a living kaleidoscope of
Sanatan Dharma
Prayagraj will come alive during Maha AquariusThis ancient celebration of life and faith will also present a confluence of ‘Akharas’. Although this Sanskrit word means wrestling field, in its deeper layers it contains many microcosms.
Shailvi Sharda
Takes a peek into the fascinating world.
It was the curse of Durvasa that paved the way for the Samudra Manthan and Kumbh traditions. “Once the eminent but short-tempered Maharishi Durvasa cursed the gods and deprived them of their powers. The demons took advantage of the opportunity to establish their rule over heaven. The distressed deities appealed to Lord Vishnu for help, who said that the lost fortunes lay in the deep layers of the ocean and advised Samudra Manthan to get them back,” said Professor of Astrology Faculty at Central Sanskrit University, Lucknow. Madan Mohan Pathak says, citing references from Bhagwat and Vishnu Purana“The Amrit Kumbh (vessel containing the nectar of immortality) was one of the 14 gems revealed. There was a tug of war between the interested gods and demons regarding this. Vishnu – in the guise of the sorceress Mohini – intervened and chased away Kumbha. As he took it towards heaven, a few drops of the nectar fell into the rivers of Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Prayag. Over time, the belief that those who bathe in these rivers at some cosmic moment would attain purity, auspiciousness and immortality gave rise to the Kumbh rituals,” says Pathak.
Akhara: Arena of protectors of religion
In Sanskrit, ‘Akhada’ means wrestling arena, but on closer look – they are an entire microcosm existing inside the protected walls of the monasteries that are visible during the Maha Kumbh. Rana PB Singh, retired professor in the Department of Culture, explains, “Akharas speak of a kind of social order within the ecosystem of a ‘Math’ or ‘Ashram’ (an educational complex for saints), on the shoulders of which rests the traditions of Sanatan Dharma. There is a responsibility to protect.” Geography at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Mahant Mithlesh Nandini Sharan of Ayodhya, Vedic scholar and writer, says that it is difficult to trace the exact origin of ‘Akhadas’ and he calls them ‘living proof of Sanatan tradition’. “The tradition of Akharas is as old as religion. When saints established ‘monasteries’, they often faced challenges from demons who disrupted their religious practices and rituals. Therefore, many saints raised a martial wing to protect Sanatana Dharma. Naturally, those guarding the seers had to be physically healthy, and the place where they practiced their skills was described as the arena“Without the Akharas, Kumbh would be just a religious fair,” says Mahant Mithlesh.
Adi Shankaracharya and Dasnami sect
Virtuous seer Adi Shankaracharya – who initiated the unification of Sanatana traditions in the 8th centuryth century when it split into various warring sects – has been described as the originator of the present form of Kumbh rituals.
In ‘A History of Dasnami Naga Sanyasi’, author Jadunath Sarkar mentions ten seer groups existing in 8.th Shatabdi – namely Giri, Puri, Bharati, Ban, Aranya, Parvat, Sagar, Tirtha, Ashram and Saraswati – were associated with the four ‘Maths’ established by Adi Shankaracharya.
While ‘Puri’, ‘Bharti’ and ‘Saraswati’ branches were connected Sringeri Math (South), ‘Pratbandha’ and ‘Aranya’ orders were lined up with the Govardhan Monastery at Jagannatha Puri (East). ‘Giri’, ‘Parvat’ and ‘Sagar’ were sent to Joshi Math (North) while ‘Tirtha’ and ‘Ashram’ branches were assigned to Sarada Math in Dwarka (West). They also marked out the jurisdiction and character of each ‘monastery’ and linked them into a ritual protocol, lifestyle and even titles.
At present, the seven Shaiva Akharas Mahanirvana, Atal, Niranjani, Anand, Juna, Avahan and Agni belong to the Dasnami sect.
Of Ramanacharya and Vaishnav Akharas
14th Ramanandacharya was born and rose in the century. Born in a Kanyakubja Brahmin family of Varanasi, Ramanda followed the Vaishnav path. An early and prominent proponent of the Bhakti movement, he is also seen as a social reformer who accepted disciples without discriminating on the basis of gender, class or caste. Legends like Kabir, Ravidas, Bhagat Pipa etc. are known as his disciples and are considered to belong to the Ramanandi sect. The three major Akharas of the Kumbh associate themselves with Ramanandacharya. In his paper titled ‘The Akhara System in the Kumbh Mela: An Icon of Hindu Mythology’ published in the International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, HS Bhakuni, a faculty member of the Department of History at MB Government PG College Uttarakhand, writes that the Vaishnava sects Digambara, Nirmohi And is divided into Nirvani. The unique identity of these Akharas is visible in their flags, rituals and ways of dressing. Their Naga ascetics wear white clothes.
The remaining three Akharas – grouped as Udasin – are associated with Sikhism. The word neutral means neutral or impartial. Scholars said that the followers of the Udasa sect consider the Guru or teacher as supreme, believing that one cannot attain God without the guidance of a Guru. He abandoned elaborate and complex rituals and chose ‘seva’ as a means to salvation. they came in 18th Sadhi and its associated members are committed to service. Within the Akharas, they follow religious rituals only to get closer to their Guru who will ultimately help them move forward.
The stampede and birth of Akhara Parishad in 1954
An unprecedented crowd of pilgrims reached the Sangam on the Mauni Amavasya Snan of independent India’s first Kumbh held in 1954. Religious fervor lost its limits, crowd control measures failed and a stampede broke out, in which about 800 people lost their lives and more than 2,000 were injured. Following an official investigation into the incident, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) was formed. Since then it has been playing an important role in organizing Kumbh Melas. Currently, the ABAP consists of representatives from all 13 Akharas and serves as the apex body of the monastic orders. It takes important decisions on the Kumbh Mela, and addresses matters related to monastic orders. It also resolves disputes (if any) between them.
Sanyasin and Kinnar Akhara–
Within the larger structure of the Juna Akhara, a Mai Bara was built at the turn of the century. In the Kumbh of 2013, many women ascetics who completed 12 years of penance were given initiation. At that time, women ascetics urged their leaders to replace ‘Bara’ with ‘Akhara’ as the former meant an enclosure. Thus Sanyasi Akhara was born.
Kinnar Akhara – a sect of the transgender community – also came to the fore at the 2016 Ujjain Kumbh. In the 2019 Kumbh Mela, around 2,000 transgender monks and saints participated under the banner of Kinnar Akhara. Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi said that he had established the Kinnar Akhara. The ‘Akhara’ aims to unite transgenders, resolve their issues, remove misconceptions, inform people about their rights besides spreading the message about the status of transgenders among the people. In Sanatan Dharma. In 2019, he was accepted as part of the Juna Akhara.
Initiation, Rank and Hierarchy
Jadunath Sarkar stated that the four great ‘Maths’ of the Dasnami sect have adopted certain rules of affiliation and organisation. Akharas do not accept sannyasis directly. They have to first enroll in ‘Madhi’ (initiation centre). Many Madhi together form an Akhara.
In each order, monks are classified according to their spiritual progress – Kuticaka, Bahudaka, Hamsa and Paramahamsa.
A humble ascetic renounced the world to live in the forest. He cannot travel or beg and must survive on unsolicited charity. Most likely he is a wandering beggar who cannot stay at one place for more than three days. He collects alms in kind and cannot accept cash.
Tyagi Bhakuni must follow the above for at least 12 years of practice.
There is no minimum age to become a Sanyasi.
With penance involving control over speech, thought and action, sannyasis earn titles such as Hansa and Paramahamsa and the right to hold the Danda (seen as an incarnation of God), who also have rules and regulations. . For example, a monogamous seer cannot bow only before his mother, not before anyone else, including God.
All the Akharas also have their own Naga Sadhus and Hatha Yogis.
A small act of indiscipline could lead to compulsory fasting or chanting, while a moderate one could mean withdrawal of ration supplies. Complainants may face expulsion for a limited period of time and extremists may face expulsion for life.
Management of Akharas:
Versions of the Sannyasa Upanishad are used to manage the Akharas through spiritual leaders and an administrative unit.
The spiritual head is called ‘Mahamandaleshwar’ who may have a council which may include ‘Mandaleshwar’ and ‘Mahanta’.
When the strength of the Akharas grew, the need for multiple Mahamandaleshwars was felt, paving the way for the omnipresent Acharya Mahamandaleshwar.
The administrative body managing the ‘Akhada’ is called ‘Panch’ (this is also associated with Adi Shankaracharya’s Panchayatana Padyati invoking five deities – namely Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga and Surya).
The Panch consists of five people who conduct the show and ‘Sabhapati’ is the chairman and Mahant is the member. The ranks below ‘Mahant’ include ‘Karabari’, ‘Thanapati’, ‘Sachvi’, ‘Pujari’, ‘Kotwal’ and ‘Kothari’ who are elected at the Kumbh Mela.
