A “Gnani Purush” is the one who is not only Self Realized but also has the spiritual powers to make others realize their true Self. The one without even the slightest ego and intellect, always carrying a smile that makes one forget all his sufferings, the One who is full of compassion, existed amongst us not too long back, His name was Ambalal Muljibhai Patel (also known as “Dadashri” or “Dada Bhagwan”) Pujya Dadashri would clarify that He Himself is not “God”. The Lord who is fully manifested within Him, is referred to as “DadaBhagwan”. He bows down to that Lord.
Before Gnan
Param Puyja Dadashri was born on 7thNovember, 1908 in Tarsadi, Gujarat, India. He exhibited mature thinking and an obliging nature right since childhood. His virtuous mother, Zaverba instilled the values of non-violence, empathy, and nobility in Him. His understanding at the age of thirteen was such that “God cannot give one liberation. Liberation means there is no one above or below you.”
Growing up as a young adult, Dadashri always desired to be independent and did not prefer to work under anyone. He never found happiness in any materialistic things and never wished for them. He would do his civil contracting business with full honesty, integrity and ethics. He would take home the amount of money, He would have earned as a salaried employee.
Pujya Dadashri got married to Hiraba at the age of fifteen. They never did quarrel or have a single dispute in the years of their togetherness and lived a very simple life. He was always aware of the dangers and miseries in each moment of life and hence would always be in search of eternal truth and Self-realization.
After Gnan
One evening in June 1958, Ambalal Muljibhai Patel was sitting on a bench in Surat railway station when spontaneous internal enlightenment occurred to him in forty-eight minutes and DadaBhagwan, the fully enlightened Self had manifested within Him. All His spiritual questions were answered within that period. Thus, a direct step less path to Self Realization called “Akram Vignan” came into existence.
After enlightenment, His ego vanished completely and saw all living beings as Pure Souls. He began to travel to various places, for satsang and grace people with Self Realization. Pujya Niruben Amin a 23 year old medical student recognized Dadashri’s spiritual capabilities and decided to devote her life to take care of Him.
In January 1988, Dadashri left His mortal body, handing over the world salvation mission to Pujya Niruma and Her spiritual contemporary Pujya Deepakbhai. Dadashri had groomed them both and graced Pujya Niruma to conduct Gnan Vidhi and satsangs. Eventually Pujya Niruma also graced Pujya Deepakbhai to conduct Gnan Vidhi.
To conclude, knowledge of the Self does not exist in any books, but it exists in the heart of the Gnani. Thus by meeting a Gnani only, one can attain Self Realization, just like a lit candle can light another candle.