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Muni Harmilapi Ji Maharaj

Satgurudev Shri Muni Harmilapi Ji Maharaj was the Eleventh Gurudev of the eminent Gaddi of Shri Harmilap Sahib Ji. He used to wear white and drape a yellow shawl. There was always a white towel on his shoulder and a walking stick in his hand. Wooden clogs adorned his feet. Brahma Ji had inscribed ‘Gol Chakras’ in his fingers and ‘Padma Rekha’ under his feet, which itself was a sign of divinity. After Satgurudev Shri Paras Ram Sahib Ji took abode to Param Dham, Shri Muni Ji Maharaj along with his mother Sundra Bai Ji visited many places for the welfare of devotees. They often stayed with them for some time and then returned to their residence at Dera Ismail Khan. People from different villages came to Dera to have a holy glimpse of Satgurudev Shri Muni Ji Maharaj. They requested Gurudev to accompany them and took him along with them. His younger brother Shri Prabhu Dayal Ji also accompanied him. Sheetal Prakash Ji, who had been with Gurudev since his school times, used to serve him devotedly. From time to time, Shri Muni Ji Maharaj went to different villages, cities and towns such as Malakwal, Hazoorpur, Kot Moman, Buchcha, Thakkar, Varyaam, Raawin, Mayaani Gondal, Hujjan, Chakk Mayaana, Chanyot, Chakk Jhumra, Saalam, Bhabhra, Phular Van, Bhalwaal Mandi etc. Wherever he went, people were besotted by his divine presence. He was always accompanied by a group of devotees. Gurudev preached day and night. Thousands of people came to listen to his discourse. He preached them to reminisce wholeheartedly the ‘Naam’ of Satguru with each and every breath because it is the only way which could help in making them free from all the material bonds. The four factors that have a calming effect on the life of hedonistic people are, to recite the ‘Naam’, follow abstinence, live a simple life and render service to Gurudev, whereas deceit, flamboyance, bad conduct and bad company lead to distress and tribulation. His kind and convincing words consequentially influenced the life of people. Shri Muni Ji Maharaj was noble-minded and tender-hearted. He was merciful, gracious and compassionate who always loved the poor, the needy and the destitute. There are several instances of his generosity where he fulfilled the wishes of his worshippers. Gurudev blessed the poverty stricken Mulakh Raj with a job; freed the brother of Bahadri Laq from death sentence; saved Ram Lal and Harnam from the swift current of the river; appeared in the dream of his poor devotee Sohan Lal and gave him the money, who found the money kept under his pillow when he woke up next morning; blessed his childless devotees with children. The miracles of Shri Muni Ji Maharaj are beyond description. Shri Satgurudev Ji carried on the tradition of annual yagya celebrated to commemorate the Satgurudev Shri Rampyara Sahib Ji. Every year, the yagya was organized at Buchcha. A large number of devotees, followers and worshippers participated and rendered various services selflessly. Saints from different sects, many poets and singers were invited, who used to preach, and sing in reverence to Shri Muni Ji Maharaj. Community meals were held day and night. This annual event would last for three days. Shri Muni Ji Maharaj came to Haridwar before partition and established ‘Shri Harmilap Bhawan’, which has now become the prime haven of the Mission. Idols of Gosain Ramkrishan Ji, Shri Harmilap Sahib Ji and Shri Radhakrishan Ji were enshrined in the temple of the Bhawan. The reliquaries of revered Sahibs were brought from Pakistan and placed respectfully in the temple. Jeevanmukt Behen Ji, the then Paramadhyaksha of Prem Mandir, Ambala, had a high regard in her heart for Shri Satgurudev Ji. She often said that Gurudev was her brother and also her Guru. She solemnized the yagya every year in memory of her Guru Swami Anant Prakash Ji. And, Shri Muni Ji Maharaj never failed to participate in it. Shanti Devi Behen Ji, the then Paramadhyaksha of Prem Mandir, Panipat, considered Shri Satgurudev Ji as the incarnation of God. She used to serve him reverently. Shri Muni Ji Maharaj treated her as his sister. He always attended the yagya which was organized at Panipat, every year. Shri Muni Ji Maharaj visited distant places for the welfare of the people through spiritual discourses. He did not believe in cast and creed and saw the form of God in everyone, irrespective of their religion. He loved every creature in this world and did not discriminate them on the basis of wealth or their position in the society. He believed that nobody is perfect and that everyone has a few good qualities. He considered every living being as equal and used to say that his name is Harmilapi (the one who unites all), and that he would practise its significance in this world. He conveyed a significant message in a simple precept, saying, “Harmilapi ban ke, duniya mein sada gujraan kar; Dil kisi ka mat dukha, tu har mein hari pehchaan kar.” He preached unity, equality, humanity and love for all. He popularized and expanded the Mission. He opined that the one who sees goodness in others is wise and attains happiness. His sayings are of great importance, even in today’s times. Spreading the light of spirituality, Shri Muni Ji Maharaj came to Shri Harmilap Bhawan, Haridwar. His younger brother Shri Prabhu Dayal Ji and his wife Shanti Devi Ji lived there. Both were devoted to Harmilap Mission. Keeping faith in Shri Muni Ji Maharaj, they always chanted the ‘Naam’. They used to supervise the management at Shri Harmilap Bhawan and served there selflessly. The omniscient, Shri Muni Harmilapi Ji Maharaj knew that the second son of his brother Shri Prabhu Dayal Ji will adorn the sacred Gaddi. Time elapsed and that auspicious moment had come when on 29th July, 1957, Shri Prabhu Dayal Ji and Shanti Devi Ji were blessed with a son. They felt immense pleasure to see the child. They named him ‘Madan Mohan’. The child was brought up in the care of his parents and Shri Muni Ji Maharaj. Once, Shri Muni Ji Maharaj went to Bareilly. Followers had built a temple on the land which belonged to a Muslim named Fazal Rehman, also known as Chunnu Miyan. He asked them to demolish the temple due to which an altercation started. When it became difficult to resolve, the followers went to Shri Muni Ji Maharaj and discussed the issue. Gurudev asked his followers to call Chunnu Miyan to resolve the matter. As soon as Chunnu Miyan came and had a divine glimpse of Shri Muni Ji Maharaj, all the grudge and hostility in his mind vanished. He stood outside hesitatingly listening to Gurudev. Gurudev was preaching that one should sacrifice self-interest for the welfare of others. One should not be proud of the wealth, instead should reminisce about God who has given him everything. There is only one God. ‘Allah’ and ‘Ishwar’ are two different names of God. On hearing the sermons, Chunnu Miyan came inside and bowed at Gurudev’s feet with folded hands. When Gurudev asked him, he narrated the whole incident. Gurudev explained to him that as a human, one should do good deeds. Instead of his love for lifeless land, he should have love for God. Gurudev then said that it was a temple built on his land and not a place for someone to live. When Chunnu Miyan listened to his words, he felt ashamed. He prayed to Gurudev to forgive him. He was so influenced by his sermons that he gave up his claim on the land. He not only surrendered the land but also built a temple which was named as the ‘Laxmi Narayan Temple’. This temple was inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. He praised Shri Muni Ji Maharaj saying that a temple built by a Muslim was a unique example of Hindu-Muslim unity. This temple at Bareilly is popularly known as ‘Chunnu Miyan Ka Mandir’. After some time, Shri Muni Ji Maharaj visited Ambala. Jeevanmukt Behen Ji and Sheetal Prakash Ji earnestly requested him to build a bhawan at Vrindavan. Conceding to their request, Gurudev built ‘Shri Harmilap Prem Niketan’ at Vrindavan. Since then, every year the birthday of Shri Muni Ji Maharaj is celebrated there with much fanfare. Gurudev had done a lot for the welfare of cattle. He accumulated funds and donated at various cowsheds. A saint named Swami Gitanand Ji often came to him. At that time, a movement for protection of cows was going on. When Swami Ji asked Gurudev to participate in that movement, he acceded to his request and joined the movement. Then he was imprisoned for seven days. Time was passing by. After a long illness, Jeevanmukt Behen Ji gave up her life. Shri Muni Ji Maharaj went there. Last rites were performed. Gurudev handed over the Gaddi to one of her disciples named Sheel Ji. Shri Muni Ji Maharaj had done innumerable efforts for the welfare of common people. He built schools, dispensaries and held camps for free treatment of eyes. He built a hospital in Haridwar, equipped it with all the required facilities and equipment. The hospital was named ‘Shri Harmilap Mission Rajkiya Asptaal’. It was inaugurated by the then President Gyani Zail Singh. The hospital was later handed over to the State Government. Shri Satgurudev Ji built ‘Shri Harmilap Mission Ashram' at Derawal Nagar in Delhi and several other temples in different parts of the country. Whenever there was a catastrophe in the country, he lent a hand of help to the Central Government by donating in the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund during the tenure of Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri and Smt Indira Gandhi. Once, when Shri Satgurudev Ji was in Delhi at Shri Harmilap Mission Ashram, he called Shri Madan Mohan Ji. He imparted to him the knowledge of Guruneeti, did the tilak and conferred the Guru Gaddi on to him. Some time passed. Gurudev fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. He held a state of complete silence and thereafter on 19th December, 1991, reciting ‘Hari Om’ he gave up his vital breath and moved on to Param Dham. Everybody was distraught. Mortal remains of Shri Muni Ji Maharaj were brought to Haridwar. Followers thronged the Harmilap Bhawan. Thousands of saints, followers of every religion were gathered there. All were distraught. Next Morning, Shri Madan Mohan Sahib Ji gave bhu samadhi to Shri Muni Ji Maharaj in Shri Harmilap Bhawan. He performed all the last rites. People who have even once had the divine sight of Shri Muni Ji Maharaj can never forget him. The divinity and greatness of Shri Shri 1008 Shri Muni Harmilapi Ji Maharaj is beyond praise.