We offer our reverence to the Tradition of Gurus,
beginning with Lord Sadashiva
to the present Acharya,
with Shri Shankaracharya in the middle.
श्री पंच दशनाम जूना अखाड़ा
श्री गुरू दत्तात्रेयो विजयतेत् राम्
Adi Sankara founded 4 great mathas, monasteries, in the four corners of Bharat, in each of which he established one of his 4 primary disciples, Padmapada (Govardhan Math in Orissa), Sureshvaracharya (Sringeri Sarada Math in Kerala), Hastamalakacharya (Dwarka Math in Gujarat), & 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”.
Shri Mahant Ved Vyas Puri reads minutes to Sabhapati, Bhagavat Puri Ji
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.
Shri Maharaj Macchendar Puri, Head of the 16 Lineages (Solah Marhi)
H.H. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj & H.H. the Dalai Lama are joyfully clasping their hands in brotherhood at a conference, as they are indeed close friends, Acharya Ji tells me. The Dalai Lama stays with Acharya Ji in his camp when he visits the Kumbh Mela. And, in fact, Acharya Ji has informed the Dalai Lama that, whether or not he was aware, the 52nd lineage (marhi) of Juna Akhara is called “Lama Marhi” since Padma Sambhava was originally a Naga Baba named Kamal Giri according to our oral histories.
If there were one man capable and qualified to represent the Bharatiya Sanatan Dharma on a global stage, it is Acharya Ji. Besides his astounding erudition and its articulation, he exudes compassion and his blessings are humbling. In his public speaking, he demonstrates the art of Hindi Speech, which sounds like music to me, and seems like an offering to his beloved Goddess Saraswati.
In private, Acharya Ji has an enormous curiosity about almost everything, a sharp, cutting intellect, and a great sense of humour. To be in his presence is humbling, but at the same time, uplifting.
One cannot but feel love for Acharya Ji.
“I was enchanted by the yogi-shamans, the Naga Babas of India – naked in ashes, long dread locks twisted with Marigolds piled on their heads like crowns…”
“According to Indian storytelling, some 2500 years ago appeared a man who became known as Adi Sankaracharya, India’s greatest philosopher, prolific commentator of ancient texts, poet, and for our purpose here, the greatest organizer of the ancient tradition of Yogis, the founder of the monastic order known as Sannyasis. About 1500 years later, a number of lineages of Naked Yogis, or Naga Babas from among Shankaracharya’s order of Sannyasis, formalized even more ancient bonds into an association called The Akhara.
The Akhara’s collected lineages look back for their origins to the Age of Treta, countless thousands of years ago, the age of the epic poem, The Ramayana, and to the Three Headed Guru of Yogis, Dattatreya, their ultimate founder. Guru Dattatreya is naked, his dread locks touch the earth.”
H.H. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj is 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.
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Here is a collection of photo galleries of the legendary Naga Babas whom I have known as gurus & guru bhais for many years, lived with, respected, honored and loved. They represented what the following generations can never achieve.
