The Spiritual Journey of Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Jayant Athavale

A highly educated couple devoted to the spread of Spirituality : Param Pujya (Dr) Athavale and Dr (Mrs) Kunda Athavale (1996)

II Hari Om Tat Sat II
Dr Athavale – my revered husband is about to celebrate His 83rd Birthday. I was asked to write something about Him. This inspired me to pen down a few thoughts. I felt like writing particularly about His spiritual journey and the disciple-like attitude I saw in Him.

1. Dr Athavale’s curiosity about Spirituality

1A. The curiosity for Spirituality developed in Dr Jayant Athavale while treating patients, leading to reading Spiritual literature : After returning from England in 1978, Dr Athavale began treating psychiatric patients using the Hypnotherapy technique, in which He had gained expertise. His treatment method was well received, and alongside it, He continued research. This eventually led to the development of a new method – the ‘Personality Defect Removal and Personality Development’ technique.

While interacting with patients and their families, He frequently heard about their spiritual experiences. This sparked a deep curiosity in Him for Spirituality, prompting Him to begin reading Spiritual literature.

1B. Meeting authorities on Spirituality in Mumbai and commencing study on Spirituality : Dr Athavale’s elder brother, Sadguru (Late) Dr Vasant Athavale, a renowned paediatrician, was Himself a student of Spirituality. He used to deliver lectures every Sunday on Patanjali Yoga Shastra, which we began to attend. Occasionally, lectures by spiritually evolved individuals and authorities on Spirituality were arranged at His clinic. We made it a point to attend those as well.

Through a friend, we met Mr Date of Malad, a devotee of Shankar Maharaj and a student of Spirituality. We began visiting him every Sunday for guidance. Through him, we were introduced to Param Pujya Malang Shah Baba, a revered Saint of Mumbai (Please see Photo below), and experienced a new dimension of Spirituality.

Dr Athavale and Dr (Mrs) Kunda Athavale with Param Pujya Malang Shah Baba, a Saint from Mumbai (1988)

2. Dr Athavale begins writing on Spirituality and spreading Spirituality 

Gradually, Dr Athavale began to write on Spirituality and started holding study sessions for seekers at His clinic every Sunday. As the number of interested individuals grew, sessions were later conducted at Dnyaneshwar Mandir and then at Balmohan Vidyamandir School in Dadar. These received an enthusiastic response. At that time, He also began distributing cyclostyled copies of His spiritual writings.

3. Invitation to the USA as a guest lecturer

3A. Recognition of a new treatment method and invitation from an International body in USA : Around the same time, Dr Athavale wrote a research paper on His new therapy technique and submitted it to the International Society for Clinical Hypnosis in the USA. His work was appreciated by experts in the field, and He received letters of commendation. Dr Catherine Welds, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA (California), invited Him to attend their Winter Conference in December 1986 as a guest speaker, and even mentioned the possibility of arranging further lectures at other Universities.

3B. Accepting the invitation of Dr Catherine Welds but being unable to travel due to Divine intervention : Dr Athavale agreed to attend and even shared the acceptance letter with me, asking, “Should I add anything more ?” I reminded Him that although He had lived in England for eight years, He had never been to the USA. Since He was going to travel to such a distant place, He could use the opportunity to visit other places as well;  but there was a hitch. I also pointed out the logistical challenge of traveling during the busy Christmas season. Accordingly, He wrote back to clarify this concern.

The reply confirmed that travel during the holiday season would indeed be difficult and suggested He attend the Spring (March) conference instead. Though He accepted the new invitation, circumstances aligned in such a way that He ultimately could not make the trip – perhaps a Divine indication that destiny had other plans.

4. Meeting with Param Pujya Anna Karandikar

Param Pujya Anna Karandikar (Dr Athavale’s Guru for knowledge)

4A. A doctor’s son was hospitalised due to brain haemorrhage and was declared critical : In early December 1986, a fellow doctor’s son suffered a brain haemorrhage and was admitted to Sion Hospital, Mumbai. As his condition worsened, the surgery was cancelled. Doctors warned that unless his condition improved, surgery would not be possible. After two days, the doctors told the family members that any improvement in the child’s condition seemed unlikely. They advised the family to consider Divine remedies if they wished. Accordingly, they started spiritual remedies such as chanting.

4B. A friend of Param Pujya (Dr) Athavale suggested meeting a certain Vaidya (Ayurvedic physician) and shared information about him, and accordingly, it was decided to visit him the next day : 

The day after we visited the patient in Sion Hospital, one of Dr Athavale’s friends was waiting at our home. After asking him where he had been and some other inquiries, we informed him about the patient’s condition. He then said, ‘I know someone on the spiritual path who is a Vaidya and prescribes Ayurvedic medicines.

He has helped many people overcome their ailments. He visits a guest house on SK Bole Road in Dadar every first Saturday-Sunday of the month to see patients. Since this weekend is the first Saturday-Sunday, He is currently there. If you wish, we can go meet Him”.

After consulting His elder brother Sadguru (Dr) Vasant Athavale, it was decided to visit the Vaidya the next day. While on the way, the doctor’s friend shared many experiences about the Vaidya’s spiritual knowledge and healing abilities.

4C. Before anything was said to Param Pujya Anna Karandikar about the patient, He said, “I don’t think the medicine will benefit the patient”, followed by Dr Athavale seeking His permission by asking, “May we come to You to benefit from Your spiritual knowledge ?” : Upon meeting Him, Param Pujya Anna Karandikar said, “You’ve come for medicine, but I don’t feel it will be of much help. However, since you’re here, I will give it. Come back on Monday. If the patient survives, the treatment can continue”. Before we left, Dr Athavale asked if we could return to benefit from His spiritual knowledge. Anna smiled and gave His consent.

Upon learning that the patient is alive, Dr Athavale went to meet Param Pujya Anna. He was extremely surprised and said, “Since the patient is alive, I shall change the medicine”. We returned home with the new medicine.

4D. Upon commencing visits to Param Pujya Anna Karandikar, we began to experience His deep spiritual insight and foresight : From then on, we visited Param Pujya Anna every first weekend of the month. We experienced His astounding spiritual knowledge and spiritual insight. Before patients even arrived, He would accurately describe them and their ailments in detail. Patients were often astonished.

4E. As per Param Pujya Anna Karandikar’s suggestion, after making efforts, the Athavale family’s Kuladevi (Family Deity) was identified and Her darshan (Vision) was obtained.

4E1. Param Pujya Anna asked Dr Athavale to go into a meditative state and draw whatever image He saw and then said, “If you see any similarities in the Idol which you have drawn with that of Ambajogai, once you visit Her temple, then She is your Kuladevi” : “During our first meeting, Param Pujya Anna encouraged us to begin worshipping our Kuladevata. Since Dr Athavale’s grandparents had passed away during Pujya Dada’s (Dr Athavale’s father) childhood due to a plague epidemic, Pujya Dada had no knowledge of the Family Deity. As many Chitpavan Brahmans worshipped Shri Yogeshwari Devi of Ambajogai, Maharashtra, He had taken up Her worship. Param Pujya Anna advised, “Go into meditation and sketch whatever you see. If your vision matches the Idol at Ambajogai, then She is your true Kuladevata”.

4E 2. After visiting the temple at Ambajogai, the features noticed in the Idol matched the sketches drawn earlier during meditation, and from that time onwards, Shri Yogeshwari Devi has been worshipped as the Family Deity : As advised by Param Pujya Anna, Dr Athavale, His elder brother, Sadguru (Dr) Vasant Athavale and I meditated and drew what we saw. To our amazement, the same three features appeared in the stone Idol (of tandlya, a type of stone) at the Ambajogai temple. From then onwards, our worship of Shri Yogeshwari Devi as the Family Deity began in earnest.

4F. Once, Param Pujya Anna remarked, “Doctor, you came into my life quite late !”; at the time, the meaning of this statement wasn’t clear, but a year later, when Param Pujya Anna fell ill, the significance became apparent : After meeting Param Pujya Anna in April 1987, He said, “I am not your Guru. When the time is right, your Guru will enter your life”. He also remarked, “Doctor, you’ve come into my life very late”. At the time, Dr Athavale thought that previously, Param Pujya Anna used to visit Satara, Nashik, Pune, and Mumbai – one city each weekend of the month. With advancing age, He stopped going to Satara and Nashik, but continued visiting Mumbai on the first weekend and Pune on the third. Later, it seemed likely that He might stop visiting Mumbai too, so Dr Athavale said, “We will come to Dahanu to meet You”. At this, Param Pujya Anna merely smiled, the meaning of which became clear later. In April 1988, He fell ill, and within 8 to 9 months, He passed away.

4G. Attempted visit to Pujya Pandurang Shastri Athavale in Thane that did not materialise : In May 1987, Param Pujya Anna Karandikar took us to visit Pujya Pandurang Shastri Athavale at His Thane Ashram, but He was not present that day. Thus, the opportunity to take His discipleship did not arise. It was clear that our spiritual path had been marked elsewhere.

4H. Receiving a message from Param Pujya Anna Karandikar after the visit to freedom fighter Mr Ram Bhosale, who was also spiritually knowledgeable : On July 12, 1987, we visited Mr Ram Bhosale, a renowned masseur, freedom fighter, and spiritually knowledgeable individual. During the freedom struggle, he was part of the ‘Patri Sarkar’ (A parallel Government movement) in Maharashtra. The British Government had issued an arrest warrant against him, so he escaped to the Himalayas, where he encountered several spiritual masters. He even met Mahavatar Babaji, the supreme Guru of Yogananda Paramhansa.

After having a 2-3 hour discussion with Mr Bhosale, it was decided to visit him again the next Sunday. Upon returning home, Dr Athavale received a note from Param Pujya Anna Karandikar. It was an invitation for Guru Purnima at Palghar, with an urgent request to come to the given address immediately.

4H1. Reaching Palghar late and as a result not meeting anyone there : On receiving Param Pujya Anna’s message we left immediately, but reached Palghar by 5 p.m. We went to the address given to us, but the programme had concluded, and everyone had left. No one could say where everyone had gone. Disappointed, we returned home.

4I. Param Pujya Anna Karandikar’s displeasure at not coming to Palghar, followed by reconciliation upon knowing the reason and an invitation to Dr Athavale to visit Indore : The next Thursday, Param Pujya Anna arrived at our home, visibly upset that we hadn’t come to Palghar. Dr Athavale gently explained what had happened. Param Pujya Anna calmed down and then said, “I am going to Indore on Monday, July 20. Will you come with me ?”

– Dr (Mrs) Kunda Jayant Athavale (21.4.2025)

The curiosity for Spirituality developed in Dr Jayant Athavale while treating patients, leading Him to reading Spiritual literature !