Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, January 10, 2025, Kolkata :
Brahmachari Vinod, later known as Yugacharya Shrimat Swami Pranabanandaji Maharaj, was not only a freedom fighter but also a spiritual luminary, a nation builder, and a reformer. Born on January 29, 1896, in the village of Bajitpur in Madaripur district to Vishnucharan Bhuiyan and Sarada Devi, his early life was marked by a profound sense of justice and spirituality.As a young man, Vinod joined the revolutionary Madaripur Samiti, dedicating himself to India’s freedom movement. Arrested in 1914 during the Faridpur conspiracy case, he endured imprisonment but emerged with an unbroken resolve. After his release, he actively sheltered and trained revolutionaries, equipping them with weapons and providing essential support, all while harboring a deep love for his motherland.
In 1913, at the age of 17, Vinod embraced spirituality, taking initiation from Mahayogi Baba Gambhirnathji of Gorakhpur. By 1916, he had achieved spiritual perfection. His transformation from a revolutionary to a spiritual guide culminated in 1924 during the Ardhakumbha Mela in Prayag, where Swami Govindanand Giri formally initiated him into sannyas, renaming him Swami Pranabananda.
Vinod’s father, Vishnucharan Bhuiyan, who faced false accusations while protecting villagers from oppressive landlords, sought divine refuge in their household deity Neelrudra. This sense of justice and resilience undoubtedly influenced young Vinod’s revolutionary and spiritual pursuits.
Swami Pranabanandaji Maharaj’s life is a testament to the seamless blend of activism and spirituality, where a burning passion for freedom met a profound dedication to inner enlightenment.Vinod’s transformative spiritual journey began in 1913 when he took initiation from Mahayogi Baba Gambhirnathji of Gorakhpur. Attaining spiritual perfection by 1916, he embraced sannyas in 1924 during the Ardhakumbha Mela in Prayag under Swami Govindanand Giri, becoming Swami Pranabananda. As the founder of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Sri Sri Pranav Math, Swamiji dedicated his life to blending ancient Hindu spirituality with modern societal needs.
Swami Pranabanandaji Maharaj is remembered as one of the greatest spiritual leaders of modern India. He sought to usher Hindu society into the modern age while preserving its essential values. His legacy endures in his teachings of universal love, compassion, and social reform, all infused with an unwavering zeal for the motherland. Swamiji’s contributions as a yogi, nation builder, and freedom fighter continue to inspire reverence and admiration across generations.