The advent of His Holiness, Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda ji Maharaj was in 1896, in the village Bajitpur (Bangladesh) of undivided India. ‘BINOD’, as was called in his childhood days, was often found to be immersed in serious thoughts that culminated into deep meditation, aimed at ‘Self Emancipation’ and ‘Upliftment of Human Beings’, through spiritual development and selfless Services. As a brahmachari, he spent countless hours in meditation, spiritual trances and Seva (service to people).

He was born on 29 January 1896, the auspicious day of Maghi Purnima (16th Magha, 1302), in Bajitpur, a village in Faridpur District in undivided India (presently in Bangladesh). His parents Vishnu Charan Bhuia and Saradadevi were very pious and blessed by Lord Shiva to have a son for the mitigation of human suffering and universal emancipation. He was affectionately named Jaynath by his father at birth and later in his boyhood he was called Binode. Binode showed uncommon philosophical inclinations since childhood and often could be seen in deep contemplation at the village school. He was popular with the children of the locality because of his helpful nature.

The divine boy Vinod, as he was named, possessed by birth the nature of Shiva,– always calm and quiet, having little care for food or play. The meditative nature grew deeper as the boy became older; so much so that he could not properly attend his studies in school. At home also he would often pass whole night, unconscious of outside world, waking up only in the morning when someone knocked at the door.

Thus went on his deep meditation and severe “Brahmacharya Sadhna,” till at last his diet became a handful of cooked rice and a few boiled potatoes and sleep was reduced to an hour only. Later on, he totally left off sleep for six long years at a stretch. At that time he would pass the whole night on the altar of penance in the cremation ground in meditation and spiritual trance.

He became the disciple of Baba Gambhiranathji and eventually attained the Divine Power, which illuminated His life. Those who wounded him were also endued with the same. Gradually, many people influenced by the ideologies of the Acharya, continued to extend and hold aloft His banner “BHARAT SEVASHRAM SANGHA”, (the Ashram founded in 1917) as His disciples, (irrespective of caste, colour or religion). The Sangha is dedicated for the all round well being of people indulged in raising them to the Level of Divine Standard.

In those days of Indian Independence Movement, He was the source of inspiration to the Revolutionaries and personally took up people and goaded them to adopt selfless services in Natural Calamities. He was the torch-bearer to set up Village Level Industries, like Handloom and even introduced Dhekis (Indigenous Rice Hauler- manually operated) at all households. In these ways, He soughed out various ways of Income Generation Programmes to make the people living below the poverty line, such as the tribals to stand on their own feet.

Sangha’s multifarious services provided all-around being well fortified with that blessings in the field of medical & educational services, relief and rehabilitation programmes, rural upliftment, social welfare, Tribal improvement, removal of un-touchability, cultural awakening, spiritual regeneration, youth’s welI-being, physical culture and cult of heroism. Sangha today is on the vastly move with its divine mission spread all over the country and many a places in England, America, Canada, Guyana, Trinidad, Bangladesh, Nepal, Fiji etc. irrespective of caste, creed, colour, race, religion and nationality.

Swami Pranavananda – founder of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS). His life was short, but an intense period of 45 years.

Swami Pranavananda’s dynamism has helped to create a new consciousness within Hinduism which can lead to a restoration of Hindu values and a flourishing of genuine religion in the sub-continent” which according to Smart “is something of vital moment to global civilisation, in which Hindu values must surely play a major role.

Born as in 1896, and known as Binod in his childhood Swami Pranavananda was given a special initiation by Baba Gambhirananda Maharaj of Gorakhpur on the new moon day of October 1913. In 1924, he was given complete monk-hood by Swami Govindananda Giri. In terms of spirituality, “he was a master of nirvikalpa samadhi – the deepest image-less trance in which the mystic attains unity with the formless Brahman”. He was equally aware of the need for Hindu unity and passionately worked towards achieving it.

Between 1919 and 1921, as epidemics, famine and cyclone ravaged Bengal Swami Pranavananda and his disciples carried out selfless humanitarian work.

In his relief work, not only was there no communal discrimination, he even convinced the rich Hindus to provide shelter to the Muslims affected by the disaster. He converted his own home as a refugee centre.

He went to the village of the untouchables, poor cobblers and leather-workers, and escorted them too to relative safety. Everyone is equal: there is no untouchability – such was his conviction.

Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), which he created, combined inner sadhana seamlessly with national resurgence and social emancipation. Already the great scientist Acharya P C Roy had seen and appreciated the organising abilities of Pranavananda during the cyclone and famine relief. As chairman of the Famine Relief Committee, P C Roy marvelled that “hundreds of workers he recruited in no time” and “the management of a competent leader that made the famine relief successful”.

Acharya Dev never compromised on equality. To him “the problem of Hindu independence was brought about by the social divisions within the people” and “greater equality was a precondition of national liberation”. He opposed untouchability and caste divisions both in principle and practice. His Hindu Milan or Unity Centers aimed to annihilate these concepts.

Despite his failing health due to diabetes, he was travelling, Swamiji sleeping in the railway station so that he would not waste time travelling and attend the rally the very next day morning. In his speeches, he emphasised his vision of future independent India as dharma rashtra.

The Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s mission statement adress service and education to nation; moral and spiritual regeneration; irrespective of caste and national origin; spreading moral, spiritual and physical education; teaching of yoga and related health science subjects; education through moral and spiritual publications; tribal welfare and uplifting of the weaker sections of society

Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) – a spiritual brotherhood of Hindu monks and volunteer workers founded in 1917 by Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Maharaj. At age 17, Acharya went to Baba Gambhirnathji, the great yogi of the Natha Sampradaya, and underwent five years of intense sadhana and tapasya at Gorakhpur. In January 1924, at age 28, he was initiated into Hindu monasticism (sanyas), by Swami Govindananandagiri and received the name Acharya Swami Pranavananadaji Maharaj.

In the 1920s, Bengal a famine struck in Bengal and Acharya and his close disciples, along with 500 students, went door to door collecting cash and rice for distribution in the famine-struck areas of the Sunderban region. He setup the development of village defence forces, Rakshadal, and their successful use to suppress communal attacks on Hindus. Acharya’s idea of “Milan Mandir” has become a great centre of religious awakening, social reform and cultural revival. Today, there are more than 500 Mandirs worldwide.

The monks are trained in martial arts. Techniques of Fire Fighting, Disaster Management, Combating Communal Riots are some of the important parts of the training module related to the Physical Fitness and Confidence Building. Disaster relief has been a BSS speciality from its founding initiated by Acharya himself taking part in releif work.

Today the BSS is established in many countries worldwide. These include Fiji, UK, Central and South America (Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, etc.), US ,Canada and Nepal. In Guyana, which has produced more than 15 monks. BSS holds consultative status as a NGO with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. BSS and Acharya Pranavananda Maharaj played a critical role in lighting up our national pride and identity. His teachings are as relevant in the current social political scenario as they were before for all Indians. Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) flourished even in the tough days of the British era, feeding the starving people, educating the ignorant and uplifting the Hindu masses. It continues to do social service while educating masses about our heritage and culture.