Dadaji passes away
Sri Dadaji (Sri Dattaram Gavand), a Great Mystic and sage from Thane, Maharashtra who got inspired by J. Krishnamurti and lived mainly anonymously, passed away on the 29th Jan. 2012 at 5.30 am (at Sajjangad) at the age of 94.As Prof Anjali Bhelande his chief desciple told, "...the end came very peacefully after an illness of heart and respiration for about 4 months...Dadaji wrote that he would like all of us to celebrate this liberation from the flesh and welcome his onward journey......"A prayer meeting will be held at Tapovan near Sajjangad at 11am on 12 February.---------------About DadajiDadaji Gavand, a great mystic, traveller and photographer, was born in Thane in 1917.As an eldest child of his parents, he came to be called Dada or elder brother. Early in his life, he heeded a compelling inner urge for spiritual understanding. On account of his father’s untimely demise, he inherited the family business at the young age of 18. He ran the businessvery successfully but became disillusioned with the exclusive nature and binding effect of wealth, prestige and comfort. He saw the dehumanizing effect of commercial culture and also the limitation of tradition. He saw marriage as a glorified trap. Hence he chose not to marry and at the age of 38, after carrying out his family responsibilities of getting his sisters and brother married and settled, he went off by himself, in search of the true significance of life. He read the work of Theosophists like Madame Blavatsky and Annie Besant. He personally met and got inspiration mainly from J. Krishnamurti.
He had also met Ramana Maharshi and the Mother of Pondicherry.After some years of wandering, and many times of trial and testing, Dada finally realized to his amazement that the search was indeed totally within. Hence, in the year 1955 he left his cozy home, went far away from Mumbai to Mount Sajjangad, stayed in a tiny hut there and began an inquiry unto himself.While in solitude he experienced a mystical explosion in the inner domain releasing a new and unique flow of energy. With this change in Dada's life came a tranquillity, understanding and joy never known to him before.
After this experience Dada moved to Mahableshwar where he lived in semi-solitude in communion with the nature. By keeping some beehives around his hut in the forest of Mahableshwar he produced honey to earn enough to meet his few needs. Bees surely were his best friends, to support him and keep him independent and free from society . This period of twelve years was the time of intense inward explorations. It was a pilgrimage unto himself towards the unknown. During this time he started talking with people who visited him and shared his understanding with those seriously interested in the discovery of truth.
In 1975, some friends feeling that Dada should carry his message at large, obtained for him a complementary ticket from the chairman of Scindia Steam Ship Company to travel on their ship around the world. Group discussions were the starting point of Dada's work in United States. The local newspaper interviewed Dada. The momentum of his work grew slowly and Dada travelled all over
America from East to West coast. He held discussions with people from all walks of life e.g. biophysicists, psychologists, artists, musicians, movie stars, family persons, professors and students.
Friends close to him felt that this understanding should be made available to greater number of people. His first book, "Beyond the Mind" was published in San Francisco in 1977. In September 1978, in his return journey to India. He visited European continent and gave talks at Manchester in England and at Frankfurt in Germany. After three and half years of travel around the world he returned to India in December 1978.
After giving discourses in a few cities of Maharashtra and Gujarat he went to his mountain hut in Mahableshwar to be in solitude for some time.
During his second visit in December 1980 he travelled extensively in United States to gave discourses at universities, community halls, churches and synagogues. He was also invited on radio and TV stations for interviews. During this visit his second book, "Towards the Unknown" in 1981.
In India Dada spoke to groups and individuals in various cities to communicate his understanding. As he pointed out, he was not interested in superficial modifications of behaviour and mental attitudes based on any ideal. He was interested in the change a very core of man's being. He felt that the human mind has arrived at a stage where it can break the barrier of time and discover the timeless without relying on any time involved practices.
After staying at Yewoor near Thane lately he settled at sajjangad in Satara District in South Maharashtra.
His spiritual autobiography 'Intelligence Beyond Thought' (Pilgrim Publications, Kathmandu), was released in 2004 and was very well appreciated by the spiritual aspirants all over world.A website dedicated to carry on his message-----------------