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.

The Connection

This Visions International short film was sold on a Video CD distributed at Elan Vital "events" and was produced in 1998. It contains film clips of Prem Rawat aka 'Maharaji' in West Africa and India and his students filing past him kissing his feet in the darshan ritual. The soundtrack includes a song by his daughter, Dayalata Rawat, "Your Golden Way" (Click to play .mp3) with slightly altered lyrics compared to the original version of the early 1970's - original lyrics in parentheses.

"And this one thing called Knowledge, this one thing called the Master, this one thing called the student, this beautiful flower, this beautiful process of growth, this beautiful process of flowering. This Knowledge, this connection, that's what this is all about. When the Master gives, be ready to take. That's what a good student is, the Master gives, the student takes. The Master has to trust the student and the student has to trust the master. This is, this is their relationship. That's all they have. it is so important that each one of you you have to have the connection with the Master. The trust is the most beautiful, the most delicate, indeed very delicate, the trust is the most beautiful connection between a Master and a student. Indeed trust is the most beautiful connection between anybody. But between a Master and a student it can be glorious. And what does the Master tell you? What, what does the Master tell you? What does Maharaji tell you? Be fullfilled, be happy, be in that joy Then I accept, I understand, because that's what I want too. Cause the student doesn't have any other wish than to be content, than to be in that joy. Then the student and the master both agree there is a union. Let all the other stuff go and hang on to your heart. Let all the other stuff go and hang on to your joy. Let all the other stuff go and hang on to this Knowledge. And become simple so you can be fulfilled and that's the opportunity. Take it, take it. Understand what the Master is telling you, look at not only the words but the feeling. Don't get caught on the words, let that magic happen and you will see that there is a three dimensional world. Not single dimension but three dimensional. Appreciate that it is the kindness, that it is the joy, from which this message comes."
There are two versions of this clip, a better quality of 18 megabytes and for slow connections one of 5 megabytes.

Click here to hear the Ladies Smith Black Maharaji group sing.

Apart from Rawat's early claim to be the Lord of the Universe and his accumulation of wealth through the donations of his followers, "Darshan" is the most controversial aspect of his career. This is the ritual where Rawat's 'premies' or students line up and in single file (once in double file) walk through a darkened tunnel to Rawat - well lit and sitting high on a throne or large chair - and either kiss his feet, put their foreheads on his feet or do something similar. Cash donations are always advised at this time. While this ritual has never been highly publicised it has been performed only secretly since the early 1980's. Here there is film of a darshan line that is obvious to anyone with any knowledge of Rawat's career but would not be recognised by innocent bystanders. The camera is above and to Rawat's right or left, looking down. We see the followers approaching, single file through the darkened tunnel, begin to bow and go out of the picture or are shown raising themselves and moving on after they've kissed his feet. The portrayal of this ceremony, considered the peak experience, in a student's life is shown to inspire Rawat's followers but in such a way as to prevent understanding and criticism of Rawat's role since his followers have claimed he renounced his divinity in the early 1980's. Click here to see the clip of the darshan line.

The Golden Way (original lyrics in italics)

You call to us Maharaji (oh Lord) like a flower calls to the bee
And we rush to you Maharaji (oh Lord) like the rivers rush to the sea
And though we'll try every day
To walk your Golden Way
Only by your grace, by your mercy
Can we approach you

You're the only one dear Master
You're the one that we need
Draw the veil away true lover
And bring your love close to me (Plant your holy seed)
And though we'll try every day
To walk your Golden Way
Only by your grace, by your mercy
Can we approach you

Wake us from our dream Maharaji (oh Father)
Show us why we're alive
Hear us breathe your name Maharaji (oh Father)
Let us come back inside
And though we'll try every day
To walk your Golden Way
Only by your grace, by your mercy
Can we approach you

Your love is all Maharaji
We've only longing (sorrows) to give
Now we weep for joy Maharaji
With the deeper reason to live (And you're the reason we live)
And though we'll try every day
To walk your Golden Way
Only by your grace, by your mercy
Can we approach you

When we see you smile Maharaji
Confusion's so far away
Let us sing you praise forever
And make you smile every day
And though we'll try every day
To walk your Golden Way
Only by your grace, by your mercy
Can we approach you

(Soon the world will know oh Lord
That there's no reason to roam
May we serve you well oh Lord
To call your lost children home
And though we'll try every day
To walk your Golden Way
Only by your grace, by your mercy
Can we approach you)

There is a section in this video where the camera focuses on Rawat's feet.

"It's a total package. Physically there is a Master so you can connect and internally there is Knowledge so you can connect on both levels.
Make the connection."

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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.