The Divine Light Mission (DLM) was founded by the Shri Hans Ji Maharaji in Northern India in 1960. The name of the DLM in Hindi was Divya Sandesh Parishad. When Hans Maharaji passed away in 1966, his fourth son, Prem Rawat (Maharaji, formerly known as Guru Maharaj Ji) succeeded him. The DLM came to the United States with the 13-year old Prem Rawat in the 1970s.
The DLM was formed in 1971 as a non-profit organization and in 1974 was recognized as a church by the United States IRS under section 501(C)(B). In the 1970s the DLM was scrutinized by the press and the anti-cult movement. See also Criticism of Prem Rawat. Followers of Maharaji were called premies until the early 1990s. Some of them lived in ashrams that were closed in 1983. The DLM in the West was disbanded in 1983 and was superseded by Elan Vital.
Mission's succession rift
In 1974, after a rift in the family due to Prem Rawat's marriage to a westerner and other Westernizing tendecies7, his mother publicly retracted her support and endorsed instead her oldest son, Satpal, as the legitimate guru of the DLM. Prem Rawat continued the work of the DLM in the West, while Satpal , acquired the DLM in India. Satpal now claims that his father, Hans Ji Maharaj, "bequeath[ed] his mission and unfinished work" to Satpal, not to Prem, and so he, and not Prem, is the sole legitimate heir of their father's guru lineage[1]. Prem Rawat's current supporters assert that Prem was recognized by his father as his successor, that Satpal and the rest of the family accepted and supported Prem's declaration of succession for eight years, and discount this action as a late change of heart. See also Prem Rawat: Succession to his father mantle.
Hindu traditions in the DLM
According to an article written by a student named W. Haan that appeared in the official magazine of the Vrije Universiteit about religious movements, the DLM hardly had a philosophical background and that its central items of faith were summarized in its aarti song. 5 text of the song. Haan wrote this article while he was a student of theology at a Pastoral and Theology school in a small town in the Nederlands and while he was part of a critical movement within the Catholic church. The words used in Arti sung to Prem Rawat were written by Brahmanand , an Indian saint known for having composed thousands of poems. The music of Arti usually remains the same, with a few variations. The lyrics vary. There are many Arti lyrics, including Brahmanand lyrics, Krishna lyrics, and many more. While critics have said Prem Rawat did not make it clear that the arti song was not to be taken literally, his supporters have pointed out that Prem Rawat has never asked anyone to misinterpret the meaning of the Arti song, and cannot reasonably be held responsible for people's misconceptions. Supporters assert that it is important to understand that in Indian culture these words are spoken, not to the mortal person, but to the divine within them. Critics assert that the interpretation that arti is sung to the divine within them is inconsistent with the focus on the guru and his unique, elevated status. They point to the practice in the 1970's of having an empty chair ready for Rawat during the singing of arti. See also Followers early devotion and Alleged claims of personal divinity.
The Hindu trappings associated with the DLM, including the singing of arti where dropped in the 1980s. See Indian customs around Prem Rawat
Beliefs, practices and behavioral standards
Although there were no ethical practices in terms of rules and regulations, the fundamental practices of this worship were embodied and experienced through satsang, service and meditation, the sum of which is an experience they called "Knowledge," Maharaji's teachings given in satsang programs have special authority and meaning to members. They believed that involvement in satsang, service and meditation results in an inner code of conduct which guides behavior. Members of the DLM meditated formally twice daily and attended spiritual discourse (satsang) when possible. Vegetarianism was encouraged but not enforced.4.
Millenium festival in the Houston Astrodome
In 1973, the DLM booked the Houston Astrodome for a three-day gathering of Rawat and several thousand of his followers in November 1973, coinciding with Shri Hans's birthday and called "Millennium '73". The event lost money for the organization, but Rawat expressed his satisfaction with it. After a press conference with Prem Rawat, one of the journalists expressed his dissatisfaction with Rawat's answers to questions. See also Millenium festival. Around the time of this festival the anti-cult movement had reached its peak, resulting in several deprogrammed ex-members becoming vocal critics of the mission5.
Psychological changes in followers
- According to a study performed by Jeanne Messer in 1976 the adherents of the Divine Light Mission underwent several psychological changes after their conversion 2, 3, including experiencing a benefits from meditation such as increased energy levels, an increased awareness of serendipity and coincidences and a tendency to see them as divine interventions, as well as improvements in their marriage and work life. Professor Eileen Barker believes, without supplying proof, that the above mentioned changes can be generalized for conversion to other new religious movements.
- In a study by Dr. Marc Galanter in 2002 abut the healing effects of spiritual affiliation6, he found that social and spiritual recovery occurred naturally in certain groups. In the study, Galanter presents as an example the fact that members of the DLM experienced a reduction of symptoms of psycological distress after they joined the group.
- In another study by Galanter, in cooperation with P Buckley, R and J Rabkin, on group influence for decreased drug use, it is presented that members of the DLM, many of whom had been involved in the counterculture of the early 1970s, reported incidence of drug use prior to joining which was much above that of a non-member comparison group. Reported levels were considerably lower after joining, and the decline was maintained over an average membership of 2 years.
See also
References
- Haan, page 55
- Barker, page 32 in the Dutch version of the book. The quotes are based on the Dutch version and have been translated back into English.
- Messer, in Glock & Bellah (1976) (note: The child guru refers to Prem Rawat.)
- Melton, Religious Requirements and practices. A Handbook for Chaplains.
- Melton & Lewis, The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, & New Religions, p. 210
- Galanter, Charismatics groups, p. 1
- Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, p.109
Bibilography
- Chryssides, George D. (2001). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, pp. 108-109. The Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland and London, 2001. ISBN 0-8108-4095-2
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Barker, E. (1989), New Religious Movements: A Practical Introduction, London, HMSO
- Galanter, Marc M. D. (2002) Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Healing Through Social and Spiritual Affiliation, Psychiatric Services 53:1072-1074, September 2002. American Psychiatric Association
- Galanter M, Buckley P, Deutsch A, Rabkin R, Rabkin J (1980) Large group influence for decreased drug use: findings from two contemporary religious sects Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1980;7(3-4):291-304.
- Haan, Wim (Dutch language) De missie van het Goddelijk licht van goeroe Maharaj Ji: een subjektieve duiding from the series Religieuze bewegingen in Nederland: Feiten en Visies nr. 3, autumn 1981 (The study is mainly based on the Dutch branch of the Divine Light Mission) ISBN 90-242-2341-5
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Melton, J. Gordon and Lewis, R. James. Department of the USA Army, Office of the Chief of Chaplains Religious Requirements and practices. A Handbook for Chaplains
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Melton, J. Gordon and Lewis, R. James.The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, & New Religions.
- Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj: Eternal is He, Eternal is His Knowledge, Originally published by Divine Light Mission, (1970) India
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