Hazoor Maharaz Darshan Das Jee was the founder and patron of the spiritual mission “Sachkhand Nanak Dham International” as well as the practical mission of “Das Dharam”. Serving humanity to the highest standards formed the basis of his philosophy of peace, love, unity and sacrifice. His spiritual mission spread worldwide in Asia, Europe, North America and Africa. For 17 years, Maharaz Jee devoted his life to the service of humanity travelling across the world and spreading the spiritual message of God.
Darshan Lal Vasdev was born in India in the town of Batala in Punjab, on 7 December 1953 to Mata Chanan Devi and Pandit Jagan Nath Jee.
Early Years
At birth, Darshan had round locks of hair on his head which looked like Shesh Naag (the seven-headed snake), under whose protection Vishnu is always seen. As a young child Darshan would sit on his front doorstep and watch pilgrims visiting the famous Kandh Sahib temple where Guru Nanak Dev Jee was married. Many holy men who passed by his house were drawn to the young Darshan Lal; they saw something in him which made them bow before him. Young Darshan attended a Government school in Batala. It was during his school days that he experienced his first spiritual revelation at the age of 13. He was working on the farm feeding cows, when he attempted to lift a very heavy sack of straw and place it on his head. A man suddenly appeared before him and asked if he could assist Darshan in placing the sack on his head. Cautiously, Darshan declined. However, when he tried to lift the sack again, it became even heavier and he had to take assistance from this man. It later came to be known that this was the divine who had manifested as that man whom Darshan saw. The divine had put the “burden of the world” on Darshan’s head that day. Darshan was however, too young to respond to the revelation at that tender age.
Spiritual Revelation
When Darshan was 17 years of age, he went to the city of Jalandhar in Punjab to live with his mother’s sister (Masi). It was during this time that he had a second spiritual revelation on 9 July 1971 at 10.45pm. Young Darshan was riding his bicycle back from work at the ice factory when he saw a female figure dressed in red seated behind him. Shocked, he began to peddle his bicycle faster. When he looked back to ascertain who this person was, the figure moved to the front. It seemed to be a supernatural being. He came home, rushed up the stairs to the roof terrace of his Masi’s house and lay down on an outdoor bed. He then stood up, put his right leg in front of his left one and gazed straight into the sky. His Masi and his sister Darshana rushed upstairs to ask him what had happened. He did not reply. It was on this day that he had a vision of such intensity that he was totally overwhelmed; he lay unconscious for a few days. Eye witnesses later recounted that they had seen an intense light circle around Darshan seven times and then enter his forehead. His family consulted local healers fearing that Darshan had fallen victim to some evil force. They finally relented that what had happened to Darshan was beyond their understanding.
Darshan did not eat anything for 40 days; he subsisted solely on liquids and was restless and withdrawn. On 15 August 1971 a divine voice spoke to him and said “There is work that God has sent you to do here, get up and do it. You need to begin this work by delivering satsangs (spiritual sermons)”. Darshan responded by saying that he had no spiritual knowledge, but the voice assured him that once he took the first step, everything would manifest of its own accord. Darshan Lal Vasdev delivered his first Satsang on 15 August 1971 in the town of Batala. It was on that day, that he called himself Darshan Das (Das means servant of humanity). Darshan Das continued to deliver satsangs for the following two years. People were astonished that at the young age of 17, he had profound spiritual knowledge. He acquired healing powers and it soon came to be known that whatever he said would manifest. He also had knowledge of things before they happened.
Darshan Das slept very little and spent most of his time with close followers late into the night. His house in Batala was always filled with people sitting and waiting for him to awaken at midday, as it came to be known that whoever he gazed upon when he awakened was healed of their ailments. Soon the sangat (congregation) around him began referring to him as Maharaz Darshan Das. After traveling around Punjab for two years delivering satsangs and healing, in 1973 he received instructions from the divine to establish a Dera (spiritual centre).
Establishment of the Mission
In 1978, Maharaz Jee established the spiritual mission of Sachkhand Nanak Dham. The spiritual mission focussed primarily on the importance of a Puran Purkh (Perfect Master) who can give us Naam (The Word) – both of which are explained below. The spiritual mission was founded on the following universal principles: sach (truth); sidak (contentment); sarbat da bhala (welfare of all); sadh sangat (congregation of a Perfect Master); and shahadat (sacrifice; not of oneself but of lust, anger, avarice, attachment and pride).
Alongside the spiritual mission Maharaz Jee also established the practical worldwide Mission of Das Dharam. Das means “one who serves” and Dharam refers to the “our promise to God before our birth”. Maharaz Jee explained that Das Dharam therefore means “the promise we made to God (before we were born) to serve humanity”. Das Dharam Day is celebrated worldwide on 16 Februrary each year.
The Das Dharam mission sits alongside the spiritual mission of Sachkhand Nanak Dham. Humanitarian ideals are at the core of Maharaz Jee’s practical mission. His own service to humanity was exemplary in this regard.
Maharaz Jee left his body on 11 November 1987. He left behind a hukum nama (direct order) stating that his successor would be Her Holiness Maharani Pali Darshan Das Jee.
Sources: Personal communication with Maharani Pali Darshan Das, 14 August 2012; Apostle of Peace, New Delhi: Sachkhand Nanak Dham International; Invincible Live Force, New Delhi: Sachkhand Nanak Dham International; Ruh Magazine, Birmingham, UK: Sachkhand Nanak Dham International; Awaz Newsletter, 16 February 1987, Birmingham, UK: Sachkhand Nanak Dham International; Nanak Dham Newsletter, Vol 3(6), July 1989, Birmingham, UK: Sachkhand Nanak Dham International.