Saint Chokha Mela has said in one devotional song that ‘Oos Dongapari, Ras Nohe Donga, kaay Bhulalasi Varaliya Ranga (One should not get deceived by exterior form of anything). Looking at people’s interest in going to famous Saints and Seers during ‘Simhastha Parva’ held at Ujjain, I was reminded of the above devotional song.
Got an opportunity to observe few Sadhus-Saints during ‘Simhastha Parva’ and the main points of difference related to Paratpar Guru Sri Sri Jayant Athavale compared to them and noted in the process, are given below. Uniqueness of H.H. Gurudev is obvious even from the points observed in gross.
Other Saints/ keertankars / kathakars | Paratpar Guru Sri Sri Jayant Balaji Athavale | |
---|---|---|
1. Vyashti life | ||
Attire | Mostly dress to attract others | Simple kurta/ pajama |
Diet | Lavish food with desserts etc | Simple as reqd by body |
Seat | Special, decorative | Simple chair |
Vehicle | Costly and as status symbol | Useful for carrying things while travelling (have not travelled in past 10 years) |
Devotees | Always around | As per requirement of ‘seva’ |
Facilities | Maximum | As per requirement of ‘seva’ |
Thrifty | Not concerned about spending money | Economical in use of paper for writing, in clothes etc |
Use of time | Not particular about time | 100 % time used for ‘samashti’ benefit |
2. Social Life | ||
Post | Try to get posts like Jagatguru, Mahamandaleshwar, Mahant | Keeps away from all posts |
Activities | At gross level and traditionally set with less outcome as per times | Reqd as per time, useful for nation and Dharma; multi-faceted and also at subtle level |
Time | Given to eminent persons, politicians and those who can be of some help | Given for ‘jidyansus’, seekers andSaints |
Guidance | As per the Sect | As per place, time and situation |
Social status | To attend various social and political programs, for taking care of relations | Giving time only for spiritual programs; feel that relation with God is most important than relation with others (Presently not going anywhere due to ill health) |
Publicity | Print own photograph on all ‘prasar’ material and give permission to devotees if needed, for paying reporters to get news published | Keep far away from publicity; thinking of everything happening as per God’s wish |
About incidents causing harm to Dharma | Indifferent; else vocal only for giving response to media | Explain science to people reg. incidents causing harm to Dharma and create awareness |
3. Spiritual Activities | ||
A . Creation of Ashrams or Mutts | ||
Setting up of Mutt or Ashram | Set up wherever place is available | Creating ashrams as per need of seekers, converting seekers’ houses into ashram at many places |
‘Jidnyasus’ need to pay | Take money from seekers to learn various ‘Yoga-paths’ or ‘sadhana’, therefore, seekers financial position is the criterion | No charges from seekers for sadhana or other activities; therefore, financial status is not the criterion but the only criterion is ‘jidnyasa’ |
Management of work | Most of the Saints have to get work done but attention is not paid to quality | Make seekers capable to do the job |
Expenses | Spend lot of money unnecessarily for show | Teaches seekers to economize and re-use things; also give instructions for proper use of money |
B. Development of seekers | ||
Goal | Not keeping goal of individual progress for seekers and not keeping even samashti goal | Keeps goal of God realization constantly before seekers, also keeps goal of establishment of Hindu Rashtra |
Teachings | Make seekers attached to self; spending time in giving ‘darshan’ and blessings; thus keep same ideal before others | Seekers are taught not to get attached to self and not spend time in ‘darshan’ or blessings, but uses that time for Rashtra and Dharma |
Sanskar | Not paying attention to seekers’ behavior | Constantly guides seekers so that they be ideal seekers |
Importance | Given to completion of job | Given to seekers’ sadhana, rather than completing the work, if need be |
Guidance on difficulties | Use supernatural powers for solving problems and take money for performing rituals etc | Giving spiritual remedies for solving problems without taking money and give mental and spiritual strength to go thro’ destiny |
Thinking about seekers | Being partial to followers | Thinks about all seekers as family members and helps and guides them |
Thinking about spiritual progress | Don’t much think about followers’ progress and even if it is thought, it is limited to certain Yoga-marg or ritualistic worship | Constantly thinking about all-round progress of seekers and make them aware of the same. |
-Shri. Anand Jakhotia, Sanatan Ashram, Devad, Panvel (27.5.2016)