Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda ji Maharaj

The Founder - Acharya

Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj, was born on 29 January 1896, the auspicious day of Maghi Purnima (Bengali: 16th Magha, 1302), in Bajitpur, a village in Kishoregunj District in undivided India (presently in Bangladesh). His parents were Bishnucharan Bhuiya and Sarada Devi. Both his parents were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. He was affectionately named Jainath by his father at birth, Budha by some relatives and later in his boyhood he was called Binode.

Binode was very popular among the children of his locality because of his helpful nature. Regular exercise, determination to attend goals, ardent philosophical inclinations, simple living made Binode very strong physically, spiritually and mentally. He used to have a strong self-imposed restriction on food, thought, speech, movement and senses. His mind would travel beyond, searching for the enlightened world of God. He was a natural yogi. As he grew up, his love for meditation grew tremendously.

In October 1913 He met Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath’ji Maharaj, spiritual head of 'Nath community' from Gorakhpur and was formally initiated into the world of spirituality.

Later Brahmachari Binode named as Swami Pranavananda launched a mission to carry out social services and spread his spiritual ideas. The mission took a formal shape as Bharat Sevashram Sangha on the Maghi Purnima day in the year 1917. Activities of the sangha includes disaster relief, education, providing healthcare facilities, reforms of Holy places, vocational training and upliftment of the tribals.

The great Acharya propagated practical spirituality in preference to theoretical philosophy.  The literature on his teaching is limited however the essential truths have been codified as the "Sangha Geeta". This book offers adequate guidance to his followers in achieving self-realization. He emphasized in the ideals of sacrifice, self-discipline, truth, and continence. He urged his followers to shun all idleness, procrastination, slumbering habits and lust.

He worked tirelessly till the last day of his life (8 February 1941) — awakening, uniting, and strengthening the people of India spiritually , physically and psychologically.

Swami’ji is considered as one of the greatest spiritual leaders of modern India.He is still revered very much for his message of universal love, compassion for all humanity and social reform without giving up the nationalist zeal, the love for mother land.

The meaning of "Bharat Sevashram Sangha":

In 1923, Yugacharya Swami Pranavanandaji himself explained the meaning of the "Bharat Sevashram Sangha", the reputation of which has now spread all over the world for its humanitarian and spiritual services.

Bharat indicates that the Sangha's primary object is the emancipation of the people on the eternal lofty ideals of India or Bharat.

Seva imports the idea of serving people physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually. Not helping as a superior, but rather serving as a humble servant.

Ashram suggests that the system is based and disciplined on the ideals and practice of renunciation, self-control, truth, continence, and honest labor.

Sangha means organization; Sangha through its ideals and practice will infuse an organizational spirit through the disintegrated masses.

•    Build a strong self-disciplined organization of Sannyasis (Monks).
•    Moral & spiritual regeneration of society.
•    Service of humanity, irrespective of caste, creed, or national origin.
•    Spread of moral, spiritual, and physical education.
•    Education through moral and spiritual publications.
•    Disaster Relief.
•    Tribal welfare and uplifting of the backward sections of society.
•    Providing healthcare facility.
•    Reforms of Holy places.

“A man proves his humanity through realization of his great ideals and his high objectives”

Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda ji Maharaj