Sōami

Rādhā Soāmī Mat or Sant Mat is a spiritual tradition or faith founded by spiritual master Shiv Dayal Singh Ji Maharaj in January 1861 on Basant Panchami Day in Agra, India. Shiv Dayal Singh's parents were Vaishnava Hindus, followers of Guru Nanak of Sikhism, and were also followers of a spiritual guru from Hathras named Tulsi Sahib. Shiv Dayal Singh was influenced by the teachings of Tulsi Sahib, who taught Surat Shabd Yoga (which is defined by Radha Soami teachers as “union of the soul with the divine, inner sound”); guru bhakti (“devotion to the master”); and high moral living, including a strict lacto-vegetarian diet. Shiv Dayal Singh frequently accompanied Tulsi Saheb, but did not take initiation from him. The movement does not promote celibacy, and most of the masters in its various lineages have been married. The teachings seem to be related to forms of 18th- and 19th-century esoteric mysticism that were circulating at the time in northern India. The founding date of the movement is considered to be 1861 when Shiv Dayal Singh began publicly to give discourses. As per some subtraditions, it derives its name from the word Radha Soami means Lord of the Soul. "Radha Soami" is used...