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| From Mahabharat Jarasandha's Akhara is an ancient historical monument at Rajgir in Bihar, India |
What is Akhada ?
The word “Akhada”, according to one historical version is originated from Sanskrit word “Akhanda” (constant / continuous / undivided). Its usage started from the need to maintain continuous vigil against the adversaries by the group / outfit of armed Sadhus and Sants specially established to protect their own faith and traditions. Small section / wing of the Akhada is called ANI or KHALSA.
Foreign aggressions as well as intra-sampraday differences caused growth of the Akhadas (6th century onwards). Over the years, these Akhadas have grown up into an institution like the Mutts and they are managed and run by the office-bearers like Shri Mahant, Mukhya Mahants, Sthaniya Mahant (Thanapati), Sachiv, Adhikari, Karbaris, Kothari, Pujari, etc. The members of the Akhadas practice ‘Bramhacharya’ and ‘Virakti’ and they propagate their faith to instill moral, cultural and spiritual values in the society.
The AKHADA is an armed outfit of the Sampradayas. Avahan Akhada was the first one to come into existence in 547 AD.
There are 14 Akhadas recognised by the Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad. 13 of them participate in the Kumbha Melas (Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain & Nashik).
Shaiva Sampraday 8 Akhadas
- AVAHAN
- ATAL
- ANAND
- NIRANJANI
- MAHA-NIRVANI
- AGNI
- JUNA
- GUDAD
- NIRMOHI
- DIGAMBAR
- NIRVANI
- BADA UDASIN
- NAYA UDASIN
- NIRMAL
(A) SHAIVA SAMPRADAY (SANYASI) : (8 Akhadas
1. SHRI AVAHAN AKHADA : Formed in 547 AD.
It has headquarters at Varanasi with branches at Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain & Tryambakeshware. It has one Acharya Mahamandaleshwar as the head and number of Mahamandaleshwars and Mahants.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Brijeshpuri
2. SHRI ATAL AKHADA @ SHRI SHAMBHU DASH-NAM ATAL AKHADA : Formed in 646 AD.
It has headquarters at Varanasi with branches at Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjains, Tryambakeshwar, Aaraj, Baroda, etc.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Udaygiri, Mahant Purushottamgiri.
3. SHRI MAHA NIRVANI AKHADA @ SHRI PANCHAYATI AKHADA MAHA NIRVANI : Formed in 759 AD
It was formed following internal differences with Shri Atal Akhada. It has headquarters at Prayag and branches at Haridwar, Varanasi, Tryambakeshware, Omkareshwar, Chhanina Kheda (Udaipur, Rajasthan), Jwalamukhi (Dist. Kangda), etc.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Chandrakantpuri.
4. SHRI ANAND AKHADA @ SHRI PANCHAYATI SHAMBHU DASH-NAM ANAND AKHADA : Formed in 856 AD.
It has headquarters at Varanasi and branches at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain, Tryambakeshwar etc.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Sagaranand Saraswati.
5. SHRI NIRANJANI AKHADA @ SHRI SHAMBHU PANCH DASH-NAM NIRANJANI AKHADA : Formed in 904 AD
Formed in Mandvi (Gujarat), Hqrs at Haridwar, branches at Prayag, Varanasi, Ujjain, Tryambakeshwar, etc.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Digambar Shankarji, Mahant Gopi Bharati
6. SHRI AGNI AKHADA @ SHRI PANCH AGNI AKHADA : Formed in 1136 AD
Has headquarters at Varanasi and branches at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain, Tryambakeshwar, Bareilly, Ahmedabad, Junagarh, etc. Also called as 'Brahmacharis' Akhada.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Ambikanandji.
7. SHRI JUNA AKHADA @ BHAIRAV AKHADA @ SHRI SHAMBHU PANCH DASH-NAM JUNA AKHADA : Formed-1156 AD
Formed in Karnaprayag (Uttarakhand).
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Shantigiri (Thanapati), Mahant Premgiri (Sachiv).
8. SHRI GUDAD AKHADA : Formed in 12th Century
Has headquarters at Junagarh and branches at Haridwar, Bareilly, Omkareshwar, etc.
Not included in Akhada Parishad and has no traditional right for Royal-bath during Kumbha.
Prominent Mahants:
(B) UDASIN SECT : (2 Akhadas)
9. SHRI PANCHAYATI UDASIN BADA AKHADA : Formed in 1768 during Haridwar Kumbha
It is also called as Shri 108 Pujyapad Panchaparmeshar Panchayati Akhada Baba Udasin Nirvan.
It has headquarters at Prayag and branches at Haridwar, Ujjain, Gaya, Varanasi, Kurukshetra, Patiala, Hyderabad, Guntur, ShivaKashi, Tryambakeshwar, Hilsa (Nalanda), Kaharpur (Hoshyarpur, Punjab), Bhootnath-Samdiyala (Gujarat), etc.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Shivgiriji.
10. SHRI PANCHAYATI UDASIN NAYA AKHADA: Formed in 1846 after a dispute in Bada Udasin Akhada
Has headquarters at Haridwar and branches at Prayag, Kurukshetra, Tryambakeshwar, etc.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Vichardas, Mahant Govinddas.
(C) NIRMAL SECT
11. SHRI PANCHAYATI NIRMAL AKHADA: Formed in 1856 in Punjab
Has headquarters at Haridwar and branches at Prayag, Ujjain, Tryambakeshwar, Nashik, etc. Has close ties with Sikhism. Believes in Guru Granth Saheb and follows a Shaiva and Vedic upasana tradition. Guru Gobind Singh had sent a batch of 5 saffron robe sants (Panch Nirmal Gaurik) (Gaurik i.e. Saffron colour) to learn Vedas, Vedang, Dharma-shastra, etc. at Varanasi. However after learning, these Sants had formed their own sect by name Nirmal Sampraday.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Tirthraj Singh.
(D) VAISHNAVA SECT (BAIRAGI): ( 3 Akhadas)
3 Akhadas and 18 Anis were formed in 1475 at Vrindavan by uniting 4 Sampradayas and Mandals / Sanghs of the Vaishnavas.
12. SHRI PANCH RAMANANDIYA NIRMOHI AKHADA :
It comprises following 9 ANIS (Khalsas) with Yellow Flag :
- Shri Ramanandiya Nirmohi
- Shri Ramanandiya Zadiya Nirmohi
- Shri Ramanandiya Maladhari Nirmohi
- Shri Ramanandiva Maha-Nirvani Nirmohi
- Shri Ramanandiya Santoshi Nirmohi
- Shri Radhavallabhi Nirmohi
- Shri Harivyasi Santoshi
- Shri Harivyasi Maha Nirvani
- Dadu Panthi
13. SHRI PANCH RAMANANDIYA DIGAMBAR AKHADA
It has following 2 ANIs with Five Colour Flag viz. i) Shri Ramji Digambar and ii) Shri Shyamji Digambar.
Prominent Mahants: Mahant Keshavdas, Mahant Ramkishoredas.
14.SHRI PANCH RAMANANDIYA NIRVANI AKHADA
It has following 7 ANIS.
- Shri Ramanandiya Nirvani
- Shri Ramanandiaya Khaki
- Shri Ramanadiya Niralambi
- Shri Ramanadiya Tatambari
- Shri Harivyasi Nirvani
- Harivyasi Khaki
- Balbhadri
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