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Juna Akhara

Baba Rampuri

Marhi Vrksha – Lineage Tree of Juna Akhara
From: Baba Rampuri

With more than 400,000 sannyasi members, Juna Akhara is by far the largest order of sadhus in India, today, the vast majority are Naga Babas. They have been called the defenders of the Sanatan Dharma. The word Naga, in this case, is derived from the Sanskrit word, nagna, meaning “naked.” And indeed Naga Babas are known for marching naked, covered with ashes, during the colorful sacred bathing rites at the Kumbh Mela.

History of Juna Akhara

According to Oral Tradition and its derived texts, such as Vidyaranya’s “Sankaradigvijaya,” in the 5th century B.C., India’s greatest philosopher and commentator on sacred texts, Adi Sankara, organized the Brahmanical lineages of sadhus, yogis and shamans into India’s first monastic order, the Order of the Sannyasis of the Ten Names (Dashnami Sannyasi Sampradaya) which exists until this day. Adi Sankara founded four great mathas, monasteries, in the four corners of India, in each of which he established one of his four primary disciples, Padmapada (Govardhan Math in Orissa), Sureshvaracharya (Sringeri Sarada Math in Kerala), Hastamalakacharya (Dwarka Math in Gujarat), and Totakacharya (Jyotir Math in the Himalayas).

From these four shishyas, disciples, and the corresponding mathas sprung ten names, Puri, Giri, Bharti, Saraswati, Tirtha, Ban, Aranya, Sagar, Parvat, and Ashram. All of the lineages, that spread like the branches of a tree, are attached at their roots to one of these ten names.

In the 7th century A.D., 52 lineages within the Order of Sannyasis formalized their age-old network into an elite brotherhood, a society, that was known originally as Dattatreya Akhara, then Bhairon Akhara, and after other new akharas were formed, it simply became known as Juna Akhara, the “old” akhara (as juna means “old” in Gujarati Language), or the “Ancient Circle”.

Administration of Juna Akhara

Juna Akhara does not resemble modern religious or spiritual organizations in their linear or pyramidal infrastructure.

Juna Akhara is a traditional society in which the sadhu families of the 52 lineages are represented by their acknowledged elders in a grand council of the akhara, which in turn is represented by elected Secretaries and a Sabhapati (President). Once elected to any position, the appointment is for life.

The decisions of the greater and ruling councils have to do with the operation of the society as a whole, not with the functioning or behaviour of a lineage, family, or individual. All matters are divided into two main categories, “samaj“, dealing with the society as a whole affecting all, and “ghar”, that which relates to a sadhu family. These council members are all Naga Babas.

The elections and initiations take place during a Kumbh Mela, which gives great significance to this event for Naga Sadhus. Juna Akhara also elects a Shri Ramta Panch, a roving authority of the akhara, who protects and worships the ishta devata of the akhara, the ever-roving Guru Dattatreya. At each Kumbh Mela, each of the 4 marhis, the divisions of the akhara according to the Ten Names, corresponding to the 4 Mathas, elects a Shri Mahant (the authority of the Marhi), Ashtakosul Mahant (his leutenant), Pujari (for making rites and rituals), Bhandari (who keeps the supplies), and Kothari (who keeps the books), who along with other Naga Babas accompany Guru Dattatreya as He traditionally walks from one Kumbh Mela to the next. The Marhi also hosts the Viraja Havan, the Sannyas initiation, during the Kumbh Melas. I write about Juna Akhara in my autobiographical novel, Autobiography of a Sadhu – an Angrez among Naga Babas.

H.H. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj is the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (chief religious authority) of the Juna Akhara, appointed in 1998.

A great yogi, a scholar, and a well-recognized authority on Vedanta, Swami Avdheshanand relates equally to his two worlds, that of the Naga Sanyassis, who he initiates, and that of an international public he serves with spiritual discourses, teachings, and a number of social projects ranging from hospitals to water harvesting.

In addition to his position as Head Trustee of the Acharya Mahasabha, the organization of all of India’s traditional religious leaders, he is a member of the World Council of Religious Leaders, he has appeared at the United Nations on many occasions, and he is a close friend of the Dalai Lama.

H.H. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj was made the Acharya or Spiritual preceptor of the prestigious and acclaimed Sri Panch Dasnaam Juna Akhara, designating him as PRIME SAINT in 1998 at the Haridwar Maha Kumbh. Thousands of saints across India and elsewhere have been initiated by the Acharya, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdeshanand Giri Ji.

Ashram

Eco-friendly ashram

Kumbh: Juna Akhara saint's eco-friendly ashram, February 15, 2013: News18

The ashram's theme is eco-friendly so the walls have been plastered with cow dung, mud and medicinal plants.

Maha Kumbh is an amalgamation of the varied colours of India. Acharya Mahamandleshwar Awadhesha Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara has designed his ashram at the Maha Kumbh in an eco-friendly manner even though it is no less than a five-star retreat.

The ashram has been constructed near the banks of Ganga in Allahabad and has many high tech facilities in it. It has been decorated with very expensive chandeliers, a huge residential colony have been set up for the devotees. There is also a cafeteria and medical facilities along with doctors round the clock are also available. The security is also very tight.

The ashram's theme is eco-friendly so the walls have been plastered with cow dung, mud and medicinal plants, according to Acharya Mahamandleshwar Awadhesha Giri Maharaj. The ashram is Vaastu compliant and the aim is to give a message to the people to help conserve the environment.

The ashram has been made using weeds and grass but its interior is very luxurious. Gujarat-based Malini Doshi, who is Acharya's disciple, and 10 other workers constructed the ashram and gave it the high tech look. The ashram has been decorated with the pictures used in the Kutch region, which make the structure look very lively and colourful. The ashram does not use any thing which can harm the environment.

Vegetables are grown at the ashram and used for making prasad. There is also a community kitchen for the devotees and menu is changed every day. The ashram has separate sitting arrangements for the saints, devotees and for VIPs.