Only Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale is performing the unique mission of writing Spiritual texts !

Paratpar Guru (Dr) Jayant Athavale had once said in a Satsang – ‘No matter how much an average seeker convinces people about Spirituality at the level of the intellect, it takes time for people to grasp; however, if Saints utter even a sentence, Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) in their speech has a positive effect on the subconscious mind of the people’. The same principle applies to Sanatan’s Texts since a Saint of the highest order – Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale – is compiling Texts; these Texts are the source of actual Chaitanya. We have been publishing this series on the Chaitanya-enriched mission of Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale on the occasion of His 80th birth anniversary. This article deals with the bhav (Spiritual emotion) of Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale towards Holy texts and shows His virtues in the related satseva.

(Compiler: H.H. Sandeep Alshi, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa.)

Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale compiling Holy texts

1. Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale’s bhav

A. Not ‘author’, but ‘compiler’ : Dr Athavale’s Guru Saint Bhaktaraj Maharaj (H.H. Baba) wrote many bhajans, but under compulsion used His own name in only 2-3 bhajans. Since the beginning of publishing Sanatan’s Holy texts, Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale has placed His own name as a ‘Compiler’ instead of a ‘Author’. His bhav is – Since all knowledge about Holy texts has been suggested by His Guru, their doership and authorship cannot be His; hence He writes ‘Compiler’ before His name.

B. After the printing of a Holy text, He asks us to place it in front of Baba’s photo. His bhav is – It is only due to Baba’s blessings that the Holy text got published; hence, it is being offered at His Holy feet.

C. When Baba was alive, Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale used to publish Holy texts at the hands of Baba whenever He went to visit Baba. Today, when Baba is no more, Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale ensures that all Holy texts of Sanatan get published at the hands of Saints. His bhav in this is – The sattvik touch of Saints makes knowledge and Chaitanya in the Holy texts reach the subconscious mind of readers and their longing to perform spiritual practice increases. No Holy text has been so far published by a Raja-Tama predominant politician or actor.

D. Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale used to stay earlier at Sion, Mumbai. This is the early Ashram of Sanatan Sanstha in Mumbai. In one of the two flats, His hospital was accommodated, and He used to write Holy texts in one small room. While Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale was staying in the Sion Ashram, He used to keep the Holy texts in a proper order with His own hands. When He used to go on tours to propagate Spirituality, He used to exhibit the Holy texts on a table and make them available to the seekers.

Sadguru (Dr) Mukul Gadgil worshipping a Holy text before its release

2. Virtues in Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale regarding the satseva of publishing Holy texts

2A. Thrift

2A 1. Dot matrix printer : Sion Ashram had only one dot matrix printer for computer copies. Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale repeatedly refilled its ink and used the same printer for many years. Later, since the same ribbon had been used repeatedly, the prints became a bit blurred. These had to be darkened with a pen. He used to be frugal in his view that work should continue for as many days as possible with the old ribbon so that money need not be spent on buying a new one.

2A 2. One-side blank papers : He still uses items such as one-side blank papers, plain sides of medicine boxes, receipts, waste papers, etc. While in Sion Ashram, some seekers from Mumbai used to bring one-side blank papers to Him for satseva of Holy texts.

2A 3. Cut-paste job : Earlier, we had to take out a ‘butter paper’ of Holy texts for printing on paper. This was followed by the satseva of verifying butter papers. If some pages needed corrections, it would cost more since fresh butter papers would be required. To avoid this, He found a way to make a copy of all the missing words, lines or paragraphs on a single page on a butter paper and then cut-paste the corrections on the original butter paper. This cut-and-paste satseva was very complicated and needed to be done carefully.

When a great personage like Him saves even the smallest amount of money to serve in the mission of Dharma and selflessly, that mission does not belong to that great personage but to God, and only God carries out that mission. This is what Sanatan Sanstha is experiencing even today.

2B. Obedience unto the Guru : H.H. Baba once said to His disciple Dr Athavale, “Write short Holy texts on different subjects instead of one voluminous Holy text”. Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale wrote Holy texts accordingly. Sometimes, we suggest that we make one voluminous Holy text as it would be easier to publish all matter related to the subject together. However, He says, “It will be convenient every time if the Holy text is divided into 2-3 parts; hence, let us publish short Holy texts”. This teaches us how to follow His instructions. If a disciple diligently obeys the Guru, the Guru gives everything to His disciple.

2C. Learning and inquisitive attitude : When Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale heard that some seekers found it difficult to understand Sanatan’s Holy texts, He narrated this to His Guru. The Guru replied, “Ask the seekers to chant (perform spiritual practice), then they will understand these Holy texts”.

This shows the learning attitude of Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale as well as his inquisitive attitude. Even today, if a Saint or a spiritual scholar suggests some improvements in Holy texts, He gladly accepts and incorporates the improvements.

2D. Collection of a treasure of knowledge for Holy texts due to closeness with Saints : Sanatan’s Holy texts have a lot of practical knowledge besides theoretical knowledge. He has received this practical knowledge from Saints mostly. Shri Malangshah Baba (of Mumbai), H.H. Bejon Desai (of Nashik) and H.H. Shyamrao Maharaj (of Kerle, Kolhapur) are examples of such Saints. Out of love for Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale, H.H. Kane Maharaj (of Narayangaon, Pune) and Gurudev (Dr) Kateswamiji (of Shrirampur, Nagar), opened the treasure of knowledge for Him. His elder brother Sadguru (Dr) Vasant Athavale considered Him to be His Guru. Sadguru (Dr) Vasant Athavale worked hard all His life to acquire knowledge on various subjects of Spirituality and gave it all to Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale for Sanatan’s Holy texts. He also gave the right to publish all His Texts on ‘Ayurveda’ and ‘Growth and Development of the child’ to Sanatan.

2E. Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale became one with the satseva of Holy texts

2E 1. Participation in all processes of publishing Holy texts : Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale is directly and indirectly involved in all the satevas such as selection of matter for Holy texts, compilation, proof-reading, checking formatting, making cover pages.

2E 2. Satseva even during travel : When Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale used to go to Indore for Baba’s Darshan or on a tour to propagate Spirituality, He would be busy in writing and proof-reading of Holy texts during His travel.

2E 3. Not wasting a single moment : Paratpar Guru (Dr) Athavale marks on the cuttings of other publications to include certain portions in Sanatan’s texts. He also looks at these cuttings to check if these could be useful for inclusion in Sanatan’s texts even while having His meals.

2E 4. Continuing the satseva of checking Holy texts on a computer even under a serious condition : Since 2007, it has not been possible for Him to sit at a stretch for some time. Therefore, He often has to lie on a bed and perform satseva. Sometimes, if He starts feeling well a little or has to check some urgent writing, He starts performing the satseva of checking the writings for Holy texts even in a serious state of health. If He feels fatigued even when sitting, He tries to perform satseva while standing and taking the support of a chair. He tries to perform continuous satseva even if He is feeling giddy by spraying water on His face, chewing lemon candy, etc.

While the mission of a great personage, who has attained the stature of a Paratpar Guru, can be continued in the subtle dimension, He need not perform satseva in the physical dimension. However, He is placing ideals in front of seekers through His own behaviour.

(For more on the subject, please visit : Sanatan.org)

The sattvik touch of Saints makes knowledge and Chaitanya in the Holy texts reach the subconscious mind of readers !

Note: 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.