A disciple’s place is to sit at the feet of the Master. This is the simple and profound meaning of Up-Asana, to take a seat below, so that the disciple may look up and the words and lessons of the Master may flow down naturally upon him. Upasana must be done not only by simply sitting there, but also in thought, word and action through the disciple’s life. Upasana then becomes service in the mission of the Master. Shri Ashok Goyal has been in such upasana in the service of our Master Shreeguru Dr. Balaji Tambe.
Ashokji has been closely associated with the Santulan Family since 1987. He has been an integral part of setting up the Atmasantulana Village too. His contributions have spanned the entire spectrum of Shreeguruji’s varied activities. He has accompanied the Master on travels countless times, and always ensured that the Master’s journey was comfortable. Often, he made arrangements for His Master’s entire family and scores of people travelling along. He arranged many events for decades, including large ones like the launch of the Ayurvediya Garbhasanskar book at the hands of Shree Morari Bapu in Mumbai, which more than 5000 people attended. He would diligently film and document lectures and concerts, at his own cost, of which we are all beneficiaries today. He built his home in Atmasantulana Village and treated the entire Santulan family as his own.
Shri Ashok Goyal constantly promoted Shreeguruji’s activities to thousands of people and several forums singlehandedly. He interfaced with the government and bureaucracy on behalf of Shreeguruji’s work on many occasions. His involvement in every festival and celebration at Atmasantulana Village; the upbringing of his children, all of them disciples of Shreeguruji; his open hearted availability to the community of devotees, offering advice out of his experience; always speaking in favour of the higher principles of Shreeguruji; concern for the welfare of the residents at Atmasantulana; ever-readiness for Shreeguruji; and many other silent contributions, are impossible to measure. He is an irreplaceable pillar for Shreeguruji’s work and a huge contributor to our family. In spite of his physical condition over the last decade his service and enthusiasm were never diminished. He has been a leader among devotees.
We will remember Shri Ashok Goyal as a fatherly and brotherly figure who lived the ‘all-is-well’ attitude and an inspiration among the community. We know, in our hearts, he has joinned Shreeguruji in Aum and only that knowledge can console us in the deep loss that the Atmasantulana community, here and abroad, is facing at his passing away. We take comfort in the certainty that we shall be with him again, in such time and place as deemed suitable by Shreeguruji, on his mission.
And we pray that Shreeguruji’s blessings should be showered upon him forever.
Aum Shanti Shanti Shantih.
The Tambe and Santulan Families.
No doubt it’s a great loss ,not only to his own family, santulan family& friends but to the soooooo many other people whom he helped ,not only monitorily but also physically, mentally, emotionally & whatever is required best for them ,he helped them. We salute such soul 🙏God also need such souls so took him away from us.