Maha Kumbh 2025: Mantras, weapons, scriptures, sacrifice and renunciation are the basic elements of the way of life that Naga Sadhus follow. They are Shaivites who are absorbed in the devotion of Shiva and the power of renunciation. While the difficult life of these ascetics, who believe the world to be mortal, is one with nature, their initiation method is also amazing. The mysteries related to Naga Sadhus are thrilling. In the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, thousands of determined Avdhoots are going through the process of transforming their lives as Naga Sadhus. Thousands of ascetics took initiation in the Sri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, the oldest and largest of Naga Sadhus, early on Sunday. The Akhara's Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri initiated them.
Becoming a Naga Sadhu means ending a life that is bound by worldly life. This is the pinnacle of renunciation in which the person entering this world performs the Pind Daan for himself along with his seven generations. This is a symbol of the resolve to be completely detached from the world. Generally, when someone dies, his Pind Daan is performed by his descendants.
Acharya Peeth of Shripanchadashnam Juna Akhara wrote in a post on X, "Sanyas means due renunciation of desires. Therefore, to be a Sanyasi means to become fire, air, water and light. Every moment of a monk's life is dedicated to charity. The divine expression of India's Vedic Sanatani culture and its cultural heritage, under "Mahakumb Prayagraj - 2025, Junapithadhishwar Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Anantashree Vibhushit Pujyapad Shri Swami Avadheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Shri Panchadashnam Juna Akhara at midnight for the propagation and promotion of Sanatan Hindu Dharma culture. Gave “Sanyasa Diksha” to a large number of Naga-Sanyasis of Went.''
भारत की वैदिक सनातनी संस्कृति और उसकी सांस्कृतिक विरासत की दिव्य अभिव्यक्ति "महाकुम्भ प्रयागराज - 2025 के अन्तर्गत जूनापीठाधीश्वर आचार्यमहामण्डलेश्वर अनन्तश्री विभूषित पूज्यपाद श्री स्वामी अवधेशानन्द गिरि जी महाराज द्वारा सनातन हिन्दू धर्म संस्कृति के प्रचार-प्रसार एवं संवर्धन… pic.twitter.com/qePrkkjyMq
— HariharAshram (@HariharAshram) January 19, 2025
भारत की वैदिक सनातनी संस्कृति और उसकी सांस्कृतिक विरासत की दिव्य अभिव्यक्ति "महाकुम्भ प्रयागराज - 2025 के अन्तर्गत जूनापीठाधीश्वर आचार्यमहामण्डलेश्वर अनन्तश्री विभूषित पूज्यपाद श्री स्वामी अवधेशानन्द गिरि जी महाराज द्वारा सनातन हिन्दू धर्म संस्कृति के प्रचार-प्रसार एवं संवर्धन… pic.twitter.com/qePrkkjyMq
— HariharAshram (@HariharAshram) January 19, 2025
Naga sanyasis are considered to be those who practice hard penance and are self-restrained. They stay away from worldly desires and remain focused only on the spiritual practice of the soul. The person taking Naga initiation has to go through the process of renunciation by completely detaching himself from worldly life. They start a new life by abandoning their name, identity, family and all relationships. Naga sadhus wears other religious symbols including trident. In the process of becoming a Naga sadhu, the presence of the guru who gives initiation and his blessings is very important. The sadhu progresses in the direction of his spiritual practice only under the guidance of the guru.
The speciality of Naga Sadhus is that they themselves break ties with the society but the purpose of their penance and sadhana is always the welfare of the society. Every moment of the life of a Sanyasi is dedicated to charity. Naga Diksha is a difficult and intense sadhana process. It is completed in 48 hours. In this, the tonsure and sacred thread of the Avadhoots is done on the banks of the Ganga. There, other rituals including Pinddaan are performed by them.
संन्यास का अर्थ - कामनाओं के सम्यक न्यास से है। अतः संन्यासी होना अर्थात् अग्नि, वायु, जल और प्रकाश हो जाना है। संन्यासी के जीवन का प्रत्येक क्षण परमार्थ को समर्पित होता है।
— HariharAshram (@HariharAshram) January 19, 2025
भारत की वैदिक सनातनी संस्कृति और उसकी सांस्कृतिक विरासत की दिव्य अभिव्यक्ति "महाकुम्भ प्रयागराज - 2025 के… pic.twitter.com/YzlfwUsJ0o
Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara gave initiation to Naga ascetics at midnight on Sunday. Earlier on Saturday, the ascetics who became Naga Sadhus performed Pinddaan for themselves and their seven generations at Sangam Ghat.
Before becoming a Naga Sadhu, one has to become an Avdhoot. Under this, the sadhaks performed Pind Daan at Sangam in Prayagraj. They made 17 Pindas. Out of these, 16 were of their previous seven generations and one was their own. On Sunday morning, Acharya Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj gave them mantras. For Naga initiation, the rituals had started 24 hours before with penance under the Dharma Dhwaja. In this process, the sadhaks kept doing penance without taking food and water for 24 hours. After this, they were taken to the banks of the Ganga. They took 108 dips in the Ganga. After this, Vijay Havan was performed. In the next phase, on January 29, on Mauni Amavasya, in the early morning, Avdhoot will be initiated as Naga Sadhu.
The age of those who want to become Naga Sadhu is 17 to 19 years. There are three categories of Naga Sadhus - Mahapurush, Avdhoot and Digambar. Before these categories, the person who wants to become a Naga Sadhu is tested. Generally, those who want to become a Naga Sadhu are turned away from the Akhara. If he has a strong desire and does not agree even after explaining and scolding, then a thorough investigation is done about him by the Akhara. The Akhara investigates deeply his family, his character, his conduct and behavior. His family is also told that he wants to become a Naga Sadhu. When that person passes every test, he gets approval to become a Naga Sadhu.
A period is fixed to test the person who wants to become a Naga Sadhu. In the meantime, if his attraction towards Sanyas does not end, then he has to take a vow for the life of a Sanyasi. With this, he is declared a 'Mahapurusha' and his Panch Sanskar is done. In Panch Sanskar, there are five gods Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Surya and Ganesh whom he has to make Guru. The Akhara hands him coconut, saffron clothes, sacred thread, Rudraksha, bhabhut and the symbols and ornaments worn by Naga Sadhus. After this, the Guru of the Akhara cuts the disciple's braid with a dagger.
Naga sadhus became Mahapurush in the first category and then Avdhoot in the second category. During their initiation, they are taken to the river bank after early morning meditation. All the hair on their body is cut. After bathing, they are made to wear a new loincloth. The Guru makes them wear the sacred thread and gives them a danda, kamandal and ash. After this, they become free from the bonds of the world by performing Pind Daan of their seven generations and themselves. From here their new life begins in the Akhara. Vijaya Yagya is performed at midnight. After this, the Acharya of the Akhara gives the Guru Mantra to the Mahapurush. The next day early in the morning, the sadhu of the Mahapurush category has to take 108 dips in the Ganga. After this, he becomes an Avdhoot Sanyasi.
After becoming an Avdhoot, the Sadhak is given the initiation of Digambar. This initiation takes place a day before the royal bath. In this, the Avdhoot has to fast by giving up food and water for 24 hours under the religious flag of the Akhara. In the next stage, the Tangtod Sanskar is performed. Under this ritual, fire is lit in front of the spear of the Akhara early in the morning and water is sprinkled on the Avdhoot. After this, a vein in his genitals is pulled, which makes him impotent. After this ritual, all the Sadhus go for the royal bath. They became Naga Sadhus by taking a dip in the Ganga.
