Pandurang Shastri Athavale

Pandurang Shastri Athavale Biography

Pandurang Shastri Athavale, popularly known as Dada-ji was an Indian philosopher, spiritual leader, social reformer and Hinduism reformist. He is the founder of the Swadhyay Parivar and the Swadhyay Parivar organization. He was also noted for his discourses or "pravachans" on Srimad Bhagawad Gita and Upanishads. In 1997, he received Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. He is also a recipient of Padma Vibhushan in 1999. This great Hindu philosopher died on 25 October 2003.

Pandurang Vaijnath Athavale was born on 19 October 1920 in Roha of Maharashra to Sanskrit teacher Vaijanath Athavale and Parvati Athavale. He had 4 siblings. His grandfather set up an independent course of study when Pandurang was 12 years old. It was similar to  Tapovan system of ancient India, where Pandurang had his early studies. In 1942, he started to give discourses at the Srimad Bhagavad Gita Pathshala. He continued reading at Royal Asiatic Library for 14 years and gained deep knowledge in non-fiction literature. In 1954, he attended the Second World Philosophers Conference, held in Japan where he presented the concepts of Vedic ideals and the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. He gained wide appreciation for his presentation. Dr. Arthur Compton, impressed with Athavale's ideas and offered him a post in the US. But Pandurang declined the offer.

Swadhyay Movement is a Hindu philosophy and the members of the Swadhyay Pariwar are called "Swadhyayees" who spread messages of God’s love throughout the world. Swadhyay has spread to numerous countries in the Caribbean, the Americas, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Universal brotherhood under the Divine Fatherhood of God” is the aim of this organization. Dadaji died on 25 October 2003 in Mumbai aged 83.

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Updated: December 25, 2013