Pandurang Shastri Athavale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pandurang Shastri Athavale
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| Born | 19 October 1920 Roha, Bombay Presidency, British India
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| Died | 25 October 2003 (aged 83) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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| Other names | Dadaji |
| Known for | Swadhyaya Parivar, activist philosopher, spiritual teacher, spiritual leader |
| Spouse(s) | Nirmala Tai Athavale |
| Children | Jayshree Talwalkar |
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Pandurang Shastri Athavale (born October 19, 1920 – died October 25, 2003) was an important Indian thinker and spiritual leader. People often called him Dada or Dadaji, which means "elder brother." He started a special movement called the Swadhyaya Parivar in 1954.
Dadaji was known for his deep understanding of ancient Indian texts like the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, and the Upanishads. He taught people how to live better lives based on these teachings. His work, especially the Swadhyaya movement, has reached millions of people in many countries.
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Early Life and Learning
Pandurang Shastri Athavale was born on October 19, 1920, in a village called Roha in Maharashtra, India. His family belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community. He was one of five children of Vaijanath Shastri Athavale, who was a Sanskrit teacher, and his wife Parvati Athavale.
When Dadaji was twelve, his father created a special way for him to study. It was like the ancient Indian Tapovan system, where students lived and learned closely with their teacher. In 1942, he began giving talks at a center his father had started in Mumbai.
Dadaji spent 14 years reading many books at the Royal Asiatic Library. He read everything from philosophy to ancient Indian wisdom. In 1954, he went to a big meeting of thinkers in Japan. There, he shared ideas from the ancient Vedic texts and the Bhagavad Gita. Many people were impressed, including a Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Arthur Holly Compton. Dr. Compton offered Dadaji a chance to spread his ideas in the United States. But Dadaji politely said no. He wanted to work in India first, to show how these ancient ideas could help build a peaceful community.
The Swadhyaya Parivar Movement
The Swadhyaya Parivar movement is based on the ancient wisdom of Vedic Dharma. Swadhyaya means "self-study" or "knowing yourself." Members of this movement are called "Swadhyayees."
Since 1978, Swadhyayees in India meet every Sunday. They sing prayers and watch videos of Dadaji teaching about Vedic wisdom. Over the years, Dadaji's followers have shared the Bhagavad Gita's ideas about God's love with millions. This has helped people connect, no matter their social class or background.
Dadaji himself visited thousands of villages, sometimes walking or using rented bicycles. His followers also went from house to house, building caring relationships and sharing the Bhagavad Gita's message. This movement has now reached about 100,000 villages in India and over 34 countries worldwide.
In these villages, Dadaji started different "experiments" or Prayogs. These were ways to help communities through devotion to God. For example, they started cooperative farming, fishing, and tree-planting projects. These were done as a form of "divine labor," where everyone worked together for the good of all. Dadaji believed that the Bhagavad Gita's message could guide all of humanity. The Swadhyaya Parivar aims to create a "Universal Brotherhood under the Divine Fatherhood of God."
His Passing
Pandurang Shastri Athavale passed away on October 25, 2003, in Mumbai, India, at the age of 83. He was honored by hundreds of thousands of people. His ashes were later placed in several holy rivers and places across India.
Books and Teachings
Dadaji's teachings have been put into many books. These books are based on his talks about the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayan. Some of his well-known books include Valmiki Ramayan, Geeta Amrutam, and The Systems: The Way and the Work. These books are available in several languages like Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, and Sanskrit.
Awards and Honors
Dadaji received many important awards for his work:
- In 1997, he won the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. This award recognizes people who have made great contributions to spiritual life.
- In 1996, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. This is a very respected award in Asia.
- In 1999, he was given India's second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan Award.
- He also won the Rashtrabhusan award from the FIE foundation.
