Mahamandleshwar: In the Sanyasi tradition of Sanatan Dharma, the post of Mahamandaleshwar is considered very important and prestigious, which is the highest after Shankaracharya in the Akharas. To become Mahamandaleshwar, it is necessary for the sages and saints to have deep education and religious knowledge of Vedanta. To attain this position, one has to follow rigorous penance, service to religion, and the rules of the Akhara. However, no saint can be made Mahamandaleshwar; For this, a person's spiritual and Religious Life should be of the highest standard. Many traditions and norms are followed in this process, thereby ensuring that only the deserving and most deserving person gets the post of Mahamandaleshwar.
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To become a Mahamandaleshwar, it is not enough to be a sage or a saint, but for this it is necessary to have deep knowledge of Vedas and Puranas. If someone is an Acharya or Shastri, he gets a special advantage in the selection process. Before making Mahamandaleshwar, it is also seen which monastery or group the person is associated with and whether he is active in social welfare work. If the person is a storyteller and has been narrating for 10-12 years or is associated with a monastery, then his qualifications are considered strong for this post. Thus, for a Sadhu to become a Mahamandaleshwar, religious knowledge and experience of social service are mandatory.
The process of becoming Mahamandaleshwar is quite complex and full of traditions. Before being appointed to this post, a person has to follow strict rules. After the selection process is completed, Mahamandaleshwar is given Sanyas, which involves an important ritual—he has to perform his Pind Daan with his own hands, which is a symbol of self-control and renunciation. After this, Pattabhishek of Mahamandaleshwar is performed. On this occasion, saints and mahants of 13 Akharas are present, and Prasad of Panchamrit is distributed. In this religious ceremony, the tradition of presenting a chadar is also followed, which is a symbol of their new responsibility and respect.
Sadhus are appointed to various posts in the Akharas on the basis of their qualifications and deeds. The highest post is that of Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, after this comes Mahamandaleshwar and then Mahant. Other important posts include Kothari, Bhandari, Thanapati, Kotwal, Shri Mahant, and Secretary, who have different responsibilities and work plans. Strict rules are required to be followed in the Akhara, and if any Sadhu violates these rules or is found involved in wrongdoings, his position can be taken away and the procedure for punishing him has also been prescribed.
