"The Incarnation of Love," only once in a 1,000 years a pious soul like Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash Maharaj ji descended on the land of Bharat (India) to spread peace, devotion and love! They keep spreading peace, devotion and love in the pious land of India. Amongst such enlightened souls was our "Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash ji Maharaj" who holds a revered position, not just amongst Sindhis but
Hindus across the globe. As it is said in Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta, “Sometimes Lord Krishna descends personally through incarnation in the form of a devotee, who deeply loves and follows him.” In the early 1900s, Lord Krishna sent one noble soul in the form of his devotee, to spread his message of love and peace. He was none less than his Holiness Param Poojiniya Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash ji Maharaj. His name, “Shanti Prakash” itself means the one who spreads light (prakash) and peace in the inner shrine of the devotees. He was the source of spirituality, a picture of purity and humility. His works have made him a symbol of service, sympathy and simplicity. Upon having a sacred glimpse of him and uttering his name, people (disciples) felt their worries melt away. Birth of the Divine
The great personality who performed penance under the guidance of Acharya Satguru Swami Teeonram ji Maharaj. Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash ji was born in a small village of Sindh (now in pakistan), called Chak, in 1907, in the month of Saawan on Nariyal Poornima (Shri Satyanarayan - Full Moon Day) and on the pious festival of Raksha Bandhan. His father was Shri Assoodhomal Pahuja and mother Shrimati Jugaldevi, both were the devoted pious souls and religiously served many saints and seers. Satguru´s birth name was "Khairaj". And, Mata Jugaldevi used to recite Ram Naam in the early hours of dawn, with Swamiji in her laps and taught him to cultivate the religious habits. Early Days
Since childhood, Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash´s mind was detached from worldly temptations. At the age of 11 while his academic education, he lost his eyesight due to small-pox disease. Though his parents tried their best to regain this eyesight. Ultimately upon failing, his father took him to a great Saint of Sindh, Sant Harchooram Sahib who blessed the child and asked the father not to worry. “Your child will be a great Seer, and would enlighten the world with his inner light." A sage would visit Chak and would take him with himself. His prediction turned out to be true. Meeting His Spiritual Guide
"मैत्री करुणा मुदिता, त्याग तपस्या रूप
सतगुरु स्वामी शांतिप्रकाश जी संत शिरोमणि अनूप"
Thus, in 1923, at the age of 16, he met his Spiritual Master, Braham Gyani Satguru Swami Teoonram ji Maharaj, the pioneer of Prem Prakash Mandal. Accepting Swamiji under his fold, Satguru Teoonramji Maharaj brought him to his headquarters Amrapur Darbaar, a great temple on the top of sands, in Tando Adam, Sindh and began to build up his spiritual life by doing sheva. Seeing his dedication, devotion, service and meditation in the Lord, Poojya Satguru Swami Teoonramji bestowed on him the sacred word (naam) and accepted him as his disciple. Continuing His Spiritual Journey
Maharaj ji remained engrossed in service and meditation at Amrapur Darbaar. After some time with the permission of Acharya Shree Satguru Swami Teoonram ji Maharaj he travelled to Amritsar, Haridwar, Kashi to learn the Holy Scriptures, Gurubani, Ramayana, and Sanskrit language. After acquiring the spiritual knowledge, he conveyed the Poojya Satguru Swami Teoonramji´s message to the masses. He travelled along the whole world imparting peace and love. He was always ready to perform selfless service, service towards the society, serve the downtrodden spreading thus the name and glory of the Master. After that, he went on a pilgrimage with other saints going through a difficult route, even through the Himalayas. He stayed for 2 years in Amritsar so as to gain, more understanding, about the Guru Granth sahib. Once he finished his divine studies, he came back to Satguru Teoonram and on the 14th November, 1937, he was initiated into Sanyaas by his Holi Master and rechristened as "Shanti Prakash". A Humble Leader (or Follower)
In May 1942, Acharya Swami Teoonram merged in the Supreme Lord and Satguru Swami Sarvanand Maharaj was crowned as head of Prem Prakash Mandal. In 1947 after the partition, Swamiji left Pakistan and want to Ahmedabad and later in Jaipur, where he inaugurated the new Amrapur Darbaar by celebrating the Chaitra Mala (we still celebrate this mela to conmemorate the occasion.) In his preachings Swamiji use to mention that Satguru Swami Teoonram ji Maharaj and Satguru Swami Sarvanand ji Maharaj are with him at every instant looking after and guiding Him. Their blessings have made this visionless person worthy.
“किसी काम के थे नहीं-छोटा नहीं कोई चाव
कृपा भाई गुरुदेव की-तो पूजन लागे पाँव”
Whenever he met a great sage he would always introduce himself as a devotee of Satguru Teoonram ji Maharaj. At every gathering and in a very humble tone, He use to say with great confidence, “What is the value of this visionless person? This is the grace of Satguru Swami Teoonram ji Maharaj who made me worthy”. This was his utmost fervor for his Master. When Swami Sarvanand ji decided to depart from this world to heavenly abode of the Lord, Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash succeeded him on the 4th August 1977 and he humbly said: “You all have entrusted me with great responsibility. I am a most humble servant of Guru Maharaj. I am nothing. I am Zero. All are his manifestation, He is the Supreme Director. We all are his artists and ill carry on this holy mission under the benign guidance of Satguru Teoonram ji Maharaj and Satguru Sarvanand ji Maharaj.”
Trip to Ulhasnagar
Swami Shanti Prakash´s visit to Ulhasnagar was like a ray of Sunlight on a misty day. His melodious bhajans touched soft corners of many a wavering heart. Thus, with the permission of S.C. he opened a small temple which grew with the passing of the time. He was the favourite of all the sages, and everyone felt a great love for him, just like the gopis and gualas for Krishna. Satguru Swami Shanti Prakash went out of his way to defend the cows, taught us the Ekadashi´s significance, Krishna bhakti, and Guru Bhakti. He travelled throughout the word to preach the name of God. By a mere vision (darshan) of Swamiji, people (disciples) used to forget their worldly problems, as if they reached in Vrindavan. Merging with the Supreme
On the 14th August Satguru Swami Shanti Prakashji after bidding farewell to all of his desciple in Bombay, flew to Singapore together with Sant Dev Prakashji, Sant Anand Prakashji and Sant Gyanji. His last words in this materialistic world were to Sant Dev Prakash: “What time is it?” and he replied “3:45 a.m.” Swamiji told him that he wanted to go to the toilet, when he came back he sat down (in a meditating yogi posture) and closed his eyes forever. On the 15th August 1992 on a flight the divine light merged with the Supreme. He left this world just as when Lord Krishna left the Gopis in Vrindavan and never returned back. All of his memories are with us, inspiring and guiding us forever.
