Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale helped establish the functioning of the Dainik Sanatan Prabhat and spoke with foresight about the adverse times

Gurudev guiding Mr Bhushan Kulkarni –  ‘Our mission expanded due to the blessings of my Guru, Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj. As an expression of gratitude unto Him, let us publish His photo and teachings in the Dainik every day. Every year on Guru Purnima, a souvenir is released. In that too, let us include as many of His teachings as possible in the advertisements’.

Gurudev guiding Mr Bhushan Kulkarni

From 2002 to 2006, while I was handling the responsibility of the Sevakendra, I used to receive guidance from Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale on sadhana (Spiritual practice). In the guidance, Gurudev explained certain points regarding the Editorials published in the Dainik Sanatan Prabhat, its functioning, and emergency situations. I am offering these words at the Holy feet of Gurudev.

1. Gurudev saying that articles for the Dainik are expected to be completed within half-an-hour

Mr Bhushan Kulkarni

Once, I attended a satsang of seekers performing satseva for the Dainik Sanatan Prabhat. At that time, I learnt that seekers at the sub-editor level, while learning to write articles, were taking approximately 3 to 4 hours to study and write them. I told them that so much time was not expected. I mentioned this to Gurudev. He said, “When Dr Durgesh Samant was the Editor, He used to write Editorials in 30 minutes. Therefore, seekers learning to write articles should make efforts keeping that as the ideal; it should not take 3 hours”. Thereafter, those seekers began making efforts to write articles within 45 minutes to 1 hour.

2. Gurudev suggesting strict atonement so that Dainik pages are sent to the press on time, and in doing so, sadhana of the seekers in that section taking place

The pages of the central Edition and other Editions of the Dainik Sanatan Prabhat used to be sent for printing half-an-hour to one hour later than the scheduled time every day. Consequently, the printing of the Dainik used to be delayed, and seekers involved in distribution would receive the newspaper late in the morning. This caused overall harm at every level. Even after making the seekers in the Dainik section aware of this mistake, the expected change was not taking place in them.

When Gurudev was asked about the seekers’ sadhana in this context, He said, “Every act of God takes place accurately and at the proper time. Then, we must imprint on the mind where we are falling short in our efforts and how great the loss to sadhana is because of not observing the time constraints. Since we are falling short in imprinting this on their minds, a great loss is occurring to the sadhana of the seekers in the Dainik section. To prevent this loss, strict atonement should be taken, so that the pages go on time. The entire world functions properly only because of the fear of punishment. Therefore, even if the page of the Dainik is delayed by 1 minute on any day, they should undertake strict atonement they consider appropriate. At least through atonement, a change will occur in the seekers”.

After the seekers performing satseva for the Dainik Sanatan Prabhat were informed about this aspect, they began implementing it. In the first 2 days, the Dainik pages were delayed by 5 minutes, and atonement had to be undertaken for that. Thereafter, the pages began going on time.

3. Gurudev saying – ‘Feeling bored while performing satseva at the same place indicates a decline in the attitude of learning’

Some seekers would feel bored doing the same satseva at one place or different satsevas at the same place, or they would say, ‘We want to learn something different.’ Once, when Gurudev was asked about this, He said, “How can one feel bored doing the same satseva repeatedly at the same place ? I too have been continuously performing the satseva of compiling Texts for many years; yet, I have never felt bored doing it. God has been performing many of His satsevas for billions of years. Have we ever heard that He became bored ? This means that one should introspect whether one’s attitude of learning has declined. One should contemplate on ‘What is God continuously teaching us through that satseva ?, Is one’s sadhana taking place through it ? Is one becoming one with the satseva and God ? Is one’s bhav (Spiritual emotion) towards the satseva and God reducing ?’ One should remember that every satseva imparts the knowledge of the Infinite (God). Therefore, we should make efforts for performing it”.

4. Gurudev pointing out the mistake of publishing His photo larger than that of His Guru in the Guru Purnima Issue, thus demonstrating His discipleship

Once, in the Guru Purnima special Issue of Weekly Sanatan Prabhat, the photo of Gurudev had been published larger than the photos of Sanatan Sanstha’s seat of faith and His Guru, Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj, and His successor Param Pujya Ramanand Maharaj. At that time, while explaining spiritual symmetry, He said, “Param Pujya Ramanand Maharaj is the disciple and successor of Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj. Therefore, His photo should be slightly smaller than that of Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj. Compared to both their photos, my photo should be even smaller because I am the disciple of Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj, and Param Pujya Ramanand Maharaj is His spiritual heir. Therefore, according to spiritual symmetry, my photograph should be smaller”. Through this, Gurudev demonstrated His discipleship.

5. Gurudev instructing that, as gratitude unto Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj, His photograph and teachings should be published daily

After the above incident, Gurudev said about Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj – “Our mission expanded due to the blessings of my Guru, Param Pujya Bhaktaraj Maharaj. As an expression of gratitude unto Him, let us publish His photo and teachings in the Dainik every day. Every year on Guru Purnima, a souvenir is released. In that too, let us include as many of His teachings as possible in the advertisements”. (Till today, the column ‘Teachings of Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj’ continues to be published in the Dainik. – Compiler)

6. Gurudev saying that during the period of Guru Purnima, a ‘Message to Seekers’ should be published daily in the Dainik so that seekers’ efforts in sadhana increase and they get an opportunity to express gratitude unto the Guru

Once, information was given to Gurudev on preparations for Guru Purnima at the Sanstha level. At that time, He said, “During the period of Guru Purnima, seekers’ efforts in sadhana and bhav should increase. Also, as an opportunity to express gratitude unto Shri Guru, let us publish a ‘Message to Seekers’ daily in the Dainik beginning approximately one-and-a-half months in advance. In that message, let us publish writings highlighting the importance of Shri Guru, so that encouragement is obtained for increasing efforts in sadhana. Let us also include a line ‘… Days remaining for Guru Purnima’, so that seekers are encouraged to increase the pace and goal of sadhana”. (Till today, such a message is being published in the Dainik every year during the Guru Purnima period. – Compiler)

7. When the number of seekers in the Ashram reduced during Shri Ganesh Chaturthi, Gurudev instructing that the Dainik and kitchen satseva should be priority

While at the Sukhsagar Sevakendra in Ponda, Goa, during Shri Ganesh Chaturthi many seekers would go to their native place, due to which the number of seekers in the Ashram would reduce. At that time, I asked Him how to plan the Ashram and various other satsevas. Gurudev said, “In an emergency situation, these 2 satsevas – the Dainik and the kitchen should continue on priority. The seekers who remain in the Ashram can be planned for these 2 satsevas. The Dainik should be published regularly without fail. For this, seekers in Text compilation and, when required, even I (Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale) can be engaged for reading news or articles, while seekers who perform the satseva of formatting from the Text and Art sections can be engaged for the layout of the Dainik. Other seekers can be asked to perform satseva in the kitchen because food and water are also necessary for seekers. If that is available, seekers will be able to perform satseva”.

8. Gurudev saying that a picture of a seeker holding the flag with both hands should be used, as it conveys complete surrender

In one Issue of Dainik, a picture had been published showing seekers marching while holding a flag. After seeing this, Gurudev said, “The seeker leading ahead appears to be holding the flag in one hand, while the other hand is free. Instead of this, let us use a picture with the seeker holding the flag with both hands because it gives the feeling that he has offered his all. Holding the flag in one hand and keeping the other free gives the feeling that he still has to offer something to the Guru / God”. Thereafter, Gurudev conducted an experiment during the satsang held every Wednesday at the Sukhsagar Sevakendra, using a picture in which the seeker is shown holding the flag with both hands.

9. Gurudev saying that during the adverse times, communication will have to take place through the Universal Mind and Universal Intellect instead of mobile phones

Once, due to the absence of mobile network coverage in the Sevakendra and its surrounding area, difficulties arose for an entire day. When Gurudev was informed about this, He said, “If such is the situation now during the favourable times, what will happen during the adverse times ? Once the adverse times begin, there will be no mobile service, electricity or other facilities. At that time, the absence of mobile phones will create difficulties in communication as well. In such circumstances, seekers will have to take the assistance of the Universal Mind and Universal Intellect to convey messages to one another. To send a message to seekers elsewhere, a seeker will have to meditate and convey the message to the concerned seekers, and God will deliver the message to the seeker who is to receive it. This is called telepathy. For this to happen, seekers’ sadhana must increase, and they must attain at least the spiritual level of 50%”.

10. Gurudev saying, ‘Even if a seeker remains in the Ashram performing minimum sadhana till the end of the adverse times and the establishment of the Divine Rule, his spiritual level can increase’

Once, while speaking about the intensity of the adverse times, Gurudev said, “The intensity of adverse times will be extremely severe. In such circumstances, even if a seeker remains in the Ashram performing bare minimum sadhana till the Divine Rule (‘Hindu Rashtra’) is established, his spiritual level can increase to 50%”.

Gurudev understanding the distribution arrangement of the Dainik by looking at a map. (From left) Mr Ashok Marathe, Dr Durgesh Samant and Mr Prakash Joshi (1999)

11. Gurudev saying, ‘Seekers remaining happy through sadhana and attaining Moksha itself will be the true gratitude’

Construction work of the Ashram at Ramnathi (Goa) was in progress. At that time, after one room in the Ashram had been prepared for residence, Gurudev inspected it and instructed that it should be allotted to seekers for staying. At that time, I said to Gurudev, “Param Pujya, (This is the way seekers address Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale) You provide seekers with so many facilities. How will we ever repay this debt ?” Gurudev replied, “Seekers renounce their home, wealth and money and come to the Ashram to perform sadhana. Therefore, such facilities should be provided so that they do not face difficulties in sadhana in any way. Seekers remaining happy through sadhana and attaining Moksha itself will be the true gratitude”.

12. Gurudev saying, ‘My physical condition will improve once the Divine Rule is established’

At times, Gurudev’s physical condition would not be good. His vital energy would reduce, and He would fall ill. Along with this, He was also taking many medicines for various illnesses. (Even now, Gurudev remains lying in bed due to low vital energy. – Compiler) Seeing this, once I asked Gurudev, “Is there no remedy to improve Your physical condition ?” He replied, “My physical condition will improve only once the Divine Rule (‘Hindu Rashtra’) is established. That is the root cause of everything. Once the condition of the Nation & Dharma improves, my physical condition will improve”. From this, one could perceive Gurudev’s oneness with the Nation & Dharma.

13. Gurudev saying, ‘Even if we establish the Divine Rule, my name will not appear anywhere; and even if it does, it will be at the end’; thereby, showing that neither He nor the Sanstha have ego

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) is working along with various organisations to prevent harm to the Nation & Dharma. In one such incident, HJS and Sanatan Sanstha had achieved success. In the news, the names of HJS and Sanatan Sanstha had been written first. Gurudev said, “In the news, the names of HJS and Sanatan Sanstha should not be written first, but at the very end because we have no ego about the Divine mission being performed by us. Even in the future, after we establish the Divine Rule, our name will not appear anywhere; and even if it does, it will appear last”. Through this, Gurudev demonstrated that neither He nor the organisations have any ego.

– Mr Bhushan Kulkarni, Ponda, Goa (28.4.2026)