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Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha

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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 global, socio-spiritual organization in Jamalpur, Bihar, India in 1955. From 1955 until his death in 1990, Sarkar frequently expanded the scope of AMPS and continually adjusted its inner workings.

Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha
AM logo.png
Abbreviation AMPS
Motto Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca (Self-Realisation and Service to the Universe)
Formation 1 January 1955 (1955-01-01) (69 years ago)
Type INGO
Legal status Association
Purpose/focus Socio-Spiritual
Location Global
Region served Worldwide
Membership Private persons
Main organ Central Purodha Board
Website www.anandamarga.org
Location in Sarkarverse
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Structure and organization of AMPS

AMPS is somewhat unique in having a strictly hierarchical composition that seeks a balanced yet full integration of renunciates with householders in a disciplined, coordinated cooperation. To implement this complex arrangement, Sarkar distinguished the structural and the organizational sides of AMPS.

Structural side of AMPS

The structural side of AMPS is the hierarchical command structure. It mostly consists of wholetimers (WTs) and local full-timers (LFTs). WTs are the renunciates of AMPS, either brahmacarii/brahmacarinii (novice renunciates) or avadhuta/avadhutika (senior renunciates). LFTs are mostly young margiis who have successfully undergone some training but are not (yet) prepared to commit to a life of celibacy. In fact, LFTs may continue in that capacity even after marriage.

In addition to WTs and LFTs, there are also some Purna Kalika Bandhus (full-time friends), PKBs. These are retired householders who have dedicated the rest of their lives to missionary work.

AMPS workers in the command structure (WTs, LFTs, and PKBs) are bound by some additional conduct rules that the general margiis do not have. Not only that, WTs have many more rules than LFTs and PKBs. These additional conduct rules mostly pertain to the standard of organizational discipline expected of these workers, but they also demand a very high standard of character and a universal social outlook.

The command structure of AMPS flows from the Central/Global level to the Sectorial level (the world being divided into nine sectors) to the Regional level and then to the Diocese level. Dioceses are divided into Districts, Districts into Blocks, Blocks into Panchayets (groups of villages), and Panchayets into Grams (villages).

The command structure of AMPS is largely driven by these supplementary conduct rules as well as an abundance of procedure orders, found in various guidebooks applicable to the different organizations, departments, or trades on the different levels (sectorial, regional, diocese, district, and so on). Sarkar himself dictated most of these procedure orders. Many of the procedure orders are public, but some are internal (confidential).

Organizational side of AMPS

The organizational side of AMPS consists of elected organizational positions and some elected top-level boards. There are also advisory committees and boards (ACBs) for various departments as well as some executive committees and boards, all of which are typically constituted by an elected officeholder. For example, the Purodha Pramukha (the highest authority in AMPS), the Purodha Board, and the Central Committee are all elected by the body of all recognized purodhas (purodhas in good organizational standing). The Purodha Pramukha is the ex-officio chairperson of the Purodha Board and also the ex-officio president of the Central Committee (often referred to as the president of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha). As president of the Central Committee, the Purodha Pramukha has the duty and authority to form the Central Executive.[1] The chairperson of the Central Executive Commitee is the General Secretary of AMPS. The General Secretary has broad administrative and judicial powers.[1]

Similarly, the tattvikas, acaryas, and avadhutas of AMPS have their elected boards to manage "all rules and regulations, punishment, discipline, and everything else regarding" themselves (subject to the approval of the Purodha Pramukha).[1]

On the grass-roots level, the Bhukti Pradhana (a district or county head), Upabhukti Pramukha, Panchayat Pramukha, and Gram Pramukha are all elected positions. On the bhukti level, there is also an elected Bhukti General Committee, of which the Bhukti Pradhan is the ex-officio chairperson. In a similar manner as the Purodha Pramukha forms the Central Executive Committee, the Bhukti Pradhan forms the Bhukti Executive Committee. As with all of the above, broad guidelines are to be found in Caryacarya Part 1.

Scope of AMPS

Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha consists of a conglomeration of 18 wings or departments under a single heading called Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha General as well as a broad service-oriented department, the Education, Relief, and Welfare Section.

Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha General

Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha General (AMPS General) consists of 18 departments.

1. Commerce 2. Construction 3. Dharma Pracar 4. Farm 5. Finance 6. Food and Care
7. Industry 8. ISMUB 9. Jagriti 10. Land 11. Master Unit 12. Press and Printing
13. Publications 14. Public Relations 15. Renaissance Universal 16. Society Building 17. Social Security 18. Women`s Welfare

Education, Relief, and Welfare Section

The Education, Relief, and Welfare Section (ERAWS) department consists of 5 major sections:

  1. Education (with three branches: E1, E2, and E3)
  2. Relief (with three branches: R1, R2 (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team), and R3)
  3. Medical
  4. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Plants (PCAP) and Cheap Literature (CL)
  5. Tribal People's Welfare (TPW) and Ek Manav Samaj (EMS)

Chronology

 
Acarya Shraddhananda Avadhuta
The Second President of Ananda Marga, the late Acarya Shraddhananda Avadhuta (1919-2008).
 
Acarya Vishvadevananda Avadhuta, current Purodha Pramukha and President of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha
Date Events
1955 January 5 (Jamalpur): Sarkar founded Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha.

January 9: Sarkar officially inaugurated Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha. The aim of the organization was the two-fold ideal: Self-liberation and all-round service.[2]

1956 The first edition of Sarkar's Caryacarya Part 1 (social code for Ananda Marga) came out with several chapters detailing elements of the organizational side of AMPS. Ananda Marga College was also founded at Anandanagar.
1958 25 January: at Trimuhan (Bhagalpur district, Bihar, India) "Renaissance Universal" (RU)[note 1] and "Renaissance Artists and Writers Association" (RAWA) boards are founded.[note 2] Sarkar publishes Yogic Treatment and Natural Remedies (Sarkar, P. R., 1957-Beng. 1983-Eng.)
1959 On his fifth book Idea and Ideology,[note 3] Sarkar exposes the fundamental traits of the Ananda Marga's Ideology.

From 15 to 28 March: Sarkar proposes Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT),[3] a socioeconomic theory that is based on Neo-humanism and cardinal human values.

1961 Sarkar condenses the entire Ananda Marga philosophy within 85 aphorisms composed in Sanskrit in a book called Ananda Sutram (Anandamurti, S. S., 1961) (="aphorisms leading to ananda, divine bliss"). The book contains original concepts of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and macrohistory.[note 4]
1962 Sarkar creates an order of monks and nuns (renunciate ministers or acharyas[note 5]) and various training centers (Prashiksana Matha) in different parts of the world: Ydrefors (Sweden), Davao (Philippines), Varanasi and Bangalore (India) and Ghana (Africa).
1963 The "Education, Relief, and Tribal and Women's Welfare Section" (ERAWS) of Ananda Marga is founded.[4] The service activities, such as schools, orphanages 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 Ananda Marga Board of Education is formed.
1965 The Women’s Welfare Department (WWD)[note 6] 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 disasters.[5][6][7]
1967 The first acaryas leave the Indian subcontinent to propagate worldwide the spiritual philosophy and practices of Ananda Marga.[8][9]
1969 The first Ananda Marga "Sectorial office" is created in "New York Sector" (whose jurisdiction is North and Central America together with the Caribbean) was opened in Carbondale, Illinois, USA.[8][9]
1971 Sarkar is arrested and imprisoned with false accusations (the truth will be established in a re-trial only in 1978 after more than seven years of imprisonment).[10] Under a declared opposition from the Indian government, Sarkar receives life sentence.[11]
1973 Approximately 100 local centers teaching yoga, meditation, spiritual and social philosophies in many countries of the world are established.[12][9]

February 12: Sarkar claims claims to have been poisoned while in Bankipur Central Jail, Patna.[13][14]

April 1: Sarkar's demand for a judicial investigation in his poisoning[note 7] remains unanswered by the authorities and consequently he starts fasting on a daily glass of yoghurt water until his release on 1978.[15]

1975 to 1977 "Ananda Marga Relief Team Ladies" (AMURTEL) is started. This relief team is managed by women and initiates programs that raise the standard of health and education of women and their ren.

June 26: under the state of emergency (which will last until March 21, 1977) imposed by the Indian government of Indira Gandhi most of his opponents, including Ananda Marga, are outlawed and arrested. Over 400 of its schools in India are closed down, and numerous ministers and adherents are imprisoned with false charges. This situation, together with the arbitrary detention and the alleged poisoning of Sarkar, leads to a global campaign of protests by many followers of Ananda Marga. As a desperate form of protest a few members of Ananda Marga, against the will of their master, committed self-immolation in the late 1970s.[16][17] In the wake of protests three members of the organization assault and injure an employee of the Indian Government in London.[note 8]

The board "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Plants" (PCAP) is founded.[18]

1978 February 13 and June 15: some members of Ananda Marga are alleged to have been involved in violent acts to protest against the unjust detention and poisoning of P. R. Sarkar in India.[note 9]

July 4: end of state of emergency in India: Sarkar is found innocent and acquitted on appeal.[19][20]

1979 May: Sarkar travels overseas visiting Europe (Germany, France, Italy[note 10] Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland).[21]
1980 Sarkar visits Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Island.[21]

September: Sarkar visits Jamaica and Venezuela.[21][note 11]

1982 Sarkar introduces the philosophy of Neohumanism[note 12] and publishes several volumes on philology.[note 13]

Sarkar began to compose what later would comprise of 5,018 songs collectively called Prabhata Samgiita (Songs of the New Dawn).

1986 Sarkar began to propound the "Theory of Microvita".[note 14] The "Microvita Research Institute" is founded to begin the researches on this field.
1990 September 7: Sarkar founds Ananda Marga Gurukula.

October 21: Sarkar dies at 3:10 pm. Acarya Shraddhananda Avadhuta is elected from the body of purodhas as President of the Ananda Marga global organization and Purodha Pramukha.[note 15]

1991 Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team receives recognition as an NGO by the United Nations.
1996 The Supreme Court of India lifts the ban on government employees from being members of Ananda Marga, and affirmed the legal status of the organization.

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ RU is the first of the 35 boards of the organization.
  2. ^ RAWA is founded during a Dharma Maha Chakra (DMC) held in Bhagalpur (at the house of Aniruddha Prasad, one of Sarkar's disciples) in order to restore art to its true meaning.
  3. ^ (Sarkar, P. R., 1961-2001), this is a collection of speeches delivered to higher Tattvika trainees from 27 May to 5 June.
  4. ^ For a full explanation of all the aphorisms see (Ānanda Mitra, Av., 1981)
  5. ^ These ácáryas are full-time workers and fully ordained ministers. The juniors, known as 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 avadhutas and avadhutikas, are dressed in full saffron attire.
  6. ^ WWD is started to empower women to contribute and alleviate suffering of women in many parts of the world.
  7. ^ The poisoning causes serious health problems to the leader, partially damaging his sight.
  8. ^ They were sentenced to a total of 12 years on 1978 (see Birmingham Evening Mail, Saturday, November 4, 1978).
  9. ^ The accusations: 1)the bombing of the Sydney Hilton hotel during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting in Australia (on February 13) and, 2)the conspiracy to murder the leader of the Australian National Front, Robert Cameron (on June 15). Evidence subsequently produced in court showed that Ananda Marga had been closely watched by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) since the movement arrived in Australia in the early 1970s. This included telephone taps, and other surveillance methods. Subsequent to the appeal to the High Court, a judicial inquiry in New South Wales cast doubt over police informer, Richard Seary, a prosecution witness, on whose affidavits was primarily based prosecution (Responding to Custody Levels – Compensation for Miscarriage of Justice). After a long judicial history the main prosecution witness was recognised as unreliable and the AM members were acquitted (1-Alister v R ("Hilton Bombing case") (1984) HCA 85., 2-Alister v R ("Hilton Bombing case") per Murphy J (2) para 2 (1984) HCA 85., 3-Alister v R ("Hilton Bombing case") per Wilson & Dawson JJ para 17 (1984) HCA 85., 4-Parliament Hansard: Hilton Hotel Bombing, Government of New South Wales, December 9, 1991, accessdate=2008-03-13 (First motion for an inquiry), 5-Pip Wilson (February 13, 2003). Lies, spies and the Sydney Hilton bombing, (accessdate=2008-03-16, archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16), 6-Ben Hills. The Hilton Fiasco. SMH 12 February 1998, p.11 (accessed 6 September 2010)). The perpertrators have never been found. Evidence that Australian security forces may have been responsible led to the New South Wales parliament unanimously calling for an inquiry in 1991[1] and 1995.[2] The Government of Australia vetoed any inquiry.
  10. ^ In Italy Sarkar lands at Milan's airport but due to visa problems he is not allowed to access in the country.
  11. ^ On April, Sarkar does not get a visa for the USA due to his problems with the Indian government. (See MacDougall, C. D., 1983).
  12. ^ On this subject see (Sarkar, P. R., 1982) and (Sarkar, P. R., 1987), (Ānanda Mitra, Ā. A. 1986). See also (Prasiidananda, A. A. 1990)
  13. ^ Throughout his life Sarkar gave thousands of speeches on various themes which were further transcribed but not all yet published. The topics included spiritual philosophy, cosmology, history, anthropology, bio-psychology, farming, naturopathy, education, socioeconomic liberation, and other literary works.
  14. ^ Which can be defined as small, subtle entities which he said are the foundation of all existence
  15. ^ He served in that capacity until his death in 2008.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii (1995) Caryacarya Part 1 ISBN 81-7252-028-X 
  2. ^ Dharmavedananda 1999, p. 13 to 23.
  3. ^ "Home of PROUT" Prout.org retrieved 2012-06-12 
  4. ^ Bussey 2010, p. 79.
  5. ^ "Ananda Marga Disaster Relief" AMURT retrieved 2012-06-12 
  6. ^ "Amurt ORG" Amurt.org retrieved 2012-06-12 
  7. ^ "AMURT Italia - Volontariato Internazionale - Adozioni a distanza, donazioni, sostegno e volontariato" Amurt.it retrieved 2012-06-12 
  8. ^ a b Ng 1995.
  9. ^ a b c Miller 1999.
  10. ^ The International Commission of Jurists (Geneva) and The International League for the Rights of Man (New York) (August 9, 1976) "Report on the Ananda Marga leader Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (Baba) in Patna, India" retrieved March 26, 2012 
  11. ^ Barker 1989, p. 168.
  12. ^ Ng, F. 1995.
  13. ^ "Religion: Violent Bliss" Time Magazine May 14, 1973 retrieved March 26, 2012 
  14. ^ Ghista 2011.
  15. ^ "40 Years Since Sarkar Was Jailed, Poisoned" Prout Global January 2011 retrieved March 26, 2012 
  16. ^ Prins 2005, p. 251.
  17. ^ Barker 1989, p. 168 and 54-5.
  18. ^ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Plants (PCAP) (Retrieved 24 November 2012).
  19. ^ See Times of India, July 5, 1978.
  20. ^ Melton 2010, p. 105.
  21. ^ a b c Vijayananda 1994, p. 80.

Sources

Online sources

Further reading

  • Ananda Marga Aa. Vv. (1973, 2nd ed.) Teaching asanas: An Ananda Marga manual for teacher Los Altos Hills: Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 0-88476-000-6 
  • Acarya Prasiidananda Avadhuta (1990) Neo-Humanist Ecology Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 971-8623-12-4 
  • Avadhūtika Ānanda Mitra Ācāryā (1986) Neo-humanist Education: Education for a New World Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 0-88476-007-3 
  • Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii (1995-6th ed.) Ananada Marga Caryacarya, part 1 Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81–7252–028–X Check |isbn= value (help) 
  • Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii (1987-4th ed.) Ananada Marga Caryacarya, part 2 Ananda Marga Publications 
  • Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii (1992-4th ed.) Ananada Marga Caryacarya, part 3 Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81–7252–154–5 Check |isbn= value (help) 
  • Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii (1961) Ánanda Sútram Jamalpur: Ananda Marga Pubs ISBN 81– 7252– 027– 1 Check |isbn= value (help) 
  • Nandita, & Devadatta. (1971). Path of bliss: Ananda Marga yoga. Wichita, Kan: Ananda Marga Publishers.
  • Hatley, Shaman and Inayatullah, Sohail. (1999),"Karma Samnyasa: Sarkar’s reconceptualization of Indian ascetism”, in K. Ishwaran, ed., Ascetic culture: renunciation and worldly engagement (Leiden, Brill,Vol. 73, International Studies in Sociology and Social Anthropology),139-152
  • Inayatullah, Sohail. (2002) Understanding Sarkar: The Indian Episteme, Macrohistory and Transformative Knowledge. Leiden: Brill.
  • Tarak. (1990). Ananda Marga, social and spiritual practices. Calcutta: Ananda Marga Publications.
  • Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii. (1988). Ananda Marga ideology and way of life in a nutshell. Calcutta: Ānanda Mārga Pracāraka Saṁgha.
  • Sarkar, Prabhat Rainjan (1957-1968) Problems of the Day Jamalpur: Ananda Marga Pubs ISBN 81-7252-019-0 
  • Sarkar, Prabhat Rainjan (Ac. Pranavnanda Avt. Editor) (1961-2001) Idea and Ideology Kolkata: Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81-7252-205-3 
  • Sarkar, Prabhat Rainjan (1957 first ed. in Bengali, 1983 first ed. in English) Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies Jamalpur/Calcutta: Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81–7252–178–2 Check |isbn= value (help) 
  • Sarkar, Prabhat Rainjan (1982) The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism Kolkata: Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81–7252–168–5 Check |isbn= value (help) 
  • Sarkar, Prabhat Rainjan (1987) Neohumanism in a Nutshell, vol. 1 Kolkata: Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81-7252-184-7 
  • Sarkar, Prabhat Rainjan (1987) Neohumanism in a Nutshell, vol. 2 Kolkata: Ananda Marga Publications ISBN 81-7252-184-7 

External links

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