The early history of P.R. Sarkar and his way towards the establishment of Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha is obscure and few writings can be found. There is however one account which proved to be significant in relation to Sarkars future as a spiritual leader, namely the initiation of a notorious criminal named Kalicharan.

In 1939, Sarkar left Jamalpur for Calcutta to attend Vidyasagar College of the University of Calcutta. He frequently visited the ghats along the river Ganges at night time to meditate and contemplate. At that time of day ordinary people shun the ghats because they were frequented by thieves and other petty criminals.

One night (probably in 1939 or 1940) young Sarkar was performing his meditation, when suddenly assaulted by a notorious criminal and killer, Kalicharan. Kalicharan demanded him to hand over his wallet or be killed. At that point Sarkar, who didn’t know the unknown assailant, is known to have said: “Kalicharan, I promise to give you all my money, but first tell me whether you rob people out of necessity or habit?”. Kalicharan realized that he was dealing with an extraordinary person, and decided to receive initiation into meditation from Sarkar. He asked what he could call his new spiritual master, who simply replied: “call me Baba”, which became the name all his followers in the future would affectionately call him. From that time on Kalicharan changed his ways and got the spiritual name Kalikananda.

Recent history

Timeline

1921 - The Holy advent of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji (the Propounder of Ananda Marga).
1939 - The first initiation of Kalikacharan Bandopadhyay at Kashi Mitra Ghat in Kalikata, India. (Thus, thebeginning of Tantrika Civilisation).
1955 - *Ananda Marga was founded.
           *The first Dharma Maha Cakra held on the 9th day of Jan. at Rampur coly, Jamalpur, Bihar.
           *The first Acharya and Tattvika were made.
1956 - A first piece of land was purchased at Jamalpur, Bihar.
1958 - Renaissance Universal was founded on the day of 25th Jan. at Trimuhan,   Bhagalpur, Bihar.
1959 - PROUT was founded in Motihari, Bihar.
1961 - The first wholetimer was created.
1962 - The first Avadhuta was initiated.
1963 - *Ananda nagar, the registered head quarter of AMPS was established.
           *Education Relief and Welfare Section (ERAWS), the social service wing of Ananda Marga started.
1964 - Ananda Marga Board of Education (AMBE) was founded.
1965 - The womens welfare department (WWD) was started.
1966 - *The first missionary was sent overseas.
           *Anand Marga Degree College was setup at Anandnagar.
1967- Anandnagar was attacked by communists on 5th March and five dedicated monks were murdered.
1968 - Ananda Marga Institute of Technology (AMIT) was started at Anandnagar.
1969 - Ananda Marga Congregation at Cooch Bihar in West Bengal was attacked by communists on Aug 29. A dedicated worker was killed.
1970 - *Anand Marg universal Relief Team (AMURT) was founded.
           *”Baba Nam Kevalam” (Kiirttan with astaksarii siddha Mantra) was introduced at Amjharia forest Rest house near Ranchi, India.
1971 - The seven year long incarceration of the Marga Guru begins on December 29.
1973- The Marga Guru was poisoned inside Bankipur Central jail, Patna on Feb.12.
          *From April 1, He went on a long fast, demanding judicial enquiry into the poisoning event.
1975 - Ananda Marga was banned in India on July 3, when nationwide Emergency was imposed.
1977 - The ban was subsequently withdrawn after an unprecedented electoral tide swept the govt. out of power.
1978 - *The incarceration ends.
           *The Marga Guru comes out of jail on Aug.2, following verdict by the Patna High Court pronouncing Him and four others innocent and acquitting them of all the charges.
           *The Marga Guru breaks His 5 Years-4 months-2 days long fast.
           *The Kaoshikii dance was introduced in Patna, (Bihar) on 6th Sept.
1982 - *The philosophy of Neo-Humanism was expounded.
           *Communist activists massacred 17 Ananda Marga Monks and Nun on April 30 on Bijan Setu in Kalikata, West Bengal.
           *The Marga Guru introduced Prabhata Samgiita with His first composition on September 14, at Deoghar, Bihar.   
1983 - Ananda Marga was declared a religious denomination by the supreme court of India in its judgement in the Tandava case on October20.
1984 - Ananda Marga was declared as a religious organization by the Canadian Government.
1985 - The Marga Guru introduced 10 new letters in Bengali alphabet to improve its versatility.
1987 - The Theory of Microvitum was propounded by the Marga Guru on December 31.
1988- Shri P.R. Sarkar was invited by the Govt. of Red Chna to a conference on Futures of world Development in Economy, Culture, Ecology and Education. He sent His representative Acharya Raghunath Prasad.
1989 - AMURT received the Indicator Human Rights Award for 1988 for outstanding relief work rendered to the victims of apartheid in South Africa.
1990 - *On April 2, Ac. Asiimananda Avt. and four other Ananda Margiis were brutally  murdered at the hands of the goons of Communist Party of India (Marxist) at Anandnagar.
            *On 7th May, the Calcutta High Court in its landmark judgement on Tandava case accepted the Tandava dance as an essential and integral part of religious practices of Ananda Margiis.
           *On June 4, Ac. Karunaketan Brc, killed in police firing at Anandnagar. The incident instigated by the CPI (M).
           *In September, The Marga Guru gave the initial concept for the establishment of the Gurukul University at Anandnagar.
           *October 21, Shrii Shrii Ananda Murti ji departed His physical body in MG Quarters, Tiljala,  Kolakata, India.
           *October 26, Shraddhanjali ceremony of Rev. Marga Guru conducted.
           *October 31, Ac. Shraddhananda Avadhuta became the Purodha Pramukha and President of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha.
1991 – AMURT received recognition as an NGO by the U.N.O.
1992 – Ananda Marga had been registered in Uganda, Greece, Ethiopia, Russia etc.
1993 – Ananda Marga registered in Moldavia, Korea, Haithi, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Papua, New Guinea and Chile.
1994 – The government of Jamaica recognized Ananda Marga as a non-profit charitable organization.
1995 – Ananda Marga was registered in Madagascar and Mangolia.
1996 – *Supreme Court of India lifted the notification of Govt of India banning employees from participating in Ananda Marga activities and also reaffirmed the Religious Status of Ananda Marga.
            *Govt of United Kingdom declared Ananda Marga as a charitable religious organization.
1997 – Platinum Jubilee celebration of the advent of Shrii Shrii Ananda Murti ji was organized throughout the globe.
1998 – Massive relief work by AMURT in the civil strife-torn Sudan and Rwanda and in the natural calamity in Nicaragua.
1999 – Commendable relief work by AMURT in Kosovo civil war, Orissa super cyclone, Turkey and Taiwan earthquakes.
2000 – The District and Sessions court of Kolkata exonerated Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha from all  the false charges framed against it by the C.B.I. in the matter of Purulia Arms drop case.
2001 – Massive relief work done by AMURT in Gujrat in the earthquake-hit area of Bhuj District.
2002 – *The headquarters of Ananda Marga has begun functioning from Anandnagar.
            *Acharya Raghunath ji has been appointed as the President by the Purodha Pramukha.
2003 – September 18, Ac. Abhipremananda Avt was brutally murdered by the CPI (M) infiltrators.
2004 – *Ananda Marga registerd in Cambodia.
            *Relief provided by AMURT to the victims of Tsunami in India and abroad.
2005 – *Rehabilitation provided to Tsunami affected people by AMURT in India and other parts of the world.
            *Rescue and rehabilitation work done for Katrina affected people.
            *Golden Jubilee celebrations of Ananda Marga.

Organization

Ananda Marga is a hierarchal organization led by senior members of AMPS, most of them dedicated monks and nuns. A well developed hierarchy is working in the AMPS organization where the Global Office is the main representative organ of AMPS, led by the General Secretary. Globally the organization is divided into 9 sectors named after a city in each of them, namely:

Each sector is subdivided into regions, which again is further divided as per needs. Each of them is lead by a senior official, namely the Sectorial Secretary, Regional Secretary, and so on.

A separate entity of AMPS is the Women's Welfare Department (WWD), destined to help the betterment of women through education, social work, and local initiatives. WWD was started as a reaction to the common mistreatment and lack of respect women are suffering in many parts of the world. WWD is lead by women, for women, and one of their goals is the equality of both sexes.

AMPS also strives for development of the human sphere in other parts of life as well. Renaissance Artists and Writers Organization (RAWA) is an organization for the development of the fine arts. RAWA regularly arrange cultural events in several countries, those being concerts, theatrical acts, etc.

The official social welfare and development organization below AMPS is Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT). AMURT arranges both emergency relief during natural disasters, and long term projects such as building of schools and orphanages.

Ananda Marga Association of Yoga Educators (AMAYE)[13] was started in 2006 as a loose forum for research,discussion and sharing of knowledge about Ananda Marga Yoga & Spiritual practices.

Ananda Marga Gurukula [14] was founded by Shrii P.R. Sarkar on September 7, 1990 in order to build Ananda Marga University with its headquarters at Anandanagar (India) and to bring together entire neohumanist education movement under its overall academic guidance and direction. The educational network of Gurukula claims to run over 1200 schools in India and other continents.

Proclaimed philosophy and goals

The philosophy of Ananda Marga is one of universalism. It is a synthetic outlook, recognizing God as the one limitless supreme consciousness. This universe, having been created by God, is existing in God, and as such all created beings are God's children, part of the one universal Cosmic family. Thus we are all brothers and sisters, connected in love by the bonds of Cosmic fraternity. This universe of diversity has evolved out of unity (God), and we must continually strive to see that unity in all diversity. Thus the social outlook of Ananda Marga recognizes that the welfare of the individual is inextricably linked with the welfare of the collective, each relying on the other for its existence and dynamism. Everyone has the right to equal opportunity and as such there should be no discrimination on the basis of superficial barriers such as race, nationality and religion.

Ananda Marga advocates a world of justice, security and peace for all. To this end Ananda Marga gives a practical, rational, and systematic way of life for the balanced development of all human potentialities: physical, psychic and spiritual. It is a system that incorporates practices that are beneficial for personal and social upliftment. These range from proper hygiene and diet, to yoga postures, to a scientific technique of meditation based on morality and leading to complete peace and inner fulfillment. It recognizes that a balance is needed between the spiritual and mundane aspects of existence, and that neither one should be neglected at the expense of the other. Hence, the goal of Ananda Marga is "Self-realization and the welfare of humanity."

Interpretation

1. Upwards pointing triangle: signifies action in the world, i.e. social work
2. .Downwards pointing triangle: signifies knowledge, i.e. spiritual meditation.

Action should be based on knowledge and knowledge should be followed by action.

1. The sun - the sum of work in the world and inner development leads to progress.
2. The svastika - Signifies personal victory, in the sense of spiritual fullfilment and salvation.