Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj : Dr Athavale’s Guru

Source of Inspiration for Dr Athavale’s mission

Ever since Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj (Param Pujya Baba) accepted Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale as His disciple in 1987, He blessed Him immensely at the gross as well as the subtle level.

Educating Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale through various events and the consequent spiritual progress made by Him is only by Param Pujya Baba’s grace. A detailed account of their Guru-disciple relationship is given in Sanatan’s Holy text series ‘Ideal Disciple’, ‘Guru’ and ‘Teachings of Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj’.

Param Pujya Baba is the source of inspiration for the mission of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale. It is because of Param Pujya Baba’s resolve and blessings that the mission of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale is spreading rapidly and is simply beyond words. Yet, people should understand the love showered by Param Pujya Baba on Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, His blessings for the mission of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale. Some incidences are mentioned here.

 

1. Param Pujya Baba appreciated Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale during His conversation with seekers 

Once Param Pujya Baba said, “Whatever Doctor (H.H. Dr. Athavale) is doing today is the most superior of sevas. You will see that how Doctor spreads my Name and my bhajans across the world. I will become world-famous.” – Mr. Shashikant Pandit (Nagpur, Maharashtra, 23.12.2013)

 

2. Words of praise from Param Pujya Baba about the spiritual authority of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale

A. In 1989, once when I sat with others for a meal, Param Pujya Baba said, “Do not sit there. Sit separately. You are different from others !”

B. In 1990, as per the tradition, the night before Gurupournima, Param Pujya Baba was to sing His bhajans in a hall at Narsobawadi. Before singing the bhajans, Param Pujya Baba asked me to sit in the first row and while introducing me, He said, “Whatever I say in poetry form, he narrates in prose form”.

C. In 1991, Param Pujya Baba would say to others about me, “He is liberated”.

D. In 1992, upon expressing a desire to remain in the state of equanimity, Param Pujya Baba said to me, “Equanimity is not your destination. You have to go beyond”.

E. During the Gurupournima of 1992, I was standing next to Param Pujya Baba to introduce Him to the devotees seeking His darshan. After paying obeisance to Param Pujya Baba, devotees seeking darshan would pay obeisance to me too with folded hands. I was not comfortable with this and asked them not to do so. At that time Param Pujya Baba said, “If they have bhav, let them pay obeisance.”

F. In November 1992, Param Pujya Baba said to Mr. Shivaji Vatkar (of Mumbai) on 4-5 occasions, “Dr. Athavale remembers His real self.”

G. In 1993, Param Pujya Baba said to Ms. Seema Garud, one of His disciples, “People will worship Him one day”.

H. In 1994, Param Pujya Baba said to one of His disciples, “Only two seekers chant continuously. One is Jyoti (Inge, a German lady-seeker) and the other is Doctor (Dr. Jayant Athavale) !”

I. In 1995, an astrologer came to Param Pujya Baba. He studied Param Pujya Baba’s horoscope. While introducing me to him, Param Pujya Baba said, “Our horoscopes are one and the same !”

J. On 15.5.1995, Param Pujya Baba said to me, “You are already dead (Your ego is dissolved). Any Saint you visit will say the same thing !”

– Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale

 

3. Param Pujya Baba commencing Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale’s mission to spread Spirituality 

During Param Pujya Baba’s stay at Nashik in 1991, He told Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale to carry out the mission of spreading Spirituality and educating people about it under the banner of ‘Sanatan Bharatiya Sanskruti Sanstha’. In this way, Param Pujya Baba Himself named Sanatan and in this manner, commenced the mission of Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale to spread Spirituality.

 

4. Blessings of Param Pujya Baba to the mission of spreading Spirituality 

Param Pujya Baba blessed me for the spread of Spirituality in next few years as given ahead.
In 1992 : Spread Spirituality all over Maharashtra
In 1993 : Spread Spirituality all over Bharat
In 1995 : Spread Spirituality all over the world

A. Param Pujya Baba gifting His own car to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale for spreading Spirituality

I said to Param Pujya Baba in 1993, “My car is old and I have no money to buy a new one; it is difficult for me to move around for spreading Spirituality”.

He immediately gave His car to me along with a flag on it as His blessings in 1993 and said, “Travel everywhere with this flag to spread Spirituality”.

Today, this car is in Sanatan’s Ashram at Devad, Panvel.

B. Param Pujya Baba provided funds for spreading Spirituality to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, who was short of money

After being blessed with a Guru, I used to offer some money to Param Pujya Baba from time to time. Yet, the bhav that ‘Everything belongs to the Guru, who am I to sacrifice ?’ did not touch me. Later, due to reduction in the number of patients, my ability to offer donations to Param Pujya Baba reduced substantially.

In January 1993, I offered Him Rs. 2,000. Param Pujya Baba returned the money and said, “I must be giving you money to spread Spirituality”. In February 1993, Param Pujya Baba came to Morchondi to celebrate Mahashivaratri. We could not offer Him anything at that time. डू On the contrary, He gave us money for filling petrol in our car and Rs. 500 for our return journey. Due to this, we were feeling bad. Instead of we donating to the Guru, it was He who was bearing our expenses.

We narrated our feelings to His chief disciple H.H. Ramanand Maharaj. Ramanand Maharaj said, “Once you have placed the entire burden on the Guru, He looks after your needs !”  In the same month, we offered a small amount to H.H. Kane Maharaj; He also returned the money. Thus, we again perceived that all Saints are the same.

– Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale (1993)

C. Param Pujya Baba presented a chariot with Shrikrushna and Arjun to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale

On 9.2.1995, during the Amrutmahotsav of Param Pujya Baba, He called Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale, Dr. Pandurang Marathe and me.

He told us the importance and greatness of Shrikrushna-Arjun relationship for nearly 45 minutes. Later, He gave a silver chariot with Shrikrushna and Arjun to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale and said, “Keep this in the proposed office in Goa”.

– Mr. Prakash Vasudev Joshi, Ponda, Goa.

(As predicted by Param Pujya Baba, Sanatan’s Head office as well as the Ashram are located in Goa. The silver chariot with Shrikrushna and Arjun given by Param Pujya Baba to Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale is still kept there. – Compiler)

 

5. ‘I will manage the affairs of Sanatan !’ – Param Pujya Baba assures Paratpar Guru (Dr.) Athavale

In February 1995, Amrutmahotsav of Param Pujya Baba was celebrated at Indore. At that time, Param Pujya Baba stood up suddenly and said to Mr. Sharad Meher, “I will manage the affairs of Sanatan !”

 

6. Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj’s words of praise for His disciple Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale

Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj telling seekers, “You are very fortunate to have obtained Dr Jayant Athavale as your guide. Make the most of His guidance !”

In 1991, I went to meet Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj at Kandali (in Maharashtra). At that time, He told me, “I have imparted a great deal of knowledge to Doctor (Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale). Some through the subtle dimension and some through the physical dimension. He has now made very good progress. You are very fortunate to have obtained Dr Jayant Athavale as your guide. Make the most of His guidance !”

 

7. Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj asking devotees in 1993 to offer obeisance to Dr Athavale

Doctor (Dr Jayant Athavale) will always be known as Doctor only !’

At that time, Dr (Mrs) Shraddha Gandhi (formerly Ms Kala Athavale, the eldest daughter of Sadguru [Dr] Vasant Balaji Athavale and the niece of Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale) was there. She told Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj, “Just as Your Guru named You ‘Bhaktaraj Maharaj’, You should now name Dr Athavale as well”. Thereafter, Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj said, “He will always be known only by the name Doctor”.

Even people abroad will believe in Spirituality when they realise that a highly educated individual is teaching Spiritual Science

“When Saints are not highly educated, educated people often ridicule their spiritual knowledge and say, ‘All this is superstition’. Doctor has received higher education in science. He has studied anatomy, diagnosis of diseases and pharmacology. When people abroad realise that such an individual is teaching them spiritual science, they too will believe in it”, Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj said. (In reality, seekers from 76 countries receive guidance on sadhana [Spiritual practice] from Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale.)

– Mr Arvind Paralkar (Age 65), Mumbai (11.3.2025)