Premanand Govind Sharan (born Aniruddh Kumar Pandey, 30 March 1971) popularly known as Premanand Maharaj is an Indian Hindu spiritual guru, saint, and philosopher. He is a worshipper of Radha Krishna. 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 differently from others.

Early life

Shri Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj was born as Aniruddh Kumar Pandey in 1971 in the Akhri village, Sarsaul Block, Uttar Pradesh to Rama Devi and Shambhu Pandey. At the age of 13, he renounced worldly (Sannyasa) life and chose the path of asceticism, following the spiritual tradition of his grandfather. He was later initiated into the Radha Vallabh Sampradaya through the Sharanagati Mantra.

Spiritual learning

Upon entering the path of a sanyasi, Premanand Maharaj was given the name Anandswaroop Brahmachari. After accepting the life as a sanyasi and the Mahavakya, he was named Swami Akhandanand Ashram.

He lived most of his early life as a spiritual seeker on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. While in Varanasi meditating beneath a peepal tree, a saint name Pandit Swami Shri Ram Sharma requested him repeatedly to watch raas leela the next day, which Premanand accepted reluctantly as god's will.

Guru

A Radha Vallabh Sampradaya Goswami initiated Premanand into the Radha Vallabh Sampradaya through the "Sharanagati Mantra." A few days later, at Goswami's insistence, Premanand met his guru, Gaurangi Sharan. Sharan gave him the "Nij Mantra," which is the initiation of "Sahachari Bhava" and "Nitya Vihar Rasa." Thus, Premanand entered the order of rasik saints.

Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Trust

Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram Vrindavan 2024

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. It helped numerous saints in Vrindavan Dham continue their spiritual path, the trust provides them lodging and food both inside and outside the ashram. The organiztion not only supplies lodging for these saints but also for their food, clothing, medical care, and many other necessities.

Teachings and philosophy

From an early phase, Premanand Maharaj started to oppose the hierarchical life of the ashram. He discussed that spirituality is the essence of life, existence, and truth and emphasised that the guru has great importance in everyone's life. Spiritual power maintains harmony in personal and social relationships. A negative character can be very dangerous; don't spoil your character. Preserve the invaluable asset of celibacy (brahmacharya), which greatly assists in leading a healthy, balanced, and spiritually oriented life.

Bibliography

  • 365 दिव्य सूत्र Motivational Quotes Calendar, 2026, Hindi, ISBN 978-81-996765-3-4
  • 365 Divine Sutras Quotation, 2026, English, ISBN 978-81-996765-1-0
  • Brahmachary - Kab, Kyon aur Kaise?, 2026, Punjabi, ISBN 978-81-994321-5-4
  • Celibacy - When, why and how?, 2026, English, p:278, ISBN 978-81-980039-0-4
  • Brahmacharya: Kab, Kyon aur Kaise?, October 2025, Hindi, p:244, ISBN 978-81-980039-1-1
  • Shri Hit Harivansh Charitamrit, 2025, Hindi, ISBN 978-81-980039-9-7
  • SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (VOL 1), 2024, Pages: 162, Publisher: Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Trust, Language: English, ISBN 978-81-971056-5-4

External links