The birthplace of Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale – an ethereal experience

Nagothane – a small developed village of historical significance, situated about 60 kms from the major city of Panvel in District Raigad (Maharashtra). In this village stands the Vartak wada (wada being the Marathi term for a large house or mansion). It is here that a child destined to scale spiritual heights was born on Vaishakh Krishna Saptami in 1942. That child was Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale (Founder, Sanatan Sanstha). In recognition of His contributions to Spirituality and nation building efforts, the lane that leads to this fountain of chaitanya has been christened as Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale Road by the Gram panchayat (village council).

1. Historical importance of Nagothane

Nagothane village is located at a short distance from Raigad, the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Hindavi Swarajya. This village housed a mint (factory where money is coined) during that period. The village has multiple lakes which were used as watering holes for horses in Maharaj’s cavalry. Vartakwada is close to the historical Sringar tali (lake) which is believed to have been the place where ceremonial elephants were decorated. Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, is believed to have been a frequent visitor to the nearby Angar lane.

2. Shrisatshakti (Mrs) Binda Nilesh Singbal’s visit to Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s birthplace

One of the two Spiritual Heirs of Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale – Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal, visited His birthplace on 2.2.2023. Her visit enhanced the chaitanya of the premises.

Her bhav towards the birthplace of Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale

Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal paid obeisance with utmost bhav to the premises. She curiously went through the entire premises and learned about the history in detail. She remarked, “Sachchidanand Parabrahman Gurudev’s presence can be felt abundantly here. Vibrations associated with Him are present everywhere. The soil, water, air etc. all are unique and sattvik. They have a unique fragrance. Let us perform subtle experiment on them”. These premises are a unique gift to the world as the birthplace of an incarnation.

Her gratitude unto late Shri. Vijay Vartak the caretaker of the premises

When Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal was apprised about the different Saints who had visited the birthplace earlier, as well as late Shri. Vijay (Nana) Vartak (Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s maternal cousin, spiritual level of 65% at the time of his death). Immense gratitude was visible on Her face while listening about them. It is extremely important to maintain this birthplace and take good care of it. Since the building and the surrounding area are vast, it is a difficult task. Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal remarked, “Since Nana was there to take care of this premises, we (Shri. Abhay [Shri. Vijay’s son], Mrs. Rupali Vartak [daughter-in-law] and Sanatan Sanstha) never had to do anything! His spiritual practice was taking care of this premises all alone.”

– Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak, Nagothane, District Raigad (10.5.2023)

3. Spiritual experiences regarding Nagothane village and the birthplace premises

25 years ago, one could experience tremendous Sattvik vibrations even as one stepped down at the Nagothane railway station. However, due to population growth, the sattvik vibrations have considerably reduced. However, one feels pleasant in Nagothane compared to other villages.

1. For several years, Sanatan’s 61^st Saint, H.H. Anant Patil (Tatya) used to regularly visit the birthplace and chant in the premises. When H.H. Tatya became a Saint, Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale had remarked that H.H. Patil tatya derived benefit from the premises.

2. Shri Tukaram (Bapu) Londhe (68% spiritual level) had mentioned that his chanting occurred automatically when he neared Nagothane village.

3. When Kum. Vaidehi Shinde, a seeker from Ponda, Goa, visited Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s birthplace, her spiritual emotion awakened to a great extent.

4. Mrs. Shobha tai, who performs the seva of sweeping and mopping in the premises, often says that even if she experiences distress of any severity, it vanishes as soon as she enters the premises, and she starts feeling a lot better. Despite all the physical work she performs, her fatigue goes away as soon as she enters the premises.

4. Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal’s superior bhav

1. We embarked on our journey from Devad Ashram to Nagothane together. From the start, Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal’s face displayed a superior bhav regarding the visit to Gurudev’s birthplace. Her eyes became increasingly moist.

2. After reaching the birthplace, Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda touched the structure gently and with bhav. It felt as if She was touching the premises with the bhav that it is Gurudev’s manifest form.

3. Many workers used to come to visit my father Shri Nana Vartak. Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda conversed with them as well. One of Nana’s acquaintances Shri Raja Soshte, is not connected to Sanatan Sanstha. Despite that he regularly pays a visit to the premises. He too met Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda. Shrisatshakti Mrs Bindatai remarked that Shri. Raja Soshte gives off pleasant vibrations.

Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda also paid attention to all the steps required for the maintenance of the structure, as it was worn due to the passage of time.

Her visit brought us immense happiness.’

– Shri Abhay Vijay Vartak, Sanatan Sanstha. (10.5.2023)

5. Unfathomable changes that have occurred in the premises

1. The yellow colour of the floor tiles in the room where Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale was born has decreased and the white in it has increased to a large extent.

2. The colours of the pictures of the Deities in the premises and the temple within the premises have faded too. It feels as if these pictures have transformed into a nirgun (non-materialised) state.

– Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak, Nagothane, District Raigad (10.5.2023)

The spiritual experiences given above are seeker’s individual spiritual experiences as per the principle ‘Where there is spiritual emotion, God is present there.’ It is not necessary that everyone will get such spiritual experiences. – Editor

6. Chaitanya in the room in which Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale was born is similar to that of Ramnathi Ashram ! – Shrichitshakti Mrs Anjali Gadgil

 

Few years back, Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s other Spiritual Heir – Shrichitshakti Mrs Anjali Mukul Gadgil, had also visited Nagothane. At that time, She had expressed that the Chaitanya in the room in which Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale was born is equivalent to that of Ramnathi Ashram. She also said that since Shri. Nana Vartak had undertaken painstaking efforts in maintaining this premises, we should be always grateful to him.

– Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak, Nagothane, District Raigad (10.5.2023).

7. Spiritual experiences of Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak

A. Feeling the urge of going home at Nagothane

It is my greatest fortune to visit the birthplace of Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale as a daughter-in-law of the household. For the first ten years after my marriage, there were not many opportunities to visit Nagothane, however I now realise that, whenever there was an occasion to travel to the place, there was always an urge to visit. Despite that place not having any modern facilities akin to a home in a city, I never felt any reluctance to go to Nagothane. The Chaitanya of the premises is the primary reason behind this!

B. Lack of pain despite performing hard work

After 2014, I was fortunate to visit and experience the sacred premises 3 to 4 times in a year by staying in it for 3-4 days at a time. Over the last 2 years, for various reasons, I got an opportunity to stay in the premises for many days. I have always experienced that despite performing various physically draining activities throughout the entire day, I does not experience any pain. Even if I fell sick, I have always recovered in a very short time.

C. Spiritual experience of liveliness and Chaitanya in the premises

There is a kind of liveliness in the premises. One can experience that Chaitanya is filled in each particle within its structure. One feels pleasant due to the presence of vibrations of bliss in the premises.

D. Even the flowers have sensed Chaitanya in the birthplace

A flower offered to the photograph present in the room in which Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale was born remains fresh till the morning of the following day. It looks as fresh as if it has just been offered. I have been having this spiritual experience for many years.

E. Chaitanya of the premises makes the food delicious

It has been experienced multiple times that the food cooked in the kitchen of the premises is extremely tasty. Seekers as well as relatives always remark that the food items have been prepared very nicely. The main ingredient that enhances this taste is the Chaitanya present in the premises.

O’ God, I always fall short in availing spiritual benefit of this premises. To be able to fully imbibe Chaitanya from this premises, I pray at Your holy feet to enable me to take necessary steps with bhav.’

-Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak, Nagothane, District Raigad (10.5.2023)

8. Characteristics of the backyard

The garden around the premises is a mine of Chaitanya. My father-in-law late Shri. Vijay (Nana) Vartak had planted several trees in the area surrounding the premises and few of them stand tall even today. The difference between these trees and those in other locations is clearly visible. Nana used to take care of these trees with affection. Throughout the day he would perform seva in this garden while chanting God’s Name.

1. The leaves and flowers of the trees planted elsewhere are small, pale, or faint. The leaves and flowers of the trees of the same species planted in the backyard are large, look very fresh, beautiful, and bright. I have observed this for many years.

2. One feels pleasant even while looking at decorative plants in the backyard. As compared to the other places, the extent of growth of new plants and their sustenance in the backyard of the birthplace is far more.

3. All the trees and plants in the backyard of the birthplace look more nourished and stronger compared to the trees and plants present elsewhere.

– Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak, Nagothane, District Raigad (10.5.2023)

9. Affection felt by the people in the society

‘When Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal visited the birthplace, few people from the village who used to regularly meet Nana and take care of him, had come there. (Since many people from the village used to frequently visit Nana, we [my husband and myself] always felt at ease regarding his welfare.) One such person is Shri. Raja Soshte. Few builders used to frequently enquire with Shri. Raja Soshte about availability of the birthplace for redevelopment. However, Shri. Raja Soshte would prevent such enquiries from reaching Nana by directly informing the builders that the land is not available for sale as in future an Ashram will get constructed at the birthplace.

When this incidence was narrated to Shrisatshakti Mrs Binda Singbal, She exclaimed, “All these people have taken care of Nana, and Nana has taken good care of the premises!” Five months after Nana’s death, Shri. Soshte still visits the premises every evening.’

– Mrs. Rupali Abhay Vartak, Nagothane, District Raigad (10.5.2023)