NAME – Swami Mast Ram Ji
Born – Swami Mast Ram Ji was born in 1931 at Budlada, Punjab.
Parents – His Father name was Shri. Brahma Nand and Mother Smt. Parameshwari Devi of a joint Brahmin prosperous family, whole family would perform satang and havans and thus the young Sohan got it contact with holy saints which encouraged him to know God.
Childhood -His original name is Sohan Lal. From his childhood days, Swami ji had been nursing different feelings about life and worldly affairs and would spend most of his time in chanting the name of the Lord. Parmarth appears to have been enshrined in his lite right trom the day of his birth.
At the age of 23, he was married to Smt. Hukum Devil Disillusioned with worldly life, Swamiji left his family consisting of three infants only after six years of marriage, in search of God. He travelled throughout India but found his ultimate destination in Kashmir where he submitted himself before His Holiness Swami Nand Lal Ji Maharaj at Tikker in district Kupwara. After testing his devotion, Swami Nand Lal Ji renamed him as Mast Ram. Thus began an era of Guru-Shishya relationship. Mast Ram Ji thereafter wholeheartedly remained at the feet of his Guru Maharaj. Swami Mast Ram Ji was so engrossed in his Sadhana that even when children would disturb him during meditation, he would keep always smiling. In due course, he attained great heights and became one of the jewels in the crown of his Guru Maharaj. After the Nirvana of his Guru Maharaj, he established an Ashram at Badipora in Dist. Badgam and another one at Patoli in Jammu. On every Ashtami, Swami ji performs Yagna and organizes free langer for thousands of participants.
Contributions –After migration from Kashmir, Swami Ji threw open his Ashram in Jammu to the migrants, till they found alternative accommodation. Swamiji life is an open book and he believes in Samadrashti. His Ashram always reverberates with sounds of bhajans and Kirtan which is the path to salvation in this Kaliyuga.
Swami Ji has also established his Ashrams in Delhi and Haridwar. The vast Ashram at Haridwar is open to everybody without any charges and free food is also provided to pilgrims. Swami Ji speaks fluent Kashmiri and sings all Kashmiri bhajans with effortless ease. His devotees are a blessed lot because he never keeps them wanting and waiting whenever they call on him for his blessings. He believes in karma and preaches peace.
Swamiji is full of siddhis, but do not believe in performing miracles, except where the need arises for the benefit of his devotees and humankind. It is not possible to illustrate and mention about his miracles. These must be seen to be believed. Swami Ji, however, in a guarded way, has indeed mentioned about the likely happenings in the valley. Swamiji has done a yomen service to Kashmiri literature through a collection named as Sahaj Kosam which contains the bhajans of famous Kashmiri poets. This book is a treasure of Kashmiri literature and Bhakti culture.
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