Sanatan Jyoti - Bharat Sevashram Sangha

ETERNAL LIGHT ♦ SANATAN JYOTI ♦ 2013At that time India was under the British rule. India was passing through a phase ofdisrespect and irreverence. Social disturbance was going on everywhere. Indian’swere losing there self consciousness. Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj said itis impossible for youths who are aimless, idealess, how they can sacrifice there livesfor the country? My firm determination is to build up first the moral character throughpractice of self control. First let them organize, and then they can go for movement.He said I want to bring back the ancient vedic Indian family and social ideals andresponsibilities to the age so that social life again be healthy, disciplined andpeaceful.At the age of 28 he was initiated in sannyasa and came to be known by the nameAcharya Swami Pranavananda. Before that people used to call him Vinoda.Acharyadeva started building a group of young people who renounced there life forthe sake of good of others. This army of salvation after being initiated tomonasticism jumped into the whirlpool of social service. In 1917 on this auspiciousMaghi Purnimatithi, he along with his young followers established the welfareorganization Bharat Sevashram Sangha. He started his work of humanitarianactivities, service to the victims of flood, earthquake, building up of character ofyouths, encouragement and assistance to house-holders to develop discipline andideal lives. Motivated by the grace and power of preceptor they started begging fromdoor to door and collected money, clothing and rice and started providing relief tothe people who were suffering from these disaster. The work of sangha started toprogress very rapidly. For collecting money for the sangha, the acharya formed agroup of singers. A moral atmosphere started to be created in the whole countrythrough kirtana. People used to enjoy heavenly bliss as long as they used to beengaged in kirtana. Devotional sentiments used to play so strongly in them that nonecould resist the temptation of coming to kirtana. Millions of Hindu men and womenstarted appreciating the activities of the sangha. To uplift Hindu families and societyAcharyadeva established Hindu Milan Mandir. Realization of self and service tohumanity were the twin motto of the Acharya and motto of the sangha.In 1913 on the same tithi in the presence of 20, 000 people the Acharyadevaaccepted the offering as the preceptor of the world, the great master of the age.Since that time every year 108 dishes is being offered to him on this Maghi Purnima.Bharat Sevashram Sangha has been devoting significant human and financialresources including relief work during natural disasters, administration of charitablehospitals, mobile medical care, leprosy treatment centers, orphans and studentshomes. Bharat Sevashram Sangha also takes keen interest for welfare of tribalsegments of the society. The Sangha is running 30 charitable dispensaries at thehead office and in different branches covering more than half a million patients. It isrunning 3 hospitals and 55 clinics for the leprosy patients in Singhbhum district inBihar. To restore ancient spiritual atmosphere of the holy places of pilgrimages andto give accommodation as well as all possible help to the pilgrims, Acharyadevaestablished pilgrims welfare centers.22BHARAT SEVASHRAM SANGHA OF NORTH AMERICA, CHICAGO