“During my first world tour, on the way back to India, I agreed to pay an unarranged impromptu visit to Germany. Someone who was accompanying me remarked, ‘But how will those people recognize You, for they have never seen You? In other countries at least the program was prepared. Even if they recognize You by Your clothes, how will You know them?’ I replied, ‘He Who is sending me there will make all the arrangements – why should I worry? He will Himself arrange all to receive me.’ When the plane landed in Germany there was a small crowd awaiting me, and each person had a rose in his hand.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “To gain His Pleasure”, Sat Sandesh Dec 1970)

“It happened that I went to Berlin in 1955 on my return from the United States. There, as I did not know the German language, I simply engaged an interpreter to interpret what I said in English. Well, after a few minutes, the people in the audience said: ‘Look here, stop! You don’t interpret correctly. We understand more from His eyes than from what you say.’ So receptivity gives more than words: it gives life-impulse.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Three Questions”, Sat Sandesh July 1976)

– November 5. Return to Delhi after completing His first world tour.

1956 – December 9. Sant Kirpal Singh gave the inaugural address to the Ninth General Session of UNESCO, held in Delhi. His speech “World Peace in the Atomic Age” is a road map for attaining world peace.

1957 – November 17 – 18. First Conference of World Religions, held at Diwan-e-Aam, the Hall of Public Audience in the Red Fort, Delhi. Sant Kirpal Singh was unanimously elected President of the World Fellowship of Religions.

“There was one grand conference held in India at Delhi in 1957, where over 250 delegates were invited. They came from different religions and from different countries, and there was a gathering of over 200 000 people.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “The Esoteric Side of Religion”, a talk held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 29, 1963)

1958 – First tour to Pakistan. At the insistent requests of the disciples in Pakistan, the Master went to Lahore in 1958, and spent 5 days there, delivering discourses on spirituality.

When Master and His party (Tai Ji, Gyani Bhagwan Singh, W.S. Mongia and his wife) crossed the last of three check-points for Lahore, hundreds of Muslim satsangis were waiting at the border for the Master’s darshan. In Lahore, satsangis had made arrangements for His stay and Satsangs to be held, at a place where all satsangis initiated by Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj before the partition of the country would gather. Master stayed at Bungalow No. 31 in Shalimar Garden-Town, the residence of Mr. Mahmud Shaukat, Master’s chief representative in Pakistan.

1959 – Second tour to Pakistan. The Master and His party (Khuku Narendra, Tai Ji, W.S. Mongia and wife) got into the train at Amritsar Railway Station at about 12:00 noon. At the railway station, Lahore, the Master was accorded V.I.P. treatment and nobody in the Master’s party was checked or searched. Again, Master stayed at Mr. Shaukat’s house where hundreds of satsangis from various parts of Pakistan had collected for Master’s Darshan.

1960 – Second Conference of World Religions, held in Calcutta. Sant Kirpal Singh was unanimously re-elected President of the World Fellowship of Religions.

1962 – Sant Kirpal Singh became the first non-Christian to be honoured with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta.

– October 6. Sant Kirpal Singh was declared National Saint of India by Ram Lila Committee at Ramlila Grounds, Delhi, in presence of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India.

1963 – April. Third tour to Pakistan. Master and His party (Tai Ji, W.S. Mongia and his wife) travelled by train from Amritsar to Lahore, and again stayed at the house of Mr. Shaukat. Throughout all His tours in Pakistan, the Master would make half a dozen people sit in each room of the house and initiate them. The old satsangis brought their sons and grandsons with them for initiation.

– June 8. Sant Kirpal Singh left Delhi for His second world tour.

“I had the chance of meeting many political leaders in the West, during my tour, and I reminded them that they had been given children of Got to take care of, and they should do so in the best possible way.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “The Light of Kirpal”: Prayer)

“During this tour, I met with people from the Tyrol. Some Italians in the Tyrolean area had control over the people there. They were revolting, and they had bombs and other weapons. I met the governor, and we had a one-hour talk. He said, ‘I do not know what to do. I don’t follow what is to be done.’ I told him, ‘Delay. Light will shine.’ And what happened? We are now in corres-pondence. War did not break out.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “The Ocean of Intoxication”, Sat Sandesh April 1975)

“During my last tour of the United States I gave a talk on December 25, 1963, on the subject “Christ lived before Jesus,” in which I told them that Christ Power and Guru Power are the same. Similarly, the Shabd, the Word, the God-into-expression Power and God Himself are all the same, and that Power working at the Human Pole we call a Guru. That very talk has been printed under the title, God Power, Christ Power, Master Power.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Are you even half a Disciple?” Sat Sandesh Sept 1972)

1964 – January 31. Returned to Delhi after completing His second world tour.

1965 – Third Conference of World Religions, held at Ramlila Grounds, Delhi. Sant Kirpal Singh was unanimously re-elected President of the World Fellowship of Religions.

1968 – January. The monthly magazine Sat Sandesh started its English and Punjabi publication.

– April. Ardh Kumbh Mela, held at Hardwar. The Master set up a camp and gave satsang for the benefit of the millions of pilgrims who attended the spiritual fair.

1969 – February 6. Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Master was felicitated by prominent social and religious leaders, as well as devotees.

1970 – February 6. Inauguration of Manav Kendra, Dehra Dun.

“From an early age, I had this single-minded purpose. I was very fond of reading; and after the study of many books, I came to the conclusion that man-making is the highest ideal. Man-service comes next, and land-service third. In the Manav Kendra, all three ideals have been incorporated. Even as a young man, I loved to serve people, particularly those sick in hospitals, who I would attend morning and evening before and after my daily work; and I would help those who could not afford to buy medicines. Here in Manav Kendra, we have started a hospital for the poor who will get free treatment. For the homeless, aged people who are indigent, the Fathers’ Home has been started. In land-service there are agriculture and dairy farm sections. There is the Mansarover, elliptical in shape with dimensions of 350 feet by 200 feet, the surrounding of which is an ideal place reserved for meditation. Nature has helped us by providing a strong spring of pure water which feeds the Mansarover and supplies all Manav Kendra. As is very evident nowadays, the present system of education is defective insofar as it does not cover moral education, which is the very basis of good citizenship and brotherhood. This will be included in the Manav Kendra Education Scheme which was inaugurated by the Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister who was greatly impressed with the proposed scheme. We have started with a small school, but the facilities will be enlarged to meet requirements up to university level. There is also a probability of starting a language school that thoughts may be exchanged by people of different tongues. The library, which will hold books of all religions and philosophies, has also been started. If you study the scriptures of all religions, you will find the one basic teaching of the Masters rooted in them all. They teach that all mankind is one, and that the way back to God is also one alone, and that is by direct contact and connection with the Light and Sound principle, innate in all beings. This connection with the God Power can be made only while the soul is in the human form, and in no other species. Remain in your own religion, but do not rest until you have been connected back to the Lord. He Himself will then take you back to Himself.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Solve the Mystery of Life”, Sat Sandesh Oct 1973)

– Fourth World Conference of Religions under Sant Kirpal Singh’s presidentship, held at Ramlila Grounds, Delhi. Sant Kirpal Singh was re-elected 4^th time the President of World Fellowship of Religions.

– April 3. Sant Kirpal Singh’s wife Mata Krishnawanti passed away.

1971 – June 29. Underwent a successful body operation in the Mahajan Nursing Home, Delhi.

– On one evening at Manav Kendra, Dehradun, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was presented Rs.5/- as sewa by some disciple who also started weeping taking that he was giving a very meagre amount. While receiving sewa, Maharaj Ji said, “You gave me Rs.5/- which is equal to Rupees five lakhs for me. You have given it to me. Have these become mine?” – “Yes”, the disciple answered. “Can I give these to anyone?” The disciple replied in affirmative. Then Maharaj Ji asked that very disciple to take it. But when seeing that the disciple was weeping, the sewa was kept by Maharaj Ji.

– Once a tractor was levelling the high boundary of the Sarover (pond) at Manav Kendra, Dehradun. The driver, after stopping the tractor, started eating grams (flour from chick peas) with gur (palm sugar). A little boy sitting near the driver, suddenly started the tractor and the tractor along with the driver and little boy turned turtle and fell around 5-6 feet down. But to the astonishment of all, not even a minor scratch came to both of them. Even the tractor remained fully in order.

– On another evening when Maharaj Ji was walking in the veranda of his residence, a disciple requested that he was not progressing in his meditation. Maharaj Ji asked him what he sees on closing his eyes. The disciple said, “I see nothing special”. Maharaj Ji immediately asked him to constantly fix his gaze in the middle of what unspecial he sees there and also assured that in this way, the meditation would improve.

1972 – March 14. His Excellency, the then President of India Mr. V. V. Giri visited Manav Kendra.

– August 26. Sant Kirpal Singh left Delhi for the third world tour.

“So this is what I have to tell you, in a few words: what is before us and how fortunate we are to have been put on the Way. Now we are to work for that, you see. That costs you nothing. Our Master used to say, ‘What does it cost you? One or two hours of sleep!’ Instead of sleeping eight hours, sleep six hours. You don’t have to pay for anything; it is a gift of nature. Like all other gifts of nature, it is free. … the last two times I was here – in India too – I gave all my talks free; no tickets, no donation boxes. Why? Because it is a gift of God. The books I have written, you know? – No Rights Reserved. I know it is a gift from God.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “The Gift of the Living Master”, Sat Sandesh Jan 1973)

1973 – January 2. Return to Delhi after completing His third world tour.

– February 6. Sant Kirpal Singh’s eightieth Birthday celebrated.

– February 7. Sant Kirpal Singh was presented an Abhinandan Patra by Raja Mohinder Pratap at the conference centre Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, honouring Him on behalf of various religious, social and political leaders of India.

– April 2. National Integration Day celebrated at Manav Kendra, Dehra Dun. The construction work of the hospital, the home for the aged, the school and the farm was completed.

– April. All India Freedom Fighters Convention at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

– April 13. Vice President of India, Sh. G.S.Pathak, visited Manav Kendra, Dehradun.

– April 14. His Excellency, Governor of U.P. Mr. Akbar Ali Khan visited Manav Kendra.

– June. Kashmir tour.

– October. Punjab tour.

– December. Bombay tour.

1974 – January. Sant Kirpal Singh inaugurated the second Manav Kendra, at Kandari, district Baroda (Gujrat).

– February 3 – 6. Sant Kirpal Singh sponsored and presided over the Unity of Man Conference in Delhi. Delegates came from Australia, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malta, Nigeria, Thailand and the United States.

“I was so pleased to have you all here at this time, at the plea of the Conference which was held at the level of the human body. I think this was the first conference of its kind since King Ashoka – centuries ago. Many conferences have been held at the level of religions, but at the level of man it was a great revolution – to which those who were here will bear witness – to tell you a great truth.” (Sant Kirpal Singh, “Your Life Should Show Criteria”, Sat Sandesh May 1974)

– April 12. Kumbh Mela, Hardwar. Sant Kirpal Singh formed the National Unity Conference and presided over a meeting in which leaders of half a million sadhus sat together for the first time. They resolved that all holy men should go far and wide to spread the message of national integration.

– July 26 – 27. Rashtriya Sant Samagam (National Convocation of Saints) organised by Sant Kirpal Singh in Delhi.

– July 29. Sant Kirpal Singh gave His last initiation sitting in which 1.087 souls received the gift of Holy Naam.

– August 1. Addressed members of the Indian Parliament (being the first spiritual leader to be honoured with this invitation).

– August 15. (India’s Independence Day) Last Satsang Talk in Hindi, Sawan Ashram, Delhi, on the importance of human independence.

– August 17. Last Darshan Talk in English to disciples from outside India at Sawan Ashram, Delhi.

– August 20. Admission to Willington Hospital, Delhi.

– August 21. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj left His physical body.

Sources

· Sat Sandesh – The Message of the Masters

· How I met My Master
Talk given by Sant Kirpal Singh on January 24, 1964 in Washington, D.C. Printed in Sat Sandesh, July 1975

· The Night is a Jungle
Ruhani Satsang – Divine Science of the Soul, 2^nd edition (1984)

· Morning Talks
Ruhani Satsang – Divine Science of the Soul, 5^th edition (1988)

· The Light of Kirpal
Sant Bani Press, Sant Bani Ashram, Sornbornton, NH, 4^th edition (1996)

· A brief life-sketch of Hazoor Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj
by Sant Kirpal Singh (included in: A Great Saint – Baba Jaimal Singh)

· The Beloved Master
by Bhadra Sena, Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram, Shakti Nagar, Delhi-7, India. 1^st edition (1963)

· The Saint and His Master
by M.B. Sahai and R.K. Khanna, Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram, Shakti Nagar, Delhi-7, India. 1^st edition (1968)

· Portrait of Perfection
SK Publications, Kirpal Ashram, 2 Canal Road, Vijay Nagar, Delhi 110009, India. 2^nd edition (1994)

· The Ocean of Grace Divine
Bhadra Sena (editor), Kirpal Printing Press, 29/1, Shakti Nagar, Delhi 110007, India. 1^st edition (1976)

· Glimpses of the Great Master
Cami Moss (editor), Hongkong Hilton, Hongkong. 1^st edition (1986)

· Pita-Poot (Father & Son- Sawan and Kirpal)
Hindi Book by Harish Chander Chadha, Editor Hindi Sat Sandesh, Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram, Shakti Nager, Delhi-110007, India.

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