Different sectors of saints, vairaghis, and yogis are organised and belong to different akharas. “Akhara” basically means a wrestling area. It is believed that Akharas came its existence in 8th century AD. They were established by Adi Shankaracharya and back then were seven in number: Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara. They were formed to strengthen the Hindu religion and unify devotees who practice various hindu rituals, customs and beliefs.
Presently, there are three major Akharas; Sanyasi, Bairagi and Nirmal and three minor: Atal, anand and Avahan. Akharas are further divided into different camps in accordance with the god they worship. Followers of Lord Vishnu come under Vairagi or Vaishnava Akhara, those who worship Lord ShIva come under Shaiva Akhara and the ones who follow Lord Brahma come under Kapalwasis.
According to some text, Akharas are further divided into eight davas and 52 marhis. Every marhi is lead by a Mahant and performs all the spiritual activities under him. Shree Panch (representing Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Shaktiand and Ganesha) forms the central administrative body of any Akhara. Every Kumbha Mela witnesses the election of this five member governing body. They are elected for a period of four years. The Juna Akhara (in terms of number of saints) is the biggest Akhara. Every Akhara is headed by Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, followed by Mahamandaleshwars, Mandaleshwaras and Shree Mahants. During the holy bath at the Kumbha Mela, the main bathing site is surrounded by saints on chariots and elephants who first take the holy dip in the sacred river, following which the devotees and ordinary visitors are allowed to go ahead with Shahi Snan.
Detail Of Akharas
Sr. No | Akhara’s Name | Contact Person | Head Office |
1 | Shri Panchayati Taponidhi Akhara | Shri Mahant Laltagiriji Maharaj (Sachiv) | Mahant Shri Vishwanath Giri ji Niranjani Akhara, Badnagar Road, Ujjain |
Shri Panchayati Taponidhi Niranjani Akhara | |||
Mayapur Haridwar, (Uttaranchal) | |||
Shri Mahant Ramanand puri ji Maharaj (Sachiv) | |||
Shri Panchayati Taponidhi Niranjani Akhara | |||
Mayapur Haridwar, (Uttaranchal) | |||
2 | Shri Panchayati Anand Akhara | Shri Mahant Sagaranand ji Maharaj | |
Shri Panchayati Anand Akhara | |||
Trayambkeshwar, Distt. Nasik, Maharashtra | |||
3 | Shri Panchdashnaam Juna Akhara | Shri Mahant Parmanand ji Saraswati (Sabhapati) | Peer Mahant Ramgiri Pratinidhi Rameshwar Giri Datta Akhara, Ujjain |
Shri Panchdashnaam Juna Akhara, Bada Hanuman | |||
Ghat Kashi, Varanasi (U.P.) | |||
Shravannath Nagar Haridwar | |||
Shri Mahant Uma Shankar Bharti Ji Maharaj, (Sachiv) | |||
Shri Panchdashnaam Juna Akhara, Bada Hanuman | |||
Ghat Kashi, Varanasi (U.P.) | |||
Shri Mahant PremGiriji Maharaj, (Sachiv) | |||
Shri Panchdashnaam Juna Akhara, Bada Hanuman | |||
Ghat Kashi, Varanasi (U.P.) | |||
Shri Mahant ji Maharaj (Sachiv) | |||
Mayadevi Bhairav Akhara Haridwar (Uttaranchal) | |||
Kankeshwari Devi Ashram | |||
Shri Mahant Surendra Giri Ji, Maharaj (Sachiv) | Peer Mahant Ramgiri Pratinidhi Rameshwar Giri Datta Akhara, Ujjain | ||
Mayadevi Bhairav Akhara Haridwar (Uttaranchal) | |||
4 | Shri Panchdashnaami Avahan Akhara | Shri Mahant Shiv Shankar Giri ji Maharaj (Sabhapati) | Pratinidhi : Shri RajShekhar Tripathi, Bada Sarafa, Ujjain |
Shri Panchdashnaami Aavhan Akhara | |||
Ashwamedh Ghat, Kashi Varanasi (U.P.) | |||
Shri Mahant Prem Puri ji Maharaj (Sachiv) | |||
Shri Panchdashnami Avahan Akhara | |||
Ashwamedh Ghat, Kashi Varanasi (U.P.) | |||
5 | Shri Panch Agni Akhara | Shri Mahant Gopalanand Ji Maharaj (Sabhapati) | Mahant Shri Sudamanand Ji Rajrajeshwar Hanuman Mandir, Pool k niche, Sindhiya Dharmshala k paas, Ujjain |
Shri Panch Agni Akhara, Shambhupanch Agni | |||
Akhara, Mu.Po. Bilkha, Junagadh (Sourashtra) | |||
Gujrat | |||
Shri Mahant Govindanand Ji Maharaj (Sachiv) | |||
Shri Panch Agni Akhara, Shambhupanch Agni | |||
Akhara, Mu.Po. Bilkha, Junagadh (Sourashtra) | |||
Gujrat | |||
6 | Shri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara | Shri Mahant Prakashpuri Ji Maharaj (Sachiv) | Shri Mahant Prakashpuri Ji Maharaj (Sachiv), Shri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara |
Shri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara, | |||
Kankhal, Haridwar (Uttaranchal) | |||
7 | Shri Panch Atal Akhara | Shri Mahant Rajgiriji Maharaj, (Sabhapati) | Mahant Shri Premgiri ji Maharaj |
Shri Shankargiri ji Maharaj, (Sachiv) | |||
Shri Panch Atal Akhara | |||
Kankhal, Haridwar (Uttaranchal) | |||
8 | Udasin Akhare | Pratinidhi : Shyamdas ji Maharaj | |
Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara | Shri Mahant Raghumuni ji Maharaj | ||
Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara | |||
Ram Ghat Ujjain | |||
9 | Shri Panchayati Udasin Naya Akhara | Shri Mahant Manohardas ji Maharaj, (President) | Shri Jagtar Muni, Mod Dharmshala k Paas, Ramghat, Ujjain (Jakhira Prabandhak) |
Shri Panchayati Udasin Naya Akhara, | |||
Kankhal, Haridwar (Uttaranchal) | |||
Kankeshwari Ashram | |||
Ashok Nagar Gujrat | |||
10 | Shri Panchayati Nirmal Akhara | Shri Mahant Gyandev Ji Maharaj | Shri Darshan Singh ji, Nirmal Akhara, Badhnagar Road, Ujjain |
Shri Panchayati Nirmal Akhara | |||
Kankhal Haridwar Uttaranchal | |||
11 | Bairagi Akhade | Shri Mahant Shivnandandas Ji Maharaj | Mahant Shri Sudhir Pujari, Sansthan Shri Kalika Mandir, Panchwati Nasik Sthaniya: Mahant Shri Bhagwandas ji Beghampura Ujjain. |
(Ramadal Vaishnav) | Shri Panchramanandaye Nirvani Ani Akhara, | ||
Shri Panchramanandaye | Shri Bihariji Mandir Barana Bamori | ||
Nirvani Ani Akhara | Distt. Tikamgadh (M.P.) | ||
Shri Mahantdas Ji Maharaj | Mahant Shri Premdas ji, Khaki Akhara, Khak Chowk Ankpat Ujjain | ||
Shri Panchramanandaye Nirvani Ani Akhara, | |||
Hanumangarhi Ayodhya (U.P.) | |||
Shri Mahant Jagannathdasji Maharaj, | Mahant Shri Premdas ji, Khaki Akhara, Khak Chowk Ankpat Ujjain | ||
Khaki Akhara (Nirvani Ani), Lambe Hanuman | |||
Mandir Lambe Hanuman Road Railway Station k paas, | |||
Surat Gujrat | |||
12 | Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara | Shri Mahant Keshavdas ji Maharaj | Mahant Shri Kanhaiyadas ji Ankpat Road, Ujjain |
Shri Panch Digambar Ani Akhara | |||
(Digambar Akhara) Ayodhya U.P. | Mahant Shri Bhagwandas ji, Beghampura Ujjain | ||
Shri Rambela Math Shastri Marg Dungarpur | |||
Rajesthan | |||
13 | Shri Panchramanandiya Nirmohi Ani Akhara | Shri Mahant Ram Ashraydas ji Maharaj | Mahant Shri Raghuveerdas ji, Khak Chowk Ujjain |
Shri Panchramanandiya Nirmohi Ani Akhara | |||
Nirmohi Akhara, Ramghat Chitrakoot, | Mahant Shri Bhagwandas ji Beghampura Ujjain | ||
Distt. Banda (U.P.) |
Table Source: http://www.simhasthujjain.in/about-simhasth/akhara-details/
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