Revered Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj founded Dera Sacha Sauda in 1948 with the mission of connecting people with the divine, instilling values of humanity and goodness in every heart, helping them realize their true purpose, and providing a clear path to salvation.
For ages, people have remained entangled in questions like, Does God exist? Why can’t we feel or see Him? How did the universe come into being? Who am I? How did I come about? What happens after death? What is the meaning of life? Are morals or ethos of any relevance?
These questions have puzzled humanity for generations. To provide answers and illuminate the path to knowledge, God sends His messengers in every era. These messengers, appearing as Gurus, Saints, Prophets, and divine incarnations, help people understand their origins and the essence of religions.
Dera Sacha Sauda was founded with this purpose, to offer answers to all of such queries and solution to problems, enabling individuals to move forward on the righteous path forever.
History of Dera Sacha Sauda – A Legacy Since 1948
Founding of Dera Sacha Sauda | Three Spiritual Masters | Growth & Global Reach | Timeline of Key Milestones
Dera Sacha Sauda, which literally means "Place of True Deal," is a spiritual organization where the true God’s words/Method of Meditation are imparted. The true deal here means to exchange one’s vices & problems with goodness & virtues. The organization was founded by His Holiness Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj, who was bestowed with divine spiritual powers by his Guru, the Revered Saint Sawan Shah Ji Maharaj.
Founding of Dera Sacha Sauda
Witnessing the impressive ceaseless devotion of Mastana Ji, Saint Sawan Shah Ji Maharaj sent him to the semi-arid Transitional Plains of India, known as the Bagar area, to enlighten people with God’s true words. In recognition of his spiritual mission, Mastana Ji was honored with the title of “Emperor of Bagar” by Sawan Shah Ji Maharaj. Choosing Sirsa as the epicenter of his spiritual work, Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj laid the foundation stone of Dera Sacha Sauda on April 29, 1948.
Three Spiritual Masters
For twelve years, His Holiness Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj taught the method of meditation to thousands of seekers, encouraging them to abandon evil deeds and lead honest lives through hard work. During his spiritual journey, he also established at least a dozen Dera premises in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi. Through these deras, he extended his divine blessings far and wide.
Growth & Global Reach
Timeline of Key Milestones
Divine Coronation Day- 28th February 1960
On February 28, 1960, Revered Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj, the embodiment of Divine Light, transferred His divine powers to Reverent Param Pita Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj. On this day, Sai Ji entrusted the spiritual leadership of Dera Sacha Sauda to Revered Shah Satnam Ji. With deep devotion and love, His Holiness Param Pita Ji nurtured the seeds of spirituality sown by Revered Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj, spreading its fragrance to every corner of the world. Adorable Param Pitaji accelerated the pace of spiritual awakening, blessing approximately 11,084,290 people with the Method of Meditation till August 26, 1990.
Divine Coronation Day- 23rd September 1990
On September 23, 1990, the third successor of Dera Sacha Sauda was chosen. His Holiness Param Pita Shah Satnam Ji ceremoniously handed over the spiritual leadership to Revered Guru Ji Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan. Addressing the entire Sadh Sangat (disciples), His Holiness Param Pita Ji declared, “We were, We are, and We will be,” assuring everyone that the divine power guiding since 1948 would continue to illuminate the righteous path for all eternity. Today, the spiritual sapling planted by Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj, nurtured by Param Pitaji, and entrusted to Hazoor Maharaj Ji has grown into a vast Banyan tree with over 65 million devotees worldwide.
Dera Sacha Sauda Unveiling the True Significance of Religions Teaching Devotion to GOD
Ages back, religions were evolved by our great saints & sages to showcase the righteous path to individuals and society at large. Religions are the foundation of a civilized society, without them, no one would ever know their limits and become satanic through their acts. Religions have made them civilized by imparting true teachings and values to all.
Religions unite people with each other and with Almighty God. Their teachings focus on unity and not on any sort of division among people, regardless of their backgrounds. Dera Sacha Sauda has helped people realize this sacred value of our religions.
It may be hard to believe, but without saints, the religions or spirituality as we know them today might never have been born! They incarnated to teach the right pathway to the world. Just as a student needs a teacher to study and pass a class, a Guru or saint is essential to guide people along the secretive paths of spirituality and to understand the depths of religion. These enlightened beings incarnate on Earth to provide true knowledge of life to mankind, without seeking anything in return, whether in cash or kind. They form the basis of spirituality and religion.
Saints never disperse facts without first experiencing them themselves. The divine purpose of their incarnation is to bring spiritual enlightenment, help people realize the true purpose of their lives, and show the way to salvation.
Saint MSG- A True Philanthropic with the aim to awaken dying humanity
The embodiment of the trinity, His Holiness Saint Dr. MSG has initiated 175 humanitarian works for the welfare of all creatures of the Almighty. With the message, ‘Service to humanity is akin to serving God,’ Revered Guruji motivates all to serve everyone selflessly. These humanitarian endeavors are making a significant impact and bringing a positive wave of humanity & righteousness. Some of these humanitarian works have even earned Dera Sacha Sauda recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records, not once, but 18 times! Some got recognition in the India Book of Records and some in the Asia Book of Records and Limca Book of Records as well. It is not about performing acts of humanity to earn accolades; the truth is, that Dera Sacha Sauda volunteers are so dedicated and impactful in their humanitarian deeds that they receive international recognition. Under the leadership of His Holiness, spirituality, and humanity are excelling beyond bounds.
The Establishment of Dera Sacha Sauda
Dera Sacha Sauda, the socio-spiritual organization, was established by Most Revered Saint Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj on April 29, 1948, in obedience to the commandment of His Guru, Honorable Saint Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj. When Honorable Guru Ji (Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj) blessed His Holiness Shah Mastana Ji with divine power and ordered Him to emancipate the people of the Bagar area, Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj, along with some devotees, started looking for a site to establish the Dera and eventually finalized the place where Shah Mastana Ji Shah Satnam Ji Dera Sacha Sauda complex stands today. The Dera was later named ‘Dera Sacha Sauda’ by Revered Guru Ji.
This place is situated about two kilometers south of the city on the Sirsa–Bhadra Road, which is famously known as Shah Satnam Singh Ji Marg. During those times, the place was barren land covered with thorny bushes, but His Holiness chose this piece of land and made it one of the most auspicious places in the world, where people from all castes, religions, and races come together without any discrimination and chant the Supreme God’s Name equally.
Revered Shah Mastana Ji, with His pious hands, made the first dig into the ground with a spade and laid the auspicious foundation of the Dera. On this occasion, a disciple from Mumbai sang the spiritual rhyme, “Hari ki kathaa kahaaniyaan, Gurmeet sunaaiyaan” (“The stories and legends of the Lord, narrated by the beloved Guru”), and Mastana Ji expounded upon the rhyme.
The construction of the Dera then began in all earnestness, and devotees from nearby areas came to take part in this service. The construction work continued day and night for many days. Thorny bushes were uprooted, and the land at the site was levelled. Many snakes, scorpions, and other poisonous creatures apparently emerged from the earth. His Holiness ordered the volunteers, “No creature should be killed. It should be caught and released at a distant place".
On the holy command of Guru Ji, no animal was killed, nor did any snakes, scorpions, or other poisonous creatures harm anyone. The volunteers used to catch the snakes, scorpions, etc., immediately take them far from human settlements, and release them there. This miraculous practice is being followed in Dera Sacha Sauda to this day.
When the construction started, the problem of water had to be solved, as the place was on the outskirts of Sirsa city. Drinking water was brought from the city, whereas water for construction purposes was taken from a stream flowing adjacent to the Dera. Bricks were made in the Dera itself. At night, mud bricks were prepared, and during the daytime, they were dried into solid bricks. Each and every process of construction, whether small or big, was carried out under the guidance of His Holiness Mastana Ji Maharaj. His Holiness Himself also directed the architecture of the Dera.
Initially, a hut was constructed, adjoining which a cave was built with a ceiling equal to the height of the hut. The entrance to the cave was from within the hut. The rooms that were built were so small that one could only sit there, the purpose being to help devotees meditate in a seated position without lying down. Thorny shrubs were cut and piled into a tall and strong fence around the Dera. Thus, the Dera became ready to serve the cause of humankind’s emancipation.
For naming the Dera, His Holiness then suggested three names: Roohani College (Spiritual College), Chetan Kutiya (Hut of Consciousness), and Sacha Sauda (The True Deal). Later, with the consent of all the devotees present, “Dera Sacha Sauda” was finalized. Defining its meaning, Revered Mastana Ji stated that it is neither a new religion nor a new sect of society. It is a place where all religions converge and where the true deal takes place. The only eternal truth in both worlds is the Supreme Power, the Almighty, and the true deal is to chant God’s Naam (Holy Words) in exchange for discarding all one’s sins without any cost.
His Holiness then firmly stated about Dera Sacha Sauda, “There’s nothing that’s going to diminish here. The treasure of God’s Name will never end in both worlds. East will bow here, West will bow here, the rising one will bow here, the descending one will bow here; the whole world will bow.”
Since April 29, 1948, the Dera has witnessed many changes in its architecture, along with the number of devotees growing into lakhs and crores. Present Guru Ji, Revered Saint Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, in His own unique ways, continuously works toward beautifying the Dera. Besides this, what makes it one of the most religious and spiritual places in the world is the sense of peace and contentment one experiences here.
