Identity: Spiritual Leader, Author, and Prominent Preacher of the Radhasoami Faith

Shiv Brat Lal Varman was born in 1860 in Bhadohi district of present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. He was widely known by the honorific titles “Data Dayal” and “Maharshi Ji.” Owing to his scholarship, spiritual leadership, and prolific literary contributions, he is regarded as one of the leading figures of the Radhasoami movement.

He received his early education in Gopiganj, studying Hindi under Laxman Prasad and Arabic, Urdu, and Persian under Maulana Abdul Wahid. He later pursued English education at Chunar in Mirzapur district. After completing his F.A. from Kayastha Pathshala, Allahabad, he joined Muir Central College, Allahabad, where he earned an M.A. degree in 1888. During his spiritual missionary journeys, he also received M.A. and LL.D. degrees from the University of Chicago, USA.

His spiritual mentor was Rai Bahadur Saligram Sahib (Huzur Maharaj), under whose influence he joined the Radhasoami spiritual movement. Following his mentor’s passing in 1898, he devoted himself to the propagation of the movement until 1939, spreading its message throughout the Indian subcontinent and abroad.

Shiv Brat Lal also made significant contributions to journalism. He served as editor of the Urdu weekly Arya Gazette published from Lahore and launched the magazine Sadhu on August 1, 1907, which soon gained widespread popularity. Renowned for his extraordinary literary productivity, he is believed to have written or edited nearly three thousand books, booklets, and journals on social, historical, religious, and spiritual subjects.

His notable works include Light on Anand Yoga, Dayal Yoga, Shabd Yoga, Radhasoami Yoga, Radhasoami Mat Prakash, Kabir Yoga, Nanak Yoga, Karma Rahasya, Sahaj Yoga, Sharanagati Yoga, and Anmol Vichar. Owing to his monumental contributions to Radhasoami philosophy and Surat Shabd Yoga, he came to be known as the “Ved Vyasa of the Radhasoami Faith.”

In 1911, he traveled to Burma, Malaya, Singapore, Java, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States, delivering spiritual lectures and promoting the Radhasoami message. In 1912, he established an ashram at Gopiganj in Uttar Pradesh, which later became an important center of the movement.

Death: Shiv Brat Lal Varman passed away on 23 February 1939, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. His samadhi (memorial shrine) is located at Radhasoami Dham near Gopiganj.