From Engineer to Spiritual Leader
The life of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj is the story of a man who walked away from a stable career to follow a path of spiritual discovery. He was born in a small farming family and grew up like any other village boy in Haryana. He went to school, trained as an engineer, and worked for the government. Yet deep inside he felt that the religious practices around him were not bringing true peace. This feeling pushed him to search for answers and eventually to devote his life to what he calls true spiritual knowledge. Over the years he has attracted a large following, built big ashrams, faced legal battles, and become a name known across India. His life is full of devotion, challenges, and determination.
Early Life and Family
Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj was born on 8 September 1951 in a village named Dhanana in the Gohana area of Sonipat district, Haryana, India. His birth name is Rampal. His parents were simple and hardworking farmers. His father’s name is Bhakt Nandram and his mother’s name is Indradevi. They raised their children in a traditional rural environment where honesty, hard work, and devotion to God were important values.
Rampal Ji grew up with brothers and sisters, but unlike his parents’ names, the names of his siblings are not clearly available in reliable public records. Some followers mention that he has siblings, but the details have never been confirmed in official sources. What is clear is that he was part of a large farming family where children learned to help with daily work from a young age. This rural background gave him a simple and grounded start in life.
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Education
As a child Rampal Ji went to local schools in and around Dhanana. He was a bright student who paid attention to his studies. After finishing his basic schooling he moved on to technical education. He enrolled in the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Nilokheri in Karnal district of Haryana. There he studied engineering and earned a diploma in civil engineering. This was a big step for a boy from a farming family in the 1960s and 1970s. Education gave him a chance to get a good job and a secure future.
Early Career
After completing his engineering diploma Rampal Ji joined the Haryana Government Irrigation Department as a Junior Engineer. His job involved supervising water works, canals, and irrigation projects. He worked there for around 18 years. He earned a regular salary and enjoyed the respect that came with a government job. People who knew him in those years say that he was honest and did his duty sincerely. Even while working as an engineer he kept a deep interest in religion and often spent time reading scriptures and visiting temples. But despite his good job and regular prayers he still felt an emptiness inside. He wanted to know the real way to reach God.
Spiritual Journey
The turning point in his life came when he met Swami Ramdevanand Ji Maharaj, a saint of the Kabir Panth tradition. Rampal Ji had already tried many forms of worship. He used to read Hanuman Chalisa several times a day and went on long pilgrimages. Yet he was not satisfied. Swami Ramdevanand Ji explained to him that true salvation can only come through the right spiritual knowledge and the correct way of worship as described in the holy scriptures. On 17 February 1988, Rampal Ji received spiritual initiation from Swami Ramdevanand Ji. He calls this day his Bodh Diwas, which means the day of spiritual awakening. After this he started reading many religious texts with new understanding. He found in them messages that, according to him, support the idea of one Supreme God who is above rituals and idols.
Rampal Ji started giving spiritual discourses after his initiation. People who listened to him were impressed by his clear way of explaining complicated scriptures. His talks were simple but powerful. He compared verses from different holy books and said that all of them point to one Supreme God. In 1994, his guru Swami Ramdevanand Ji gave him the responsibility to give initiation to others. This was a sign of trust and recognition of his ability to guide people. By 1995, Rampal Ji decided to leave his government job so that he could spend all his time on spiritual work. Leaving a secure government career was not an easy decision, but he felt that spreading the true message of God was more important than anything else.
Satlok Ashram
After leaving his job Rampal Ji founded the Satlok Ashram at Karontha in Rohtak district of Haryana. The ashram became the center of his teachings. People from different states began to visit the ashram to listen to his discourses and to take spiritual initiation from him. Over the years more ashrams were opened in other places, including a large one in Barwala in Hisar district. These ashrams have big halls, facilities for staying, and arrangements for large gatherings. His followers say that the ashrams are places of peace where people learn to live without addiction, dowry, or superstition.
Teachings
Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj teaches that most religious practices today are not in line with the true scriptures. He rejects idol worship and complicated rituals. He says that people can reach God only by receiving the correct spiritual knowledge and by following the way of worship described in holy texts. He often quotes from the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Quran to show that all of them talk about one Supreme God. According to him this Supreme God is the same as the poet saint Kabir. His followers believe that by taking initiation from him and following his guidance they can achieve salvation.
Achievements
Saint Rampal Ji’s achievements can be seen in the size of his following and the impact of his teachings. He has attracted thousands of followers not only in Haryana but also in other parts of India and abroad. His satsangs are attended by large crowds and his books and videos are widely circulated. He has encouraged his followers to give up dowry, drinking, smoking, and other harmful social practices. Many followers say that their lives have become happier and more peaceful after following his teachings. He has also used modern technology like loudspeakers, video screens, and social media to spread his message to millions of people.
Controversies and Legal Challenges
Along with success came serious challenges. In 2006 a violent clash took place between his followers and members of another religious group at his Karontha ashram. One person died and several were injured. Rampal Ji was arrested and faced court cases. In 2014 the police tried to arrest him again in connection with earlier cases. A standoff occurred at his Barwala ashram where thousands of followers resisted the arrest. After several days the police took control and arrested him. In 2018 a court in Hisar found him guilty in two cases of murder and wrongful confinement related to the 2014 incident and sentenced him to life imprisonment. His lawyers have appealed against the judgment and some sentences have been suspended by higher courts. His followers believe he is innocent and say that he is being targeted because of his teachings. Whatever the truth, these cases have made him one of the most talked-about spiritual leaders in India.
Personal Life
Rampal Ji is married to Anaro Devi. Together they have four children—two sons and two daughters. The sons are named Manoj and Virender and the daughters are Anju and Manju, according to several reports. His family has often lived with him in the ashrams and supported his spiritual mission. During times of legal trouble they have also faced public attention and media pressure.
Net Worth and Properties
Exact details of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj’s personal wealth are not publicly available because most of the property is held in the name of trusts or ashram committees. However, media reports give some idea of the scale of the assets connected to his organization. The Satlok Ashram in Barwala covers around 12 acres and contains large halls, residential quarters, kitchens, and modern facilities. Reports have mentioned that the ashram contains vehicles including luxury cars and equipment for large gatherings. Some estimates in Indian newspapers suggest that the total value of properties and assets linked to his ashrams could be around 100 crore rupees (roughly 10 to 15 million US dollars depending on land prices and currency rates). It is not clear how much of this is personally owned by Rampal Ji and how much belongs to the religious trusts. Like many spiritual leaders, he says that he lives a simple life and that donations are used for the welfare of followers and for spreading spiritual knowledge.
Continued Influence
Even while facing legal cases and staying in custody for long periods, Rampal Ji Maharaj continues to guide his followers. His discourses are shared through recorded videos, books, and online platforms. His followers organize events, distribute free spiritual literature, and hold gatherings where his teachings are explained. For his devotees he remains a spiritual master who shows the way to salvation. For his critics he is a controversial figure whose teachings and methods have brought him into conflict with the law.
Conclusion
The journey of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj is the journey of a man who chose faith over comfort. From a small village in Haryana he rose to become an engineer, then left his secure government job to become a spiritual leader. He built ashrams, gathered followers, and spread a message that challenges traditional religious practices. Along the way he faced serious legal battles and even imprisonment. Yet his movement continues to grow and his name continues to attract attention. Whether people see him as a true saint, a reformer, or a controversial preacher, his life remains a powerful story of conviction and the search for spiritual truth.