Paratpar Guru – A title lost to time, bequeathed to Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale

Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale

Sadguru (Dr) Vasant Balaji Athavale

(Paratpar Guru means Jagadguru)

We are familiar with the spiritual terms Saint, Guru, Sadguru and Jagadguru. For Sanatan’s seekers, the term ‘Paratpar Guru’ also sounds familiar because Param Pujya (Dr) Athavale is referred to as Paratpar Guru. However, for those not in contact with Sanatan, the term ‘Paratpar Guru’ appears to be new.

1. Meaning of the Sanskrut term ‘Paratpar Guru’

Par : Superior

Paratpar : Superior than the superior – Supreme

Paratpar Guru : The Supreme Guru

Over the course of time, many Spiritual Texts were lost, and with them disappeared many spiritually significant terms such as Paratpar Guru.

2. Reasons why only 18 of the earlier 108 Upanishads are available today

2A. The Guru-disciple tradition fading due to the influence of Kaliyug : In the earlier times, there were no printing presses. Within the Guru-disciple tradition, spiritual knowledge was preserved through oral transmission or by writing on palm leaves. Due to the influence of Kaliyug, this tradition gradually disappeared, resulting in the end of the transmission of knowledge.

2B. Being under foreign rule and constant invasions leading to the loss of Universities and libraries; so also, the extinction of the Gurukul system of education : For nearly a thousand years, India remained under the rule of Muslim invaders and later the British. Out of hatred for Hindus, the Muslims destroyed Universities and libraries like those at Nalanda and Kashi that were administered by Gurukuls. At that time, many Spiritual Texts were lost, and the Gurukul system came to an end due to continuous foreign invasions.

2C. Decline of Sanskrut due to the growing influence of English under British rule and then reaching a point of extinction : When the British began to rule India, they introduced English education. By learning English, people began to get jobs; consequently, English gained prominence, while Sanskrut began to fade. Today, Sanskrut is nearly extinct. Schools and colleges are struggling to find teachers to teach Sanskrut. All our Spiritual Texts, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Shrimadbhagawadgeeta and the Smrutis, have been written in Sanskrut by our Sages. Sanskrut is a Divine language, brimming with Chaitanya (Divine consciousness). No matter how well one translates Sanskrut texts, Chaitanya and its depth of meaning cannot be fully conveyed in regional languages.

3. Classification of spiritually evolved individuals based on the spiritual level

Spiritual level (%)                                  Title of the spiritually evolved
70-79                                                                 Saint or Guru

80-89                                                                Sadguru (Note 1)

90-99                                                                Paratpar Guru or Jagadguru (Note 2)

100                                                                    God – Brahmandaguru, Vishwaguru
Note 1 – Sadguru : A Sadguru is one who has attained some level of dissolution of the mind, intellect and ego; hence, He can establish contact with the Universal Mind and Universal Intellect during meditation. (The Universal Mind and Universal Intellect are, respectively, God’s Mind and Intellect.) Therefore, they can resolve all spiritual doubts of a disciple effectively. By their resolve, Sadgurus inspire seekers to perform spiritual practice. Having had the spiritual experience of being a Self-realised soul, Sadgurus emanate Chaitanya in their speech and actions, and remain in a state of Anand (Bliss). Sadgurus explain to the people the available spiritual knowledge and its depth in simple words.

Note 2 – Paratpar Guru or Jagadguru : A Paratpar Guru is one who has attained complete dissolution of the mind, intellect and ego. Hence, His Mind is the Universal Mind and His Intellect is the Universal Intellect. His thoughts and actions are naturally driven by the Universal Mind and Intellect.

A Paratpar Guru does not need to make a resolve, actions take place merely by His presence. Paratpar Gurus constantly experience Anand and Shanti (Peace). A unique trait of Paratpar Gurus is the creation of new spiritual knowledge.

While Sadgurus are content with resolving the doubts of seekers based on existing knowledge through the Universal Intellect, Paratpar Gurus possess excellent observation skills and yearn to recover lost spiritual knowledge and complete whatever remains incomplete. As a result, new questions about spiritual gaps keep arising in their minds, and they obtain the answers through the Universal Intellect, meaning, from God’s Intellect.

Their investigative nature enables them to grasp the cause and effect relationship of everything through the Universal Intellect. They make this newly available knowledge accessible to the world through publications or the internet.

A. Paratpar Guru (Dr) Jayant Athavale

Between 1987 and 2013, Paratpar Guru  (Dr) Athavale compiled 209 Texts on Spirituality. More than 5.5 million copies of these Texts have been published in 12 languages. (As of April 2025, 366 Texts have been published in 13 languages, totalling over 10.61 million copies. – Compiler) Numerous readers have benefited from them.

As a result, thousands of seekers in India and abroad are progressing spiritually, leading to an increase in samashti bhakti (Collective devotion). Because of the internet, this knowledge is reaching the entire world swiftly; hence, Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale attained the level of a Paratpar Guru, that is, Jagadguru very quickly.

B. Maharshi Vyas

Maharshi Vyas extracted and restructured scattered Vedic knowledge, filling the gaps and presenting it through various branches of the Vedas and Upanishads. Hence, it is said, ‘‘व्यासोच्छिष्टं जगत्सर्वम् ।’’ – meaning – ‘Everything spoken or written in the world about Spirituality and Philosophy has already been narrated by Vyas.’

It is believed that there is no spiritual knowledge that is not already present in the Mahabharat or other Spiritual Texts written by Maharshi Vyas. This is why, He came to be known as Jagadguru. He is described in the Shrimadbhagawat Puran as the 17^th Incarnation of Shri Vishnu.

C. Adi Shankaracharya

Adi Shankaracharya composed the Brahmasutras in a highly concise form and wrote commentaries on earlier Spiritual Texts, correcting errors in them. He is also known as Jagadguru.

D. Composers of Vedic Ruchas  and authors of the Upanishads

These Sages also attained the level of Paratpar Gurus by creating new knowledge. Since the names of many of these Sages are not available, there is no question of referring to them as Paratpar Guru or Jagadguru.

E.  Importance of the spiritual term ‘Paratpar Guru’ reaching the people due to Param Pujya (Dr) Jayant Athavale

Earlier, the terms ‘Paratpar Guru’ and ‘Jagadguru’ were used synonymously. However, because the term ‘Jagadguru’ sounds more appealing and is easier to understand, the term ‘Paratpar Guru’ faded away over time. When Param Pujya (Dr) Jayant Athavale accepted the title of Paratpar Guru in 2013, this long-lost but highly significant spiritual term regained its glory and reached the people.

E. The real Gurudakshina expected by the Guru

In Spirituality, it is said – ‘To have a Paratpar Guru as one’s revered Guru is the fruit of the merits of 21 births’.

Hence, the real Gurudakshina (A disciple’s offering to the Guru after completion of formal education) that brings the disciple Anand (Bliss) is to make the most of this golden opportunity by surrendering unto the Guru and dedicating everything to Him; thus, making life truly meaningful.

श्री परात्पर गुरुः शरणम्   (Shri Paratpar Guruh Sharanam)
(I take refuge in the Paratpar Guru.)

– Sadguru (Dr) Vasant Balaji Athavale (Appakaka), Elder brother of Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale, Chembur, Mumbai. (1.10.2013)

When Param Pujya (Dr) Jayant Athavale accepted the title of Paratpar Guru in 2013, this spiritual term regained its glory !

Recognising Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Jayant Athavale !

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा |
तत्देवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसम्भवम् || ||

Meaning : Whatever you see as beautiful, glorious, or powerful, know it to spring from but a spark of My splendour.

Dr Jayant Athavale is the one who emerged from a fraction of Shrikrushna’s Tej (Radiance) in the present times, and is the one who is radiant and enriched with energy.

–  Pujya (Dr) Anant Athavale (Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale’s elder brother)