About Sadguru Atma Malik Mauli
Gurudev Janglidas Maharaj now reverred as Sadguru Atma Malik Mauli was first recognised for His penance at Yeola District, Nasik where He spent 32 years in deep meditation under very severe conditions. During these 32 years, Gurudev travelled on foot to Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh A.P, U.P, Tamilnadu and many places in Maharashtra to spread the awareness of Divinity that resides in the deep reaches of our selves, Atma in our heart. There are records and memories from senior Sadhak of the ashram of many “padayatra” (pilgrimage on foot) where they accompanied Gurudev dating back to 1970 due to His dignified popularity and love from the masses. Meditation, penance, satsang had been going on for how many years prior to this, is anyone’s guess. No one has any authentic information of where Gurudev came from or His birth and childhood.
It was not necessary as Gurudev only taught about the permanency of the Atma. The daily routine of intense meditation at Yeola included 21 hours of deep meditation. The state of Bliss and vibrancy of energy with which Gurudev has been deeply connected is visible in the magnitude of His legacy and efforts today. His penance was supported with disciplined Yogasana, swimming and ritualistic bathing to enhance to “Tp” (penance) during those days. His diet only included rice soup, margosa (neem) leaves juice, black tea and water. His love for the people only intensified his meditative penance.
Babaji sat for Meditation in the energetic ‘gufa’ or cave on ANKAI MOUNTAIN which is famed to be the place of intense meditation done by Rishi Agastya from the Pouranic pre Vedic era. Rishi Agastaya is famed to be the author of large number of sholakas from the Rig Veda and is assigned to be the Master of Primordial Knowledge and Light. Here, Gurudev intensified His penance for over eleven months with no food, only taking water. It was Swami Muktanand who first saw in Gurudev Janglidas Maharaj the Divinity of the future and redeemed His penance with simple food and water. When Swami Muktanand asked Gurudev Janglidas Maharaj what he wanted, Our divine, Enlightened Gurudev asked for the Blessings to be able to feed every soul who comes to him and to show the path of Salvation to all. Gurudev found His own Guru, Divine Guide and teacher within ‘Jangli Maharaj’, one of the most revered Yogi whose Samadhi (1890- date of Samadhi) is in Pune. In His devotion, Gurudev began to be recognised as Jangli-Das Maharaj (Daas or Servant of..) This began the tremendous journey to take the masses towards Self Realization with love and awakening of the most powerful ATMA.. Following this, Gurudev Janglidas Maharaj travelled to Karagda, Belgaum Dist., Karnataka, where the first followers of meditative Spirituality joined as His Sadhak family. On “Ankai Mountain” ‘Shree Jape Baba’ met Gurudev and offered to donate his farm land to Gurudev’s mission. After the formalities were done and doubts of the local people satisfied, Gurudev built a simple hut for his Sadhak and himself with the sole purpose to bringing down and expanding the Universal Divinity through awakening the Atma in Self realization in the benefit of mankind. Very soon from a group of (7) Sadhak, people began to flock the humble Kuttir listen to the soothing words of Gurudev Janglidas who only professed that all possible solutions to any issue one may ask lies in the strength of Self Aatma or own Soul, and Meditation is the path to harness this divine Light.
Gurudev or Babaji lead by example. He has always been the “teacher by example and demonstration for the seeker. There was no reason to explain this Inward Journey as it is entirely experiential. Each Sadhak with his own intensity of meditation, awakens the Inner Eye, the pure love energy of his own Soul / Atma and as reward, has his own unique experiences as confirmation. His this special way, Babaji has attracted millions and is fondly called “SILENT YOGI” over the years. Sadhak from the earliest group of followers of Gurudev often talk about the impact of Babaji’s Atma meditation which has transformed their lives. The power of the Atma has its impact on Body, Mind and Life. This divine energy which Gurudev harnesses with such ease, has kept Babaji full of enthusiasm, empathy, Wisdom and love. His Atma realization has proved Him as Ageless Sadguru Atma Malik Mauli.
Gurudev meets and listens to everyone with a query and with His wisdom has given directions towards self sufficiency and peace in body and mind. This has not changed over the years. Gurudev always emphasised that attachment to materialistic things become a hindrance to spiritual depth. HE demonstrated the Power of Fasting. Fasting not only loosens the grip of session, greed, fear, anger and self-doubt; it is a path that will take the Sadhak with a purified body and so a stable mind to be able to dwell within the Powers of the ultimate reality, truth, Power and light of OWN SOUL.
Many penances need to be done to come in contact and develop faith for the Real True Self which is all Pure, All Love and all unchanging in its divinity. Gurudev gave each person who came to Him the same equal status and urges all on the same divine path to follow. Very well aware that for older people, adults, it is difficult and much effort needs to be put in faithfully to believe in the powers of the Soul which lies deep within the Being. Gurudev Janglidas Maharaj choose to start nurturing children under His guidance to develop this deep connection with Atma and faith in Themselves to be the all pure, all Godly Soul that resides in each person’s heart. From 1987 onwards, Students from all walks of life came to study regular courses that will equip them with regular education, and in addition, under His guidance, develop that special connection with their SOUL, the AATMA. Gurudev recognised the need for each person to believe in himself and the power of meditation.
In earlier days, the salutation of the mission was OM GURUDEV, meaning, to recognise the Master of (OM) Universal consciousness with devotion to “The Master and Guru”, here represented by Shri Jangli Maharaj. Gurudev changed the Salutation to “Atma Malik” which simply means, Soul is the Master, the Soul’ which lies within each person; so empowering each Sadhak to attain Self Realisation. In 2005, Gurudev up-scaled the faith of all devotee in the Power of the Atma, which resided within each Being Through Meditation and Anushthana, faith in finding Divine Light as From a small school with 23 students in 1995, under the name of “Vishwatmak Jangli Maharaj Ashram Trust”, today, in 2019, ATMA MALIK Dhyanpeeth (Trust) looks after 15,000 students. These locations and Ashram under the Trust. These include State Board School, Residential International curriculum school (12,500 students), NCERT board schools, Engineering colleges (with 400 students). The Educational Institutes are in all the locations where an Ashram has been built and Sadhak stay for Educational Institutes are governed by “Atma Malik Educational and Sports Complex” under the Trust. There are 6 schools and 1 colleges in Kokamthan alone, with 2 colleges and 14 schools in other their meditative penances and practices. Gradually, 9 main residential Ashrams under Atma Malik Dhyanpeeth have developed in Kokamthan (Nagar Dist), Yeola and Purangaon (Nasik dist.). Nasik, Wada and Shahapur (Thane Dist.), Nerla (Sangli Dist), of Maharashtra. Karadga (Belgaon Dist) Karnataka; Akhtaria (Bhavnagar Dist) Gujrat, where over 7 lakh devotees of ATMA MALIK mission take advantage of regular Satsang (Spiritual and learning meetings), Meditation Camps and regular Functions which brings all devotees together to Meditate together which is a very beautiful experience.
