Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
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Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
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| Born | 21 May 1921 Jamalpur, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India
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| Died | 21 October 1990 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Vidyasagar College University of Calcutta |
| Occupation | Spiritual Guru, philosopher, social reformer, linguist, author and composer |
| Known for | Founder of Ananda Marga, Progressive Utilization Theory, Amra Bangali, Prabhat Samgiita, Ananda Marga Universal Relief Teams |
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (born May 21, 1921 – died October 21, 1990) was an important Indian spiritual teacher, thinker, and social leader. People also knew him by his spiritual name, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, which means "Bliss Embodiment." His followers often called him Bábá, meaning "Father."
Sarkar was a guru (spiritual teacher), a philosopher, and someone who worked to improve society. He was also a talented linguist, author, and composer. He wrote over 5,000 songs, mostly in the Bengali language. In 1955, he started an organization called Ananda Marga, which means the Path of Bliss. This group teaches meditation and yoga. It also helps people through many social service and disaster relief projects worldwide.
Sarkar's spiritual ideas blended ancient Vedic and Tantric philosophies. He spoke out against strict religious rules, the caste system, and focusing too much on money or power. He believed these things stopped people from living in harmony and growing spiritually. He taught that the universe is a part of our consciousness. His ideas promoted diversity and believed that all beings are connected. He also created a plan for a better society called PROUT. This plan focuses on helping all humans and the planet.
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Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar's Life Story
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar was born on May 21, 1921, in Jamalpur, Bihar, India. His father, Lakshmi Narayan Sarkar, was a doctor. His family came from a place called Bamunpara in West Bengal.
In 1939, Sarkar moved to Kolkata to study at Vidyasagar College. He later had to stop his studies to help his family after his father passed away. From 1944 to the early 1950s, he worked as an accountant for the Indian railways. During this time, he began teaching yoga and Tantra meditation to his co-workers. More and more people became interested in his teachings.
In 1955, Sarkar officially started Ananda Marga. This movement had two main goals: "self-realization" (understanding oneself deeply) and "service to all." His ideas are written in a series of books called "Subháśita Samgraha."
Later in his life, Sarkar lived mostly in Kolkata. He also spent time at Anandanagar, a community he founded based on his PROUT ideas. Ananda Marga grew and opened offices in many countries. By 1973, there were about 100 centers teaching yoga and social philosophies.
In 1971, Sarkar was put in jail in India. He began a long fast to ask for an investigation into his health. He continued this fast for over five years. On August 2, 1978, he was released from jail after being found innocent of all charges.
After his release, Sarkar traveled the world in 1979. He met his followers in many countries, including Switzerland, Germany, and the Philippines. He was not allowed to enter the US, so he met his American followers in Jamaica. Just before he passed away on October 21, 1990, he founded Ananda Marga Gurukula. This educational network helps to continue his work through research, teaching, and service.
Spiritual Ideas
Sarkar's spiritual teachings combine ideas from Vedic and Tantric philosophies. He always saw himself as a very hopeful person.
The Universe and Consciousness
Sarkar explained that the universe is a part of the cosmic mind. He believed that everything in the universe comes from a limitless consciousness. Through meditation, people can move from limited consciousness back to this limitless state.
Layers of the Mind
Sarkar's philosophy describes the individual mind as having five layers, called Kosas:
- Kamamaya Kosa (Crude Mind): This layer controls the body and works on instinct.
- Manomaya Kosa (Subtle Mind): This layer handles thoughts and memories. It helps us feel pleasure and pain.
- Atimanasa Kosa (Supramental Mind): This is the intuitive layer. It allows for intuitive dreams, clairvoyance (seeing things beyond normal sight), and creative ideas.
- Vijinanamaya Kosa (Subliminal Mind): This layer is about conscience and being able to tell right from wrong. It also helps with non-attachment.
- Hiranyamaya Kosa (Subtle Causal Mind): This is the deepest layer. Here, the mind is very close to experiencing "Supreme Consciousness."
Body and Mind Connection
Sarkar's "biopsychology" looked at the traditional tantric idea of chakras. He saw these as energy centers linked to nerve plexuses and endocrine glands in the body. These glands affect our emotions and physical actions. Ananda Marga philosophy believes the human body is made of the same five basic elements as the rest of the universe. Each element is controlled by a chakra.
The main chakras include:
- The Muladhara Chakra: At the base of the spine, controls the solid parts of the body.
- The Svadhisthana Chakra: Controls the liquid parts.
- The Manipura Chakra: Near the navel, controls the luminous (light) factor and is linked to the Pancreas.
- The Anahata Chakra: In the chest, controls the air factor and is linked to the Thymus.
- The Vishuddha Chakra: In the throat, controls the ethereal (space) factor and is linked to the Thyroid gland.
- The Ajina Chakra: Between the eyebrows, linked to the Pituitary gland.
- The Sahasrara Chakra: At the top of the head, linked to the Pineal gland.
Microvita Theory
Sarkar introduced the idea of "Microvita" in 1986. He believed these are tiny particles, even smaller than atoms. He thought they exist in both the physical and mental realms. He claimed that science would one day discover them.
Spiritual Practice (Sadhana)
A key part of Sarkar's philosophy is Sadhana. He described it as a way to change "fearful love into fearless love." For Sarkar, Sadhana meant practicing meditation. He suggested that his followers meditate every day individually and also meet weekly for group meditation. These weekly meetings are called Dharma Chakras. They include singing Prabhat Samgiita (songs composed by Sarkar) and chanting special mantras.
Social and Political Ideas
The Social Cycle
Sarkar's "Law of Social Cycle" describes how different types of people tend to lead society over time. He identified four main types:
Sarkar said that Varna is not the same as the Hindu caste system. He strongly believed in creating a society without castes, where everyone has equal chances to reach their full potential. To achieve this, he proposed PROUT.
Sarkar's theory suggests that societies go through cycles where one type of leader is in charge, then another. However, he also believed that society can make real "progress" in terms of economy and technology. For Sarkar, true progress always means developing spiritually. He believed that society should help people grow inside. He rejected both capitalism and communism as good ways to organize society. He thought capitalism led to wealth being held by only a few people, causing economic problems.
Sarkar developed Ánanda Márga and the Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT) to help society escape negative cycles. He believed that with good leaders who serve everyone and use their skills for the benefit of others, society can move forward in a positive spiral.
PROUT: Progressive Utilization Theory
By 1959, Sarkar had developed his socio-economic theory called Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT). He wrote about it in his 1961 book Ananda Sutram. In 1968, he started an organization called "Proutist Block of India" to promote these ideas.
A PROUT economy focuses on working together and being decentralized. Its main goal is the well-being of everyone, not just making money. "Progressive utilization" means using natural, industrial, and human resources in the best way possible for the entire planet. This theory aims to be better than both capitalism and communism. It covers all parts of life for all beings, including physical, educational, social, political, mental, cultural, and spiritual aspects.
Neohumanism
In 1982, Sarkar introduced his new idea of Neohumanism. While humanism usually focuses only on humans, Neohumanism, according to Sarkar, expands this idea to include everything in the universe. He said, "When the underlying spirit of humanism is extended to everything, animate and inanimate, in this universe – I have designated this as 'Neohumanism'." This idea means loving all living things. Neohumanism believes that all beings have value just for existing, not just for what they can do for us.
Sarkar's Neohumanism emphasizes using our rationality and encourages a "protospiritual mentality." This means always seeing everything as a part of the Supreme Consciousness. He believed that rationality helps us develop devotion, which he called "the highest and most valuable treasure of humanity." For Sarkar, Neohumanism helps free our minds from strict rules and selfish thoughts. It helps connect our inner and outer worlds.
Culture
Sarkar explained the difference between "culture" and "customs." He said that "culture... is the collective name for different expressions of life..." He believed that all of society shares the same basic culture. Local differences in how culture is expressed are called "customs." So, while customs might vary from place to place, the underlying culture is universal. He thought it was a mistake to divide people based on language and culture, as all human culture is one.
Sarkar's philosophy offers a new, universal view of culture. He believed that human culture is one, even though it shows up in different ways in different places.
His Works
Even though Sarkar worked full-time for his organizations for only about 17 years, he created a huge amount of work. He wrote over 250 books on many different subjects. Many of these books are collections of his speeches. He is best known as the spiritual teacher behind Ananda Marga.
Sarkar wrote more than 1,500 pages about his socio-economic theory, PROUT. He also wrote thousands of pages about linguistics and the study of languages. This included an unfinished, 26-volume encyclopedia about the Bengali language. He also wrote books on sociology, agriculture, history, literature, education, medicine, and philosophy. In 1982, he founded the philosophy of Neohumanism, and in 1986, the Theory of Microvita. In his Microvita theory, Sarkar believed that atoms and tiny particles throughout the universe have life.
Music
In 1982, Sarkar began composing songs. In just eight years, before he passed away, he wrote 5,018 songs in many languages. This collection of songs is called Prabhat Samgiita, which means "Songs of the New Dawn."
See also
- List of founders of religious traditions
- List of Hindu gurus and sants
- List of philosophers
- Music of Bengal
- List of political parties in India
- List of Bengalis
- List of Indian writers
- Hindu reform movements
- Kaosikii dance
