Divine Light Mission

The Divine Light Mission was an international religious organization founded in Delhi in 1930 by Hans Ram Singh Rawat, also known as Shri Hans Maharaj Ji. It was part of the Sant Mat tradition, which emphasizes mystical enlightenment through meditation on inner light and sound.1

Upon Shri Hans Maharaj Ji's death in 1966, his eight-year-old son, Prem Pal Singh Rawat, became the leader, known as Maharaj Ji. He gained many followers in the West after visiting in 1971. The organization faced opposition from the anticult movement and internal disputes. In 1975, Maharaj Ji broke from his family and later disbanded the Divine Light Mission, forming Elan Vital to continue spreading his teachings worldwide. Elan Vital focuses on spiritual discipline through the "yoga of the sound current," teaching that individuals can reconnect with the divine by chanting the names of God.1