Thousands of sadhus will take the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya

HARIDWAR/ALLAHABAD: Rajat Kumar Rai, 27, from Kutch has a diploma in marine engineering . But instead of pursuing a career on the high seas which would have got him a fat pay-check, he has decided to instead renounce the world and become a Naga sadhu, one of the toughest streams of asceticism to pursue. It’s a similar story for Shambhu Giri, 29, a management graduate from Ukraine, and Ghanshyam Giri, 18, a class XII board topper from Ujjain.

Last week, at a mass initiation ceremony during the ongoing Kumbh mela at Allahabad, the three along with thousands of others had their hair chopped off (leaving only a tuft or ‘shikha’ at the back of the head), performed own ‘pind-daan’ (after-death ritual) and participated in a night-long sacred fire ceremony after which they were inducted into the ancient order of the Naga sadhus.

They are waiting for the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya , one of the most auspicious dates in the Kumbh calendar falling on Monday. The Naga sect is known for its seers performing extreme penances by pushing their bodies to the limit and staying naked as part of practices to achieve spiritual growth.

Despite the hardships and tough regimen associated with the sect, it is estimated by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), apex body of the country’s akharas (sect of seers), that over 10,000 men and women are taking deeksha (initiation) and becoming Naga sadhus this Kumbh.

According to Mahant Hari Giri, chief convener of Juna akhara and general secretary of ABAP, the initiation ceremonies are held only during the Kumbh, and the number of those being initiated is “in the thousands on every occasion”. As for the backgrounds of those becoming Nagas, he says, “Any person who has a strong desire for vairagya (detachment) irrespective of caste, colour or religion is eligible to become a Naga. Many Muslims have been accepted as have several Christians and people from other religions. So have people who have earlier been doctors or engineers.”

Once accepted by the akhara, the path to becoming initiated is a tough one. “We test aspirants for years to see whether they are here to stay or have just decided to become a sadhu either due to a whim or after a crisis. Only when they prove themselves after being put through tests, and we are satisfied, are they ordained as a Naga,” says Giri.

The process, from being accepted by the akhara, to finally being ordained, can take anywhere between a couple of years to even a few decades. According to Ghanshyam Giri, the key is to remain focused on the goal. “After I had cleared my board exams, I realised what my aim in life was. I was 16 when I moved into the ashram of my guru, Mahant Jairam Giri, in Ujjain. By his grace, I was able to receive initiation as a Naga after just two years, during this Kumbh.”

Rai, now known as Nityanand Giri after his initiation, adds, “I had a dream many years back in which I saw myself dead and meeting God. It was then that I decided to become a Naga. The journey has been tough but I would have it no other way,” he says. Ask them what was the toughest part of their regimen and Ghanshyam says that it would have to be the practices which are designed to “eradicate sexual desires and kill the ego”.

The journey after initiation is no less difficult. Depending on the instructions of their guru, the newly-inducted Nagas either spend time mediating in the Himalayas, or perform social work.

At a mass initiation ceremony during the ongoing Kumbh mela, thousands participated in a night-long sacred fire ceremony after which they were inducted into the

ancient order of the Naga sadhus.

