“Ananda Marga” is a Sanskrit expression that means “Path of Bliss.” The term is composed of two words: *ananda*, signifying bliss or a deep spiritual joy, and *marga*, meaning path or way. This translation is not merely linguistic; it serves as a concise statement of the organization’s spiritual vision. Bliss here is not understood as fleeting pleasure, but as a profound, enduring joy rooted in spiritual realization and union with the Supreme Consciousness.

The significance of the name lies first in how clearly it defines the ultimate aim of the tradition. By placing *ananda* at the center, it affirms that the true purpose of life is the attainment of supreme happiness or divine joy. This bliss is regarded as the highest state of consciousness, a realization of one’s deepest spiritual nature. At the same time, the word *marga* emphasizes that such bliss is not an abstract ideal but something approached through a definite, practical discipline.

The name also highlights that this discipline is meant to be systematic and comprehensive. It points to a path that integrates meditation, ethical living, and service to humanity as coordinated means for moving toward spiritual bliss. In this understanding, inner realization and outer action are not separate domains but mutually reinforcing dimensions of the same journey. The “Path of Bliss” therefore suggests both personal spiritual fulfillment and a life oriented toward the welfare of all beings.

Finally, the choice of this name signals a particular orientation toward spiritual life itself. Rather than centering on mere renunciation or ritual for their own sake, it presents spirituality as a dynamic, joyful movement toward the Divine. The path is portrayed as one in which the realization of one’s divine nature naturally expresses itself as happiness, compassion, and constructive engagement with the world. Thus, “Ananda Marga” functions as both a description and an invitation: a concise formulation of the goal and the way that leads to it.