Prem Pal Singh Rawat (Hindi: प्रेम पाल सिंह रावत), born on 10 December 1957, is an Indian American also known as Maharaji, and formerly as Guru Maharaj Ji and Balyogeshwar. Rawat teaches a meditation practice he calls "Knowledge". He came to early prominence leading the Divine Light Mission (DLM), which has been described as a new religious movement, a cult, a charismatic religious sect and an alternative religion. Rawat has been called a cult leader in popular press reports and in anti-cult writings. He has been criticized for a lack of intellectual content in his public discourses, and for leading an opulent lifestyle.Rawat is the youngest son of Hans Ji Maharaj, an Indian guru and the founder of the Divya Sandesh Parishad (DLM's native name.) After his father's death, eight-year-old Rawat, became the new "Satguru" (True Master) at the center of the organization his father had founded. At age 13 Rawat travelled to the West, soon taking up residence in the United States. Many young adults were attracted to DLM, taking interest, for instance, in the claim that Rawat could impart direct knowledge of God to his followers. News media were nonplussed by his youth and supposed divine status. Tens of thousands were initiated in Knowledge techniques, and hundreds of DLM centers opened worldwide. Some Western followers took up communal life in dozens of ashrams, guided by DLM "Mahatmas".In November 1973 the Millennium '73 festival was held in the Houston Astrodome, centered on Rawat's addresses. Although media attention was peaking, attendance to the festival was much lower than the expected 100,000. Within half a year — Rawat had turned sixteen, married, and had severed ties with his mother and eldest brother — he had gained an active control of the DLM (by now established in 55 countries), except its Indian severed stem. From the early 80s he discarded ostensible references to religion. Ashrams were closed and the part of DLM he controlled was replaced by Elan Vital.Rawat toured extensively in the 80s and 90s. In 2001 he established "The Prem Rawat Foundation" to fund his work and humanitarian efforts. By the 2010s more organizations were put to the front and Elan Vital was eventually replaced by a complex of them. Rawat continues to speak for large and/or select audiences worldwide, and on several occasions has received significant recognition for his work and message of peace.
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