Premanand Ji Maharaj

Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj popularly known as Premanand Ji 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.

His satsangs and private conversations are known for their simplicity and spiritual subtlety. Premanand Maharaj belongs to the Radhavallabh Sect.

Family
Premanand Govind Sharan Maharaj was born in 1972 in the Akhri village, Sarsaul Block, near Kanpur. 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.

Spiritual learnings and moved to Vrindavan
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.

Guru
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.

The Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Trust Vrindavan
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.

Spiritual Teachings & Philosophy
Shri Premanand Ji Maharaj's spiritual journey transcended titles and hierarchies, becoming a testament to pure, unwavering devotion. Per Premanand philosophy, Spirituality is the essence of life, existence, and truth! Learn the spiritual nuances and get situated in your soul. And Guru has great importance in everyone's life. The usefulness and importance of the Guru have been described in all our scriptures. God cannot be attained without having a Guru. Chant God's holy name continuously. No breath should go to waste. Cultivate a sense of oneness with God. Conduct oneself according to the commandments of God, the Guru, and the scriptures. Maintain an unshakeable faith in the divine's grace. 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.

Controversy
In June 2024, a video of Premanand Govind Sharan Maharaj went viral on social media. In a story, Bhagwatacharya Pradeep Mishra of Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh stated that Radha Rani's birthplace is not Barsana. Radha Ji hails from Rawal village, and her marriage took place in Chhata. Radha's father used to hold court in Barsana and she would only visit there once a year. Premanand Ji Maharaj has taken Pradeep Mishra to task for these questionable statements. He asserts that Pradeep Mishra lacks knowledge of 'Braj Upasana' and is clearly missing the essence of 'Radha Tattva'. He suggested Pradeep Mishra should join Rasikjan's company and study Shrimad Bhagwat properly; only then will he be able to understand 'Radha Tattva'. In the viral video, Premanand Ji Maharaj uses harsh language against Pradeep Mishra and says he should seek forgiveness from Radha Rani. The people of Braj have also expressed anger towards Pradeep Mishra and asked him to come to Barsana within seven days and apologize at Kishori Ji's temple. In their own words, they declared that Ladli Ju is our honor, pride, and everything. We live with her and will not tolerate anyone speaking ill about her (Shriji). Pradeep Mishra made a public apology for his statements and expressed his great respect and obeisances toward Pramanand Maharaj. He promised to visit Barsana as soon as his katha schedule permitted to seek forgiveness from Radha Rani and the Brajvasi people. He also accused of insulting goddess Maa durga and Shiv in multiple videos