Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj
Here’s a summary of who Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj is, based on available information:
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Early Life & Background
He was born on 30 March 1969 in Akhri Village, Sarsaul Block near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
His birth name was Aniruddh Kumar Pandey.
He came from a devout Brahmin family: his grandfather was a sanyasi, his father later took sanyasa, and his mother was pious and engaged in devotional practices.
Even from a young age he was spiritually minded: reciting prayers, reading devotional texts, and questioning the deeper meaning of life.
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Spiritual Journey
At the age of 13, he left home early morning to pursue a spiritual life.
He accepted Nāisthik Brahmacharya (a form of lifelong celibacy/devotional practice) under the name AnandSwaroop Brahmachari, and later took full sanyasa (renunciation) under the name Swami Anandashram.
He spent considerable time meditating on the banks of the Ganges (in Varanasi / Banaras) in austere conditions, embracing renunciation, accepting “akāshvṛtti” (living only by what is given) etc.
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Association with the Radha-Vallabha Sampradāya & Vrindavan
He later arrived in Vrindavan (Mathura district) without acquaintances, and his devotion to the lila (divine pastimes) of Śrī Radha–Krishna (especially in the context of Radha-Vallabha tradition) deepened.
He belongs to the Radha Vallabh Sampradāya (a devotional sect emphasising Radha’s love for Krishna) under the spiritual lineage of his guru Hit Gaurangi Sharan Ji Maharaj.
He is known as Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj (the honorific “Hit” preceding his name).
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Teachings & Practices
His teachings emphasise bhakti (devotion), particularly to Śrī Radha and Krishna, and the practice of nāam jaap (chanting divine names) as a path to spiritual transformation.
His way is less about external ritual alone, more about inner surrender, meditative absorption and the mood of divine love (especially as in the Braj-bhakti tradition).
He holds satsangs (spiritual discourses), ekāntik vartālāp (intimate dialogues), and kirtans (devotional singing) at his ashram in Vrindavan.
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Present Role & Reality
He resides at Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram, located on Parikrama Marg in Vrindavan.
He has a significant following, with digital presence (YouTube, Instagram) for his discourses and devotional programs.
In early 2025, due to complaints from local residents about noise during his nightly pad-yātrā (walking procession) in Vrindavan, he suspended that practice.
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Significance & Why People Follow Him
For many devotees, he represents a living guide in the Bhakti tradition centred on Radha–Krishna, providing practical spiritual methods rather than only theoretical philosophy.
His life story—renouncing at a young age, wandering, meditating, then settling in Vrindavan—resonates as an example of devotion and sacrifice.
In today’s age of media, his accessible satsangs and kirtans make the devotional path reachable for many seekers digitally.
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