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

Tat Prasad – A Responsibility

Thursday, 26th September 2013

Today, I visited a friend in Dombivli who keeps the Padukas (sacred sandals) of Swami Samarth in his home. Though this location is close to my workplace, it is quite far from my residence. While I was there, I received a call from Mr. Bhatwadekar in the U.S.

Appa Bhatwadekar, was visiting his daughter in the U.S. and called me unexpectedly at that moment. When he learned where I was, he requested to speak with me. He shared an extraordinary dream he had earlier that morning, around 4 a.m. (U.S. time):

The Dream

“All of us—devotees of Akkalkot Swami, including you and me—were going to Ganeshpuri. Upon arrival, I went ahead to meet Bhagavan Nityananda. 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 to have Your darshan.’

He then asked, ‘Where is Gopalkrishna?’ I told Him that you were following behind me.

I sat down on the floor, and there was another man in the room, wearing a lungi. Bhagavan turned to him and said, ‘Go, call T. P. Shenoy.’

The man looked 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 went to the door, looked outside, and waved for you to come. You began flying toward us. Bhagavan then said, ‘Tell him not to look down.’ But before I could warn you, you looked down and fell, landing straight into the ground, 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 pulled you out by your head and placed you at His Feet. You bowed to Him.

He then asked you to perform His Aarti. As you performed His aarti singing Jai Jai Aarti Nityananda, He said looking at me “See who is performing whose aarti. He is performing his own aarti.”

Seeing this, I was stunned. Then Bhagavan called me. I went near Him, bowed, and He blessed us both, 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 repeated twice, ‘Remain in Nityananda. Remain in Nityananda.’

I woke up from the dream, wondering how to share this message with you. And just as I was reflecting on this, I happened to call you. Now that I’ve conveyed it, I feel free of my obligation.”

A New Commitment

This profound dream brought with it a new understanding and responsibility. The name “Tat Prasad Shenoy” carries a deeper meaning: to live as the offering of That, the eternal Self, and remain in the grace of Nityananda.

It also brought a renewed sense of duty to serve, to distribute Bhagavan’s grace, and to share His love and care with all. Instead of focusing on miracles that elevate Him beyond the reach of the common devotee, we are called to make Him accessible—freely, openly, and unconditionally—as a Master, Guide, and Philosopher who is profoundly human yet divinely anchored.

This seva is not just about venerating Bhagavan as an omnipotent being but about bringing His teachings and presence into the everyday lives of devotees, making His grace a living, breathing reality for all who seek it.

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, the names of people or devotees mentioned in my work mustn’t be 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 a 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.