Her Holiness Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji, succeeded Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj as the Spiritual Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission following his sudden merger into the Almighty Nirankar in a car crash in Canada on May 13, 2016. No doubt Satguru manifested in Her Holiness right from that moment, Sadh Sangat could see her identified with the same at a brief ceremony in Ground No. 8 in Delhi on May 17, at about 11.00 pm. Rev H.S. Upashak Ji, General Secretary of the Mission in UK made the announcement, the President of the Sant Nirankari Mandal Rev. JRD ‘Satyarthi’ Ji presented the White Scarf (Dupatta), the symbol of Satguru’s spiritual powers, and Holy Sister Niranjan Ji welcomed her with a garland of flowers. Thousands of devotees who had assembled for Baba Ji’s Antim Darshan hailed Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji with loud acclamation (Jai Ghosh).

Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji was born on January 12, 1957 in the family of Shri Manmohan Singh Ji and Mata Amrit Kaur Ji residing at Rohtak Road in Delhi. Later, the family shifted to Yamuna Nagar. The child Savinder was, however, adopted and brought up by Shri Gurmukh Singh Ji and Madan Mata Ji belonging to Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh. They had no child of their own. The two families were related to each other as Shri Manmohan Singh Ji was the son of Madan Mata Ji’s brother Shri Manohar Singh Ji. Since both the families were closely associated with the Sant Nirankari Mission, they sought the blessings of the then Head of the Mission, Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji, which made this emotional arrangement a divine destiny for the child Savinder.

Savinder Ji’s primary education took place in Farrukhabad. Thereafter, in 1966 she was sent to an Irish institution, the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Waverly, Mussoorie from where she passed the Indian School Certificate Examination (Senior Cambridge, equivalent to Senior Secondary), in 1973.

At school, Savinder Ji was a brilliant student. She scored more than 90 per cent marks in every examination. At senior secondary level, besides English Language and Literature, the subjects she studied included History, Geography, Hindi and Human and Social Biology. Her school teachers - Ms. P. Dias and Mrs. Beena Bhardwaj recall the days of her childhood and say that she was a very intelligent and hard working student and won the hearts of all the nuns and teachers because of her polite and respectful behaviour.

For higher education, Savinder Ji joined the Daulat Ram College in Delhi. She was, however, married to Baba Hardev Singh Ji at a simple ceremony, on the eve of the 28th Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam in Delhi on November 14, 1975. In this way, she became a part of the holy family of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji as their gracious daughter-in-law. They took the young couple with them on their month long world salvation tour in December, 1975, which covered UK, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Austria. Again in 1976, Savinder Ji and Baba Hardev Singh Ji accompanied Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and Rajmata Ji on a two month world salvation tour that took them to Kuwait, Iraq, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, Austria and UK. These two tours were a great source of learning how to serve the True Master who was also her father-in-law and Rajmata Ji became her role model for this. She also learnt how to look after the VIPs and saints coming to seek blessings from Satguru.

When Baba Hardev Singh Ji took over the responsibility as the Spiritual Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission in 1980, Savinder Ji started being addressed by Nirankari world as Pujya Mata Savinder Ji. She shared the dais with Baba Ji and Rajmata Ji and blessed the devotees who paid their obeisance at her holy feet as well. She moved shoulder to shoulder with Baba Ji during all his salvation tours in India and abroad and participated in every congregation and Samagam addressed by him. She took full care of Baba Ji’s personal needs. Whenever some people came to Baba Ji for blessings, she would be there to shower the motherly affection. She looked after the visitors as any devoted housewife would do in the case of close relations and important guests.

Her Holiness Mata Savinder Ji always regarded Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj as Satguru first. All other relations would come later. They had three daughters Samta Ji, Renuka Ji and Sudiksha Ji, but her love and care for them never came in the way to serve the Mission along with Baba Ji. Besides every nook and corner of the country, Baba Ji’s salvation tours took her around the world. In India she travelled through difficult terrains and dined and stayed at small houses of devotees in remote areas.

Besides those mentioned earlier, the other countries Mata Ji visited along with Baba Ji, and many of them repeatedly, include: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Bahrain, Oman, Holland, Portugal, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Doha Qatar, China, Indonesia, Ireland and Greece, While travelling abroad, Her Holiness not only shared the sacred dais with Baba Ji but also the Honours and Awards he received from different organizations and institutions. At times she was honoured separately also. For example, she was greeted as Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation, North America and the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace.

Her Holiness Mata Savinder Hardev Ji has always been kind to Sewadars. She bestowed her motherly love and care not only on Sewadars but their families also. She blessed the brides and bridegrooms at mass-marriages so that they find all that’s needed to make their married life happy, prosperous and blissful.

Her Holiness has always encouraged the devotees towards service of humanity by participating in the same herself. Often she donated her blood at the Blood Donation Camp in Delhi on April 24 organized on Manav Ekta Divas to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and hundreds of devotees who laid down their lives while crusading for truth, love, tolerance and unity.

On June 5, 2009, the International Environment Day, Mata Ji led a special cleanliness drive in Mussoorie where Safai Karamcharis (scavengers) of the Municipal Corporation had gone on strike. In December the same year, she visited the Tihar Jail in Delhi and distributed gifts among women and children. She showed such gestures towards them later on also on several occasions. On October 26, 2014, Mata Ji joined the Run for Oneness from National Stadium to Connaught Place in Delhi which served as a great source of inspiration for thousands of men and women participating in the event.

Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji was always an important source of inspiration for the younger generation. She had her own pleasant way to attract them towards the Mission and persuade them to take part in various activities, rising above all kinds of worldly considerations normally baffling the modern youth.

In this way, when called upon to lead the Sant Nirankari Mission, as its Spiritual Head, Her Holiness Mata Savinder Hardev Ji had the advantage of understanding its needs thoroughly. She pledged on the very first day to take the Mission to the heights where Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj wanted to see. She knew every Pracharak and Prabandhak in India and abroad personally. She asked them to strengthen their mutual love and cooperation and help her in this pious endeavour. Just like Baba Hardev Singh Ji treated the assassination of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji in 1980 as the will of God, she also treated the tragic separation of Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj in physical form as a divine destiny and exhorted every devotee to keep on marching with the same enthusiasm and steadfastness and take this light of spiritual knowledge to every nook and corner of the world and remove the darkness of ignorance.

On her own part, Her Holiness tried in every way to maintain the tempo that Mission had attained under the guidance of Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj. Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji did not allow her deteriorating health to cause any hurdle in her way. She undertook long hectic salvation tours along with other saints from Delhi involving long and continuous travelling by road. These tours covered Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.

The countries outside India visited by Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj included Nepal, UAE, UK, Canada and USA.

During the two years Her Holiness led the Mission as its spiritual head, she organised all the Samagams in Delhi as in the past. During 2016, the Mukti Parv Samagam was held as usual on August 15. This time, however, the day was prominently dedicated to Baba Hardev Singh Ji. The 69th Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam was held in November, which was also dedicated to the life and teachings of Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj.

In January 2017, the Bhakti Parv Samagam was held at Sant Nirankari Spiritual Complex, Samalkha. The Guru Puja Diwas Samagam was organised in Delhi and all over the country on February 23, 2017. Similarly, the Manav Ekta Diwas was celebrated on April 24. Samarpan Diwas Samagam was organised for the first time on May 13, 2017, the day being the first Death Anniversary of Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj.

Mukti Parv Samagam was also held on its usual date that is August 15.

The Annual Sant Samagam – 2017 was again held in Delhi from November 18 to 20 in the same ground opposite Sarovar Complex. While the devotees came with their usual enthusiasm, the land, however, got quite squeezed due to large-scale construction work going on some of the grounds that were earlier used for Samagam. Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji, therefore, announced that the next Samagam would be held at our own land, the Sant Nirankari Spiritual Complex, Samalkha in Haryana.

The State-level and Regional-level Samagams organised under the benign guidance of Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj included 3-day Maharashtra’s Annual Samagam in January and a Regional-level Samagam for West Bengal Orissa and North-East States on February 25-26, 2017. The Samagam was held in Kolkata on Mission’s own land first time.

The Bhakti Parv Samagam in January, 2018 was organised in Samalkha. Satguru Mata Ji availed the occasion for the inauguration of a large-scale development of the Spiritual Complex so that the Annual Sant Samagam in November could be held on this vast land belonging to the Mission. The programme was attended by a large number of devotees from Delhi, Greater Delhi and almost all parts of Haryana. Several sains came from some other States also.

Guru Puja Diwas 2018 was celebrated on February 23. The Sant Nirankari Charitable Foundation organized a mega cleanliness drive in 635 Government Hospitals in 275 cities across the county. More than 3.00 lakh volunteers from the Foundation, Sewadal and other devotees of the Sant Nirankari Mission participated in the drive.

As regards Manav Ekta Diwas, it was celebrated throughout India on April 24, 2018 with blood donation camps at 83 places across the country on the same day. Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj, however, addressed the Samagam in San Francisco, USA on April 22.

Earlier, Satguru Mata Ji addressed the Maharashtra Samagam in Mumbai from January 26 to 28, the Sate-level Samagam of Uttar Pradesh on March 10-11, 2018 in Varanasi and the Regional Samagam of West Bengal, Odisha and NE States organized in Siliguri on March 24-25, 2018. The Uttar Pradesh Samagam was held after a gap of five years.

Satguru Mata Ji who had left Delhi on April 1, 2018 returned to Headquarters on May 3, 2018. The salvation tour covered UK, Canada and USA. In the meantime the health of Her Holiness had deteriorated further. In Delhi also she spent most of the time in Hospital. In view of this Satguru Mata Ji declared her youngest daughter Sudiksha Ji as the Spiritual Head of the Sant Nirakari Mission in her place from July 16, 2018. The formal ceremony was, however, held on July 17 at Samagam Ground No.8 in Delhi. The congregation was attended by members of the Central Planning and Advisory Board, Executive Committee, Sewadal Adhikaris and several Zonal Incharges as well as thousands of devotees not only from Delhi and Greater Delhi but other parts of the country also.

As Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj arrived at the dais, she was welcomed on behalf of all the followers of the Mission with a bouquet by her Private Secretary Shri Sandeep Gulati Ji. Thereafter, Satguru Mata Ji applied traditional sacred mark (Tilak) on the forehead of Sudiksha Ji, offered the sacred seat and put the white scarf (Dupatta), a symbol of Nirankari Satguru’s spiritual powers, round her neck with the help of a devotee.

Thereafter, Rev Gobind Singh Ji, President, Sant Nirankari Mandal, Rev K.R. Chadha Ji, Chairman, Central Planning and Advisory Board, Rev V.D. Nagpal Ji, General Secretary of the Mandal, several other senior saints connected with Prachar and Parbandh of the Mission and Members of the holy family welcomed Rev Sudiksha Ji as Satguru with garlands on behalf of the entire Nirankari world.

Blessing the congregation, Satguru Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj said that there is much that Baba Ji wanted to achieve but we could not accomplish the same. I pray to God that now you are all able to complete those tasks under the guidance of Sudiksha Ji.

Thereafter Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Mahraj received treatment at home, while Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji and other members of the holy family remained at her service. She, however, breathed her last at about 5.15 pm on August 5, 2018.

Rev Mata Ji’s body was placed for Antim Darshan by devotees in Ground No.8, Burari Road from 9.00 p.m. the same day. The Antim Darshan programme continued day and night till August 7, 2018. Lakhs of Nirankari devotees from India and abroad continued coming for Antim Darshan of Rev Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj.

Besides all the members of the Central Planning and Advisory Board and Executive Committee of the Sant Nirankari Mandal, members of the holy family were also attending the devotees. Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj also spent some time blessing the devotees coming for Antim Darshan of Mata Savinder Hardev Ji Maharaj.

Among representatives of other religious and social organizations, a delegation from Sant Kirpal Ashram also came and paid their respects.

On August 8, 2018, a cascade of devotees flooded Ground No.8 to participate in during the last ceremonies of Mata Savinder Hardev Ji. Hands joined in prayers as lakhs of devotees rendered their heartfelt reverence to Mata Ji while bidding a final adieu to her in physical form.

The holy family and members of the Central Planning and Advisory Board and Executive Committee of the Sant Nirankari Mandal paid the last tribute to Mata Savinder Hardev Ji. Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji and two other daughters of Mata Savinder Hardev Ji presented shawls as their last respect to Mata Ji. Other members of the holy family also presented shawls. President Sant Nirankari Mandal, Shri Gobind Singh Ji along with senior dignitaries including Pracharaks and Prabandhaks from India and abroad, too, presented shawls and bouquets of flowers as a token of respect.

The last journey began from Ground No. 8 at 9:30 am and reached the CNG Crematorium, Nigam Bodh Ghat at around 1pm. Mata Ji was taken in an open vehicle bedecked with flowers to Nigam Bodh Ghat with Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji and her two holy sisters along with other family members seated by the side of the body.

In continuation with Sant Nirankari Mission’s tradition, the 10 km procession was led by Sewadal members from India and abroad followed by senior Pracharaks and Prabandaks from across the world. Devotees in large number were seen along the roads on the entire route.

The last ceremonies were performed by Hardik Ji, son of Mata Ji’s daughter Samta Ji, in the presence of Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji and other family members in the cremation hall.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Environment paid his last respect at Nigam Bodh Ghat.

To take inspiration from the life and teachings of Mata Savinder Hardev Ji, a special congregation was held in Ground No. 8 the same day in the evening. It was presided over by Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji.

Addressing the congregation described as Prerna Diwas, Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj said that Mata Savinder Hardev Ji was not only the mother of her three children but the entire Sadh Sangat. She showered her love and affection on every devotee equally, particularly when she was Spiritual Head of the Mission.

Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji said that to get emotional on such an occasion was but natural. No wonder several devotees were seen with tears in their eyes. Even I had a deep emotional outburst within, but when I saw many of the devotees with wet eyes but a smile at their face, it showed that they had complete faith in God and trusted His will. This encouraged me too not to be emotional.

In fact, Mata Sudiksha Ji said, Mata Savinder Hardev Ji too always taught us right since our childhood to stay connected with God in every situation saying that He will certainly look after us and solve our problems. Even Avtar Bani says that to obey the will of God is the best ornament of the life of saints.

Mata Sudiksha Ji further said that from worldly point of view anybody who loses both his father and mother is called an orphan. But here Satguru has given us God as Father and Sadh Sangat as the Mother. Hence, we can never be orphans, she said.

During the congregation that lasted for more than 7 hours, several senior Pracharaks and Prabandhaks from across the world paid their tributes to Mata Savinder Hardev Ji and said that she inspired us to spread the message of this Mission of love, peace, tolerance and brotherhood not only through her holy discourses but while living the same also. No doubt, she did not make long speeches but each and every word was useful to improve our life and be a source of inspiration for others. Tributes were also paid by several members of the holy family and their relatives. A short poetic symposium was also a part of the congregation.

Among important dignitaries who came during the congregation and paid their respects included Shri Satyendra Kumar Jain, Minister for Health, Government of Delhi, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Member of Parliament and Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister of Haryana.