Naga Sadhus: The Protector of Sanatan Dharma
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Naga Sadhus known for its seers, performing extreme penances by pushing their bodies beyond the limit and staying naked with ash smeared on them as part of their practices to achieve spiritual growth are always an attraction for common people visiting Kumbh.
The tradition of the Naga Sadhus is not new rather it is dated back to thousands of
years. It traces its legacy from coins and images of Mohanjo-daro, where Naga Sadhus were depicted worshiping Lord Shiva in Pashupati Nath form. It is said that Alexandar and his soldiers also met Naga Sadhus during his stay in India. Buddha and Mahavira too were impressed by seeing the penance of Naga Sadhus and their devotion for people and motherland. References are also from Digambar (naked) sects whose evidences are found in several ancient Vedic
texts.
Naga Sadhus are considered as the military forces of Hindus
for safeguarding Hinduism and India's ancient culture from foreign invaders. The Nagas were first
organised into military groups by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century for
defending Sanatan Dharma, which is the base and entity of India.
Latar on Adi Shankaracharya set up the Dashnami Sanyasi order which
comprised of seven Akharas —Niranjani, Juna, Mahanirvani, Atal, Agni, Anand and
Aahwahan. They were called akharas as their members used to carry arms and were ready to
sacrifice their lives for the sake of their country and religion.
These Naga Sadhus mostly live in Himalayan Caves and they
appear during the time of Kumbh Mela. They are always lashed with trishul, sword and other deadly weapons in their hands for Dharma.
Naga Sadhus are mostly half clothed Saints with long jatas (dreadlocks) on their heads. They used to smear the ashes of dead bodies on their whole body.
They all are almost the followers of Lord Shiva, but they possess different unique styles of
praying and meditating Lord Shiva. Some Naga Sadhus have Naagas or serpents on
their neck like Lord Shiva, other used to prefer to live completely
naked or some one prefer to wear only Langota like Hanuman.
The spear was adopted by them is the symbol of the akharas which is
still worshiped by Naga sadhus before they take part in the ritual dip in the
Ganga during the Kumbh Snan.
These Nagas took part in several battles as warriors of Hindu
armies. When Aurangzeb's general Mirza Ali Turang attacked Kashi (Varanasi) in
1664, thousands of Nagas battled his army and helped safeguard the Kashi
Vishwanath temple. When Aurangzeb's army attacked Haridwar in 1666, the Nagas
came forward to resist them.
Journey of becoming a Naga Sadhu
The process of becoming a Naga Sadhu is so unbearable, stiff and difficult that for a materialistic person, becoming a Naga Sadhu is almost impossible.
The process of Diksha (initiation) begins with an aspirant
living a celibate (Brahmachari) life for several years and undergoing
severe practices in order to concentrate his body and mind.
When he is ready to
be initiated, a ‘Panch Sanskar’ ceremony is done in which five gurus perform
different rituals for him.
These include Pramukh Guru cutting off his Shikha
(hair), Bhagwa Guru giving him saffron clothes and Rudraksh Guru offering him
rudraksh beads. Vibhuti Guru applies ash on his body while Langot Guru takes
away from him the last cloth on his body.
A 'Viraja home sanskar’ is then conducted by the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the akhara. The aspirant has to perform his own Pind daan and Shradh besides that of his ancestors from both the mother’s and father’s sides, a symbolic act implying they now left the world where he/she born and now they will not return. The
last ritual called naga diksha is conducted by his sixth guru
under the akhara dhwaj (flag) after which he is declared a Naga.
Over the years, as their spiritual practices progress, the
Nagas are elevated within their akharas to becoming a mahant and thereafter Mahamandleshwar and finally Acharya Mahamandleshwar, which is the highest
position in their hierarchy.
People ignorant of great Hindu bhakti and traditions simply make mockery of these Hindu ethos and rituals without knowing that Sadhus who practice these high conscious tasks take penance to an impossible level, unimaginable for common people even if they take hundred births in human form.
Happy Travelling !!
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