Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha: Difference between revisions
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[[File:SVmap_OwnFoundations.png|240px|right]] | [[File:SVmap_OwnFoundations.png|240px|right]] | ||
{{Infobox organization | {{Infobox organization | ||
|name = | |name = Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha | ||
|size = 220px | |size = 220px | ||
{Infobox image} | {Infobox image} | ||
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|membership = Private persons | |membership = Private persons | ||
|language = | |language = | ||
|leader_title = | |leader_title = Purodha Pramukha | ||
|main_organ = Central | |main_organ = Central Purodha Board | ||
|website = {{URL|www.anandamarga.org}} | |website = {{URL|www.anandamarga.org}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
''' | '''Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha''' (''society for the propagation of [[Ananda Marga]]''), sometimes abbreviated as '''AMPS''', is the foundation of [[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar]] for which he is best known. Sarkar founded this socio-spiritual organization in [[:wikipedia:Jamalpur, Munger|Jamalpur]], [[:wikipedia:Bihar|Bihar]], [[:wikipedia:India|India]] in 1955. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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}} | }} | ||
[[Image:Ac Vishvadevananda Avt.png|thumb|right|160px|Acarya Vishvadevananda Avadhuta, current President of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha]] | [[Image:Ac Vishvadevananda Avt.png|thumb|right|160px|Acarya Vishvadevananda Avadhuta, current Purodha Pramukha and President of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha]] | ||
On August 2, 1939 (at 8:30 pm, on the [[full moon]] day of ''[[Shraavana|Shravani]]''<ref group=note>''[[Shraavana|Shravan]]'' is the fifth month of the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu year]], beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. It is the month of festivals and commemorate the precedence of the sacred over all aspects of life. It is the holiest month in the year and it includes celebrating [[Nag Panchami]] on the fifth day of the bright half of the month.</ref> ''[[Purnima (day)|Purnima]]''<ref group=note>''[[Shraavana|Shravani]]'' ''[[Purnima (day)|Purnima]]'' is the [[full moon]] in the sacred month of ''[[Shraavana|Shravan]]''. On ''Shraavana Poornima'' ''[[Raksha Bandhan]]'', the festival of brothers and sisters, is celebrated .</ref>), [[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|P.R. Sarkar]] initiated with ''Tantrikii Diiksa'' or "Tantric initiation" Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay (after aka Kalikananda Avadhuta) into [[meditation]] at ''Kashi Mitra Gh’at'' on the bank of the river [[Bhagirathi]] in [[Kalikata]] ([[Kolkata]] aka Calcutta), [[West Bengal]], India. This was the start of Sarkar's [[Spirituality|spiritual]] teaching at the early age of 18 and many unknown [[Sadhaka]]s ("spiritual aspirants") were initiated from then up to 1955. From 1941 until the early 1950s, Sarkar [[Employment|worked]] as an accountant at the Indian railways headquarters in [[Jamalpur, Munger|Jamalpur]], Bihar, India. He [[Teacher|taught]] the techniques of ancient [[tantra]]<ref group=note>P.R. Sarkar clearly explained in his books the meaning of [[Tantra]]: "What is ''Tantra''? The process of transforming (latent divinity) into the Supreme Divinity is known as ''Tantra sadhana''... The significance of the term ''tantra'' is 'liberation from bondage (the bondage of dullness or staticity)'. The letter ''ta'' is the seed (sound) of dulness. And the root verb ''trae'' suffixed by ''da'' becomes ''tra'', which means 'that which liberates' - so the spiritual practice which liberates the aspirant from the dullness or animality of the static force and expands the aspirant's (spiritual) self is ''Tantra sadhana''. So there cannot be any spiritual practice without ''Tantra''. {{cite book |title=Discourses on Tantra |volume=2 |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (Ac. Vijayananda Avt. Editor) |city:Kolkata |publisher= AMPS-Ananda Printers |year=1994}} "''Tantra'' in itself is neither a religion nor an 'ism'. Tantra is a fundamental spiritual science. So wherever there is any spiritual practice it should be taken for granted that it stands on the ''Tantric'' cult. Where there is no spiritual practice, where people pray to God for the fulfillment of narrow worldly desires, where people’s only slogan is “Give us this and give us that” – only there do we find that Tantra is discouraged. So only those who do not understand ''Tantra'', or even after understanding ''Tantra'' do not want to do any [[spiritual practice]], oppose the [[cult]] of ''Tantra''." (Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii, 1959).</ref> [[meditation]] to a select number of his colleagues and gradually more and more people were drawn to the [[spiritual practice]]s he taught. | On August 2, 1939 (at 8:30 pm, on the [[full moon]] day of ''[[Shraavana|Shravani]]''<ref group=note>''[[Shraavana|Shravan]]'' is the fifth month of the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu year]], beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. It is the month of festivals and commemorate the precedence of the sacred over all aspects of life. It is the holiest month in the year and it includes celebrating [[Nag Panchami]] on the fifth day of the bright half of the month.</ref> ''[[Purnima (day)|Purnima]]''<ref group=note>''[[Shraavana|Shravani]]'' ''[[Purnima (day)|Purnima]]'' is the [[full moon]] in the sacred month of ''[[Shraavana|Shravan]]''. On ''Shraavana Poornima'' ''[[Raksha Bandhan]]'', the festival of brothers and sisters, is celebrated .</ref>), [[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|P.R. Sarkar]] initiated with ''Tantrikii Diiksa'' or "Tantric initiation" Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay (after aka Kalikananda Avadhuta) into [[meditation]] at ''Kashi Mitra Gh’at'' on the bank of the river [[Bhagirathi]] in [[Kalikata]] ([[Kolkata]] aka Calcutta), [[West Bengal]], India. This was the start of Sarkar's [[Spirituality|spiritual]] teaching at the early age of 18 and many unknown [[Sadhaka]]s ("spiritual aspirants") were initiated from then up to 1955. From 1941 until the early 1950s, Sarkar [[Employment|worked]] as an accountant at the Indian railways headquarters in [[Jamalpur, Munger|Jamalpur]], Bihar, India. He [[Teacher|taught]] the techniques of ancient [[tantra]]<ref group=note>P.R. Sarkar clearly explained in his books the meaning of [[Tantra]]: "What is ''Tantra''? The process of transforming (latent divinity) into the Supreme Divinity is known as ''Tantra sadhana''... The significance of the term ''tantra'' is 'liberation from bondage (the bondage of dullness or staticity)'. The letter ''ta'' is the seed (sound) of dulness. And the root verb ''trae'' suffixed by ''da'' becomes ''tra'', which means 'that which liberates' - so the spiritual practice which liberates the aspirant from the dullness or animality of the static force and expands the aspirant's (spiritual) self is ''Tantra sadhana''. So there cannot be any spiritual practice without ''Tantra''. {{cite book |title=Discourses on Tantra |volume=2 |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (Ac. Vijayananda Avt. Editor) |city:Kolkata |publisher= AMPS-Ananda Printers |year=1994}} "''Tantra'' in itself is neither a religion nor an 'ism'. Tantra is a fundamental spiritual science. So wherever there is any spiritual practice it should be taken for granted that it stands on the ''Tantric'' cult. Where there is no spiritual practice, where people pray to God for the fulfillment of narrow worldly desires, where people’s only slogan is “Give us this and give us that” – only there do we find that Tantra is discouraged. So only those who do not understand ''Tantra'', or even after understanding ''Tantra'' do not want to do any [[spiritual practice]], oppose the [[cult]] of ''Tantra''." (Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii, 1959).</ref> [[meditation]] to a select number of his colleagues and gradually more and more people were drawn to the [[spiritual practice]]s he taught. | ||
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| '''1954''' || November 7: for the first time Sarkar brings together his disciples and addresses them his spiritual greeting.{{sfn|Dharmavedananda|1999|p=13 to 23}} | | '''1954''' || November 7: for the first time Sarkar brings together his disciples and addresses them his spiritual greeting.{{sfn|Dharmavedananda|1999|p=13 to 23}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''1955''' || January 5: the organization ''Ananda Marga'' is founded in [[Jamalpur, Bihar|Jamalpur]]. | | '''1955''' || January 5: the organization ''Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha'' is founded in [[Jamalpur, Bihar|Jamalpur]]. | ||
January 9: Sarkar officially inaugurated ''Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha'' ("the | January 9: Sarkar officially inaugurated ''Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha'' ("the society to propagate Ananda Marga"). The aim of the organization is based on a two-fold [[Ideal (ethics)|ideal]]: "[[Moksha|liberation]] of [[self]] and [[Community service|service]] to humanity".{{sfn|Dharmavedananda|1999|p=13 to 23}} At ''Rampur colony'', [[Jamalpur, Munger|Jamalpur]], the first ''Dharma Maha Cakra'' (DMC)<ref group=note>A spiritual [[ceremony]] where the disciples [[meditation|meditate]] in the presence of the [[Guru|Master]] and He holds an important spiritual discourse and performs a special ''[[Mudra]]'' named ''Varabaja Mudra''</ref> is held. | ||
From 15 to 28 March: the first group of ''[[acharya]]s'' is created in Jamalpur. The first [[Volume (publishing)|volumes]] of Sarkar's writings<ref group=note>Sarkar signed in the name of Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar when discussing [[sociology]], economics, [[philology]] and various other subjects including children's tales, and in the name Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti when focusing on spiritual topics.</ref> were published, including ''Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy''<ref group=note>This book contains the elementary philosophy of the Ánanda Márga mission (see Anandamurti, S. S., 1955).</ref> and ''Problems of the Day'' (Sarkar, P. R., 1957-1968). | From 15 to 28 March: the first group of ''[[acharya]]s'' is created in Jamalpur. The first [[Volume (publishing)|volumes]] of Sarkar's writings<ref group=note>Sarkar signed in the name of Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar when discussing [[sociology]], economics, [[philology]] and various other subjects including children's tales, and in the name Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti when focusing on spiritual topics.</ref> were published, including ''Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy''<ref group=note>This book contains the elementary philosophy of the Ánanda Márga mission (see Anandamurti, S. S., 1955).</ref> and ''Problems of the Day'' (Sarkar, P. R., 1957-1968). | ||
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From 15 to 28 March: Sarkar proposes ''[[Progressive utilization theory|Progressive Utilization Theory]]'' (PROUT),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prout.org/ |title=Home of PROUT |publisher=Prout.org |date= |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref> a [[Socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] theory that is based on [[Neo-humanism]] and cardinal [[Value (personal and cultural)|human values]]. | From 15 to 28 March: Sarkar proposes ''[[Progressive utilization theory|Progressive Utilization Theory]]'' (PROUT),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prout.org/ |title=Home of PROUT |publisher=Prout.org |date= |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref> a [[Socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] theory that is based on [[Neo-humanism]] and cardinal [[Value (personal and cultural)|human values]]. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''1961''' || Sarkar condenses the entire ''Ananda Marga'' | | '''1961''' || Sarkar condenses the entire ''Ananda Marga'' philosophy within 85 [[aphorism]]s composed in [[Sanskrit]] in a book called ''[[Ananda Sutram]]'' (Anandamurti, S. S., 1961) (="aphorisms leading to [[ananda]], [[Divinity|divine]] bliss"). The book contains original [[concept]]s of [[metaphysics]], [[epistemology]], ethics and macrohistory.<ref group=note>For a full explanation of all the aphorisms see (Ānanda Mitra, Av., 1981)</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''1962''' || Sarkar creates an order of [[monk]]s and [[nun]]s ([[Sannyasa|renunciate minister]]s or ''[[acharya]]s''<ref group=note>These ''ácáryas'' are [[full-time]] [[Workforce|worker]]s and fully ordained ministers. The juniors, known as ''[[Brahmacharya|brahmachariis]]'' and ''brahmacariniis'' for male and female respectively, are dressed up in a [[saffron]]-coloured top and a white bottom, while the seniors, known as ''[[avadhuta]]s'' and ''avadhutikas'', are dressed in full saffron attire.</ref>) and various [[training]] centers (''Prashiksana Matha'') in different parts of the world: [[Ydrefors]] ([[Sweden]]), [[Davao]] ([[Philippines]]), [[Varanasi]] and [[Bangalore]] (India) and [[Ghana]] (Africa). | | '''1962''' || Sarkar creates an order of [[monk]]s and [[nun]]s ([[Sannyasa|renunciate minister]]s or ''[[acharya]]s''<ref group=note>These ''ácáryas'' are [[full-time]] [[Workforce|worker]]s and fully ordained ministers. The juniors, known as ''[[Brahmacharya|brahmachariis]]'' and ''brahmacariniis'' for male and female respectively, are dressed up in a [[saffron]]-coloured top and a white bottom, while the seniors, known as ''[[avadhuta]]s'' and ''avadhutikas'', are dressed in full saffron attire.</ref>) and various [[training]] centers (''Prashiksana Matha'') in different parts of the world: [[Ydrefors]] ([[Sweden]]), [[Davao]] ([[Philippines]]), [[Varanasi]] and [[Bangalore]] (India) and [[Ghana]] (Africa). | ||
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| '''1963''' || The "Education, [[Relief]], and [[Tribal]] and Women's Welfare Section" (ERAWS) of ''Ananda Marga'' is founded.{{sfn|Bussey|2010|p=79}} The service activities, such as schools, [[orphanage]]s and emergency relief work, that had started from the inception of ''Ananda Marga'' were now managed by ERAWS. ''Ananda Marga'' registered its headquarters at [[Anandanagar]], West Bengal. | | '''1963''' || The "Education, [[Relief]], and [[Tribal]] and Women's Welfare Section" (ERAWS) of ''Ananda Marga'' is founded.{{sfn|Bussey|2010|p=79}} The service activities, such as schools, [[orphanage]]s and emergency relief work, that had started from the inception of ''Ananda Marga'' were now managed by ERAWS. ''Ananda Marga'' registered its headquarters at [[Anandanagar]], West Bengal. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''1964''' || The | | '''1964''' || The '''Ananda Marga Board of Education''' is formed. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''1965''' || The | | '''1965''' || The '''Women’s Welfare Department''' (WWD)<ref group=note>WWD is started to empower women to contribute and alleviate [[suffering]] of women in many parts of the world.</ref> and the "''Ananda Marga'' Universal [[Relief]] [[Team]]" ([[AMURT]]) are started. AMURT later became an international NGO with many very active teams in the areas affected by natural [[disaster]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amurt.net/ |title=Ananda Marga Disaster Relief |publisher=AMURT |date= |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amurt.org/ |title=Amurt ORG |publisher=Amurt.org |date= |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amurt.it/ |title=AMURT Italia - Volontariato Internazionale - Adozioni a distanza, donazioni, sostegno e volontariato |publisher=Amurt.it |date= |accessdate=2012-06-12}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''1967''' || The first ''acaryas'' leave the Indian [[subcontinent]] to propagate worldwide the spiritual philosophy and practices of ''Ananda Marga''.{{sfn|Ng|1995}}{{sfn|Miller|1999}} | | '''1967''' || The first ''acaryas'' leave the Indian [[subcontinent]] to propagate worldwide the spiritual philosophy and practices of ''Ananda Marga''.{{sfn|Ng|1995}}{{sfn|Miller|1999}} | ||
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|} | |} | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
==References== | ==References== |