In which year did Shiv Dayal Singh (Soamiji Maharaj) found the Radha Soami Satsang at Agra?

The Radha Soami Satsang (also called the Radhasoami movement) was founded by Shiv Dayal Singh, known as "Soamiji Maharaj", at Agra on Basant Panchami day in 1861.

About Shiv Dayal Singh (1818-1878):

• He was born in Agra into a Khatri family.
• He practised a form of meditation called "Surat Shabd Yoga" ("union of the soul with the divine sound current") for many years.
• In 1861, at the request of his followers, he began giving public discourses (satsang), which marked the founding of the movement.

About the Radha Soami teachings:

• "Radha Soami" refers to the Supreme Being: "Radha" stands for the soul and "Soami" (Swami) for the Lord.
• The movement teaches that the soul can reach God through meditation on the inner divine sound ("shabd") and light, under the guidance of a living spiritual master ("Sant Satguru").
• It emphasises vegetarianism, avoidance of alcohol and drugs, moral living and service.
• It does not encourage idol worship, rituals or caste distinctions.

Later developments:

After Shiv Dayal Singh's death in 1878, the movement split into several branches.

The Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) was founded at Beas in Punjab, on the banks of the Beas river, by Baba Jaimal Singh in 1891. It is one of the largest branches today.

The Dayalbagh branch in Agra was founded in 1915 by Sir Anand Swarup (Sahabji Maharaj). It established the Dayalbagh Educational Institute.

Other religious movements of the 19th century:

• Brahmo Samaj: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, 1828.
• Prarthana Samaj: Atmaram Pandurang, 1867.
• Arya Samaj: Dayananda Saraswati, 1875 (Bombay).
• Theosophical Society: Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott, 1875 (New York); headquarters moved to Adyar in 1882.
• Ramakrishna Mission: Swami Vivekananda, 1897.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1875 is the year the Arya Samaj was founded.
• ✗1828 is the year the Brahmo Samaj was founded.
• ✗1897 is the year the Ramakrishna Mission was founded.