Page 21 - Adhiyoga Purana

Adhiyogi’s Childhood
From the very beginning, the child born as Neelkanth—later known as Adhiyogi—showed signs of an unusually attuned spirit. While other children played without care, he was drawn toward the sacred rhythms of prayer and devotion. He gravitated to bhajans, Arati Prayers, devotional music, and mythological storytelling. The tales of gods and sages, of virtue and inner strength, captivated his imagination.
By divine design, the environment around him was richly saturated with spirituality. Vinayak Kulkarni, his father, had been carrying out Thursday Arati Prayers in Pune city since 1944, under the divine instruction of his Guru, Shree Krishnanatha Maharaj. These gatherings, held every Thursday without fail, were already well established when Adhiyogi was born in 1956— and so, from the day of his birth, the vibrations of Vedic sound and spiritual energy nourished him weekly.
The family lived in the bungalow of Limaye, an incense business owner and disciple of Vinayak, whose wealth and devotion supported frequent spiritual programs in the home. These events became a tapestry of rituals, philosophy, and divine dialogue, unfolding just outside Adhiyogi’s room. He watched, listened, and absorbed. This atmosphere seeded his consciousness with depth and clarity uncommon for a child.
At home, the influence of Sumati, his mother, was equally transformative. A devoted scholar of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Harivijaya, and the stories of Sai Baba, she filled her son’s ears with divine tales and spiritual wisdom. She was his first teacher, gently planting the seeds of curiosity, reverence, and reflection that would later define his entire life’s journey.
The presence of Vinayak, a quiet mystic and dedicated practitioner, cast a powerful shadow over the young boy’s heart. His character, his discipline, and his deep connection to higher knowledge left a lasting imprint on Adhiyogi. Because of this sacred upbringing—rooted in tradition, inspired by saints, and wrapped in love—Adhiyogi never strayed from Yoga. It became the silent thread running through every corner of his childhood.
OM Shantiḥ
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