Premanand Maharaj

Hindu saint

Not to be confused with Premanand Swami.

Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj

Premanand Ji Maharaj in 2023

Personal
Born|

Aniruddha Kumar Pandey

1972

Sarsaul, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Religion| Hinduism
Nationality| Indian
Sect| Radha Vallabha Sampradaya
Religious career
Teacher| Shri Hit Gaurangi Sharanji Maharaj[1][2]
Website| Swami Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj

Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj[3] popularly known as Premanand Maharaj is an Indian Hindu spiritual guru, saint, and philosopher.[4] He is a worshipper of Radha Krishna.[5] His Ashram is Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj in Vrindavan. He has gained an iconic social media presence due to his aversion to publicity and refusal to treat his celebrity devotees different from others.[6][7]

His satsangs and private conversations are known for their simplicity and spiritual subtlety. Premanand Maharaj belongs to the Radhavallabh Sect.[8][9][10][11]

## Early years[edit]

### Family[edit]

Premanand Govind Sharan Maharaj was born in 1972 in the Akhri village, Sarsaul Block, near Kanpur.[12][13] Premananda Maharaj's earlier name was Aniruddh Kumar Pandey. His mother's name was Smt. Rama Devi and father's name was Shambhu Pandey. At the age of 13 he left his ancestral home and took sannyasa.[14]

## Spiritual learnings and moved to Vrindavan[edit]

That marked the beginning of the spiritual journey. Anandswaroop Brahmachari was the name given to Maharaj ji after he was initiated into Naishtik celibacy and thereafter accepted Sannyasa. On accepting the Mahavakya, he was named Swami Anandashram. Maharaj Ji never accepted the hierarchical life of the ashram, thus he lived most of his life as a spiritual seeker on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. Through the blessing of Shri Shyama-shyam, he was drawn to the splendor of Vrindavan one day while meditating beneath a massive peepal tree in Banaras. Then, a saint requested him to watch Raas Leela the very next day. That saint persisted despite Maharaj ji's repeated refusals, and eventually Maharaj ji accepted it as God's will and left.[15][16]

## Guru[edit]

Shri Hit Mohit Maral Goswami ji initiated Maharaj Ji into the Radhavallabhi sect through the "Sharanagati Mantra." A few days later, at Pujya Shri Goswami Ji's insistence, Maharaj Ji met his current Sadgurudev, Pujya Shri Hit Gaurangi Sharanji Maharaj, also called Bade Guruji, one of the most revered and well-known Saints of Sahachari Bhava. Pujya Shri Hit Gaurangi Sharanji Maharaj gave him the "Niz Mantra," which is the initiation of "Sahachari Bhava" and "Nitya Vihar Rasa," i.e. Thus, Pujya Maharaj ji has entered the Rasik Saints.[17]

## The Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Trust Vrindavan[edit]

Sri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram

The Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Trust Vrindavan is a non-profit organization founded in 2016. The organization works for the betterment and upliftment of society and its people. The organization is committed to promoting the welfare of individuals, society, and the nation by adhering to the principles of the Indian spiritual system. Numerous admirable initiatives pertaining to social welfare, health, the inner environment, and spirituality are part of Radha Keli Kunj's mission. In order to help hundreds of saints in Vrindavan Dham continue their spiritual path, the trust offers them lodging and food both inside and outside the ashram. The trust not only supplies lodging for these saints but also for their food, clothing, medical care, and many other necessities.[18][19]

## See also[edit]

* Radha Vallabha Sampradaya

* Dhirendra Krishna Shastri

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Premanand Maharaj: जीवन में गुरु अत्यंत आवश्यक है: श्री हित प्रेमानंद गोविन्द शरण जी महाराज". Republic Bharat (in US). 2 February 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
2. ^ "समस्त शास्त्रों में गुरु की उपयोगिता तथा महत्ता : प्रेमानंद गोविन्द शरण महाराज | mathura-vrindavan-premanand-maharaj-guru". Patrika News (in Hindi). 2 February 2024.
3. ^ "प्रेमानंद महाराज के गुरु कौन हैं? जिन्होंने सिखाया प्रेम मार्ग पर चलना". Aajtak.in (in Hindi). 6 February 2024.
4. ^ "Growing inclination towards more inclusive and personal understanding of spirituality: Shri Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj". The Times of India. 2024-02-01. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
5. ^ Live, A. B. P. (2023-05-24). "प्रेमानंद जी महाराज वृंदावन का जीवन परिचय जान आप रह जाएंगे हैरान, यहां पढ़ें इनकी जीवनी". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-04-20.
6. ^ मिश्रा, प्रेम शंकर (2023-12-13). "Premanand Ji Maharaj Story: कौन हैं ये स्वामी, जिनके मुरीद है विराट से लेकर मोहन भागवत तक". Navbharat Gold (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-04-20.
7. ^ "वृन्दावन वाले प्रेमानंद महाराज किस संप्रदाय से ताल्लुक रखते हैं?". News18 हिंदी (in Hindi). 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2024-04-15. "प्रेमानंद महाराज भी राधावल्लभ संप्रदाय से आते हैं।"
8. ^ "Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj Songs". Wynk Music. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
9. ^ "Growing inclination towards more inclusive and personal understanding of spirituality: Shri Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj". The Times of India. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
10. ^ Digital Desk, Republic Bharat (2024-03-30). "प्रेमानंद महाराज को सुनने वालों की तादात बढ़ी, यूट्यूब पर एकान्तिक वार्तालाप ने पूरे किए 500 एपिसोड". Republic Bharat (in Hindi) (published March 30, 2024). Retrieved 2024-04-08.
11. ^ Raj, Ritik (2024-04-02). "Spiritual Subtleness: Premanand ji Maharaj". DNA India. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
12. ^ Live, A. B. P. "प्रेमानंद जी महाराज का क्या है असली नाम, कैसे बनें संन्यासी, जानिए वृंदावन वाले प्रेमानंद महारा". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-04-20.
13. ^ Desk, FPJ Web (12 February 2024). "The Spiritual Journey Of Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
14. ^ Desk, Lokmat News (February 6, 2024). "आध्यात्मिक साधकों के पथप्रदर्शक बने हुए हैं नैष्ठिक ब्रह्मचारी प्रेमानंद जी महाराज". www.lokmatnews.in (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-04-08.
15. ^ "Premanand Maharaj: A Spiritual Guide from Vrindavan". Bru Times News.
16. ^ "Premanand Ji Maharaj's divine journey to Vrindavan". Newsx.
17. ^ "The Spiritual Journey Of Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
18. ^ Desk, I. B. T. (18 May 2024). "Radha Keli Kunj Vrindavan: The foremost spiritual awakening organization". Ibtimes.
19. ^ "अंदर से ऐसा दिखता है प्रेमानंद महाराज का आश्रम 'राधा केली कुंज', देखें PHOTOS". Aajtak.in (in Hindi). 20 February 2024.