Maha Kumbh Mela, Prayag Raj, 2013

At the last Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, 2010, Mangalanand Puri Ji and I challenged the encroaching commercialization of everything, with an akhanda bhandara, the three month long ‘endless feast’ for mahatmas, devotees, & pilgrims, sometimes feeding as many as 500 a day, all on the spontaneous donations and dakshinas of supporters and friends.

Our camp and dhuni became one of the most active in Juna Akhara as many noteworthy mahatmas joined us there with their blessings, satsangs, & havans; Jangams sang their mystical songs; and crowds of pilgrims received blessings. This contributed to both Mangalanand Puri Ji and myself being given the titles of Antahrashtriya Mandal Shri Mahant and asked to join the Great Council of Juna Akhara.

100 million pilgrims are expected this year at the Maha Kumbh Mela just outside Allahabad.

I would like to ask you for your financial support to surpass our success of 2010.

Since we Naga Babas of Juna Akhara are placed at the geographical center of the Kumbh Mela and afforded the privilege of bathing first at the appointed hour, it becomes incumbant upon us to perform our duty of giving blessings to the public, and uphold the ancient traditions of the Sanatan Dharma – especially in these times.

We are a society composed of ‘family’ lineages – each family takes responsibility for their participation as single piece of the collective. After my guru ji, Shri Mahant Kapil Puri Ji, passed away in 2001, I am now leading our family lineage, being the eldest disciple.

Together with my guru-bhais Mahamandaleshwar Banwari Puri Ji and Shri Mahant Mangalanand Puri Ji, and others in our lineage, we would like to ask you to join us, in body or spirit or both, with the blessings of Ganga Maa, to support a vastly expanded Kumbh Mela programme of blessings with your donations and dakshinas.

In this Kumbh Mela, our programme also includes a Sahasra Chandi Yajna and a Samashti Bhandara in which the entire Juna Akhara is honored – all consistent with the traditional sannyasi, Naga Baba culture and niyams.

This is an opportunity to support ‘non-commercial living tradition’, and the blessings it may deliver; to ensure that blessings may be freely given – without a price tag, and that ancient traditions may continue to give these blessings for years to come. May it also be a challenge to those who would commercialize dharma.