As a child he was named Pitambar, born in the ancient pilgrimage center of Ujjain and brought up by his Maternal grandfather, since he had lost his father early in the childhood.

He was distinct from other kids of his age by his exceptional courage and ability to interact with wild animals.

He disappeared from his home at the age of 9 years immediately after the thread ceremony ( upanayan). The Child left his home and mother in search of the divine.
His travels as a little boy through the deep forests and along the banks of Narmada finally brought him at the feet of his guru and saint, Sri Sri Brahmananda Maharaj of Gangonath. ( near Baroda )
Bramhananda maharaji was overjoyed to receive the wondering little boy. He took him under his care and gave him Diksha and anointed him in the Bramhachari order in the Ananda school of monks, based on the ten schools of monks set up by Jagatguru Sri Sri Shankaracharya. In keeping with his tender age the boy was named "Balananda " ( Bal meaning childhood). Bramhanandaji organized a huge bhandara on the occasion of Balanandaji's Diksha ceremony. There after he ensured the little monk Balananda was given proper education in the sacred Veda's and Upansishads. Balananadaji devoted himself in the process of learning and proved to be a very bright and diligent student.

Bramhanandji directed Balanandaji to Sri Gowri Shankar Maharaj for learing Yoga and further pursuing his scared learning in the verses. However little Balananda had very stiff task to perform before he could pursue his yoga shiksha....Gowri Shankar Maharaj was very ill tempered and unstable person..Balananda the little boy had the challenge of curing him of this disorder..which he did with his courage patience tact and most importantly love and affection. In the course of time Balanandaji became very well versed in the scriptures and evolved into a yogi of highest order..however he never gave up learning..and he learned from the continuous travel across the length and breadth of India .

He spent about 50+ years in performing Narmada Parikrama, during the parikrama he had many divine experiences and assimilated secrets of Hatha Yoga. He also developed a rare capability of taming wild animals. The other monks preferred doing the Narmada Parikrama along with Balanandaji since he could ensure safety from wild animals.

Balanandaji, stayed in the Himalaya 's for good amount of time..Trijuginarayan, Bhagshunath Badrinath are worth the mention.

He believed in assimilation of knowledge and said that one has to be like the Honey bee,.collecting honey from variety of flowers, hence he went about learning from various Yogi's of his time. He met Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya ( Yogiraj Shayam Charan Lahiri) on the Ghats of river Ganga in Varanasi . He also assimilated knowledge on Kriya Yog from Lahiri Mahasaya.

Balanandaji had a divine appearance , one and all were attracted by his Siva like appearance and touched by his kindness but most importantly were impressed by his discourses, which were simple, logical and based on practical interpretation of Spiritual precepts. His method of discourse was based on tales from folklores and stories from practical experiences gathered from his extensive travels across the country.

His travels finally took him to the eastern parts of country and to the holy town of Baidyanathdham or Deoghar as its called today and currently in the state of Jharkhand. Deoghar is well known for the great Siva temple known as Baidyanath. People from various parts of the country come to offer their obeisance to lord Siva here.

In the holy hill of Tapoban near Deoghar, Saint Balananda finally settled down, and stayed here for many years in the Caves of the Tapoban hill. It was here that his mother finally united with him after 60 years, his mother Narmadabai, never gave up hope of finding her little boy Pitambar.and roamed from one pilgrim center to another for more than 6 decades with the hope and unflinching faith that her son is living and has become a monk, hence she visited the monks in order to find her son. It was great poignant moment ..when the mother and son re united after 60 years. For the rest of her life Narmadabai spent her life with her son and finally breathed her last, here in the Tapoban hills

In the meantime Balanandaji's fame as a Yogi and Siddha Mahatma started spreading. Many bakhta's from Kolkata started visiting him..strikingly the intellectual community and professionals like Doctors, Barristers advocates, Govt. officials etc, were very impressed by him and they became his Mantra Shisha's. He also attracted number of young spiritual aspirants and they flocked around him and became Brahamachari Shisha's. .....One of them was ofcourse our beloved Guru Maharaj Sri Sri MohananandaJi.

One of the 1st disciples of Balananda Maharaj was Sri Ramcharan Basu who was the magistrate of a town called Ranaghat. It was in memory of Ramcharan Basu that his Children built the famous Ashram at Deoghar for their fathers revered Gurudev . It was named as Ramnivas ashram. However Balanandaji, was not at all keen to go and stay in the ashram .a born mendicant with a free spirit, he was not willing to get bound by the attraction of an Ashram. However due to great persuasion of his closest and senior most Brahamachari Shisha, Sri Purnananda Ji that he finally conceded to the wishes of his Bhakta's.

It was with the initiative of Purnandaji ( also known as Choto Baba) that the temple of Sri Sri Tripura Sundari the presiding deity of the Guru parampara was built. After consecration of the temple the the deity of Tripura Sundari was named " Balaeshwari mata" ( eshwari of Balananda) . Sri Sri Brahamanandaji came to consecrate the Siva temple that was built in the ashram.

Those who visited Balanandaji were overwhelmed by his kindness and ability to them feel at peace. It is narrated by his disciples that Balanandaji not only guided them towards Spiritual up-liftment but also ensured that they were successful householders as well.

He initiated number of SOCIAL WELFARE activities including setting up of Schools and colleges.

He had miraculous healing powers and people from the nearby town and villages came to him to seek healing of their deadly ailments...it is said that many would rush to him with victims of deadly Snake bites and they were invariably cured.

During his last years from 1920 till his Mahasamdhi in 1937, BalanandaJi focused on developing Srimat MohananandaJi as the future Guru of the Parampara.

Balananadaji had great love and affection for MohananandaJi, and would say that "Mohan is in complete attunement with my mind and consciousness "....MohananandaJi's undivided attention in those days were only towards the Care and well being of his gurudev.

In 1937 Balanandaji took Mahasamadhi...many who were present during his final hours had later shared that they had seen a light pass out of the body of Balanandaji and merge into the body of MohananandaJi...

In the traditions of the Siddha parampara's the Spiritual power of the Guru passed on from one generation to the next and continues to light the lamps amongst the minds of the mankind and guide them towards the state of Ananada.

( Balanandaji's discourses well be subsequently put up in this websites for the benefit and interest of the Spiritually oriented)