Due to Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, 3.5 crore devotees took a dip and took a royal bath on Makar Sankranti. During this, Naga Sadhus and female Sadhvis from 13 Akharas also reached. First the Naga Sadhus took a bath. Then after that the female Sadhvis. This question often comes in the minds of people that what do female Sadhus do if they menstruate during Maha Kumbh? Today we will tell you the answer to this question.
Female Naga Sadhus bathe in the Ganga only on those days when they are not menstruating. If they get their periods during Kumbh, they sprinkle Ganga water on themselves. This means that the female Naga Sadhu has bathed in the Ganga.
Bath after Naga Sadhus
Their special thing is that they go to take bath in the river after the male Naga Sadhu takes bath in Maha Kumbh. The female Naga Sadhvis of the Akhara are called Mai, Avdhutani or Naagin. Before becoming a Naga Sadhu, they also have to perform Pinddaan and also have to get their heads shaved while they are alive. To become a Naagin Sadhu, they also have to follow strict celibacy for 10 to 15 years.
Wears saffron clothes
Female Naga Sadhus are different from male Naga Sadhus. They do not remain Digambara. They all wear saffron-coloured clothes. But those clothes are not stitched. Therefore they do not have any problem during periods. Naga Sadhvis participate in Kumbh Mela.
How do women become Naga Sadhus?
To become a Naga Sadhu or Sanyasni, one has to follow strict celibacy for 10 to 15 years. To become a Naga Sadhu, one has to convince the Guru that the woman is eligible to become a Naga Sadhu and has dedicated herself to God. After this, the Guru is permitted to become a Naga Sadhu. Before becoming a Naga Sadhu, the woman's past life is looked at to find out whether she is dedicated to God or not and whether she can do difficult sadhana after becoming a Naga Sadhu or not. Before becoming a Naga Sadhu, the woman has to perform her Pinddaan while she is alive and also has to get her head shaved.
What do female Naga sadhus eat?
After the tonsure, the woman is made to take a bath in the river and then the female Naga Sadhu chants the name of God the whole day. Like men, female Naga Sadhus also worship Lord Shiva. They wake up in the Brahma Muhurta in the morning chant the name of Lord Shiva and worship Lord Dattatreya in the evening. After lunch, they again chant the name of Lord Shiva. Naga Sadhus eat roots, fruits, herbs, fruits and many types of leaves. Separate Akharas are arranged for the residence of female Naga Sadhus.
Got recognition for the first time in Kumbh in 2013
About 10 years ago, in 2013, the first Naga Mahila Akhara got a separate identity in the Allahabad Kumbh. This Akhara appeared on the banks of Sangam as Juna Sanyasin Akhara. Then the leader of the Naga Mahila Akhara was Divya Giri, who had completed her studies as a medical technician at the Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, New Delhi before becoming a sadhu. In 2004, she officially became a female Naga sadhu. Then she said that we wanted to do some things differently. The patron deity of Juna Akhara is Lord Dattatreya, we want to make Dattatreya's mother Anusuiya our patron deity.
Who is Mother Anusuya?
Puja Female Naga Sadhus compulsorily worship Lord Shiva and Dattatreya. The mother of Rishi Atri and Lord Dattatreya is named Anusuya. She was famous all over the world for her devotion to her husband. Whereas the wives of Brahma, Mahesh and Vishnu felt that they were the most devoted to their husbands. But when Maharishi Narad told the three that Anusuya was more devoted to her husband than them on earth, all three were deeply hurt by this information.
All three of them told their husbands that they should test Anusuya. Finally, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh had to go to test her. This test was such that Mata Anusuya's status as a goddess became very high.
PC:TV9Bharatvarsh
