Shri daddaji Pt. Dev Prabhakar Shastri

Pt. Dev Prabhakar Shastri

Renuka thinks Ashutosh is among the best actors SOUMITRA DAS, TNN Feb 28, 2009, 12.00am IST (Ashutosh Rana More Pics) For all those of you who have missed big screen baddie Ashutosh Rana in action here's news. He's going 'small'. Well, this is not the first time he's done television. Ashutosh has had a successful small screen stint before he moved to films. He's doing a reality show Sarkaar Ki Duniya on a new Hindi entertainment channel. "It's pretty challenging because I am the host and my role in it requires a nice blending of presentation as well as performance. I took it up because unlike other reality shows which have an overdose of celebrities, this show is all about ordinary people and their efforts to become extraordinary," he says. Having been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, he is happy to see the way both the television as well as the film industry have evolved. As the conversation veers towards his professional journey, he gets a little nostalgic and says, "My spiritual guru Shri Dev Prabhakar Shastri has been my role model in all walks of life. I was always interested in theatre but it was he who suggested that I should turn my passion into my profession. So, I joined the National School of Drama and after graduating from there, went to Mumbai on his advice. I consult him on all major decisions." As a person, he is "very spiritual, who is an avid reader of books by Manu Sharma (has written Lord Krishna's autobiography), Virendra Kumar Gupta, Chanakya Sen ("I loved his Mukhyamantri) and Shivaji Savant." Talking about his popular actress wife Renuka Sahane, he says, "Not many know that she is a brilliant writer and filmmaker as well. In fact, Rita, her first film in Marathi, is in the post-production stage. It's a woman-oriented film and that's why she didn't cast me, as she didn't want me to play second fiddle to anyone. She thinks I am one of the three best actors in the world today! I'd love to be directed by her. In fact, she is writing a script for me in Hindi and I am excited about it."

Pt. Dev Prabhakar Shastri

- Daddaji - A Profile -

Pt. Dev Prabhakar Shastri, fondly revered  by his disciples as "Daddaji" was born in village Kunda in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The father of Daddaji Pt.  Girdharlal died when Daddaji was barely 4 years old; therefore his mother Smt. Lalta Bai brought him up. The childhood of Daddaji was full of hardship and turmoil. He had to do Bhikshatan for livelihood during this  period. Daddaji studies in Birla Sanskrit Mahavidyalya, wherein the great scholar of Sanskrit Shri Sabhapatiji Upadhya recognized the potential of Daddaji and took him under his tutelage. He   guided Daddaji to accomplish Degree of Vyakarnacharya from the Institute.  Daddaji also took  Diksha from Great Saint Shri Karpatriji. Later on Daddaji served in Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Mirjapur as Chief of the Institution for 5 years. In 1964 , in a conglomeration of Sanskrit scholars in Mumbai, Daddaji was conferred title of "MANASMARMAGYA"  by revered saint Shri Karpatriji. Daddaji got married to Sushri Shirani (renamed kunti after marriage) and was blessed with 3 son and 3 daughters. Daddaji's  nature is very simple and he is most kindhearted. The nature (Manas) of Daddaji is a mixture  of Maryada puroshottam Ram and Lord Krishna. Daddaji donated Pt. Dev Prabhakar Higher secondary school to Govt. of Mdhya Pradesh costing approx. 50 Lakhs. This is indicator of his generosity and service to the humanity. He does farming for the family depicts  his true assimilation of verses of Gita.  He performs  Yagna and other holy rituals throughout the Nation,  for the well being of the Destitute and poor's. Daddaji gives  discourses on SHRIMAD BHAGAT GITA , and performed Vishnu Mahayana, Maharudra Mahyagnam several times. At Jabalpur sometime ago the creation of 15 million Shivlingam took place, under his guidance. For all such work no funds are  asked for, yet they are successfully accomplished with voluntarily contribution. In Daddaji we find the resemblance of  Sant Tulsidas who became RAMBOLA by taking alms, Daddaji became Manas marmagya the same way. He is accepted by a plethora of disciples approximately  4 lakhs, spread around the globe from all caste and creed and from all social walks of life, right from the poorest Rikshpullar to Millionaires. You must attend any of his function, to  see that how all are treated equally. The shower of Daddaji's  blessings on his disciples,  makes  them achieve  success  in all walks of life and make them a celebrity in their respective fields whether it is Celluloid, Politics or Industry. To understand the reality of his being one must  attend any of his functions, frequently being  organized.  There  you will see, and experience how the devotion is transformed in to Acts (karma). You can see his disciples who come  from various places of India taking any sort of responsibility and doing any sort of work irrespective of their past and present, and social status.  Although Daddaji is deeply rooted to his native place in contrast to other holy man he always thinks and does  things for the  well-being of others.  His life clearly spells the deep rooted cultural heritage and Indian philosophy and hard work for uplifting and shaping of the society and social morals.                              PROFILE CONTRIBUTED BY SHRI SUHANE JI "DADDA SHISHYA MANDAL CHHINDWARA"