5 hours agoAuthor: Dharmendra Chauhan
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On 1 February 1888, Kumbh was going on in Prayag. Meanwhile, a news regarding Kumbh was published in the British newspaper ‘Makhzan-e-Masihi’. It was written in the news- ‘400 clothesless sadhus took out a procession in Kumbh. People were standing on both sides to see him. Some people were also worshiping him. There were women along with men among them. A British officer was making a road for them. In Britain, the government punishes nudity, but in India, a Joint Magistrate rank officer is being sent in the procession of naked sadhus. This is sad.
After this, Arthur Foy, president of the largest Christian organization ‘Christian Brotherhood’, wrote a letter to a British MP. Foy wrote- ‘Even the educated Hindu society gets embarrassed by the procession of naked sadhus. Why did the British government deploy a British officer for this work? It is a shame for Christianity to do so. It seems that the Indians have bowed down to the British.
On August 16, 1888, the government, while replying to Foye’s letter, wrote – ‘These sadhus traditionally take out processions in Allahabad and other places. These are considered very sacred in Hindu society. We don’t see any harm in them.
These sadhus who took out procession without clothes were ‘Naga Sanyasi’. Every time in Kumbh, the first royal bath is taken by Naga Sannyasi. Today in the fourth episode of ‘Mahakumbh Ke Kisse’ series, the story of becoming a Naga Sannyasi…
Naga sadhus going for royal bath during Kumbh and British police making way for them.
The word Naga is derived from Sanskrit ‘Nag’. Nag means mountain. That is, those who live in mountains or caves are called Nagas.
Adi Shankaracharya started the Dashanami sect in the 9th century. Most of the Naga ascetics come from this sect. While giving initiation to these sannyasis, they are associated with ten names. These ten names are – Giri, Puri, Bharati, Van, Aranya, Parvat, Sagar, Tirtha, Ashram and Saraswati. That is why Naga Sadhus are also called Dashnami.
There are two types of Naga Sannyasi – one with scriptures and the other with weapons. Actually, after the invasion of Mughals, a plan was made to start a military branch. Initially some Naga Sadhus opposed this saying that they are spiritual and do not need weapons. Later, Shringeri Math prepared an army of Naga Sadhus armed with weapons. Earlier only Kshatriyas were included in it. Later the caste barrier was removed.
It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya started the Dashnami sect in the 9th century. Most of the Naga ascetics come from this sect. Source: Kumbh: Historical Biography
3 stages of becoming a Naga, Akhara people go to the house and investigate
Generally the age of becoming a Naga is 17 to 19 years. It has three stages – Mahapurush, Avadhoot and Digambara, but before that there is a prestage i.e. probation period. Whoever applies to the Akhara to become a Naga Sadhu is first turned away. Still he does not agree, then the Akhara investigates him thoroughly.
The Akhara people go to the candidate’s house. Tell the family that your son wants to become a Naga. If the family members agree, the criminal record of the candidate is checked.
After this, the person who wants to become a Naga has to become a Guru and stay in some Akhara and serve for two-three years. Their job is to cook food for the senior monks, clean their places, perform sadhana and study the scriptures.
He eats food only once. Learns to control lust, sleep and hunger. During this time it is seen that he is not falling into the trap of attachment and illusion. He is not remembering his home and family. If any candidate is found straying, he/she is sent home.
This picture is from 2013 Kumbh. Naga Sanyasi performing tricks while standing on one leg.
First stage – Great man: Guru cuts the braid of the disciple with Prem Katari.
One who passes the probationary period is advised to return back to the mundane world. If he still does not return, he is given a vow to live a life of asceticism. He is declared a ‘great man’ and Pancha Sanskar is performed.
Panch Sanskar i.e. Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Surya and Ganesha have to be made Guru. On behalf of the Akhara, they are given coconut, saffron clothes, sacred thread, Rudraksh, Bhabhut and symbols and ornaments of the Nagas. After this, the Guru cuts the shikha or braid of the disciple with his love knife. Molasses and coriander are distributed on this occasion.
The one who becomes a Naga Sadhu in the Kumbh of Prayag is called Naga, Khooni Naga in Ujjain, Barfani Naga in Haridwar and Khichadia Naga in Nashik.
Second stage – Avadhoot: One has to perform one’s Pind Daan while alive, one has to take 108 dips.
The great man is woken up at four in the morning to make him an Avadhoot. After daily work and meditation, the Guru takes them to the river bank. By removing the hair from his body, he makes him look like a newborn baby. Bathing is done in the river. He leaves the old loincloth and wears a new loincloth. After this, the Guru makes him wear the sacred thread and gives him Dand, Kamandal and Bhasma.
Professor Dhananjay Chopra of Allahabad University writes in his book ‘Kumbh in India’ – ‘The great Nagas have to fast for three days. Then he performs his own Shraddha. He has to donate 17 Pindas. 16th offering of our ancestors and 17th offering of our own Pind Daan. After this he becomes free from worldly bonds. He returns to the arena with a new life.
After this, Virja i.e. Vijaya Yagya is performed at midnight. The Guru once again tells the great man that if he wishes, he can return to worldly life. When he does not return, after the Yagya, the Acharya of the Akhara, Mahamandaleshwar or Peethadhishwar gives Gurumantra to the great man. After this, he is made to sit under the religious flag and chant Om Namah Shivay.
The next day at four in the morning the great man is again brought to the banks of the Ganges. 108 dips are conducted. After this the Dand-Kamandal is sacrificed. Now he becomes an Avadhuta Sanyasi. During this 24 hour process he has to fast.
To become a Naga one has to perform 17 Pind Daan. 16th offering of our ancestors and 17th offering of our own Pind Daan.
Third stage- Digambara: The genital vein is pulled, Nagas are formed after the royal bath in Kumbh.
According to the book ‘Maha Kumbh in India’, after becoming an Avadhoot, one has to take Diksha of Digambara. This initiation takes place a day before the royal bath. This is a very difficult ritual. During this time only a few senior saints are present.
In this, he has to fast for 24 hours without eating or drinking anything under the religious flag of the Akhara. After this, Tangtod Sanskar is performed. In this, at three in the morning a fire is lit in front of the spear of the Akhara and water is sprinkled on the head of the Avadhoot. A vein in his genitalia is pulled. The seeker becomes impotent. After this everyone goes for the royal bath. As soon as they take a dip, they become Naga Sadhus.
These Naga Sadhus are given different names according to the place in the Kumbh which is held at four places. The one who becomes a Naga Sadhu in the Kumbh of Prayag is called Naga, Khooni Naga in Ujjain, Barfani Naga in Haridwar and Khichadia Naga in Nashik.
Naga Sadhu talking on mobile phone in his camp during Prayag Kumbh, 2013.
It takes 10-12 years for women to pass the celibacy test
Women also become Naga Sadhus. Female Naga Sadhus are called Naagin, Avadhutani or Mai. They wear clothes. However, some selected women abandon the Naga clothes and adopt Bhabhuta as their clothes. Juna Akhara is the largest and oldest Akhara in the country. Most of the female Nagas are associated with this.
For the first time in 2013, female Nagas were associated with it. Most of the female Nagas are in this Akhara. Apart from this, there are women Nagas in Aavahan Akhara, Niranjan Akhara, Mahanirvani Akhara, Atal Akhara and Anand Akhara.
The most senior female Naga Sanyasi is called Shrimahant in the Akhara. The mother chosen by Shrimahant is brought in a palanquin on the day of the royal bath. They have the right to hoist the flag and dunk of the arena.
The process of becoming a female Naga Sanyasi is the same as that of male Naga Sadhus. The only difference is that in order to observe celibacy, men’s genitals are disabled, while women have to take a pledge to observe celibacy. Many women take even 10-12 years to prove this.
When the guru of the Akhara trusts the woman, he grants initiation. After initiation, the female monk has to leave worldly clothes and wear yellow or saffron clothes obtained from the Akhara. She is given the title of mother.
The picture is of Prayag Kumbh 2019. After initiation, Naga Sanyasini is being admitted into the Akhara.
Naga Sadhus call flour as Bhasmi and pulses as Paniyaram.
Naga Sadhus talk in code words. There are two reasons behind this. First- No fake Nagas could join their Akhara. Secondly, during the time of Mughals and British, they used to talk in code words to keep their information secret. Gradually this code word became their language.
Naga Sadhus call flour as Bhasmi, pulses as Paniyaram, garlic as Patal Laung. Similarly, salt is called Ramras, chilli is called Lankaram, onion is called Ladduram, ghee is called water and roti is called Rotiram. The meeting that takes place in the Akharas is called ‘Chehra’. The place where valuable things of the Akhara are kept is called Mohra. The face and the pawn are face to face.
Funeral feast is held on the 40th day
When a monk passes away, a wooden frame is built to accommodate his body in an upright position. Then a pit is dug and Samadhi is laid. At the time of Samadhi, the face is towards east or north-east. In Kashi, Prayag, Haridwar, ‘rich’ Nagas are tied to stones and thrown into the Ganga. On the 40th day after the death of Naga, a collective feast is held, which is like a big feast.
Nagas and recluses clashed with each other, the British gave the Nagas the right to bathe first.
Yadunath Sarkar writes in his book ‘The History of Dashnami Naga Sanyasis’ – ‘There have always been controversies regarding taking the first bath in Kumbh. There has been a bloody war between Naga Sadhus and Vairagi Sadhus. During the Haridwar Kumbh of 1760, Nagas and Vairagis fought among themselves over the first bath. Swords came out from both sides. Hundreds of ascetic saints were killed.
The same situation arose again in the Nashik Kumbh of 1789 and blood of recluses was shed. Troubled by this bloodshed, Mahant Baba Ramdas of Chitrakoot Khaki Akhara of recluses complained to the Peshwa Darbar of Pune.
In 1801, the Peshwa Court ordered the arrangement of separate ghats for Nagas and recluses at the Nashik Kumbh. The Nagas were given Kushavarta-Kund in Trimbak and the Vaishnavas were given Ramghat in Nashik. In Ujjain Kumbh, the recluses were given Ramghat on the banks of Shipra and the Nagas were given Dattghat.
Even after this, the controversy regarding first bath continued in Haridwar and Prayag. After the British rule on Kumbh, it was decided that first Shaivite Naga Sadhus would take bath, followed by recluses. Not only this, to ensure that Shaiva Akharas do not fight among themselves, the sequencing of the Akharas was also decided. From then till today this tradition is continuing.
Sketch: Sandeep Pal
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Also read this news related to Mahakumbh…
Stories of Mahakumbh-1: Portugal sent a priest to change Akbar’s religion: Jahangir gave 700 bighas of land to the Akhara; Aurangzeb used to drink Ganga water when he was ill.
Aurangzeb considered Ganga water as the water of heaven. Once he fell ill, he asked for Ganga water to drink. French historian Bernier has written in his travelogue – ‘Whenever Aurangzeb went anywhere, he kept Ganga water with him. He also used Ganga water in his morning breakfast. Read the full news…
Tales of Mahakumbh-2: People used to offer their first child to Ganga: The British used to charge tax on haircut of beard and hair; Ganga water was sent to London in a silver urn
Between 1827 and 1833, Fanny Parker, the wife of a British customs officer, came to Allahabad. He has written in his book ‘Wanderings of a Pilgrim in Search of the Pictures’ – ‘When I reached Allahabad, a fair was organized there. A crowd of Naga Sadhus and Vaishnav saints were going for bath. I met many married women who did not have children. They had pledged that if they had a first child, they would gift it to the Ganga. Read the full news…
