Shrii Shrii Anand Muurti who fasted on a liquid diet for 5-1/2 years

Shrii Shrii Anand Muurti

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Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar alias Shrii Shrii Anand Muurti taught the world how to fly against the waves of problems.

From his early childhood in Bihar, India, where he was born in 1921, P.R. Sarkar has been attracting others by his deep love for humanity and guiding them along the path of self-realization. Adjusting the ancient science of Tantra Yoga to meet the needs of this age, he developed a scientific and rational philosophy and a system of practical disciplines for physical, mental and spiritual development. Recognizing him as a spiritually realized Master, his followers called him "Shrii Shrii Anandamurti" (which means "He who attracts others as the embodiment of bliss") or simply "Baba" (father).

Those who followed his teachings found their lives transformed as they overcame the weakness and negative tendencies of the mind and experienced a deep peace and bliss within. Inspired by his selfless example, they turned their energies to serving the society and elevating the oppressed.

In 1955, while still leading a normal family life as a railway official, P.R. Sarkar formed the organization Ananda Marga ("The Path of Bliss"), and began training missionaries to spread his teachings of "self-realization and service to humanity" all over India and later throughout the world. Reflecting the broadness of his universal vision, Ananda Marga has become a multi-faceted organization with different branches dedicated to the upliftment of humanity through education, relief, welfare, the arts, ecology, intellectual renaissance, women's emancipation, and humanistic economy.

In the field of ecology and environmental awareness, Sarkar propounded the philosophy of Neo-Humanism, extending the spirit of humanism to include love for animals, plants and the inanimate. He started a global plant exchange program to save and propagate thousands of plants species around the world. In conjunction with this he also started sanctuaries for animals in the various locations around the world.

In the realm of philology and linguistics, P.R. Sarkar wrote volumes on the Bengali and Sanskrit languages which still require years of deep scholarly study to be understood. These volumes trace the evolution of words, phrases and cultural traditions that comprise today's tapestry of Indian languages as well as new and important insights to Indo-European and other languages of the world.

In the field of science, Sarkar introduced the theory of Microvita in 1986 which subsequently has interested scientists around the world. In a series of discourses Sarkar has struck at the heart of conventional physics and biology, as he points out that the basic buildings blocks of life are microvita -- emanations of pure consciousness. The microvita theory provides a link between the worlds of perception and conception and implies that the distinct disciplines of physics, biology, and mathematics will merge into one science of understanding the real nature of the universe.
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In the field of music, literature and art, Sarkar urged artists to do art for service and blessedness and not merely "Art for art's sake". He wrote guidelines also for accomplishing this goal. Sarkar not only wrote long philosophical treatises, he has enriched us as well with children's stories, fiction, comedy and drama. His most dramatic contribution is the 5018 songs known as Prabhat Samgiit (Songs of the New Dawn) which he started giving in 1982 until his departure in October 1990. These beautiful songs express the universality of the human spiritual heart. Most of the songs were written in Sarkar's mother tongue, Bengali. Bengali scholars have given the highest praise to these songs, in terms of their poetic and symbolic expression

For the collective welfare of the entire society he propounded the theory of PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory), which stands for the maximum utilization and rational distribution of all the resources and potentialities of the world -- physical, mental, and spiritual -- and the creation of a new, humanistic social order of harmony and justice for all. His uncompromising moral stand against corruption and exploitation and his demand for social justice brought about the opposition of certain vested interests and the Communist Party of India, and resulted in the persecution of Ananda Marga and his own arrest in 1971 under false charges. During his seven year incarceration, he survived a poisoning attempt by jail officials and fasted on a liquid diet for 5-1/2 years in protest. Ultimately acquitted of all charges by the High Court, he was released in 1978 and from then until his departure in 1990 he guided the rapid expansion of his mission all over the world.


Most importantly, he taught his disciples the time tested science of Tantra and Yoga, and adapted these practices to the needs of modern day humans. These spiritual practices along with the vast and deep spiritual philosophy provide the inspiration and driving energy for Ananda Marga.

The beginnings of the Ananda Marga mission takes us back to the state of Bihar, India in 1955. In the town of Jamalpur, Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar organized the first chapter of Ananda Marga, (the Path of Bliss). His philosophy strongly rejected dogmas, superstitions, and conventions such as the caste system. Sarkar taught spiritual practices for self-development and urged the aspirants to take a strong stand against exploitation and corruption. The motto "Self-realization and service to humanity" became the guiding ideal for thousands of people who were attracted to the universal vision of Ananda Marga.

After a few years, the movement had spread through the states of Bihar and West Bengal. In 1962, P.R. Sarkar initiated the first monk of Ananda Marga. The creation of the order of nuns followed in 1966. Most members of Ananda Marga are lay people, including students, married couples, single adults, etc. All are able to benefit from the Yogic practices we teach as well as contribute to the society through one or another of Ananda Marga's programs. The monks and nuns, who have dedicated their lives for social service, have served as full time workers of the mission and are very instrumental in Ananda Marga's expansion and existence. In 1963, Sarkar expanded the organization with the Education, Relief, and Welfare Section (ERAWS) and opened the first Ananda Marga schools. In the sixities, as Ananda Marga spread all over India, the scope of Ananda Marga's social service grew to include children's homes, medical clinics, feeding programs and disaster relief teams. AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) was started in 1965 and since then has constantly participated in disaster relief during natural and man-made calamities.

AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team) is a non-profit, charitable organization formally established in 1970, and incorporated in the U.S.A. in 1985. AMURT is one of the few non-governmental relief and voluntary organizations of Third World origin. AMURT's objectives are to aid the poor and under-priviledged of the world through disaster relief, redevelopment programs and community service. In pursuit of these goals AMURT has maintained a long-established working relationship with the Red Cross as well as other numerous disaster relief and development organizations in the U.S.A. and abroad. AMURT has also been formally recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization by the United Nations through their Department of Public Information.

By 1970 Ananda Marga had become a global organization with headquarters in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. The seed that was planted in the humble Indian village back in 1955 has today grown to be a vibrant global network of men and women whose desire is to serve God by serving humanity, across national, economic or ideological barriers.

Today Ananda Marga is a world wide organization with spiritual and social activity centers in more than 160 countries. It is a Spiritual Renaissance movement having close to one million followers. The mission is running thousands of schools, medical units, children's homes, yoga meditation centers and master units (rural development cooperative communities) in different countries of the world. The most prominent amongst Ananda Marga's development projects is the rural development program in Purulia, West Bengal known as Ananda Nagar (City of Bliss). A comprehensive and integrated approach to solving the area's problems has given hope to the inhabitants of this area, which has been one of the poorest in India. Ecology, culture, education, economic and social development have all been addressed. Following the same approach, while adapting to the local circumstances, hundreds of master units have been started in different parts of India and all over the world. These communities provide an alternative lifestyle to urban congestion, promoting rural development not only in terms of agriculture but also culturally, educationally, and spiritually. Ananda Marga is now a leading global agency for social development and progress, pioneering programs everywhere, with particular emphasis in the third world.

About Ananda Marga
Ananda Marga is a social and spiritual organization founded in India in 1955 by spiritual master and philosopher Prabhat Rainjain Sarkar, known by his spiritual name of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii. The mission of Ananda Marga is to help individuals achieve complete self-realization and to build a social structure in which the physical, mental and spiritual needs of all people can be fulfilled.

The teachings of Ananda Marga deal with a wide variety of topics such as mysticism, cosmology, sociology, history, yoga, health, psychology, philology, economics, farming, music and literature. As a social service mission, Ananda Marga originated in India, but has since expanded into a global organization with thousands of dedicated volunteers working in virtually every country of the world. The activities of Ananda Marga encompass a wide range of projects for the welfare of humanity as well as all other living beings, the environment, and the planet as a whole.

Ananda Marga runs yoga and meditation centers, schools, orphanages, food distribution centers, disaster relief programs, medical centers, community development projects, and other service projects. Emphasis is placed on solving the problems of the local people, whatever they may be, and assisting them in managing all their personal and social resources for the prosperity of all.

The philosophy of Ananda Marga is one of universalism. It is a synthetic outlook, recognizing God as the one limitless supreme consciousness. This universe, having been created by Him, is existing in Him, and as such all created beings are His children, part of the one universal Cosmic family. Thus we are all brothers and sisters, connected in love by the bonds of Cosmic fraternity. This universe of diversity has evolved out of unity (God), and we must continually strive to see that unity in all diversity. Thus the social outlook of Ananda Marga recognizes that the welfare of the individual is inextricably linked with the welfare of the collective, each relying on the other for its existence and dynamism. Everyone has the right to equal opportunity and as such there should be no discrimination on the basis of superficial barriers such as race, nationality and religion.

Ananda Marga advocates a world of justice, security and peace for all. To this end Ananda Marga gives a practical, rational, and systematic way of life for the balanced development of all human potentialities: physical, psychic and spiritual. It is a system that incorporates practices that are beneficial for personal and social upliftment. These range from proper hygiene and diet , to yoga postures, to a scientific technique of meditation based on morality and leading to complete peace and inner fulfillment. It recognizes that a balance is needed between the spiritual and mundane aspects of existence, and that neither one should be neglected at the expense of the other. Hence, the goal of Ananda Marga is "Self-realization and the welfare of humanity."


Also read a special report What is PROUT









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