From the Article Series: When a Sacred Artefact becomes lifelike – A Spiritual Research Study on the Progressive Transformation of a Consecrated Surya Dev Artefact
Across cultures and throughout history, there have been reports of sacred images and religious artefacts undergoing subtle transformations. Devotees have described religious icons that seem to smile, sacred statues/idols that appear unusually radiant, or sacred images that evoke a profound sense of Serenity (Shanti), Bliss (Anand) or Divine consciousness (Chaitanya). Such accounts have generally remained within the realm of personal spiritual experience because they are difficult to observe systematically and even more difficult to study objectively.
This article presents an unusual case that has been documented over several years through a combination of careful observation and spiritual research (which includes subtle observation, spiritual experiences and aura and energy scanner measurements).
At the centre of this study is a consecrated sculpted metal artefact depicting the face of Surya Dev (the Sun Deity). Over time, this artefact appeared to undergo progressive changes that were observed by Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Jayant Balaji Athavale (a Paratpar Guru and Saint of the highest order). It was also independently observed and experienced by other Saints and seekers engaged in spiritual practice. Among the reported changes to the artefact of Surya Dev were an increasingly joyful expression, a greater sense of Serenity and Bliss, and an impression that the artefact itself had become lifelike.
These observations prompted an important question.
Could these positive spiritual changes also be detected and measured using aura and energy instruments?
To investigate this possibility, a series of photographs of the same Surya Dev artefact, taken over more than three years, were analysed using the Universal Aura Scanner (UAS). The findings indicated a progressive increase in positive readings, aligning closely with empirical observations.
This article presents the background of the artefact, the observations recorded over time, the instrumental findings, and the spiritual interpretation of these remarkable changes.
The subject of this study is a consecrated sculpted metal artefact depicting the face of Surya Dev, gifted by Yog (Spiritual Path) Guru and Authority, His Holiness (H.H.) Dadaji Vaishampayan, to Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale. H.H. Dadaji Vaishampayan was a revered Saint well known for performing austere penance and Vedic rituals.
For many years, H.H. Dadaji Vaishampayan carried out spiritual practices, rituals (Anushthans), chanting and penance with the intention of providing spiritual protection for Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale,
For this, He also advised various spiritual remedies (upay) from time to time to protect seekers and the Spiritual Research Centre and Ashram.
Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale has immense spiritual emotion (bhav) towards H.H. Dadaji Vaishampayan. Every day Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale prays with devotion to the Surya Dev artefact for spiritual protection and spiritual healing.
Due to His high level of devotion (bhakti), the Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya) within the Surya Dev artefact is becoming increasingly active spiritually.
Through this Surya Dev artefact, Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale receives H.H. Dadaji Vaishampayan’s blessings for his great mission of propagating Spirituality throughout the world. From this Surya Dev artefact, the vibrations of spiritual energy (Shakti), spiritual emotion (bhav), Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya), Bliss (Anand), and Serenity (Shanti) can be perceived. Along with this, other forms of spiritually positive vibrations such as manifest (Sagun), unmanifest (Nirgun) and Saviour (tarak), Destroyer (Marak) Principles are emitted from the artefact, and they change according to the need of the hour for the Divine mission of Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale.
These immensely positive vibrations emitted by the gifted artefact of Surya Dev highlight H.H. Dadaji’s immense spiritual authority. H.H. Dadaji renounced his physical body (Dehatyag) on May 20, 2019, in Nashik. Though he is no longer present in physical form, his unmanifest form and Divine subtle presence work continuously to protect Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale, His Ashrams, and all seekers.
We seekers collectively express our utmost gratitude at the Holy Feet of H.H. Dadaji Vaishampayan for all the blessings He has showered upon us.
As part of these spiritual remedies, He presented two consecrated Surya Dev artefacts to the Ashram in Ramnathi, Goa.
Although both artefacts originated from the same spiritual source and were consecrated by the same Saint, they were placed for many years in two different environments within the Ashram. This distinction is an important aspect of the present study.
To understand why this study is significant, it is helpful to appreciate the spiritual context in which these observations occurred.
Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale is the founder of Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay and the inspiration and guide to the Spiritual Science Research Foundation. For several decades, His mission has focused on reviving Spiritual Science through systematic research, guiding seekers in spiritual practice to God-realisation, and documenting subtle phenomena that have traditionally remained beyond the scope of conventional scientific investigation. Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s mission is pivotal in bringing about a positive change in consciousness in humanity and also to herald in a new spiritually enlightened era on Earth.
Unlike many forms of spiritual research that rely solely on scriptural references, this work combines multiple approaches, including direct spiritual experiences, observations by spiritually evolved seekers, subtle analysis, and objective measurements using biofield, aura and energy-sensing instruments.
Due to the Divine nature of Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s expansive Mission, higher-level Deities (from the spiritual realm) also actively assist in His mission. As seekers progress spiritually and dedicate themselves to selfless service (satseva), the Divine Principles of different Deities become active as needed. This increased activation in the Divine Principles from different Deities positively influences not only seekers but also the surrounding environment and sacred objects associated with the mission.
With this backdrop, the Surya Dev artefact placed in Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale’s temple is regarded not merely as a devotional object but as a sacred medium through which the Surya (Sun) Principle has become progressively more active.
Around 2021, Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale started noticing subtle yet distinct changes in its appearance.
Initially, the most noticeable change was that the face of the Surya Dev artefact, which had previously appeared serious, began to appear increasingly pleasant and serene. Thereafter, Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale documented a progressive increase in the artefact’s pleasantness and joyful expression. In the years that followed, additional observations were recorded, including an increasing sense of unconditional love (Priti), Bliss (Anand) and Serenity (Shanti). On other occasions, the eyes appeared to blink subtly, lips seemed to move slightly, and the facial expression appeared to change depending on whether the observer was simply looking at the artefact, praying before it, or chanting the Name of Surya Dev. Several observers independently remarked that the artefact no longer felt like an inanimate object but conveyed the impression of a living presence.
Recognising the unusual nature of these observations, Sachchidananda Parabrahman Dr Athavale began documenting the changes systematically. Photographs of the artefact were taken periodically so that any progressive transformation could be studied objectively over time rather than relying solely on memory or personal impressions.
Many people throughout history have reported feeling that a sacred image appeared to smile or radiate a living presence. Such experiences are deeply meaningful to those who witness them, but they are often regarded as entirely subjective.
The present study sought to explore a different question.
If the observed changes reflected an actual increase in subtle positive vibrations associated with the artefact, could these changes be detected using an independent aura and energy-measuring instrument?
This question marked the transition from personal spiritual experience to systematic spiritual research.
The research team designed a study using the Universal Aura Scanner (UAS) to examine whether photographs of the same Surya Dev artefact, taken over several years, would reveal corresponding changes in measurable subtle energy.
The results of that investigation, presented in the subsequent parts of this article series, provide an intriguing correlation between spiritual observations and objective instrumental measurements.
