Preparations for Holi festival have started across the country. Holi of Sant Premanand Ji Maharaj is also special. They consider Holi not as a festival of ordinary colours, but as a festival of devotion. Hari (Lord) is most beautiful in spring. Hari only rejoices in the pleasant spring. It is Hari who colors us with various colours, and it is Hari who also colors the devotee who knows the essence of devotion.
Respected Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj, popularly known as Premanand Maharaj. Connects the colors of Holi with God’s loving pastimes. It is not the outer color that is important, but the color of love within. Their Holi is related to the love story of Radha-Krishna.
Holi of flowers in Vrindavan
Maharaj ji often plays Holi with flowers in Shri Hit Radha Kelly Kunj (Varaha Ghat, Vrindavan). There are less colors and more flowers in it, this is the tradition of Radha-Vallabh sect. Devotees say that Maharaj ji is seen playing Holi with Gurudev or in the mood of Priyapriyatam (Radha-Krishna), and the whole atmosphere becomes loving.
style of coloring
Even in the Holi of 2025, Maharaj ji showered gulal on the devotees and blessed them. During this period, many videos went viral, where he was seen playing colorful Holi with Radhapiya Ju (Radha-Krishna).
Premanand Maharaj’s message on Holi
Premanand Ji Maharaj says that Holi is not incest, but the name of love and devotion. Stay away from alcohol, meat etc. Do not play Holi randomly on the road. Instead, get immersed in name-kirtan and satsang. Holi means getting colored in the colors of God. External colors fade away, but the color of love remains throughout life.
hymns and prayers
His special bhajans on Holi like “Holi khelat keli kunj mein…” or his prayers on Holi festival are very popular. When Maharaj ji does kirtan in the name of Radha, the devotees get excited.
Prahlad’s Holi story
Maharaj ji often narrates the story of Prahlad-Holika on Holi. It symbolizes the victory of goodness and the power of devotion. They say that true Holi is the one which burns the vices of the mind and gives it the color of devotion. In comparison to Holi of Barsana-Nandgaon of Vrindavan, Maharaj ji’s Holi is calm, devotional and spiritual. He also gives messages to the devotees. He believes that leave everything to God, then see how life becomes colorful.
Who is Premanand Govind Sharan Maharaj Ji?
Premanand Govind Sharan Maharaj Ji was born in a simple and extremely virtuous Brahmin family. His name was Anirudh Kumar Pandey. He was born in Sarsaul, Kanpur. His grandfather was a monk and the atmosphere of the house was extremely devotional, sacred and peaceful. His parents were religious people and regularly engaged in saint service and various devotional activities. His elder brother used to recite verses from Srimad Bhagavatam.
Maharaj Ji started reciting various prayers (Chalisa) at a very young age. At this young age itself, questions began to arise in his mind about the purpose of life. To get the answer he started chanting Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram and Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari. At the young age of thirteen, he left home to uncover the truth behind human life.
Brahmachari life and Sannyasa initiation
Maharaj ji was given initiation into ethical celibacy. He was named Anandswaroop Brahmachari and later he took sannyasa. After accepting Mahavakya, he was named Swami Anandashram. As a spiritual seeker, most of his life was spent on the banks of river Ganga as he never accepted the ashram life.
Bhakti and arrival in Vrindavan
One day while meditating under a tree in Banaras, by the grace of Shri Shyamashyam he was attracted towards the glory of Vrindavan. Later, under the inspiration of a saint, he was inspired to attend a Raas Leela organized by Swami Shri Shriram Sharma. Later, with the advice of Swamiji and the help of a disciple of Shri Narayan Das Bhaktamali (Mamaji of Buxar), Maharajji boarded a train to Mathura.
Transformation from Sanyasi to Radhavallabh Saint
His early routine included Vrindavan Parikrama and darshan of Shri Banke Bihari. At Banke Bihariji’s temple, a saint told him that he must also visit Shri Radhavallabh Temple. Goswami ji encouraged him to chant the name of Shri Harivansh. Maharaj ji was initiated into the Radhavallabh sect with the Sharanagat mantra.
Maharaj ji remained in the service of his Sadguru Dev for ten years and served him with great dedication, and whatever work was given to him, he completed it with utmost humility. Soon his devotion towards the lotus feet of Shri Radha developed. He started living near Madhukari in Vrindavan.
Input By : Dushyant Shekhar