| Baba Sawan Singh | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Sant Mat, Radha Soami, Sikhism |
| Personal | |
| Born | July, 1858 Jatala, Punjab |
| Died | April 2, 1948 Punjab India |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Punjab |
| Title | Sant Satguru |
| Period in office | 1903 - 1948 |
| Predecessor | Baba Jaimal Singh |
Baba Sawan Singh (1858–1948), also known as "The Great Master" or "Bade Maharaji" was an Indian Saint. He was the second Satguru of Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) from the death of Baba Jaimal Singh in 1903 until his own death on April 2, 1948.[1] Before he died he appointed Sardar Bahadur Jagat Singh as his spiritual successor at Beas.[2][3] Disciples of his who after his death have formed separate spiritual missions at other places in India[4] include Sant Kirpal Singh, Baba Somanath, Pritam Das, Shah Mastana Ji [5] and Ishwar Puri.[6]
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Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji was born into a Sikh family on 27 July 1858 in village Jatala, District Ludhiana. His father was Subedar Major Kabul Singh and his mother was Mata Jiwani. He was married to Mata Kishan Kaur Ji and together they had three children. He passed Engineering from Thomason College, Roorkee and joined the Military Engineering Service. His bearing was majestic and attractive.
He studied scriptures of various religions but retained a strong connection with the Gurbani of the Sikh religion.[7]
He had contact with a mystic of Peshawar named Baba Kahan who he hoped to get initiation from but was refused. "I associated with him for several months and during that time he showed supernatural powers on several occasions. When I asked him if he would shower grace upon me by initiating me, he answered: "No, he is somebody else; I do not have your share.' I then asked him to tell me who that person was so that I could contact him. He replied: "When the time comes, he will himself find you."[8]
Later when Sawan was stationed at Murree, he met Baba Jaimal Singh ji, who said to his companion that he had come to initiate Sawan. After much arguing and discussion and several conferences with Baba Ji, Sawan became thoroughly convinced and received Initiation from Baba Jaimal Singh on the 15th day of October, 1894.
He retired in 1911 and set up Dera Baba Jaimal Singh at Beas whose foundations had been laid by his Master in 1891, and built houses, bungalows and a Satsang Hall. He sheltered victims of the communal partition holocaust. His following included Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and for the first time, thousands from abroad in US, UK, Switzerland and Germany as well. True to his name, Sawan- The Season of Rain, he showered his Master's wealth freely. He was very devoted to his Master Jaimal Singh.