Mastana Ji Maharaj

Shehanshah Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj - Spiritual Saint and Founder of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS)

Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj

His Holiness Shehanshah Mastana Ji Maharaj taught the method of meditation (the holy Naam Shabd) to thousands of people over a period of twelve years (1948-1960). During this period, His Holiness distributed gold, silver, currency notes, clothes, etc. to people, motivating them to meditate on God’s Words. His Holiness did all this without accepting even a single penny from anyone. People from various parts of the country started coming to Dera Sacha Sauda and became its followers.

Shehanshah Mastana Ji incarnated on Kartik Poornima in 1891 in village Kotra, tehsil Gandhey, district Kalat (Balochistan). Sh. Pillamal Ji was his respected father and Smt. Tulsa Bai Ji the respected mother. His Holiness belonged to a Kshatriya family. The respected parents named him Shri Khemamal Ji. Later on, His Holiness Huzoor Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj honoured him with the name of ‘Shah Mastana Ji’. Seeing his true devotion, love and dedication towards the Satguru, Huzoor Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj further honoured him by declaring him, "Mastanon ka Mastana, Shahon Ka Shah - Shah Mastana Ji". Since childhood, Shah Mastana Ji had a great inclination towards God. At the age of 14 years, His Holiness left home in search of a perfect spiritual Guru (teacher). During this search, His Holiness met many individuals who were known for their devotion to God, but none could satisfy his desire to achieve the Truth – the Almighty God.

They told him that they could help him in other aspects but could not make him realize God. At last, after searching for nine years, Shah Mastana Ji reached Beas in the state of Punjab in India. There His Holiness met Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj. Shah Mastanaji attended his Satsang (spiritual congregation) and learned the method of meditation (Naam) from him. Shah Mastana Ji got completely satisfied and developed utmost faith in Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj. Baba Sawan Singh Ji was extremely pleased by the sincere devotion of Shah Mastana Ji. His Holiness bestowed the Spiritual Wealth and eternal blessings upon Shah Mastana Ji. His Holiness entrusted to Shah Mastana Ji the sacred task of conducting spiritual discourses (Satsang) and teaching meditation to the people in the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab.

Later on, His Holiness Baba Sawan Singh Ji assigned Shah Mastana Ji duty in the vicinity of Bagarh a (region of northern Rajasthan and western Haryana). His Holiness made Shah Mastana Ji his spiritual successor and sent him to Sirsa in Haryana. This was how Shah Mastana Ji, as per the orders of Baba Sawan Singh Ji, established Dera Sacha Sauda and raised public awareness of Naam-Shabd. Shah Mastana Ji laid the foundation of Dera Sacha Sauda in 1948 in Sirsa. His Holiness laid the principle of earning through hard work and absolutely prohibited acceptance of donations or charity of any kind. His Holiness coined the Nara (slogan) “Dhan Dhan Satguru Tera Hi Asra", which is explained as:

‘Dhan Dhan’ (only God is worth praising) — ‘Satguru’ (the Supreme Being) which is synonymous with the words Om, Allah, Waheguru, Ram, Parmatma, God, etc., as used in many of the world's religions — ‘Tera Hi Asra’ (we are solely dependant on Him and only He can help us everywhere in all eventualities).

His Holiness built 25 ashrams in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Facilities of drinking water and langar (community meals) were provided in these ashrams. His Holiness taught the practical method of Meditation to thousands of people in a very simple and prevalent language. His Holiness laid the three basic principles of Dera Sacha Sauda:

* Only vegetarian food is allowed
* The drinking of liquor is forbidden
* Illicit sex is not allowed.

A perfect Spiritual saint is one with God. He incarnates in human form by the order of the Almighty. Having performed his assigned duties, he passes on the responsibility to his successor and returns back to his original eternal place, i.e. the Anami Desh (the home of the Lord). Similarly, Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj performed his assigned duties and handed over the prime task to his successor Shah Satnam Singh Ji Maharaj on Feb. 28, 1960 and himself left for his eternal holy abode on Apr.18, 1960.