Known as Naresh Ranjan Roy Choudhury in his pre-monastic days, he joined the Ramakrishna Order at its centre in Bhubaneswar in January 1939 at the age of 22.

He was greatly influenced by the dedicated lives of some of the monks of Ramakrishna Order, especially Swami Prabhananda (Ketaki Maharaj), who was his cousin in his pre-monastic life.

As a Vice-President of the Math and Mission, Swami Gahananandaji travelled extensively in various parts of the country and visited many branches of the Order.

He also visited at different times various places in the USA, Canada, England, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Russia, Australia, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius.

In the year 1932, with the aim of providing adequate health care to pregnant women and infants, a hospital known as "Shishu Mangal Pratishthan" came to be established in a small tin shed, by the efforts of Swami Dayanandaji.

Keeping the lofty ideal of "service to humanity in the spirit of worship of God" bright before him, he set on a new spiritual journey.