Prem Rawat (Prem Pal Singh Rawat) whose devotees call him Maharaji (meaning Ultimate Ruler) first came to attention in the West as Guru Maharaj Ji, the self-proclaimed Perfect Master and Lord of the Universe ridiculed in the media as a fat, squeaky-voiced God boy. He had inherited his titles and position as the Satguru, The True Revealer of Light and Spiritual Master of the Divine Light Mission, India (Divya Sandesh Parishad) when his father died in 1966. His father, Hans Rawat, was a successful Indian guru, self titled HRH (His Royal Highness) Yogiraj Param Sant Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. As a child the youngest Rawat son was informally called Sant Ji, more formally Balyogeshwar ("Born King of the Yogis") and even more formally Param Sant Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj. In the West Rawat dropped these more verbose titles in the early 1980's and instructed his followers to call him Maharaji. He has also changed the names of his organisations many times: Divine Light Mission (DLM), World Welfare Association (WWA), World Peace Corps (WPC) and Divine United Organisation (DUO) became Elan Vital in the early 1980's and in 2001 The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) was created and from 2010 his major orgs are Words Of Peace Global (WOPG) registered in Holland, Words of Peace International (WOPI) in the USA, HDSK (Human Development through Self Knowledge) in Great Britain and Raj Vidya Kender (Royal Knowledge Society) in India. He no longer claims to be an Incarnation of God but an internationally famous humanitarian leader and teacher of peace. He's neither.

Balyogeshwar or Guru Maharaj Ji or Maharaji or Prem Rawat

Prem Rawat has been known by many names and titles since being acclaimed by his family and his father's followers as the Perfect Master or Satguru at the age of 8 on the death of his father and prior Perfect Master. When he came to Europe and America in 1971 he was mainly known as Guru Maharaj Ji or Guru Maharaji or Maharaji. This was generally translated as Guru the "Revealer of Light" and Maharaji = "Great King" or loosely translated as "Lord of the Universe".

Since the mid 1980's he has preferred to be addressed as 'Maharaji' which he says means "Ultimate Ruler" which his internet sites state denotes affection and respect but it is certainly thought provoking that a minor public figure should decide to rename himself but keep the title of "Ultimate Ruler" as his preferred mode of address.

• Guru Maharaji: True dispeller of darkness and revealer of light. Guru in Hindi can be loosely translated as 'Teacher', Maharaj as "Great King". Until the mid 1980's his disciples usually call him Guru Maharaj Ji, often shortened to Maharaji. Rawat gave his own translation: the Ultimate Ruler.
• Satguru: True dispeller of darkness and revealer of light.
• Perfect Master: English equivalent of Satguru. A Perfect Master is one who teaches the perfect Knowledge and love of God. Christ and Buddha were Perfect Masters in their own times.
• Balyogeshwar Paramhans Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj. Balyogeshwar means Born Lord of Yogis. Paramhans means Highest Soul. Shri Sant Ji Maharaj indicates Prem Rawat who was called Sant (English = 'saint') when young as his father was known as Balyogeshwar Paramhans Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj and called Hans (English = 'soul' or 'swan')

For reasons that are not clear, Prem Rawat has altered the terminology he uses to describe himself and his teachings and that he wishes his followers to use many times in the last 35 years. However the basic, underlying tenets of his public teaching have remained unchanged.

• His Knowledge is a method to contact the source of life within each human being
• There are four physical methods of contacting this Élan Vital in this Knowledge
• He is the only person able to reveal and empower his Knowledge and as such he is the unique Supreme Power
• There have been others who have had this unique power throughout human history and they include his father and Jesus Christ
• Despite their inherent capability, these techniques are useless without the student committing to Knowledge and maintaining a connection to him.
• The practice of this Knowledge results in Inner Peace and Joy independent of life's vicissitudes if a connection to him is maintained
• The appropriate mode of connection to him is worship and devotion

There are also some private teachings that are not given overtly but are learnt from other students indirectly or as events occur.

• Devotion to Prem Rawat is the most important and rewarding part of the practice of Knowledge
• Due to his position and the stress it causes Prem Rawat should have the greatest wealth and comfort and opulence possible
• Prem Rawat has the power to alter any of the preceding at any time

Now if you you claim to be the designated successor to your father who loudly and proudly called himself the divine Satguru and you are the unique inheritor of the eternal lineage of Perfect Masters who came before you and your role is the revealer of your Gift of the Knowledge of the source of Life, Peace and Inner Bliss to the world, then why be shy?

Click here for a full glossary of terms used in the Divine Light Mission.

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Prem Rawat's "Knowledge" has three parts: regularly listening to his speeches, doing voluntary work for organisations serving him or donating money and daily meditation correctly practicing the four techniques he recommends. The techniques are so simple it's hard to see how they could be practiced incorrectly. First technique ("Divine Light") involves sticking your thumb and middle finger on your eyeballs (NB: with eyes closed) and your index finger between your eyebrows. Second technique: ("Heavenly Music") poking your thumbs into your ears and listening. Third technique: ("Holy Name") thinking about your breathing (NB: continue to breathe). Fourth technique: ("Nectar") curling your tongue backwards and tasting. Rawat's father taught slightly different techniques but either way it's difficult to see how these could produce the benefits claimed for them especially as Rawat claims His Knowledge is the only method of attaining real happiness and love in this life.