Narration : Dr (Mrs) Kunda Athavale
| ‘Dr Athavale – my revered husband celebrated 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.’-Dr (Mrs) Kunda Athavale |
Spiritual experiences in the Holy company of Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj
9C. Not accompanying Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj during His Shirdi tour
The 22-acre farm at Kandali had a tomato crop ready for harvest. Mr Ghalasasi gave us two bags full of tomatoes. We said to him, “Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj (Fondly called Baba) wants us to accompany Him on His Shirdi tour. However, we have not come prepared for an overnight stay, and we do not have clothes for tomorrow”. Mr Ghalasasi quickly responded, “There is a village called Alephata nearby. You can buy whatever clothes you need from there”. We agreed, and Mr Ghalasasi accompanied us to the market where we bought some clothes. When we returned to Kandali and had lunch, Baba said, “Come on, let’s leave now”.
At that time, Param Pujya Anna Karandikar suggested to Baba, “Let’s not take them to Shirdi this time; perhaps we can plan it some other time”. Baba agreed and said, “Alright, we will see next time”. After that, we returned to Pune and then proceeded to Mumbai.
9D. Baba asked Dr Jayant Athavale to meet Him during His visits to Mumbai, Pune, or Nashik and Dr Jayant Athavale following His words precisely
Baba would visit Dr Gadkari’s residence in Mumbai and call us to meet Him. Likewise, whenever He stayed at Mr Dattatreya Joshi’s home in Pune. During such visits, Dr Jayant Athavale always carried a notebook and a pen. During free time, question-and-answer sessions would begin. Even on other occasions, through Baba’s conversations with other devotees, he would obtain invaluable spiritual insights and learn about their experiences.
Similarly, Baba used to visit Mr Girish Dixit in Nashik. During such visits, He would always call Dr Athavale and say, “I have arrived in Nashik. Come and meet me”. Then, Dr Athavale would immediately set out for Nashik. He never cared for the adverse impact on his medical practice and resulting financial loss. Nevertheless, by Baba’s grace, we were always spared from any difficulty, whether monetary or otherwise.
9E. Baba introducing Dr Jayant Athavale to Param Pujya Bejon Desai
Baba introduced us to Param Pujya Bejon Desai, who was the Principal of the Boys’ Town Public School in Nashik, and continued as its Director after retirement. Despite being a Parsi, Param Pujya Bejon Desai had in-depth knowledge of Hindu Dharma and Indian spiritual literature. Param Pujya Bejon Desai and His wife had great love and devotion for Baba.
9F. Receiving spiritual wisdom through conversations between Baba and His devotees during His stay at Sangli and Islampur
Baba would often visit and stay overnight at the residences of Mr Tatya Bhosale in Sangli and Mr Ravi Borkar in Islampur. During these visits, other devotees would also gather, and Baba would impart spiritual knowledge through His informal conversations with them. The devotees would also share and learn from each other’s spiritual experiences.
9G. Disciple Dr Jayant Athavale skilfully balancing many responsibilities at once to seek Baba’s Holy company and to obtain spiritual knowledge
On one hand, Dr Athavale diligently managed his mission, including spreading it among the masses; on the other, he regularly sought the Holy company of Baba and would meet Him whenever He called. Dr Athavale skillfully balanced these responsibilities along with his medical practice. However, all this was successfully managed through God’s grace and Baba’s blessings.
9H. Baba renaming Param Pujya Ramjidada and Param Pujya Bhau Bidwai
In December 1987, Baba performed a ‘Vishnuyag’ at the Mortakka Ashram (in Madhya Pradesh). At that time, He gave new spiritual Names – Param Pujya Ramjidada was named as ‘Param Pujya Ramanand Maharaj’, and Param Pujya Bhau Bidwai was named ‘Param Pujya Achyutananda Maharaj’.
9I. Baba advising the Athavale couple to meet Param Pujya Dhandeshastri, who asked them to chant Shriram’s Name for half an hour
We attended our first Guru Purnima in 1988 at Indore. At that time, Baba instructed us to visit Param Pujya Dhandeshastri, who asked us to chant Shriram’s Name for half an hour. After completing the chanting, we returned to the Guru Purnima venue. Later, we offered the Prasad (Sacred offering) and a donation to Baba and paid our respects. We then partook of the Mahaprasad (Sacred meal) and returned to Mumbai by an evening bus.
9J. Param Pujya Anna’s cancer diagnosis and His bhav-enriched, heartfelt final meeting with Baba
9J 1. Param Pujya Anna Karandikar’s surgery, deterioration of His health : In June 1988, Param Pujya Anna Karandikar’s health deteriorated significantly. He was diagnosed with cancer. Dr Shrikhande, a renowned surgeon in Mumbai, performed His surgery. However, a small portion affected by cancer could not be removed, and the doctor informed Him of this development. For the next 2-3 months His health remained stable, but it deteriorated once again.
9J 2. Baba performing a Mahamrityunjay Yajna for Param Pujya Anna Karandikar : Baba performed a Mahamrityunjay Yajna for Anna during the Bhandara at Mortakka Ashram in December and requested His presence. However, His health deteriorated significantly, and He was taken to His residence in Dahanu once the Yajna was concluded. Later, He was rushed to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.
9J 3. According to Param Pujya Anna Karandikar’s prophecy someone from His Guru-lineage, that is Baba, meeting Him on 20th January : When we met Param Pujya Anna Karandikar on 14th January 1989, He said, “Someone from my Guru-lineage will come and meet me on 20th January and then I would be free to leave (this mortal realm)”. On 19th January, Baba called us from Shahapur to inform us that He would be in Mumbai by that evening. We made the necessary preparations and waited for Him. He arrived at 7 p.m. and told us, “Tomorrow, we have to go to the hospital to meet Anna”.
The next morning, we went to Nanavati Hospital, and as we entered Anna’s room, He took Baba’s hands in His own, His eyes full of tears of joy and gratitude as He sobbed profusely. They advised us to wait outside while Anna’s wife, Baba and Param Pujya Ramanand Maharaj remained in the room.
I told Dr Jayant Athavale, “Anna’s prophecy has come true since it is 20th January and Baba has come to meet Him. Baba must be from His Guru-lineage. Anna may have realised it and hence, He was overwhelmed with bhav (Spiritual emotion)”.
9K. The Guru Purnima celebrations with Baba
9K 1. Guru Purnima in Kandali (1989) : Guru Purnima was celebrated at Kandali in 1989. Baba advised us to visit Bhimashankar Temple before returning home. Following His guidance, we first went to Bhimashankar and then proceeded to Mumbai.
9K 2. On Guru Purmina (1990) – Dr Jayant Athavale reprinting Baba’s Bhajan Text : In 1989, Guru Purnima was celebrated at Narsobachi Wadi (A small town in Kolhapur, Maharashtra), where Baba entrusted the seva of reprinting His Bhajan (Devotional songs) Text to His disciple Dr Jayant Athavale. Dr Jayant Athavale, Mr Vijay Deshpande, and I did the proofreading.
Mr Vijay Deshpande and Dr Jayant Athavale finalised the front cover design. The Text was printed at the press owned by Mr Hari Om Bagwe, a close friend of Baba.
9K 3. Baba making the photographer realise his mistake of attempting to take photograph of a Saint without the Saint’s permission : Mr Hari Om Bagwe was a spiritually evolved individual, and had come to meet Baba. Since Mr Arvind Paralkar, the photographer, went to take Baba’s photograph, Mr Hari Om Bagwe raised His right hand index finger to signal something.
Mr Arvind Paralkar felt helpless since he was not able to click the photographs. Finally, Baba smiled and said to him, “Oh ! When photographing Saints and spiritually evolved individuals, you must first seek their permission. Did you do that ?”
9K 4. Baba’s Guru Purnima celebration at Ambernath – Baba advising all devotees to leave immediately after taking Prasad; only those who followed His instruction reached home safely : The 1991 Guru Purnima organised by Mr Lokhande was celebrated at Ambernath. On that day, it began to rain during the Gurupujan ceremony. The pandal (Canopy) started leaking and the Gurupujan had to be completed while standing. Baba instructed everyone to take Prasad (Holy sacrament) and leave immediately. He said you never know what might happen next.
Then, He said to us, “I will come to your place”. Accordingly, we took Prasad and left immediately. Soon after, there was a torrential downpour, and Mumbai was completely flooded. The devotees who left immediately somehow managed to reach their homes. However, those who did not leave had to stay back due to the suspension of train services.
– Dr (Mrs) Kunda Jayant Athavale (23.4.2025)
(To be continued)
| Through Baba’s conversations with other devotees, Dr Athavale would obtain spiritual insights and learn about their experiences ! |
| Note : ‘Subtle’ is that which is beyond the comprehension of the five sense organs, mind and intellect. People who have progressed spiritually can perceive the subtle vibrations. Various Scriptures contain reference to subtle knowledge.
Individual spiritual experiences of seekers published here are according to the Principle – ‘Where there is bhav (Spiritual emotion), there is God’. It is not that every individual will have similar experiences. |
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