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Shiv Dayal Singh Seth Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth24 August 1818

Age59 years (at time of death)

BirthplacePanni Gali, Agra, Ceded Provinces, British India

ProfessionSpiritual Leader

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNaraini Devi

FamilyFather - Dilwali Singh Seth; Mother - Name not known; Brothers - Rai Bindraban, Lala Pratap Singh Seth (Partap Singh); Children - None

Shiv Dayal Singh Seth Biography

Shiv Dayal Singh Seth, commonly known as Soamiji Maharaj, was a 19th-century Indian spiritual leader who founded the Radha Soami (Radhasoami) faith. Born 4

Early life and background
Shiv Dayal Singh Seth was born on 24 August 1818 in Panni Gali, Agra, then part of the Ceded Provinces under British India. His family had roots in Punjab and had moved to Agra in the early 1800s. His father, Dilwali Singh Seth, and grandfather were Persian scholars; the family originally followed the Sikh tradition and also attended the discourses of Tulsi Saheb of Hathras. Shiv Dayal Singh received formal schooling from a young age in languages and spiritual practices, learning Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Gurmukhi, Arabic and Sanskrit, alongside Parmarth (spiritual practices).

Career
After finishing his studies, Shiv Dayal Singh first worked as a Persian-language translator for a government officer and gave private tuition to local royalty. Following the death of his father he briefly joined the family business, but soon left it to devote himself fully to meditation and spiritual work. Drawing on Sikh scriptures and the teachings of Tulsi Saheb, he began holding spiritual discourses at his home in Agra and developed a practice of Surat Shabd Yoga—listening to inner sounds as a means of spiritual progress.

A defining period in his life came after the death of Tulsi Saheb in 1843, when Shiv Dayal Singh entered an extended period of intense meditation. Accounts indicate he confined himself to a room within his house for a prolonged time and maintained an austere regimen focused on inner practice. After roughly fifteen years of solitary practice, he emerged publicly in 1861 on Vasant Panchami to give a Satsang (spiritual discourse) in Agra. Over the following years he continued to teach, initiate devotees, and lead lengthy Satsangs that could extend through the night.

Teachings and writings
Shiv Dayal Singh emphasized devotion to a living guru, ethical living, vegetarianism, and a meditation practice centered on remembrance of the divine Name (Sat Naam) and listening inwardly. His approach affirmed that a committed spiritual life could be lived within a household rather than requiring formal renunciation. He placed importance on seva (service), attending satsang, and joining community gatherings for spiritual instruction and support.

He recorded his inner experiences in two volumes of poetry titled Sar Bachan (Volume 1 and 2). His teachings and method of initiation formed the basis of what became known as the Radha Soami faith, which later gave rise to multiple branches and centres across India and overseas.

Public profile
Devotees honored Shiv Dayal Singh with respectful titles, and he became widely known as Soamiji Maharaj. His circle of close disciples included Rai Salig Ram Saheb Bahadur, who served him for many years, as well as female disciples known as Shibboji and Bukkiji. Family members such as his brother Partap Singh and later his son Sudarshan Singh Seth also became followers. His wife, Naraini Devi, remained his companion and follower and was later revered by some devotees.

Legacy
Shiv Dayal Singh spent the remainder of his life in Agra teaching Sant Mat and initiating followers in the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga. After his death on 15 June 1878 in Panni Gali, Agra, a number of his disciples and relatives established their own centres and lineages, which led to the multiplication of Radha Soami groups. Memorials and centres in Agra such as Soami Bagh, Peepal Mandi and Dayalbagh trace their origins to disciples who continued to teach in the tradition he articulated. Over the 20th century and beyond, branches associated with his spiritual lineage grew substantially, with prominent centres established in places like Beas, Punjab, and other parts of India and abroad.

Latest updates
A memorial tomb at Soami Bagh in Agra was erected in 1908 in his honour. Various centres and movements inspired by his teachings continued to form and evolve through the 20th century, each interpreting and carrying forward the core practices of Surat Shabd Yoga and devotion to the living master in their own ways.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Shiv Dayal Singh Seth, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Sar Bachan (Poetry) Volume 1

Collection of poetic writings based on his inner spiritual experiences.

Unknown
Sar Bachan (Poetry) Volume 2

Second volume of poetic works reflecting his meditative insights.

Unknown
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Career Highlights

  1. Founder of the Radha Soami faith
  2. Taught Surat Shabd Yoga and Sant Mat from his base in Agra
  3. Authored Sar Bachan volumes based on inner spiritual experience
  4. Established a living-teacher based practice emphasizing meditation within household life
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shiv Dayal Singh Seth born?

Shiv Dayal Singh Seth was born on 24 August 1818.

What is Shiv Dayal Singh Seth known for?

Shiv Dayal Singh Seth is known for spiritual Leader.

What is Shiv Dayal Singh Seth’s marital status?

Shiv Dayal Singh Seth's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Shiv Dayal Singh Seth married to?

Shiv Dayal Singh Seth is publicly listed as married to Naraini Devi.