A Saint’s Remarkable Will

A Saint’s Remarkable Will: Record-Breaking Sales (Special Article on Swami Ramsukhdas Ji Maharaj)

Whenever a will is written or mentioned in the world, the first thing that comes to mind is the distribution of wealth and property. However, there is a will in the world that is truly unique. The person who wrote this will did not have a single rupee’s worth of property, no land, no bank balance, no mansion, no farm, and no home. Yet, he wrote a will that has been reprinted 40 times, and over 800,000 copies have been sold. This will has been translated into many languages, and a copy of it is preserved in a museum. Can you imagine how extraordinary the person who wrote this will must have been? Who was this person, and what made His Will so remarkable? It was Swami Ramsukhdas Ji Maharaj, a saint of this era who was truly unique and extraordinary. His Will consists of just 7-8 points, but it reflects his great thinking, pure and selfless nature, and his disinterest in hypocrisy, pride, and fame. These points clearly demonstrate his concern for the welfare of all humanity. Here are the key points from His Will:

1. Just as I prohibited prostration, touching my feet, celebrations, and offerings during my lifetime, the same should be prohibited after my passing.
2. Just as there is no math (organization) or ashram in my name, no school, no cow shelter, and no collection of donations for my discourses during my lifetime, the same should be followed after my passing.
3. I have no disciple, no propagator, and no successor, nor will I have any after my passing.
4. No feast or annual celebration should be held in my name after my passing.
5. After my passing, my body should be taken for cremation to the Ganges or a place where cows roam , without any grandeur or rituals.
6. No photographs should be taken of my body or cremation. If anyone tries to do so, they should be stopped. It is known that Swami Ji never allowed his photos to be taken during his lifetime, as he believed people would start worshiping him instead of God.
7. All my belongings, such as clothes, shoes, and other items, should be cremated with me, so that no one can worship them. No memorial should be built at the place of cremation.
8. I prohibit the use of my name in advertisements or for commercial gain, such as in calendars or other promotional materials.

The handwritten will is preserved at Anand Ashram, Rani Bazar, Bikaner, Rajasthan. It was written as per Swami Ji’s instructions by Shri Rajendra Kumar Dhavan of Dehradun, and it bears Swami Ji’s signature. The will also has the signatures of five witnesses:

1. Shinghsth Pithadhishwar Shri Kshama Ram Ji Maharaj, Sinthal
2. Shri Navalram Ji Maharaj, Anand Ashram, Rani Bazar, Bikaner
3. Shri Brij Ratan Ji Daga, Bhinasar
4. Shri Ramanivas Ji Maharaj, Ladnu
5. Shri Shiv Kishan Ji Rathi, Bikaner

I have written this with my limited knowledge, and it is a matter of great fortune for me to have been able to write about such a great saint. Otherwise, my knowledge and intellect are not capable of writing about him. In this era, where many saints are eager for fame and recognition, and have large mathas and ashrams, it is rare to find a saint like Swami Ramsukhdas Ji Maharaj. I not only had the privilege of seeing him in person but also attended his cremation, which was an unforgettable experience for me. It was as if God’s grace allowed me to be present in Rishikesh on that day, and the divine warmth of his cremation blessed my body. In today’s world, saints like Swami Ramsukhdas Ji Maharaj are a subject of deep research and study.