His Divine Holiness at the 2010 Kumbh Mela
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In 2007, His Divine Holiness was declared the Mahamandaleshwar, of the Mahanirvani Akhada, making Him the official spiritual head of over one million sanyasis (Hindu monks). In 2007, Kumbh Mela, He had led the Shahi Snan (spiritual royal bath) of 10 million people. At the time of His coronation He was the youngest Mahamandaleshwar.
What is Kumbh Mela
- Kumbh mela is a more than 10,000 year old unbroken Hindu tradition.
- The "world's largest congregation of religious pilgrims".
- Here all 1,00,000 sects of Hinduism, which are literally an independent religion in themselves, meet and discuss the overall direction of Hinduism.
- The largest peaceful gathering in the world.
- More than 100 Million (10 crore) people visited in the last Maha Kumbh in Prayag in 2013.
- Inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- It is a massive Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred or holy river, a ritual called as the - Shahi Snan.
- Happens once every 3 years.
What are Akhadas
Akhadas are responsible for hosting the Kumbh Melas as well as participating in them. They are biggest and most ancient monastic order in the world, having survived all wars, crimes on humanity and all religious persecutions. Akhadas are ancient and have a shastra (recorded history) of more than 10,000 years. Around 700 A.D. Adi Shankara, a great sage, incarnation of MahaSadashiva (Cosmic Soul and primordial Hindu Divinity), organized the main currents of thought in Hinduism as Akhadas that we know today. Akhadas are the oldest surviving democratic structures of world. Akhada naga-sadhus (naked-monks), renunciates of the highest stature, who live naked in snow capped Himalayan mountain caves in penance for decades and who are known to possess extraordinary yogic powers, interact with rest of humanity only during Kumbh mela.
| # | Akhada | Subsidiary Akhada |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niranjani Akhada Founded in 904 CE | Ananda Akhada, attached to Niranjani Akhada |
| 2 | Juna Akhada | Avahan Akhada, attached to Juna Akhada |
| 3 | Mahanirvani Akhada | Atal Akhada, attached to Mahanirvani Akhada |
| Founded by Kapila Manu 10,000 years ago, reorganized in 700 A.D. by Adi Shankara |