Dada Bhagwan (7 November, 1908 – 2 January, 1988), also known as Dadashri, born Ambalal Muljibhai Patel, was a spiritual leader from Gujarat, India who founded the Akram Vignan Movement. He was religiously inclined from the early age. He worked as a contractor for a company maintaining dry docks in Bombay before attaining "self-realization" in 1958. He left business and focused on his spiritual goals. The movement around his teaching grew into the Akram Vignan movement gaining followers in western India and abroad.
Ambalal Muljibhai Patel (A. M. Patel) was born on 7 November 1908 in Tarsali, a village near Baroda (now in Gujarat, India). His parents, Muljibhai and Jhaverba, were VaishnavaPatidars. He grew up in Bhadran, Kheda district in central Gujarat. A. M. Patel credited his mother for instilling an early appreciation of the values of nonviolence, empathy, selfless generosity, and spiritual penance within him. It is said that he was blessed by a saint when he was thirteen who told that he would attain liberation. He married a local village girl named Hiraba in 1924. Their children (born in 1928 and 1931) died a few months after birth so they had no surviving children. During this period, he was also influenced by the writings of Shrimad Rajchandra a Jain Monk who was also the spiritualGuru of Mahatma Gandhi and householder and religious teacher whose teaching inspired new religious movement later. He began practising temporary celibacy and later vowed lifelong celibacy. He was a contractor by profession. He moved to Bombay where he worked successfully as a contractor for the company Patel & Co. The company used to maintain and construct dry docks in the Bombay harbour.[1][2][3]
Dada Bhagwan
He claimed to have attained self-realisation in June 1958 at Surat railway station while sitting on a bench at platform number 3. It was about 6 pm and it lasted 48 minutes. However this was not revealed initially by him.[1][2]
After his experience, a close relative began to address him by the spiritual name of Dada (a Gujarati term for "Revered Grandfather") Bhagwan (Lord) became his spiritual name. The experience or self-realization is described as revelation or manifestation of the god within, or pure self, supreme self manifested through body; which he later called Dada Bhagwan. He had differentiated between self and his empirical self as Patel and Dada Bhagwan.[1]
He left his business to his partners to concentrate on his spiritual goals. He continued to live on the dividends of his shares of company. He continued his householder life as his teaching did not require renunciation or asceticism.[1]
Akram Vignan movement
Dada Bhagwan formed a movement which he termed Akram Vignan Movement. Unlike the step-by-step purification according to Jain principles, Akram Vignan promises instant salvation through the grace of Simandhar Swami, for whom Dada Bhagwan serves as a medium. His followers believe that they will be reborn in two lives in Mahavideha, a mythical land described in Jain cosmology from where they can achieve Moksha (liberation) as they are in connection with Gnani (knower). Flügel regards the movement to be a form of Jain-Vaishnava syncretism, a development analogous to the Mahayana in Buddhism.[1][3]
Initially, he had not revealed his experiences to the public but his some close relatives and friends knew it. In 1962, during a conversation with him, a person named Chandrakant Patel from Uganda experienced sudden self-realization. Such experience is described in traditional Jainism as kshayak samkit which is only achieved in presence of Tirthankara. Kanubhai K. Patel was the second person, who was also his business partner, who received instant knowledge in 1963 from Dada Bhagwan.[1]
Expansion of movement
Between 1962 and 1968, very few close people received "knowledge" through Dada Bhagwan. Following 1968, he bestowed "knowledge" who requested to be blessed. This is the foundation of the movement. He said that he was initially reluctant due to fear of public opinion as in case of Shrimad Rajchandra but after his visit to a Rishabha temple in Khambhat he decided to public performance of Gnanvidhi, a practice to transfer of "knowledge" for self-realisation. In 1968, the first Gnanvidhi was held at Bombay. Over the years, the Gnanvidhi became more elaborate and achieved its present form in 1983. He continued to give spiritual discourses all over the world. He emphasized contact of "knower" (Gnani) to gain knowledge over scriptural or ritual knowledge. His followers were initially spread in his hometown Vadodara and Bombay. The movement expanded in the 1960s and 1970s to southern Gujarat and Maharashtra and in Gujarati diaspora in East Africa, North America and UK. In 1983, he had reportedly around 50,000 followers.[1][3]
When he died on 2 January 1988, his funeral was attended by about 60000 followers.[1][2][4]
Succession
Soon after the death of Dada Bhagwan, the movement split into two factions. One led by Kanubhai Patel and backed by Jay Sachchidannad Sangh and other led by Niruben Amin. Niruben claimed that she was instructed and trained in Gnanvidhi by Dada Bhagwan. Niruben formed her own organisations; Dada Bhagwan Foundation Trust and Simandhar Swami Aradhana Trust in Ahmedabad and Mahavideh Foundation in Mumbai. She became a popular leader of the movement and was addressed as Niruma by her followers from 1999.[1][3] After death of Niruben in 2006, she was succeeded by Deepakbhai Desai.[4]
Recognition
In 2012, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation named a stretch of road between Visat crossroads and Sabarmati crossroads as Pujya Dada Bhagwan Road and the Zundal circle as Dada Bhagwan circle.[5]
Dada Bhagwan (7 May 2015). Autobiography Of Gnani Purush A. M. Patel. Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust. ISBN978-81-89725-09-9.
References
^ abcdefghiFlügel, Peter (2005). King, Anna S.; Brockington, John (eds.). Present Lord: Simandhara Svami and the Akram Vijnan Movement(PDF). The Intimate Other: Love Divine in the Indic Religions. New Delhi: Orient Longman. pp. 194–243. ISBN9788125028017.
^ abcJani, Suresh B. (2011-06-29). "દાદા ભગવાન – અંબાલાલ મૂળજીભાઈ પટેલ" [Dada Bhagwan – Ambalal Muljibhai Patel]. Gujarati Pratibha Parichay (in Gujarati). Retrieved 2017-03-21.
^ abcdWiley, Kristi L. (17 June 2009). The A to Z of Jainism. Scarecrow Press. pp. 167–168. ISBN978-0-8108-6337-8.
^ abDada Bhagwan (2 April 2015). Adjust Everywhere: Conflict Resolution. Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust. pp. 5–10. ISBN978-81-89725-00-6.
^John, Paul (10 May 2012). "The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has christened a stretch on SP Ring road and a circle after a revered saint Dada Bhagwan. The standing committee passed a resolution on Thursday renaming the stretch between Visat crossroads and Sabarmati crossroads as Pujya Dada Bhagwan road while the Zundal circle has been named as Dada Bhagwan circle". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
^"Gulshan Grover plays a Godman". The Times of India. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
^"Gulshan Grover wins best actor at NY fest". Hindustan Times. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
January 06, 2023
dada, bhagwan, confused, with, bhagwan, dada, november, 1908, january, 1988, also, known, dadashri, born, ambalal, muljibhai, patel, spiritual, leader, from, gujarat, india, founded, akram, vignan, movement, religiously, inclined, from, early, worked, contract. Not to be confused with Bhagwan Dada Dada Bhagwan 7 November 1908 2 January 1988 also known as Dadashri born Ambalal Muljibhai Patel was a spiritual leader from Gujarat India who founded the Akram Vignan Movement He was religiously inclined from the early age He worked as a contractor for a company maintaining dry docks in Bombay before attaining self realization in 1958 He left business and focused on his spiritual goals The movement around his teaching grew into the Akram Vignan movement gaining followers in western India and abroad Dada BhagwanBornAmbalal Muljibhai Patel A M Patel 1908 11 07 7 November 1908Tarsali near Baroda now in Gujarat India Died2 January 1988 1988 01 02 aged 79 NationalityIndian Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Dada Bhagwan 1 3 Akram Vignan movement 1 4 Expansion of movement 2 Succession 3 Recognition 4 In popular culture 5 Bibliography 6 Further reading 7 ReferencesBiography EditEarly life Edit Ambalal Muljibhai Patel A M Patel was born on 7 November 1908 in Tarsali a village near Baroda now in Gujarat India His parents Muljibhai and Jhaverba were Vaishnava Patidars He grew up in Bhadran Kheda district in central Gujarat A M Patel credited his mother for instilling an early appreciation of the values of nonviolence empathy selfless generosity and spiritual penance within him It is said that he was blessed by a saint when he was thirteen who told that he would attain liberation He married a local village girl named Hiraba in 1924 Their children born in 1928 and 1931 died a few months after birth so they had no surviving children During this period he was also influenced by the writings of Shrimad Rajchandra a Jain Monk who was also the spiritual Guru of Mahatma Gandhi and householder and religious teacher whose teaching inspired new religious movement later He began practising temporary celibacy and later vowed lifelong celibacy He was a contractor by profession He moved to Bombay where he worked successfully as a contractor for the company Patel amp Co The company used to maintain and construct dry docks in the Bombay harbour 1 2 3 Dada Bhagwan Edit He claimed to have attained self realisation in June 1958 at Surat railway station while sitting on a bench at platform number 3 It was about 6 pm and it lasted 48 minutes However this was not revealed initially by him 1 2 After his experience a close relative began to address him by the spiritual name of Dada a Gujarati term for Revered Grandfather Bhagwan Lord became his spiritual name The experience or self realization is described as revelation or manifestation of the god within or pure self supreme self manifested through body which he later called Dada Bhagwan He had differentiated between self and his empirical self as Patel and Dada Bhagwan 1 He left his business to his partners to concentrate on his spiritual goals He continued to live on the dividends of his shares of company He continued his householder life as his teaching did not require renunciation or asceticism 1 Akram Vignan movement Edit Dada Bhagwan formed a movement which he termed Akram Vignan Movement Unlike the step by step purification according to Jain principles Akram Vignan promises instant salvation through the grace of Simandhar Swami for whom Dada Bhagwan serves as a medium His followers believe that they will be reborn in two lives in Mahavideha a mythical land described in Jain cosmology from where they can achieve Moksha liberation as they are in connection with Gnani knower Flugel regards the movement to be a form of Jain Vaishnava syncretism a development analogous to the Mahayana in Buddhism 1 3 Initially he had not revealed his experiences to the public but his some close relatives and friends knew it In 1962 during a conversation with him a person named Chandrakant Patel from Uganda experienced sudden self realization Such experience is described in traditional Jainism as kshayak samkit which is only achieved in presence of Tirthankara Kanubhai K Patel was the second person who was also his business partner who received instant knowledge in 1963 from Dada Bhagwan 1 Expansion of movement Edit Between 1962 and 1968 very few close people received knowledge through Dada Bhagwan Following 1968 he bestowed knowledge who requested to be blessed This is the foundation of the movement He said that he was initially reluctant due to fear of public opinion as in case of Shrimad Rajchandra but after his visit to a Rishabha temple in Khambhat he decided to public performance of Gnanvidhi a practice to transfer of knowledge for self realisation In 1968 the first Gnanvidhi was held at Bombay Over the years the Gnanvidhi became more elaborate and achieved its present form in 1983 He continued to give spiritual discourses all over the world He emphasized contact of knower Gnani to gain knowledge over scriptural or ritual knowledge His followers were initially spread in his hometown Vadodara and Bombay The movement expanded in the 1960s and 1970s to southern Gujarat and Maharashtra and in Gujarati diaspora in East Africa North America and UK In 1983 he had reportedly around 50 000 followers 1 3 When he died on 2 January 1988 his funeral was attended by about 60000 followers 1 2 4 Succession EditSoon after the death of Dada Bhagwan the movement split into two factions One led by Kanubhai Patel and backed by Jay Sachchidannad Sangh and other led by Niruben Amin Niruben claimed that she was instructed and trained in Gnanvidhi by Dada Bhagwan Niruben formed her own organisations Dada Bhagwan Foundation Trust and Simandhar Swami Aradhana Trust in Ahmedabad and Mahavideh Foundation in Mumbai She became a popular leader of the movement and was addressed as Niruma by her followers from 1999 1 3 After death of Niruben in 2006 she was succeeded by Deepakbhai Desai 4 Recognition EditIn 2012 the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation named a stretch of road between Visat crossroads and Sabarmati crossroads as Pujya Dada Bhagwan Road and the Zundal circle as Dada Bhagwan circle 5 In popular culture EditDada Bhagwan was portrayed by Gulshan Grover in a 2012 independent film Desperate Endeavors directed by French Algerian director Salim Khassa 6 7 Bibliography EditDada Bhagwan has authored the following books now translated in English Who Am I ISBN 978 81 89725 10 5 Generation Gap ISBN 978 81 89725 18 1 Harmony In Marriage ISBN 978 81 89725 15 0 Life Without Conflict ISBN 978 81 89725 21 1 Anger ISBN 978 81 89725 04 4 Worries ISBN 978 81 89725 05 1 The Science Of Karma ISBN 978 81 89725 11 2 Life Without Conflict ISBN 978 81 89725 21 1Further reading EditDada Bhagwan 7 May 2015 Autobiography Of Gnani Purush A M Patel Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust ISBN 978 81 89725 09 9 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Flugel Peter 2005 King Anna S Brockington John eds Present Lord Simandhara Svami and the Akram Vijnan Movement PDF The Intimate Other Love Divine in the Indic Religions New Delhi Orient Longman pp 194 243 ISBN 9788125028017 a b c Jani Suresh B 2011 06 29 દ દ ભગવ ન અ બ લ લ મ ળજ ભ ઈ પટ લ Dada Bhagwan Ambalal Muljibhai Patel Gujarati Pratibha Parichay in Gujarati Retrieved 2017 03 21 a b c d Wiley Kristi L 17 June 2009 The A to Z of Jainism Scarecrow Press pp 167 168 ISBN 978 0 8108 6337 8 a b Dada Bhagwan 2 April 2015 Adjust Everywhere Conflict Resolution Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust pp 5 10 ISBN 978 81 89725 00 6 John Paul 10 May 2012 The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC has christened a stretch on SP Ring road and a circle after a revered saint Dada Bhagwan The standing committee passed a resolution on Thursday renaming the stretch between Visat crossroads and Sabarmati crossroads as Pujya Dada Bhagwan road while the Zundal circle has been named as Dada Bhagwan circle The Times of India Retrieved 21 March 2017 Gulshan Grover plays a Godman The Times of India 17 August 2011 Retrieved 21 March 2017 Gulshan Grover wins best actor at NY fest Hindustan Times 26 August 2011 Retrieved 21 March 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dada Bhagwan amp oldid 1115013754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
