Shri Rangnath Bhatwadekar

(Appa Bhatwadekar)

I have chosen Shri Appa Bhatwadekar as one of the devotees who lived under the grace of Bhagavan Nityananda, even though he was also a disciple of Shree Swami Samarth, Shree Shankar Maharaj, and Shree Beedkar Maharaj. Appa made me realize a profound truth: the essence of the Guru, Guru Tattva, is One. While these divine masters may appear different in form, they are all reflections of the same Supreme Consciousness. Appa experienced firsthand how these Mahavatars entered his life to reveal their unity, and he passed on this realization to me.

In the Shivaji Park area of Mumbai, lived Shri Rangnath Bhatwadekar, affectionately known as Appa. His neighbor, Mr. Hegde, a devotee of Bhagavan Nityananda, frequently visited Ganeshpuri with his wife and daughter. One day, he invited Appa to join them on a visit to Bhagavan, who was residing at the Vaikuntha Ashram in Ganeshpuri.

Appa had an image in his mind of what a saint should look like—someone slim, ascetic, and serious. But when he saw Bhagavan, his thoughts were skeptical. He thought, “How can this stout man be a saint? Can he even walk with all that weight?” Almost immediately, as if Bhagavan had heard his thoughts, he rose from his seat and began walking rapidly up and down the hall, much to Appa’s amazement. Suddenly, Bhagavan approached Appa, pointed at him, and loudly called out, “Shankar, Shankar!” Appa was struck as if by lightning and remained in a daze for some time. This was a taste of Shaktipat for young Appa!

When Appa regained his senses, Bhagavan asked him, “Do you play musical instruments? Harmonium, tabla?” Appa replied that he didn’t. Bhagavan then said nine sentences in Hindi, which would later prove to be a summary of Appa’s life:

  1. Padna (Study)
  2. Cinema jana (Go to the movies)
  3. Cinema dekhna (Watch movies)
  4. Cinema chodna (Leave the movies)
  5. Phirse padna (Study again)
  6. Naukri karna (Take a job)
  7. Bhagavan ko pana (Realize God)
  8. Sabko khilana (Feed everyone)
  9. Ayesh mein rehna (Live in joy)

Appa’s life followed this exact path which had these nine milestones. He studied up to the S.S.C. level but had to leave his studies due to financial difficulties. However, his neighbours heard him play the sitar and invited him to perform for them. By a stroke of luck, the renowned music director Shri Naushad was present at one of these gatherings and, impressed by Appa’s talent, offered him work in the film industry. Appa loved music and began playing in orchestras for famous directors like Naushad and Laxmikant-Pyarelal. He earned Rs. 10 per rehearsal and Rs. 75 for a song recording. In those days, this was a huge amount.  Despite his passion for music, societal views on the film industry being immoral led his family to disapprove of his involvement. After saving enough to pay for his education, he left the industry, returned to his studies, and eventually completed his education. Completing his graduation, He later joined a pharmaceutical company as a Quality Control Chemist.

As his spiritual journey unfolded, Appa received Shaktipath Diksha and became deeply connected to the lineage of Shree Swami Samarth. He also received the blessings of Shree Shankar Maharaj of Pune. Appa and his wife devoted their lives to feeding anyone who visited their home, and they lived a life of contentment.

On a subsequent visit to Ganeshpuri, Appa went to the Vajreshwari Temple. As he stood in front of Shree Vajreshwari Devi, he experienced a powerful surge of Shakti that left him in a trance. He staggered out of the temple and sat beneath a large mango tree in front of the Garbhagriha (inner sanctum), where he remained in a meditative state for some time. This experience left a deep impression on him, and every time he visited Vajreshwari thereafter, he would sit beneath the same tree, immersed in those memories. Once I took him and his wife to Ganeshpuri and from there to Vajreshwari. There is showed me this mango tree. Both of us sat under the shade of this tree and enjoyed the bliss.

Appa later came into contact with Shree Raosaheb Shasrabuddhe, a disciple of Shree Beedkar Maharaj, and his spiritual progress accelerated rapidly. Shankar Maharaj, who had already taken Mahasamadhi (left his body), gave Appa darshan (vision) in his astral form. Appa finally understood why Bhagavan Nityananda had called out “Shankar, Shankar” during their first meeting. The thunderbolt-like force he had felt was Bhagavan’s grace, awakening his Kundalini. At the time, Appa was too young to grasp its significance, but now he realized that it was the power of a Jagadguru, a Universal Guru.

Appa was born on November 19, 1935, and left his mortal body on March 13, 2019.

It was through Prasad Pense, a devotee of Swami Samarth, that I was introduced to Appa. When he learned that I was a devotee of Bhagavan Nityananda, we became fast friends. I often visited his home at Shivaji Park to discuss spiritual matters. One day, Appa shared a dream he had where Bhagavan Nityananda appeared to him and instructed him to chant His name at the end of all prayers, especially before going to sleep. Until that dream, Appa had always ended his prayers with Swami Samarth’s name. From that day forward, he chanted Bhagavan Nityananda’s name at the conclusion of all his prayers.

A similar incident occurred when we were recording a bhajan (devotional song) with a renowned classical singer, Shri Ajit Kadkade, a devotee of Swami Samarth and Lord Dattatreya. Despite multiple attempts, Kadkade was dissatisfied with the recording, feeling that something was missing. That night, during meditation, Swami Nityananda appeared before him and instructed him to chant “Nityanandam, Brahmanandam” during the recording. The next day, Kadkade went to Ganeshpuri to seek Bhagavan’s blessings, and upon returning, the recording proceeded smoothly.

Captain M. U. Hatangdi, a devotee of Bhagavan, once shared a story about Shri A. S. Rao, a devoted follower of Bhagavan Nityananda, who experienced a miraculous recovery from malaria in Ganeshpuri. While suffering from a high fever, Mr. Rao recalled an incident where he had refused prasad (offered food) from the Sufi saint Babajan in Pune. Bhagavan Nityananda ordered him to recount the story and then gave him a mixture of fried foods—an unusual treatment for someone suffering from malaria. Remarkably, after consuming the food, Mr. Rao fell asleep and woke up completely cured, without any lingering effects of the illness. This episode demonstrated not only Bhagavan’s grace but also the subtle connection between him and the great Sufi saint Babajan, revealing how saints transcend religious boundaries and unite on the same spiritual plane.

Emergence of Tat Prasad

Today is Thursday (26th September 2013) I visited a friend in Dombivili who has the Padukas (sacred sandals) of Swami Samarth at his home. Though it’s close to my workplace, it’s quite far from my home. Just then, I received a call from Mr. Bhatwadekar in the U.S. Appa Bhatwadekar our spiritual lineage had the privilege of meeting Bhagavan Nityananda and even received Kundalini Shaktipat. He was visiting his daughter in the U.S. By chance, he called just as I was visiting my friend. Upon learning I was there, he requested to speak with me. He then shared a remarkable dream he had around 4 a.m. (U.S. time):

“All of us (the Akkalkot Swami’s devotees including me) were going to Ganeshpuri, you (author) and I included. Upon arriving, I went ahead to meet Bhagavan. He was seated on a divan in a small room. As soon as He saw me, He asked in Hindi, ‘Why have you come here?’ I replied, ‘I’ve come with Gopalkrishna Shenoy to have Your darshan.’ He then asked, ‘Where is Gopalkrishna Shenoy?’ I told Him that you were coming behind me.

I sat down on the floor. There was a man in the room wearing a lungi. Bhagavan turned to him and said, ‘Go, call T. P. Shenoy.’ The man looked at me, confused, as he didn’t know who T. P. Shenoy was. Even I was puzzled. I asked Bhagavan, ‘Who is T. P. Shenoy?’ He replied, ‘That same person, Gopalkrishna. Call him. Tell him to fly and come.’

I looked outside the door and waved for you to come. You began flying toward us. Bhagavan then said, ‘Tell him not to look down.’ But from that distance, I couldn’t warn you in time. You suddenly looked down, and immediately, you fell straight to the ground and got stuck neck-deep in the earth. Bhagavan laughed and said, ‘See, this is what Maya (illusion) does. But now I will lift him.’

His hand stretched out, growing longer and longer, and from a distance of about 20 feet, He plucked you out by your head and placed you at His Feet. You bowed to Him. Seeing this, I was stunned. Then Bhagavan called me. I went near Him, bowed, and He blessed both of us, saying, ‘T. P. Shenoy is Tat Prasad Shenoy, Tat Prasad Shenoy. He is the Prasad of Him (God, Lord Krishna, the Self). “Tat” stands for That, or Self-Consciousness.’ He said twice, ‘Remain in Nityananda, remain in Nityananda.’

I woke up from the dream, wondering how I could convey this message to you. And just as I was thinking about it, here you are, visiting your friend at the very moment I called. Now, having shared this dream with you, I feel free of my obligation.”

Since 2013, when this incident happened, I began using the name “Tat Prasad” for most of my Seva. Yes, the pulls and pushes of Samsara Sagara make me look down and I get caught in the clasps of Maya! While all that is happening, I do not lose sight of Bhagavan and His Grace.

In my Seva (books and posts) I never intended to claim any copyright or restrict the sharing of my work. However, I have noticed that some individuals have taken my experiences and writings, making minor or major changes to suit their objectives. While I don’t mind as long as the core information remains intact, I believe it is important to provide proper attribution when my name is used as a cross-reference. This allows me to vouch for the authenticity of the Leelas I originally shared.

Additionally, it is crucial that the names of people or devotees mentioned in my work are not distorted. For instance, in an article copied from me, my uncle, Sitaram Shenoy, was incorrectly referred to as Sitaram Shetty. Similarly, a relative of mine, Upendra Bhat, living in Siwan near Ganeshpuri, experienced Bhagavan’s grace not through a direct manifestation but by Bhagavan facilitating a doctor’s treatment for his children, who were suffering from severe fever. However, this was inaccurately portrayed as a miracle where Bhagavan personally cured the children.

Another example involves my article Nityanandeshwari, which focuses on Bhadrakali. It was copied without giving reference. My simple request is for anyone sharing my experiences to give appropriate cross-references and avoid altering the original content, particularly when it comes to names and the essence of the stories.