Pandurang Shastri Athavale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Categories: All pages needing to be wikified | Wikify from February 2008 | 1920 births | 2003 deaths | Indian philosophers | Padma Vibhushan recipients | People from Maharashtra | Hindu revivalists | Modern Indian philosophers | Templeton Prize laureates
Pandurang Shastri Vaijnath Athavale (Gujarati: પાંડુરંગ શાસ્ત્રી આઠવલે, Hindi: पांडुरंग शास्त्री आठवले) (October 19, 1920–October 25, 2003), known as dada (Gujarati: દાદા, Marathi: दादा), which literally translates as elder brother in Marathi was a philosopher and social reformer who gave discourses on Srimad Bhagawad Gita and Upnishads. Pandurang Shastri was founder of Swadhyay Parivar.
Early LifeAthavale was born on October 19, 1920 in the village of Roha near Mumbai. His grandfather, Laxman Rao, was a renowned scholar and brahmin in the area and regularly, against public opinion, visited Dalits to explain the Bhagavad Gita. Athavale, then age five, saw his grandfather taking a bath upon returning from such a trip . Athavale was surprised and posed the question that if in the Bhagavad Gita the Lord exclaims that God exists within all human hearts then how can anyone including the so-called 'untouchables' be considered inferior to anyone else? He became determined to see the God within others and from thenceforth became the proponent of "in-dwelling God."
In 1954, he attended the Second World Philosophers Conference, held in Japan. There, Athavale presented the concepts of Vedic ideals and the teachings of the Bhagawad Geeta. However, many people rejected his ideas and wanted evidence of such ideals being put into practice in towns across India. A Dr. Wilson Compton was impressed with Athavale's ideas and offered him a post in the US, where he could spread his ideas. Athavale politely declined, saying that he had work to accomplish if he wanted to show the world a model community peacefully practicing and spreading the divine Vedic thoughts and the message of the Bhagawad Geeta. From then on, he worked to spread the ideas of the Bhagwad Geeta to the masses. His movement was known as Swadhyay; literally "self study". The movement had its main influence not only in the Indian states viz. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, but also across the world, where Athavale used to frequently travel to spread his work. Swadhyay Pariwar"Swadhyayees", as the family members of the Swadhyay Pariwar are called, is made up of peeople from both the lower or poor classes and the upper classes. Athavale's idea of "brotherhood under the fatherhood of God" is followed in the many Swadhyay "kendras", or "gatherings"; no one is given distinction and each refers to another as brother or sister. The many Swadhyayees who continue Athavale's work in spreading his ideas throughout India and to other parts of the world are known as "krutisheels" or people of action. Dadaji explained the 'tatva - philosophy' behind concepts such as 'Mandir (Temple)', 'Ekadashi (11th day of full moon or no moon)', 'Moortipuja (idol worship), 'bhakti (devotion)' to bring into practice the 'Bhagwat Geeta'. DeathAthavale died at 12:30 pm on October 25, 2003, in at Khetwadi in south Mumbai, India[1]. He was 83 years old and was cremated on the evening of October 26. AwardsSome of the awards given to Athavale were
| |||||||||||||||||||||
