Dera Sacha Sauda (Punjabi: ਡੇਰਾ ਸੱਚਾ ਸੌਦਾ, Hindi: डेरा सच्चा सौदा) is a non-profit spiritual organization based in Sirsa, Haryana, India. The organization claims to have 10 million followers.^[1] “Punjabi” redirects here. ... Hindi (हिन्दी) is a language spoken mainly in North and Central India. ... Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. ... Sirsa is one of the districts of Haryana state, India, and Sirsa town is the district headquarters. ... For the town in Hoshiarpur district, see Hariana. ...

The Dera Sacha Sauda was set-up by Shah Mastana from Baluchistan in 1948, as a center for spiritual learning, based upon liberal theology that was in disagreement with established orthodox religions and philosophies. Shah Mastana was succeeded by Shah Satnam Singh, who was followed in 1992 by Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh (also known as Sant Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh ji and Hazoor Maharaj ji among his followers).^[1] The Chief Commissioners Province of Baluchistan was a former province of Pakistan located in the northern parts of modern Balochistan province. ...

The organization does not accept any gifts, alms or donations. The inhabitants of the ashram work in the agricultural fields and the income from the produce is utilized for social welfare activities and meet the expenses of the organization.^[2] An Ashram (Pronounced aashram) in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages (See Rishi) lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature. ...

Name

The name Sacha Sauda (True business) refers to an incident in the life of Guru Nanak Dev. In one telling, when Guru Nanak Dev was 12 years old his father gave him twenty rupees and asked him to do a business to teach him business. Guru Nanak bought food with all the money and gave it to saints and poor. He told his father that he had done a "True business." Sacha Sauda is believed to be the place where Guru Nanak fed the poor. ^[3] Guru Nanak Dev[1] (Punjabi: , ) (Born in Nankana Sahib, Punjab, (now Pakistan) on 20th October 1469 – 7 May 1539, Kartarpur, Punjab, India), was the founder of Sikhism, and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. ...

Principles and positions

The official principles of the sect laid down by Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh are secularism, equality, no acceptance of materialistic wealth, and truth and faith over everything else, meditation to road of truth, no politics, strict individual discipline, strict social discipline, hardwork, true faith and meditation to escape from re-births (Moksha).^[4][5] This article is about secularism. ... EQUAL is a popular artificial sweetener Equal (sweetener) Equality can mean several things: Mathematical equality Social equality Racial equality Sexual equality Equality of outcome Equality, a town in Illinois See also Equity Egalitarianism Equals sign This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Activities

According to the Dera Sacha Sauda, the organization's main income is through agriculture. It also runs a 175 bed hospital in Ganganagar, Rajasthan, which is the birth place of Saint Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh Ji, along with a hostel for girls, a boys' school and a degree college in Haryana. In 2002, an article in Frontline claimed that the organization is also involved in several other entrepreneurial activities including a petrol pump, biscuit factory, ice factory, restaurant and a supermarket.^[1]. , Ganganagar, also called Sri Ganganagar, is a small city in Rajasthan state of western India. ... , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Frontline (ISSN 0970-1710)is a fortnightly English language magazine published by The Hindu Group of publications from Chennai, India. ...

Dera Sacha Sauda has been twice recognized by Guinness World Records for massive blood donation camps: Guinness World Records 2008 edition. ... “Give blood” redirects here. ...

1. A camp conducted by Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh in Sirsa, Haryana on 7th December 2003, in which 15,432 donors participated in merely 12 hours. ^{[citation needed]}
2. A camp in a Bapu Ji village, Sriganganagar, India on 10th October 2004 in which 17,921 donors participated.^[6]

In 2004, the Parampita Shah Satnamji Educational and Welfare Society, which is affiliated with Dera Sacha Sauda, built the Shah Satnamji Cricket Stadium in Sirsa, Haryana. Using a workforce of 10,000, the stadium was said to have been built in 45 days and have a capacity of 30,000.^[7] It is spread over 100 acres, which would make the second largest in Asia.^[8] An acre is the name of a unit of area in a number of different systems, including Imperial units and United States customary units. ...

Dera Sacha Sauda also runs a Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Sirsa, where scores of people have been treated.^[9] Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh started a Drug Prevention Campaign against the use of intoxicants and inspires people to give up their drug addiction in every spiritual congregation. People willing to give up their addiction stay in Dera Sacha Sauda for seven days and medical treatment is available for them free of cost. The institution sees chemical dependency (Drug Addiction) as a behavioural disorder and encourages the addicts to bring about a positive change in their personality.^[10]

Criticism and controversies

Clashes with Sikh community

In May 2007 Dera Sacha Sauda was accused of insulting Sikhism after the organization's leader, Gurmeet Singh, "appeared in an advert in which Sikhs said he was made to look like the last Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh."^[11] This controversy developed into a serious law-and-order problem in various parts of Northern India, as riots broke out between Sacha Sauda followers and the SGPC. At least one person was killed, and over a hundred injured in the ensuing six days of sectarian violence."^[12] Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... A traditional portrait of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. ... The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee is a sikh religious organization responsible for the upkeep of Gurudwaras. ...

On 20 May 2007, a press release by the organization mentioned that it regretted the events that had occurred. The sect admitted that the ad did create misunderstandings, but that it was never intended to hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community^[13] The organization again apologised on 27 May 2007 saying, "We are pained by the developments of the last several days. We are sorry for the misunderstanding and would like to apologise to Guru Gobind Singh."^[14]. However the Akal Takht rejected the apology, saying it was dissatisfied with the manner in which the Dera head has sent the apology.^[15]. is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages English, Punjabi] A Sikh (English: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Akal Takht (Punjabi: , ) is the second holiest shrine of the Sikhs. ...

On 20 June 2007, additional chief judicial magistrate A.L. Kitchi issued an arrest warrant against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with a criminal case registered against him under Section 295-A of the IPC on May 20 in Bathinda.^[16]. is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

Guinness World Records 2008 edition. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For followers of Hinduism, see Hindu. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh and Delhi, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For followers of Hinduism, see Hindu. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh and Delhi, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Dera Saccha Sauda Crises - The Game Media Played

Organization's website:

• Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa
• Truth and Myth
• shahsatnamjigreens.org
• sachasauda-truthandmyth.com