In Vrindavan’s sacred lanes, one name resonates deeply. Premanand Ji Maharaj has touched countless hearts. His story defies medical science and worldly logic. Born Aniruddh Kumar Pandey in rural Uttar Pradesh, this Hindu saint abandoned everything at thirteen. Today, he’s a beacon for spiritual seekers worldwide.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visit him regularly. Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS Chief, seeks his guidance. Yet Premanand Baba remains humble, teachable, devoted. His journey from Sarsaul to Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj inspires millions. Let’s explore the life of this extraordinary Indian spiritual leader.
This biography reveals his childhood, spiritual journey, health battles, and teachings. You’ll discover why his ashram draws international pilgrims. We’ll examine his Radha Krishna devotion and remarkable survival story. His life proves that faith transcends physical limitations.
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Bio
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj |
| Birth Name | Aniruddh Kumar Pandey |
| Date of Birth | March 30, 1969 |
| Place of Birth | Akhri Village, Sarsaul Block, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sect | Radha Vallabh Sampradaya |
| Guru | Shri Hit Gaurangi Sharan Ji Maharaj (Bade Guruji) |
| Ashram | Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, Vrindavan |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | No personal assets; leads a life of renunciation and celibacy |
| Social Media | Instagram, YouTube |
Early Life and Family Background of Premanand Ji Maharaj
Birth and Childhood in Uttar Pradesh
Premanand Ji Maharaj date of birth marks March 30, 1969. He entered the world in Sarsaul, a tiny village. Kanpur district remained predominantly agricultural back then. His Brahmin family valued spirituality above material success. Premanand Ji Maharaj age now stands at 56 years.
The Premanand Ji Maharaj family lived simply but richly. His father, Shambhunath Pandey, eventually chose sannyas himself. Mother Rama Devi embodied devotion and quiet strength. Their days revolved around serving wandering saints. The family’s grandfather had already embraced renunciation earlier.
Premanand Ji Maharaj childhood unfolded amid sacred texts and prayers. His elder brother mastered Sanskrit beautifully and eloquently. Daily Bhagavad Gita recitations filled their modest home. Farming provided their income, though barely sustaining them. Yet spiritual wealth overflowed in that humble household.
The Spiritual Foundation
Every morning began with Ganga water remembrance. Premanand Ji Maharaj’s spiritual childhood seemed predetermined by destiny. While neighbors worried about crops and weather, this family contemplated dharma. Saints received food before the family ate anything. Scripture study happened naturally, not as forced discipline.
Young Aniruddh Kumar Pandey absorbed this atmosphere completely. His grandfather’s sannyas life influenced family culture profoundly. Religious festivals weren’t just celebrations but lived experiences. The boy watched his father serve holy men. These impressions shaped his future path irreversibly.
Gita Press books lined their simple shelves carefully. The Sukh Sagar book particularly captivated young Aniruddh. His elder brother explained complex philosophical concepts patiently. Even as a child, he asked penetrating questions. “Is parental love truly permanent?” he wondered aloud.
When Maharaj Shri Premanand Ji Was in School
A Child Unlike Any Other
Hanuman Chalisa recitation began before formal schooling started. Fifth grade marked a turning point significantly. He discovered Gita Press publications and devoured them hungrily. The Sukh Sagar book opened mystical dimensions for him. Other children played cricket while he contemplated existence.
Bhagavad Gita reading became his favorite daily activity. His brother’s Sanskrit knowledge inspired deep admiration and emulation. Teachers noticed his unusual detachment from worldly achievements. Report cards mattered little to this peculiar student. Spiritual questions consumed his young, restless mind completely.
He challenged education’s purpose with startling directness repeatedly. “Can school teach me life’s ultimate goal?” His parents heard this question multiple times daily. Traditional education seemed hollow compared to spiritual wisdom. By ninth grade, his decision crystallized with certainty. The bhakti marg called louder than any career.
Early Spiritual Awakening
Shri Ram Jai Ram mantra became his constant companion. He chanted “Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari” endlessly. Classmates thought him strange, perhaps even troubled mentally. Teachers couldn’t understand his philosophical depth at that age. Yet Premanand Ji Maharaj felt increasingly drawn toward renunciation.
Naam jap practice intensified throughout his school years. The divine names created inexplicable joy within him. Worldly ambitions held zero appeal for this boy. His parents recognized something extraordinary was unfolding before them. They sensed their son belonged to a different realm.
Ninth grade brought the inevitable conversation with parents. “I must leave home for spiritual life.” His father, understanding renunciation himself, didn’t resist much. Rama Devi wept but ultimately supported her son. The family knew ordinary life couldn’t contain him. His destiny lay beyond their village boundaries entirely.
Premanand Ji Maharaj Wife: The Path of Celibacy
Understanding His Renunciate Choice
Premanand Ji Maharaj never married or even considered it. Diksha initiation established his brahmachari vows permanently. American readers might find celibacy puzzling or extreme. Yet in Hindu tradition, sannyas represents ultimate spiritual commitment. Marriage to Radha Krishna replaced all worldly relationships.
His later sannyas life deepened this renunciation further. Anand Brahmachari became his new identity completely. Physical relationships seemed obstacles to divine naam realization. Many saints choose this path for uninterrupted devotion. His disciples became his only family eventually.
The Radha Vallabh Sampradaya values celibacy highly and consistently. Guru seva requires complete focus without family distractions. Western culture emphasizes romantic relationships as fulfillment’s pinnacle. Hindu spirituality offers an alternative path toward completeness. Premanand Baba demonstrates this ancient wisdom practically.
When Did Premanand Ji Leave Home?
The Bold Decision at Age 13
Leaving home at young age required tremendous courage. Thirteen years old seems impossibly young for such decisions. Yet Premanand Ji Maharaj spiritual journey demanded immediate action. He received diksha from wandering saints near Kanpur. They named him Anand Brahmachari during the ceremony.
His parents blessed him despite their heartbreak then. Shambhunath Pandey understood renunciation’s call intimately and personally. Rama Devi prepared her son for the harsh journey. No material possessions accompanied him on this path. Just two cloth pieces and unwavering faith in God.
Sannyas life began on Ganga’s sacred banks immediately. The Ganga River became his mother, teacher, and friend. Three daily baths in freezing water tested his resolve. Ganga sadhana shaped his early spiritual discipline completely. Hunger and cold became his constant companions then.
Life on the Banks of Ganga
Life on banks of Ganga stripped away all worldly attachments. Varanasi and surrounding areas witnessed his intense sadhana. He accepted whatever food arrived without preferences or complaints. Fasting became routine rather than exceptional for him. Winter’s bite couldn’t shake his meditation under trees.
Meditation sessions lasted hours without physical discomfort awareness. Mantra chanting continued through scorching summers and bitter winters. Other sadhus noticed this young boy’s unusual dedication. His eyes reflected depths unusual for his age. Ganga Maa seemed to protect this devoted child.
Years passed in this austere, disciplined existence daily. Renunciation wasn’t theoretical but practically lived every moment. Possessions numbered fewer than five items total always. Sleep came on hard ground under open skies. Yet inner joy surpassed any material comfort imaginable.
How Premanand Ji Chose the Path of Devotion
Divine Vision of Lord Shiva
A pivotal moment arrived during Varanasi meditation unexpectedly. Lord Shiva appeared in divine vision before him. The experience shattered his understanding of reality completely. Shiva directed him toward Vrindavan specifically and clearly. This vision changed everything about his spiritual approach.
Radha Krishna bhakti hadn’t yet captured his heart fully. Sannyas represented his primary spiritual practice until then. But Vrindavan’s call grew irresistible after Shiva’s appearance. He meditated under trees seeking further guidance patiently. Radha Rani and Lord Krishna manifested their presence tangibly.
The Month That Transformed Everything
A saint advised studying Chaitanya Mahaprabhu leela intensively. One month’s immersion changed his trajectory permanently and completely. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotional ecstasy resonated deeply within him. Raas Leela contemplation awakened unprecedented spiritual emotions. He couldn’t imagine life without this devotional intensity.
Austere sannyas suddenly felt incomplete without bhakti. Radha Krishna devotion offered something his previous practice lacked. Divine naam importance became crystal clear to him. The bhakti marg promised union through love rather than rigorous austerity alone. His heart had found its true home.
A disciple helped arrange train passage to Mathura. Neither knew this would become permanent residence then. Divine orchestration guided every step of this journey. Mathura Vrindavan awaited this devoted soul patiently. His real spiritual education was about to begin.
Arrival in Vrindavan
First Days in the Sacred Land
Vrindavan spiritual life commenced with overwhelming devotional feelings. Daily Vrindavan parikrama became non-negotiable ritual and practice. Banke Bihari Ji darshan filled him with inexplicable joy. Hours passed gazing at Radha Rani’s divine form. The Radha Vallabh Temple became his second home.
A swami noticed this intense young sadhu immediately. He recited verses from Radha Sudha Nidhi beautifully. Then introduced him to “Shri Harivansh naam” chanting. Initially, the name felt foreign on his tongue. But persistence brought natural flow eventually and beautifully.
Radha Vallabh Sampradaya traditions resonated deeply with his soul. The Sharanagat Mantra marked his official entry into tradition. Surrender (sharanagati) became his core spiritual practice now. Radha Rani bhakti eclipsed everything else in importance. His heart had finally discovered its ultimate beloved.
Meeting His Guru: Shri Gaurangi Sharan Ji
Shri Gaurangi Sharan Ji (also known as Shri Gaurav Ji Sharan Maharaj) entered his life perfectly. This meeting fulfilled deep spiritual longing within him. Guru seva became his path toward divine realization. Ten years of dedicated service followed this initiation. Every task performed with love and complete attention.
Century bhav (deep continuous devotion) characterized his practice. Sekhari Bhav awakened through guru’s grace and blessings. Radha Rani’s lotus feet became his meditation’s sole focus. Personal desires dissolved completely in guru seva. His transformation astonished everyone who knew him.
Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj eventually became his teaching base. Vrindavan Parikrama Marg location near Varah Ghat attracts thousands. The ashram sits opposite Bhaktivedant Dharamshala for easy identification. Here he established a center for naam jap. Dharma and devotion teachings flow from this sacred space.
Premanand Ji Maharaj’s Kidney Problem
The Devastating Diagnosis at 35
Age 35 brought severe stomach pain unexpectedly. Ramakrishna Mission Hospital conducted comprehensive tests thoroughly. Results showed both kidneys completely failed already. Doctors predicted only 4-5 years survival maximum. Medical science offered little hope for recovery.
Premanand Ji Maharaj kidney problem seemed like a death sentence. Kidney failure saint stories rarely have happy endings. Yet something miraculous happened against all odds. Spiritual endurance proved stronger than medical predictions. Faith sustained what science considered impossible entirely.
Defying Medical Predictions
Seventeen years later, Premanand Baba still teaches actively. Dialysis at ashram happens three times weekly religiously. Medical care at ashram includes all necessary equipment. Devotees consider his survival genuinely miraculous and inspiring. Chronic illness hasn’t diminished his spiritual radiance.
Dialysis treatment sessions don’t stop his teaching schedule. He never complains about physical suffering or pain. Long-term dialysis patients usually face many complications gradually. Yet Premanand Ji Maharaj maintains remarkable strength somehow. His example inspires chronically ill devotees globally.
Radha Rani’s grace explains this medical impossibility perhaps. Naam jap continues despite physical weakness and discomfort. Devotees witness his unwavering faith daily and directly. Modern medicine can’t explain his continued survival rates. Divine intervention seems the only logical explanation here.
Famous Devotees of Premanand Ji Maharaj
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visit regularly for guidance. Their third Vrindavan trip occurred December 16, 2025. Virat Kohli Anushka Sharma guru relationship touches millions publicly. Cricket fans discover spirituality through their beloved captain. Bollywood audiences learn about bhakti through Anushka’s journey.
Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief, respects Premanand Ji Maharaj deeply. International devotees fly from America, Europe, Australia regularly. Famous devotees of Premanand Ji Maharaj span all demographics. Business leaders, artists, scholars all seek his wisdom. Spiritual influence crosses religious and geographical boundaries completely.
What Attracts People Across Boundaries
Hindu spirituality usually remains India-centric traditionally speaking. Yet Premanand Baba attracts Western seekers increasingly nowadays. His emphasis on divine naam importance transcends cultural barriers. Naam jap requires no special knowledge or background. Anyone can chant and experience transformation personally.
Guru-disciple tradition finds new life through his teachings. Transformation through bhakti happens regardless of nationality or religion. He never judges, only guides with compassionate wisdom. Radha Rani devotion welcomes all sincere hearts equally. His ashram represents Vrindavan as moksha kshetra truly.
How Can You Meet Premanand Ji Maharaj?
Visiting the Ashram in Vrindavan
Premanand Ji Maharaj ashram welcomes genuine seekers always warmly. Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj sits on Vrindavan Parikrama Marg. Varah Ghat Vrindavan location makes finding it relatively easy. Opposite Bhaktivedanta Dharamshala provides a clear landmark reference. Google Maps shows exact coordinates for travelers’ convenience.
Premanand Ji Maharaj darshan requires advance planning now. Public discourses stopped in 2023 due to overwhelming crowds. Local administration couldn’t manage the massive gatherings safely. Token system now regulates morning satsang attendance carefully. Meeting Premanand Ji Maharaj demands patience and persistence today.
Vrindavan pilgrimage combines tourism with spiritual transformation ideally. Hindu pilgrimage sites throughout the area offer rich experiences. Register in person at the ashram for darshan. Limited Ekāntik Vārtalāp (personal meetings) slots available daily. Americans should plan multiple days for successful access.
Connecting Virtually from Abroad
YouTube spiritual channel options bring teachings home conveniently. Bhajan Marg, Vrindavan Ras Mahima, and Shri Hit Radha Kripa upload regularly. Spiritual discourses feature English subtitles occasionally for international audiences. Premanand Ji Maharaj katha reaches global seekers this way.
Hindu spiritual philosophy becomes accessible through these digital platforms. Saints of Vrindavan rarely embrace technology this extensively. Social media presence spans Facebook, Instagram, Twitter platforms. Official website vrindavanrasmahima.com centralizes all information practically. Virtual connection allows regular engagement despite geographical distance.
Conclusion: The Living Legacy
Premanand Ji Maharaj biography inspires across continents and cultures. Born Aniruddh Kumar Pandey in Sarsaul, he transcended ordinary existence. Leaving home at age 13 launched an extraordinary journey. Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj now guides thousands. His kidney failure survival defies medical science completely.
Radha Krishna bhakti forms his teaching’s absolute core. Vrindavan saint traditions continue through his living example. Indian spiritual leader rarely impacts Western audiences so deeply. Yet his message of naam jap transcends all boundaries. Bhakti movement finds new expression through his life.
Visit Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj if possible physically. Otherwise, connect through YouTube spiritual discourse channels regularly. His teachings offer solace in our turbulent modern times. Inner detachment and devotion to Radha Rani provide genuine peace. Premanand Baba’s life proves faith conquers everything ultimately.
