VKP CONTENTS PAGE - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

SECTION - 1SHRI PANDURANG SHASTRI ATHAVALEShri Athavale (19-10-1920 to 25-10-2003) known respectfully as Dada byhis co-workers began bhav-pheri(devotional visits) in 1954. With less than20 helpers, he went to the villages aroundMumbai to spread the message of love forGod, and love for all people, considered bythe workers to be God’s children. Believingin self-knowledge as the preliminarycondition for an inner growth that leads to aloving, enlightened social concern andoutreach, Athavale initiated the practice ofSwadhyaya-Self-Study.Swadhyaya has spread to nearly 100,000villages across India, and is estimated to havedirectly improved the lives of 20 millionpeople. Athavale’s Hindu philosophicalbeliefs ask people to recognize the innerpresence of God which leads to a sense ofself-esteem as well as an awareness of thedivine presence within all persons. This beliefhas led to the betterment of individuals andcommunities around the world.He secured the 1997 Templeton Prize forprogress in Religion.Shri Athavale’s concepts in practice andaction of right living are:1. Bhaktiferi – Devotional visits tospread the healing message of loveto all communities.2. Amrutalayam (Village temples) Builtby joint efforts of the villagers forpeople from all religions, castes, andeconomic strata to worship together.3. Yogeshwar Krushis-farms of Godwhere the villagers give a few daysof labour a year to show theirdevotion to God, with the village’sneedy sharing the produce.4. Matsyagandhas (floating temples ofGod) – fishing boats on which thefishermen give their time for a fewdays a year, as devotion to God, andshare the harvest with the needy.5. Vrikshamandirs-orchard templeswhich are cultivated impersonally bythe villagers and the produce is givento the needy.6. Jeevan Sampada (Wealth of Life) isan ingenious activity. Religious songsare recorded and distributed, relatedto each Swadhyaya activity.7. Gauras (home dairies) are villagelevelmilk cooperatives.8. Bahna Kendra-ladies centres.9. Bal-Sanksar Kendras-Children’svalue centres.10. Dhananjay Kreeda Samuh-Arjuna’ssports groups.11. Tattvajnana Vidyapeeth-philosophicknowledge centres. Sri Athavalejiused Bhagawad Gita as the tool forreaching people in large numbers.USA alone has 350 Swadhyaya centres(15000 followers) in 38 centres.But it is his work among the fishermen ofWestern India that is very important toSamartha Bharata.(With inputs from “Hinduism Today”2003)SAMARTHA BHARATA 12