Acarya Shraddhananda Avadhuta, Purodha Pramukha

Dadajii was born in North India in June 1919, and passed away in Ranchi on 15 October, 2008 at the age of 89. After completeing his education, at the age of 25 he was employed by the Central Board of Excise and Customs. He was initiated personally by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii in 1954, one year before Ananda Marga began. In 1964, at the age of 45, he dedicated his life as an avadhuta. For nearly two decades he worked in Central Office as the editor of Ananda Marga magazines Prajina Bharatii in English, Hindi and Bengali, and Ananda Yuga and Ánanda Rekha in Hindi. Baba also chose him to serve as the secretary of the Tattvika and Purodha Boards from 1978 to 1990. During those years, Baba designated him to personally teach the highest spiritual lessons, known as Vishesa Yoga.

In 1990, when Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii left His physical body, the body of purodhas elected him as Purodha Pramukha and President of the Ananda Marga global organization. He served in that capacity until his death.

He was a great spiritualist who personified the teachings of his Guru. He wrote The Sixteen Points: Our Fundamental Duty in 1978, and his autobiography, My Spiritual Life with Baba, was in the final stages of editing when he became Purodha Pramukha. He also loved to write devotional poetry in his native Bhojpurii language.

He was a model of humility, puctuality and discipline. Full of wisdom and inspiration, he was always magnanimous and universalist. He taught that problems, suffering, illness, loss of position or wealth were opportunities to open our eyes to the glory of the Supreme. By achieving spiritual realization, the material world loses its attraction. And his most adorable quality was his wonderful sense of humor, with which he invited everyone to laugh and raise their spirits together. He will be sorely missed.