Akhandanand

Akhandananda Saraswati (अखण्डानन्द सरस्वती called Maharajshri by his followers) (1911–1987) was an exponent of Bhagavata Purana and a scholar of diverse spiritual traditions including Vedanta, Bhakti, and associated Shastras (scriptures).

Early life

He was born on 25 July 1911 in Pushya Nakshatra.(Shravana Amavasya v.s. 1968 per Vikram Calendar) in the village of Maharai in the district of Varanasi. His Saryupareen Brahmin family named him Shantanu Behari, after the god of the same name.

He was aged 10 when his grandfather made him read the original Bhagwat in Sanskrit.

Prior to his sannyasa, from 1934 to 1942, He was a member of the editorial board of Kalyan at the Gita Press and published a number of books and articles. He translated Bhagavata Purana in Hindi for them.

Ascetic life

In his youth, Akhandanand went to Jhusii, to meet Brahmachari Prabhudatta, a saint. There, he met Udiya Baba, and had discussed Vedanta. He was captivated by Udiya Baba's conviction in the principle of non-dual reality. He received initiation for Sanyas (monkhood) from the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeethadhishver, Brahmanand Saraswati in February 1942, following which his name was changed from Shantanu-vihari Dwivedi to Akhandananda Saraswati.

During the 1960s, he was elected President of the Bharat Sadhu Samaj, an Indian organisation of monks. He mentored many monks including past and present Shankaracharyas.

He was an honorary board member of the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, a global organization founded in 1938 to preserve and promote Indian culture.[1]

He authored over 200 books which covered topics including Bhagavata Purana, Bhagavat Geeta, Ramcharitmanas, and Upanishads of the Vedanta.

He established Anand Vrindavan Ashram near Moti Jheel in Vrindavan, a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. He was instrumental in inculating immense cultural and ascetic life in his sanyasi disciples. Prominent Sanyaasi disciples names are- Swami Prabhuddhanand Saraswati ji, Swami Vimalanand Saraswati ji, Swami Mahsehanand Saraswati ji, Swami Govindanand saraswati Ji and Swami Omkaranand saraswati ji. His disciple Swami Omkaranand Saraswati guided Anand Vrindavan Ashram and associated charitable trusts, from 1987 to 2008. All Sanyasi disciple contributed immensely towards the development of Ashram in its present status. At present, Swami Sachchidananda is President ( Mahant) of Anand Vrindavan ashram. His Sanyasi disciple Shri Swami Maheshanand Saraswati has been very socially active and has founded many social organisation for the development of Vrindavan dham. He also heads KALYANAM KAROTI ( an NGO working for Divyaang Children). Ashram runs Snaskrit Vidyalaya for Vidyarthi ( students).

Maharaj Shri, as Swami Akhandanandji Maharaj was also known, also had a disciple Acharya Bhagwatanand Saraswati, who Maharaj Shri called the true saint. A saint who truly understood scriptures and Maharaj Shri's ideals, Acharyaji educated over 2000 individuals while on this planet. He also enabled women empowerment and education for women.

Amongst many vidyarthis ( students) who lived and studied in Ashram life, one noticeable, outstanding and praiseworthy achievement have been one of Mr. Pavitra Kumar Dubey. Pavitra kumar lived in Ashram and studied from here from class 7th to till Graduation. Later on Pavitra Kumar topped the prestigious CA exam and became rank holder. In 2013 proved his merit by qualifying prestigious and coveted Civil Services Exam ( Popularly known as IAS exam) or UPSC exam). He opted for IRS- Indian Revenue Service.[2]

Death

He died on 19 November 1987.

References
  1. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Honorary Board Members List on the Bhavan's website, Office Bearers Page.
  2. "Anand-Vrindavan - Home of Anantshri Swami Akhandanand-ji Saraswati Maharaj". anandvrindavan.org.
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