Puri Branch Ashram
The establishment of the Puri branch of Bharat Sevashram Sangha was the result of humiliation suffered by Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj and other pilgrims at Gaya, Bihar in the hands of the Pandas in around 1914.
In fact, Acharyadev, then Brahmachari Binod, after meeting his Yogi Guru Baba Gambhirnathji Maharaj was returning from Gorakhpur to Gaya to perform obsequies (Pinda Daan rites) of his departed father’s soul on the instruction of his mother.
Acharyadev vowed to initiate reformation of the holy pilgrim centres in the country for the regeneration of the pristine and peaceful spiritual glories of India. Gaya branch of the Sangha was thus established in 1924.
Puri Dham of Lord Jagannath is of a great importance to the Hindu devotees along with the famous annual Rath Yatra festival (Car Festival).
To protect the dignity and provide a safe shelter for the pilgrims, Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj decided to establish a branch centre in Puri. A devastating flood occurred in June 1926 and Acharyadev reached Puri with essential required commodities along with his monk disciples and volunteers to help support the affected people. The son of the soil Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das already engaged himself in the service of the underprivileged people and plunged himself to help support the flood-affected people. The natural calamity brought the two great personalities together of different dimensions and a temporary centre was established at Baliput with the help of Gopabandhu Das after the flood relief was over for organisational works. The permanent Ashram of Puri branch was constructed near Swargadwar sea shore.
To protect the dignity and provide a safe shelter for the pilgrims, Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj decide to establish a branch centre in Puri. A devastating flood occurred in June 1926 and Acharyadev reached Puri with essential required commodities along with his monk disciples and workers to help support the affected people. The son of the soil Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das already engaged himself in the service of the underprivileged people and plunged himself to help support the flood-affected people. The natural calamity brought the two great personalities together of different dimensions and a temporary centre was established at Baliput with the help of Gopabandhu Das after the flood relief was over for organisational works. The permanent Ashram of Puri branch was constructed near Swargadwar sea shore.
Spiritual Activities :
Acharyadev descended on the Earth at a critical juncture when the oppressions and tyranny on the people was at its peak in India by the colonial British rule.
Acharya means one who practices before he preaches. To demonstrate the gigantic dormant power and prowess of human being, Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj undergone severe spiritual and yogic practices. He consumed only boiled rice and boiled potato as his diet yet acquired enormous physical strength besides his unparalleled spiritual powers by dint of his rigorous indigenous way of physical exercises and observing strict celibacy.
He becomes a burning example of hope, inspiration, power, hard work, compassion, service, fearlessness and what not. Such an indomitable spirit and divine magnetic personality drawn scores of people from different walks of life to his close proximity providing them with consolation, motivation, peace of mind, awakening their personality and saved their lives. Many of them become monk disciples under his tutelage and dedicated their entire lives for the welfare of the mankind.
His spiritual power brought about a huge wave of repercussions and resonance among the youths, students, teachers, professors besides common people. They thronged at his hermitage at Bajitpur during the period of his intense spiritual practices and later in Kolkata and other parts of the country. A total of 86 young individuals received spiritual initiation by seeking refugees at his lotus feet and dedicated their lives as selfless monks under the direct spiritual guidance of Acharyadev till 1940 in the Sangha. They become the mighty pillars of the organization which is now spread across different parts of India and other countries carrying out the same spiritual legacy reaching to the seekers across the globe besides its humanitarian welfare services simultenously.
Guru Puja and Arati, Havan (Fire Sacrifice), meditation, bhajan, spiritual discourses, religious celebrations are conducted regularly across the Ashrams of the Sangha to help revive the spiritual fervour among the masses and create conducive ambience for the seekers.
Acharyadev used to arrive Puri Dham every year before the world famous Ratha Yatra (Car Festival) of Lord Jagannath. He arranged extensive voluntary services with the help of his monastic disciples and lay volunteers for the visiting pilgrims in the form of medical assistance, stretcher service, distribution of drinking water, assisting the old people, cleanliness drive and accommodation to the outstation pilgrims.
During this period, Acharyadev used to give darshan and spiritual initiation to many devotees, provided them with life solutions, inspiration and spiritual shelter.
Social Activities :
Bharat Sevashram Sangha is known for providing humanitarian relief and succour to the afflicted and affected humanity irrespective of caste, colour or creed. This can be seen during any natural calamity and trying situations. The holy monks of the Sangha and selfless volunteers stand beside the suffering needy people to mitigate their pains forgetting their personal comforts. Besides his rarely noticed and unusual spiritual sadhana, Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj helped, nursed and served many people individually and with the help of students since his boyhood. This phenomenon becomes the outermost visible exposure of his divine appearance importance for the suffering humanity.
Hindu Dharma-Shiksha-Sanskriti Sammelan
Acharyadev introduced a series of conference pertaining to Hindu Dharma and Educational deliberations inviting the prominent local personalities from the field of Hindu religion, age-old ancient Indian culture and real Indian education for the benefit of the people. Acharyadev directed and involved his foremost disciple Sangha monks to preach and propagate the immortal Hindu way of living, spiritual importance and to revive the proud and profound cultural heritage of the country. The lectures and orations of the great personalities made deep impact in the mind of the devotees and they received the chance to come in contact of Acharyadev and received his divine blessings.
Relief Work
Cyclonic storms and floods often takes place in different parts of Odisha. The Puri branch of the Sangha make appropriate arrangements to reach to the afflicted people at their trying situations to help alleviate their sufferings. The monks, students, teachers and volunteers of the Puri Sevashram go to the respective places with essential commodities like dry foods, cloths, utensils, cereals, grocery items, and medical treatment are also extended involving competent doctors and support staff.
Odisha Super Cyclone in October 1999 is one of the deadliest natural calamities which struck a vast area of Odisha and the Puri branch with the help of Head Office of the Sangha made extensive and long-term arrangements to provide relief and succour to the affected people.
A central base camp was set up at Cuttack Barabati Stadium to facilitate the smooth conduction of the Relief Works in Puri, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Jagatsinghpur districts. Further, a relief camp was opened in Jagatsinghpur and other parts of the devastated areas depending on the requirements.
After months of relief work, rehabilitation works was undertaken by the Sangha in Erasama, Jagatsinghpur district by constructing homes for the homeless people.
Other regular flood reliefs were undertaken in Nimapada, Brahmagiri blocks in Puri districts on various timelines.
Religious Fair / Rath Yatra
Bharat Sevashram Sangha Puri branch with the help of the Head Office of the Sangha extends massive Relief Work since 1926 to help support the administration to manage the huge influx of gathering and to the pilgrims also. The Sangha operates dispensaries with doctor, medicines, stretchers, drinking water, sprinklers etc. The Sangha monks and volunteers also extend help in managing the pulling and balancing of the huge chariots of Lord jagannath, Lord Balaram and Devi Subhadra towards Gundicha temple for its safe reaching.
Similar arrangements are also made during Shivaratri at Lokanath Shiva in Puri, Kartik Purnima etc.
Cloth and Blanket Distribution
Puri branch of the Sangha distributes new clothes and blankets to the poor and needy people of the society from time to time to bring smiles and happiness in the lives of the underprivileged sections of the society.
Educational Activities :
Following the philosophy of Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj, the Bharat Sevashram Sangha emphasises on the importance of modern education to enable the present generation capable to serving the motherland towards building a Powerful nation. Many educational institutions like schools, colleges, ITIs etc. are functioning across India and abroad. The Puri branch of the Sangha is also an important part of this initiative.
Primary & High School
The Puri branch of Bharat Sevashram Sangha established a Primary School inside the Ashram premises in 1942 under the efforts of Srimat Swami Abyayanandaji Maharaj. Shri P. Ramaswamy was appointed as the first Headmaster of this Primary school in 1942.
The High School in the name “Pranavananda Vidyamandir” was established by Srimat Swami Madhavanandaji Maharaj, the then Adhyaksha of Puri branch and the present (June 2025) and 8th President of Bharat Sevashram Sangha in a separate building outside the main Ashram premises 1987. The Foundation Stone of Bharat Sevashram Sangha “Pranavananda Vidyamandir” was laid by Sri Gangadhar Mohapatra, the then Education Minister of Orissa on 3rd April 1982 and the School Building was inaugurated by Sri Jadunath Das Mohapatra, the then Hon’ble Education Minister of Orrisa on 15th June 1985.
Library & Free Reading Room
A huge library was opened in 1978 on the auspicious occasion of Kumar Purnima to facilitate the educational needs of the local young college students by providing them with their required reference books with Book Bank and Lending provisions. The library housed more than 30 thousand books in 5 languages like Bengali, Odia, English, Hindi and Sanskrit consisting of encyclopaedias, dictionaries, biographies, science fictions, stories, novels, current affairs, newspapers, Magazines. A huge free reading room with accommodation of 200 readers on an average daily.
Charitable Dispensary
The Puri branch operates Homoeopathy Charitable Dispensary since many decades for the benefit of the local needy and poor people. A qualified Doctor is deputed to provide treatment and medicine to the patients at Free of Cost. Earlier this facility was housed in the main Ashram premises but it is now shifted to a building adjacent to our Kali Mandir close to Swargadwar cremation ground.
PILGRIMS AND DEVOTEES
Key Features and Services
The ashram offers a spacious Yatri Niwas that can accommodate over 500 pilgrims. Facilities include 24-hour utility and drinking water, lodging, hygienic vegetarian satvik meals.
Yatri Niwas
Pilgrims receive assistance with darshan at the Jagannath Temple, guidance for performing rituals, and participation in cultural and religious programs that foster a spiritually enriching environment.
Spiritual Support
Situated on Jagannath Temple to Swargadwar Road, the ashram is approximately 3 kilometres from the Puri railway station, making it easily accessible for pilgrims.
Activities
The branch is overseen by Swami Samidhanandaji Maharaj, who serves as the secretary, ensuring the smooth operation of the ashram's activities.
Leadership