YOGI ANAND

Yogi Anand travels extensively in India and around the world to propagate the message of Bhagwat Gita to people of all walks of life. Yogi Anand's mission is to impart the supreme knowledge and spiritual understanding of the philosophy of the Bhagwat Gita and the Hindu Dharma Shastras by delivering sermons and establishing centres of learning and educations.

Yogi Anand was born in Ghazipur on the 16th of February, 1968 with an inner desire from childhood to master all the Hindu shastras. By the age of 4 he was conversing fluently in Sanskrit and had already mastered the Gita. Shri Jayshankar, the father of Anandji, a prominent Sanskrit Scholar was his spiritual Guru. He willingly quenched Anandji's thirst for the knowledge of the Vedas, Upnishadas, Puranas and all the other divine scriptures.

At the age of 15, in search of truth and God, Anandji left home and went to Acharya Jina Chandra Suri, a great Mantra sadhak. Under his guidance, in the forests near Bikaner he mastered Mantra Sadhana.

He spent the next 10 years of his life with the Avdhoot Yogis, Paramhans Sanyasis, Jain Munis and various other masters like Swami Akhilanand, Girnari Bapu, Tridandi Swami, Trijata Aghori and others trying to satisfy the curiosity created in his mind in search of God, self-realisation and knowledge.

He wandered to all corners of India pursuing various masters and Yogis undergoing rigorous discipline and penances imbibing the knowledge from these great tapasvis.

This austere life led him to Gurus meditating under extreme conditions ranging from the mountain peaks of the Himalayas, Girnar, Mount Abu, and Kutch. He also meditated on the Banks of sacred rivers - the Ganges (Gangotri, Munger & Rudra Prayag); the Narbada (Omkareshwar) and the Shipra (Ujjain) as well as on the ocean shores at Vishakapatnam on the East and Narayana Sarovar in Kutch on the West.

All these meditation made Anandji realise that the divine strength of the soul can be challenged effectively in everyday life by applying the tenets of the Bhagwad Gita. The absolute truth of life can only be comprehended by the systematic learning of the Gita - the revelation of Lord Krishna to Arjun on the battle field of Kurukshetra.

After 12 years of austerity and devotion he realised that he could serve Lord Krishna better by returning into society. He started a movement and teaching of Atma Yoga Sadhana which has now become his mission and the path of life for all. This paves the way for health, mental happiness, and balance of mind and divinity. This has been adapted by thousands of people worldwide. Anandji has initiated several people who have attained Divine Knowledge.

With a zest and zeal Gopalji has been spreading the message and philosophy of the Gita by holding seminars, speeches, and discourses to audiences ranging from as little 10 to a multitude of thousands. The TV and radio audiences are innumerable.

ANCESTRY

Anandji comes from a lineage of highly educated, cultured and distinguished Brahmins. His ancestry can be well traced for almost 1000 years as each generation left a mark on society because of their distinct, lucid and profound knowledge of the Hindu Shastra. They were teachers, preachers, and Yogis

Shri Hari Vallabh Shukla, a great Mantra Sadhak and Tapasvi, a son of a proficient Sanskrit Scholar of Gorakhpur, in the 14th century ventured to Varansi to learn the Dharam Shastras from the eminent Scholars under a strict code of conduct and discipline. The local ruler was so enamored by his profound knowledge that he granted him vast tracts of land and convinced him to remain in Ghazipur as the Guru of the royal family. Shri Hari Vallabh Shukla instilled a deep knowledge of Sanskrit and the shashtras amongst his children. This thousand year old tradition continues even today. It has become "a way of life" from generation of this Brahmin family of Ghazipur.

Sri Pati Prasad Shastri, grandfather of Anandji was an eminent scholar of his era having mastered over 18 languages. He was honored by numerous kings in India, a well as King George V, of England for his distinguished contribution to promote Sanskrit and the Shastra.

GLORY OF GHAZIPUR

Ghazipur is amongst the famous historical places of India situated about 80km from Varansi on the Bank of River Ganges. It has been known from time immemorial for Tapasya, Yoga Sadhana and Mantra Sadhana. It was established by Raj Rishi Gaadhi, the father of Brahma Rishi Vishwamitra, the guru of Lord Rama. It's ancient name was Gaadhipuri which gradually changed over the centuries to Ghazipur.

Swami Vivekananda spent 3 months near Ghazipur at the feet of the great Siddh Yogi Powhari Baba of the Anand Family who lived on milk and Prana in and underground cave in this area.

SHIKSHA, SEVA, SADHANA

Bhagwat Gita Parivar Trust is founded by Yogi Anandji (also known as Acharya Gopal Shastri) with a mission to spread the teachings of the Gita through Shiksha (Education), Seva (Service) and Sadhana (Practice).

Shiksha (Education)

To impart the knowledge of the Bhagwat Gita predominantly but also to stress on the other Dharma Shastras and Divine scriptures. To establish educational centres in India and abroad for achieving the objectives of Trust. To train teachers in Sanskrit, Gita, Shastra, Yoga, Ayurveda and Meditation. To give free education, food, clothing and health care to students needing financial aid. To produce and distribute Bhagwad Gita as books, tapes, cassettes, video, CD's etc. To publish magazines, bulletins and create a website for guiding all "to apply Gita in their day to day life".

Seva (Service)

To offer opportunities to become teachers and be employed by Bhagwat Gita Parivar Trust and other organisations devoted to God consciousness. To offer job oriented education to the poor, orphans, widows and handicapped. To offer Ashram facilities to those interested in self realization. To arrange pilgrimages to religious sites.

Sadhana (Practice)

To arrange Seminars, Lectures, Discussions, Workshops, Debates with academicians, orthodox religious leaders, public and people from all walks of life. To establish meditation centers.