Prem Giri ji Maharaj | Rajpurohit Encyclopedia Profile

Prem Giri Ji Maharaj was a revered Hindu saint from the Dashanami Giri Sampradaya. He was widely recognized as a spiritual guru among various Rajput clans, especially the Rathores and Shekhawats, and held in high esteem by the Maheshwari and Agrawal communities, who revered him as a kulguru. His life, teachings, and miracles remain part of the oral traditions in Rajasthan and Haryana.

Prem Giri Maharaj was born in the village of Paldi (present-day Rajasthan) in a family of Purohits. At the age of 12, while playing near his home, he encountered two saints—Siddh Moongipaya Ji and Chaurangi Nath Ji—who had set up a dhuna (sacred fire) near his village. Deeply moved by their teachings, young Prem Giri became their disciple and was initiated into the Dashanami Giri Sampradaya.

Over the years, Prem Giri Maharaj lived a life of wandering asceticism, spending time in various spiritual centers and forests:

• Sankhoo (Sankhu) – A town believed to be established by Bhati Raja Sankh, where Prem Giri first began his ascetic life.

• Mandaya near Mukundgiri – Where he established a Giri Math and continued his spiritual practice.

• Tosham (Haryana) – He meditated in the forests of Tosham and gained a significant following.

Eventually, he returned to Sankhoo, where he once again met his guru. On the request of Thakur Prithvi Singh of Malsisar Thikana, and his wife, Prem Giri Maharaj moved to Malsisar along with his devout disciple Lal Bai (possibly Prithvi Singh’s wife). He set up a medi (hermitage), placing his kamandal (water pot) as a symbol of spiritual authority.

• He is known to have assisted Thakur Prithvi Singh in defending Malsisar against the looter Hafu Khandi, reflecting his involvement in safeguarding the region.

• After his passing, Thakur Prithvi Singh built a mandi (memorial shrine) in his honor.

• His disciples were granted land for sustenance, and his gaddi (spiritual seat) has continued for thirteen generations. The current spiritual leader is Anandgiri Ji.

• He was also known for his friendship with the Sufi saint Khanu Fakir, with whom he shared many philosophical discussions, symbolizing interfaith harmony.

One of the verses attributed to him is as follows:

सैनाणी दोय पड़ी है।
हाथ राखण की लकड़ी हैं।
दो पैरो की मौचड़ी है।
पेई मे जड़ी पड़ी है।

This pad metaphorically represents the symbolic attire and responsibility of a saintly warrior (sainani) bearing the staff of protection and grounded in deep spiritual connection.

• Once Prithvi Singh was playing chaupar (a traditional dice game) and remembered Prem Giri Maharaj in meditation. When the dice showed twelve and twenty-five, he got his desired number, as if Baba Ji himself cast the dice.

• Another time, one of his devotees, a merchant, was on a sea voyage. His ship was about to sink, and he prayed to Baba Ji. At that very moment, though sitting in a desert, Baba Ji’s clothes became wet, and the ship was saved.

• In villages around Malsisar and Sankhu, housewives used to call upon Prem Giri Ji even for small household troubles. For example, if milk was about to boil over, they would cry, “Oh Prem Giri Ji Maharaj, save us!” At that very moment, Baba Ji’s hands would get burns. Seeing this, the Thakur of Sankhu announced publicly that trivial calls should not disturb Baba Ji.

• His devotee Chandrabhan once carried two flatbreads during his journey. When one was eaten by animals, Baba Ji transformed the other into a silver-plated bread. After this, Chandrabhan prospered in trade in Assam.

• When the bandit Hafu Khandi attacked Malsisar, he used a cannon named Dhuraani. Prem Giri Ji Maharaj sprinkled sacred ash on the cannonballs, and they lost their power. Chanting “Alakh Niranjan”, Baba Ji’s spiritual force caused flames to rise, making Hafu Khandi’s army flee.

Among the people of Jhunjhunu and Churu regions, numerous folk tales about Prem Giri Ji Maharaj are still sung in bhajans and kathas. Villagers often recall him as a protector saint who could be called upon in moments of fear or hardship. His miracles are remembered during fairs, rituals, and gatherings, keeping his spiritual memory alive across generations.

Though belonging to the Dashanami Giri Sampradaya, the memory of Prem Giri Ji Maharaj holds special significance for the Rajpurohit community, as he was born into a Raj-Guru Purohit lineage. His early life reflects the spiritual tendencies deeply embedded in Rajpurohit traditions of scholarship, asceticism, and mediation between kings and saints. Many Rajpurohit families in Rajasthan and Haryana continue to regard him as a kuldevta-like figure and preserve oral traditions about his life.

Prem Giri Maharaj established multiple centers of the Dashanami Giri Sampradaya, notably at:

• Tosham (Haryana)

• Malsisar Thikana (Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan)

• Mandaya near Mukundgiri (likely present-day Mandawa)

Prem Giri Maharaj attained samadhi around Samvat 1773 (approximately 1716 CE). His legacy continues through his disciples and followers.

• Prem Giri Ji Ri Jivan Gatha

• Folk Lores (oral traditions from Rajasthan & Haryana)

• Prem Giri Ji Maharaj Math, Malsisar