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Satpal Maharaj
	Satpal Maharaj
Constituency	Garhwal
Born	21 September 1951 (age 58); Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Political party	INC
Spouse(s)	Amrita Rawat

Satpal Maharaj (Satpal Singh Rawat, also called Maharaji,^[2] formerly also known as Bal Bhagwan Ji, born 21 September 1951^[3]) is a member of the lower house of the Parliament of India (15th Lok Sabha) for the INC party.

He is also the guru of the Manav Utthan Seva Samiti, an off-shoot of the Divine Light Mission.

[edit] Early life

Satpal Maharaj was born in Kankhal,^[4] in the Haridwar district, the eldest son of Hans Ji Maharaj, leader of the Divine Light Mission (DLM), and Hans Ji Maharaj's second wife, Rajeshwari Devi, also known as Mata Ji.^[5] Satpal Maharaj was educated at St. George's College, Mussoorie.

On Hans Ji's death in 1966 Satpal's youngest brother, Prem Rawat (called "Balyogeshwar" at the time), became the spiritual leader of the DLM at age eight.^[5] Satpal and Mata Ji acknowledged the young Prem Rawat as the "perfect master",^[5] but acted as regents on account of his age.^[6]^[2] The young Prem Rawat became known internationally as Guru Maharaj Ji, while Satpal was known as Bal Bhagwan Ji at this time.

[edit] Divine Light Mission

At age 22, together with American antiwar activist Rennie Davis, Satpal was a key organizer of the DLM's Millennium '73 festival held in Houston, Texas, which was reported to be a dismal failure and precipitated changes in the mission.^[7]^[8] Following Prem's marriage to a westerner, Mata Ji removed him as DLM leader and made Satpal its head and Satguru. Legal disputes between the brothers resulted in a settlement giving control over the movement in India to Satpal in 1975, later renamed Manav Utthan Seva Samiti (MUSS), while the Western movement remained under Prem's control.^[5]

The Manav Utthan Seva Samiti published history report a smooth transition and succession to his father,[1] and omits any mention of the scandal around the family feud that split the movement.(McKean: 54)^[2]

[edit] Manav Utthan Seva Samiti

Today, Maharaj is the head of the Manav Utthan Seva Samiti.^[2] He teaches the meditation techniques called "Knowledge".^[2] The movement has supporters and property in foreign countries, but its main following is in India. It claims millions of members and has events that regularly draw 100,000 people or more to its ashrams in Haridwar and New Delhi.^[2] According to Lise McKean in the book "Divine Enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement", in the Samiti cult of the holy family, Maharaj, his wife Amrita Rawat and their two sons, along with Satpal's brother and his wife and three daughters, are worshipped as divine beings, with individual members of the holy family held to represent diverse aspects of divinity. His sons and nieces attend some of India's most elite and expensive private schools. The social distance maintained between Maharaj and his family and his devotees contributes to the charisma of the holy family. (McKean: 55).^[2] During the tours that the holy family frequently undertakes, high ranking devotees seek private audiences with family members that are considered a special privilege. Other devotees seek their blessings and protection by meditating upon them.(McKean: 56)

The MUSS has an associated volunteer organisation, the Manav Sewa Dal, founded by Maharaj in 1976.[2]^[9]^[10]

[edit] Political career

Maharaj is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) party. He was elected to parliament from Garhwal in 1996 for the 11th Lok Sabha, serving two years, and was elected again in 2009 for the 15th Lok Sabha. He served as Union Minister for Railroads in 1996 and for Finance in 1997.^[4] His wife Amrita is also in politics, currently holding a seat for the INC on the Pauri Garhwal Legislative Assembly.^[11]

In 1998 the MUSS Premnagar ashram in Hardwar was given to the INC for a training camp for party workers that was attended by Rajiv Gandhi.(McKean: 28)

[edit] References

^ TRIPATHI, PURNIMA S. (Mar. 16 - 29, 2002). "A veteran for 'Uttarakhand'". Frontline 19 (06). http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1906/19060420.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g McKean, Lise (1996). Divine Enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement. University of Chicago Press. pp. 53-57. ISBN 0226560090.
^ "Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj: A brief introduction to his life and works". http://www.manavdharam.org/ssjm/1_brief_into.html. Retrieved 209-08-15.
^ ^a ^b "Detailed Profile: Shri Satpal Maharaj". http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=3717. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mangalwadi, Vishal (1992). The world of gurus. Chicago, Ill.: Cornerstone. pp. 135–137. ISBN 094089503X 9780940895034.
^ Moritz, Charles, ed (1974). "Maharaj Ji, Guru". Current Biography Yearbook: 1974. H. W. Wilson Company. pp. 254 ff.
^ Rawson, Jonathon (November 17, 1973). "God in Houston: The Cult of Guru Maharaji Ji". The New Republic: p. 17.
^ Downton, James V. (1979). Sacred journeys: the conversion of young Americans to Division Light Mission. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 191. ISBN 0-231-04198-5.
^ Faquiranand, Mahatma (2008-09-21). "Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj". Daily Excelsior. http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine/08sep21/inner.htm#8. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
^ Manav Sewa Dal. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
^ "Pauri Garhwal Member of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly". Government of India (National Iinformatics Centre). http://pauri.nic.in/MLA.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-12.

[edit] External links

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[0] TRIPATHI, PURNIMA S. (Mar. 16 - 29, 2002). "A veteran for 'Uttarakhand'". Frontline 19 (06). http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1906/19060420.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15.

[mckean-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g McKean, Lise (1996). Divine Enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement. University of Chicago Press. pp. 53-57. ISBN 0226560090.

[2] "Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj: A brief introduction to his life and works". http://www.manavdharam.org/ssjm/1_brief_into.html. Retrieved 209-08-15.

[indiagov-3] "Detailed Profile: Shri Satpal Maharaj". http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=3717. Retrieved 2009-08-15.

[Mangalwadi135-137-4] Mangalwadi, Vishal (1992). The world of gurus. Chicago, Ill.: Cornerstone. pp. 135–137. ISBN 094089503X 9780940895034.

[Yearbook1974-5] Moritz, Charles, ed (1974). "Maharaj Ji, Guru". Current Biography Yearbook: 1974. H. W. Wilson Company. pp. 254 ff.

[6] Rawson, Jonathon (November 17, 1973). "God in Houston: The Cult of Guru Maharaji Ji". The New Republic: p. 17.

[7] Downton, James V. (1979). Sacred journeys: the conversion of young Americans to Division Light Mission. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 191. ISBN 0-231-04198-5.

[Faq-8] Faquiranand, Mahatma (2008-09-21). "Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj". Daily Excelsior. http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine/08sep21/inner.htm#8. Retrieved 2009-08-18.

[9] Manav Sewa Dal. Retrieved 2009-08-18.

[10] "Pauri Garhwal Member of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly". Government of India (National Iinformatics Centre). http://pauri.nic.in/MLA.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-12.

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