Know About Naga Baba & Akhadas

Haridwar Maha Kumbh 2021 

Maha Kumbh Festival, Haridwar invites millions of tourists, pilgrims and foreign nationals. The major crowd puller at the fair, however, remains the congregation of the Naga Sadhus. These sadhus keep attracting the attention of all due to their out-of-the-world appearance and extraordinary rituals. Tourists from every corner of the world flock to Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela season to watch these Naga Baba meditate and perform other rituals. The identification features of this sect of sadhus include being naked, having long knotty hair and having a body smeared with ashes. In addition, the Naga Babas are able to withstand the extremities of weather.
Even when the mercury dips down to a single digit, they continue to meditate and observe different rituals without being hindered in the least. These Naga Sadhus belong to different 'Akhadas', meaning camps. A number of Akhadas participate in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, each having its own group of Naga Babas. Living life in the most unconventional way, the Naga Sadhus follow their own style and enjoy it too without caring about the world at all. During the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, the Naga Babas can be seen performing different types of Yogasanas. To watch them busy meditating, travellers need to remain close to the Ganga ghats in Haridwar. You will be surprised to know that these Naga Sadhus can thrive merely on herbs. Interacting with the Naga Babas is seen as a rare opportunity to know things that are so out of the world yet belong to us. These sadhus make a pilgrimage to the Kumbh Mela to perform various types of Yogic asanas, Sashtang Dandthvad being the most prominent one. The purpose of this Yogic asana is to let the whole body prostrate. You will be deemed fortunate if you catch sight of these Naga Sadhus in some other Yogic postures like hanging from the branch of a tree.
The Naga Babas are also seen wearing numerous Rudraksha beads, believed to possess positive healing powers according to Hindu mythology. These are in actuality the beads of the Rudraksha tree. Not just a few, but you can witness Naga Sadhus wearing thousands of Rudraksha beads. They believe that wearing 11,000 Rudraksha beads will help them attain the form of Lord Shankara.
While you visit the Akhada (or camp) of Naga Babas, you will see them indulge in smoking 'chillum', a pot of clay to hold bhang, the narcotic marijuana. The consumption of bhang is also considered to be a part of the rituals performed by the Naga Babas. The sadhus hold the view that doing so will lead them to nirvana, meaning the final emancipation of the soul. Pilgrims also flock to the Akhadas of Naga Babas in large numbers. The upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar will be organized in the year 2010. So, the next time you plan a tour to the Kumbh Festival, do try to find an opportunity to get to one of the Akhadas and interact with the Naga Babas. But, keep your cameras poised! 

List of Naga Baba/Sadhus Akhada

Sanyasi Akhadas

Shri Taponidhi Niranjani Akhada Panchayati
Shri Panchayati Anand Akhada
Shri Panchadashnam Juna Akhada
Shri Panch Aahvan Akhada
Shri Agni Akhada
Shri Panchayat Akhada Mahanirvani
Shri Panch Atal Akhada Bairagi Akhadas Shri Nirvani Akhada
Shri Digambar Akhada
Shri Nimrohi Akhada Nirmal Akhadas Shri Panchayati Udasin Akhada
Shri Udasin Panchayati Naya Akhada
Shri Nirmal Panchayati Akhada

About Akahadas

As per the Vedic Concept of life, the usual life span of a person was divided into four distinct periods or ashrams, brahmacharya or study period, grihastha or normal life period, vanaprastha, or withdrawal period and sannyasa. As this system fell into disuse and the concept of Mathas gained prominence and became an important centre to propagate ethical behaviour and to protect the Vedic concept of life. the sanyasis of various Mathas were divided into various categories governing the various aspects of Vedic life Akhara means literally a place for verbal debate or a place for practice for the protection of Sanatana Dharma.
Akhara is divided into 8 Davas (दावा) (divisions) and 52 Madhis (मढ़ी) (centres). Each Marhi is governed by a Mahant. The top administrative body of the Akhara is Shree Panch (the body of five), representing Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Ganesha. It is elected on every Kumbh Mela and the body holds its post for 4 years. Traditionally during the Kumbh Mela, the Naga Sadhus, and the 'Akharas', take the principal place in initiating the bathing rituals, before the general population steps in.
Overview
Akharas are divided into different types according to the concept of God they worship. Shaiva Akharas for followers of Lord Shiva, Vaishnava or Vairagi Akhara for followers of Lord Vishnu and Kalpwasis for followers of Lord Brahma.
Its history date back to the 8th century AD when Adi Shankaracharya established seven Akharas namely Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara. Today there are 3 major Akharas (Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna) and 3 minor Akharas (Atal affiliated with Mahanirvani, Anand affiliated with Niranjani, Avahan affiliated with Juna). Furthermore, there is one small Brahmachari Akhara named Agni, affiliated with Juna.
The naga Akhada Movement Akharas were established by Shree Adi Shankaracharya who divided Sannyasa into two categories:
Astradharis (weapon holders)
Shastradharis (scripture holders)
This movement was founded in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya when he established a group of fighters initiated followers whose task was to protect pilgrims and sadhus from robbers & other enemies, later called the Nagas Astradharis (weapon holders)
The first group is known as Naga Sannyasis; their initiation ceremony takes place only during Kumbh Mela. Only those who were initiated during Kumbh Mela in Prayag are eligible to be Shree Mahants. The initiation ceremony for nagas is different from those for the second group (Paramahansas and Dandies). The biggest Akhara - regarding the number of Sadhus in it - is Juna, then Niranjani and then Mahanirvani. The first person in the Akhara is the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar, followed by other Mahamandaleshwaras, Mandaleshwaras and Shree Mahants.

Who Shri Tripura Sundari?

The 3rd Mahavidya "Shri Tripura Sundari"

There are ten Mahavidyas. The Shodashi(षोडशी) or Tripura Sundari is The third Mahavidya. Bhagwati Lalita Tripura Sundari (भगवती ललिता त्रिपुर सुंदरी) is the main deity of Shri Yantra (श्रीयन्त्र). The goddess Tripura Sundari is depicted in her Shodashi (षोडशी) aspect as a sixteen-year-old girl and is believed to represent sixteen kinds of desires. Tripura Sundari, also known as Shodashi, Lalita (ललिता) and Rajarajeshvari (राजराजेश्वरी).

Shodashi (the goddess who is 16 years old): It is the climax of the creative cycle when the entire universe is in full bloom like a flower. She is the presiding Deity of the Shri Vidya form of worship and is contacted either in the central circuit of the Shri Yantra or in your own yantra, the Nava-Yoni Chakra. Her anthropomorphic characteristics are brilliance, manifestation, sweetness, depth, fixity, energy, grace and generosity. She is sitting on the lotus that has blossomed out of the navel of Lord Shiva is a beautiful young girl of 16 years with four arms. Her complexion is like molten gold and Her beauty is continuously seen by Lord Shiva. At one point, she is being made one with Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu's consort. 

 Bhagwati Tripura Sundari (त्रिपुरसुंदरी)  - The Beauty of the Three Worlds 

Sundari is no ordinary beauty. She is the most blissful and beautiful of all goddesses as she represents the ultimate bliss at the source of all joys. The highest beauty does not reside in any object, although it is not separate from objects. The highest beauty is perception: "to hold the Infinite in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour," as the poet Blake so eloquently wrote. Beauty is derived from the light of consciousness that radiates through objects. It is never really contained in any object. Therefore, beauty can never disappear, but rather The light of beauty that we see in things is, therefore, the light of our own consciousness. By discovering it, we contact the sources of infinite delight within us. This is part of the Sundari revelation.

 The beauty of perception occurs only when the mind is cleansed of the known when the consciousness is cleansed of its conditioning and rests in pure consciousness without any memory residue. Then everything we see radiates with the light of eternity and is effulgent with the glory of our own Self as the Universal Self. Otherwise, the residue of our thoughts and emotions, like a dark film, obstructs the subtle and transparent beauty and presence in things, even though we can clearly perceive their physical characteristics. 

 Sundari represents the ultimate beauty of pure perception that arises when we see the entire universe in ourselves when we see all of nature as a reflection of the reality of consciousness. Sundari is, therefore, the beauty of nature but as seen through the spiritual eye of oneness - the view that the entire universe is Brahman (ब्रह्म) - there is nothing but God above, below, within, without, north, south, east or west, past, present or future. Sundari, therefore, is the Goddess of Vedantic knowledge, which is the knowledge of the Supreme or Divine Being. She teaches us that everything is the self and that the world is Brahman or the Absolute. From her perspective, Samsara is Nirvana (निर्वाण); the world of illusion merges with the Absolute. Hence, she is the most beloved Goddess form among Swamis and Vedantic Masters. She represents the knowledge of the Supreme Being. 

 The entire universe exists for the delight of consciousness, which is the game of the Divine Mother. Creation arises in joy and returns to joy. We are passing figures in the eternal game of it, who have not yet understood the source of the energy that Our pain and suffering is a delusion, a misconception born of ignorance and ego. Because we try to control or possess joy from the standpoint of the separate self, we separate ourselves from the true joy that is universal. the image of joy shows us the way out of our error, which is not denying ourselves happiness but discovering the true happiness we seek, which is to be one with everyone. Lalita awakens the receptive soul to the happiness that underlies everything. things.

 The great Yantra or energy pattern that underlines the entire universe, arising from the ॐ mantra. She is the deity who lives on the summit of Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain or the mountain of the spine, and gives the commands through which the entire universe moves. She is the divine love, which is the central motivating force behind the universe and which is the original impulse in our own hearts.

Sundari is also called Rajarajeshvari or "the highest ruler of the universe". All the commands that govern the universe arise from it, including the command that enables us to develop spiritually or to give spiritual teachings in the world. We must seek their command in order to do something meaningful in life. However, their command is not based on authority but on love. To get their approval we just have to be open to their love. What she allows us is to love her and to love everything. However, in order to discover their commands, we must be willing to give up our own selfish desires and try to control things. Tripura Sunday is often depicted as a young girl at the age of 16. As such she is called “16” (षोड़श) or “the young girl” (बाला). It is at this stage of a woman's life that the delightful aspect of her existence is most pronounced. It is their nature to play, seek new experiences and charm others. Your innocence attracts all that is true and good. Sunday is the power of consciousness, Chit Shakti. It is the consciousness of the Supreme Self, Paramatman(परमात्मन), as one with the Supreme Reality or the Absolute,(परब्रह्म). Because of true knowledge, it is called, Samvit (संवित)  which is the power to understand all things as consciousness itself. Bhagwati Lalita is thus the power of spiritual knowledge (ज्ञान शक्ति), which is more a question of feeling and perception than of thinking and analysis is. That is why she is the form of the goddess most worshipped by those who follow yoga. Bhagwati Shodasi is the form of the goddess who represents the pure consciousness and the bliss that flows from it. It combines the being of Kali (काली) with the knowledge of Tara (तारा) and adds the bliss dimension of spiritual realization.

This article translated from talks between Swami Shri Vishwadevanand Puri Ji and Anantbodh Chaitanya on Shri Vidya. 

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What is Shri Yantra?

What is Shri Yantra explained by Shri Anantbodh Chaitanya

The Sanskrit term Shri yantra originates from “yan” or “yam” meaning “medium” and “tra” meaning “instrument” or “tool”. Here Shri represents wealth and Yantra is an instrument, apparatus or an amulet endowed with protective powers, its ultimate purpose is to unite us with our higher selves.

Shri Yantra holds supreme status among all mystic sciences and disciplines. Tantric gurus have collectively declared Shri yantra as the best medium for manifestation and wish fulfilment.
The Shri Yantra is considered to be the tool for obtaining and fulfilling all worldly desires and material manifestation. The Shri Yantra is a mathematically precise design and based upon Golden Proportion or Phi ratio. Everything that exists in nature, is constructed in the proportionately precise manner and this proportion is called the Golden/Phi ratio. The Shri Yantra means “holy instrument” and can also be known as the Shri Chakra or “holy wheel”. It contains all form of sacred geometry/golden ratio is mathematically precise and can also represent the union of the Divine Masculine and Feminine (The upward triangles meeting the downward triangles).

Shri Yantra has nine triangles that can be interlaced in such a way as to form 43 smaller triangles like a web; this web can be symbolic of the entire cosmos

Staring at the central dot or ‘Bindu’ of the Shri Yantra is known and proven to create changes within the brain and the stimulation of the Pineal gland by focusing our attention on the ‘3rd eye’ area. The Pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the brain. It produces melatonin, a serotonin derived hormone, which affects the modulation of sleep patterns in both seasonal and circadian rhythms. It’s the shape resembles a tiny pine cone (hence its name), and it is located in the epithalamus, near the centre of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two halves of the thalamus join. 

The typical Shri Yantra with its central point (Bindu) and concentric circles of petals and other geometries are conceived of as a sacred dwelling in which the presiding deity and their entourage take up residence. So you move through each layer pay attention to what elements are being brought in.  Look at the number behind each of the segments like the 9 strings or why are there 4 triangles for the Shiva and Shakti.  
The Bindu represents the location of the highest manifestation of the deity as well as the focal point through which the deity transcends the relative plane, with its form and structure to merge into the formless consciousness.  To help visually understand, the Bindu is the centre of the Shri Yantra and the dot is the symbol of AUM – it represents the piercing, breaking or bursting through (Bindu Bhedana) and it is the final stage.  This is the very same formless consciousness in which the devotee merges with the highest truth.  The Shri Yantra is then fully activated in its Divine nature and reveals the true potential and nature of the devotee in this merging and loving Shri relationship with the Divine as the divine.

The Shri Yantra (called the Shri Chakra) is the symbol of Hindu Tantra also, which is based on the Hindu philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism.

The Shri Yantra is the object of devotion in Shri Vidya. The Shri Chakra is also known as the Nava chakra because it can also be seen as having nine levels. "Nine" comes from "Nau or Nava" of Sanskrit. Each level corresponds to a mudra, a yogini, and a specific form of the deity Tripura Sundari along with her mantra. These levels starting from the outside of the bottom layer is:

1.Trailokya Mohana or Bhupara, The earth square of three lines with four portals. This chakra fascinates the worlds. It has a mudra we call Sarva Sankshobhani mudra. Dram is the Beeja mantra of this mudra.

2. Sarva Aasa Paripuraka chakra a sixteen-petal lotus. It fulfils all desires or hopes. There is also a mudra we call Sarva Vidravani mudra. Dreem/Drim is the Beeja mantra of this mudra.

3. Sarva Sankshobahana chakra an eight-petal lotus. It is quite agitating. The mudra name of this chakra Sarvaakrshini mudra. Kleem is the Beeja mantra of this mudra.

4. Sarva Saubhagyadayaka chakra, composed of fourteen small triangles. It confers all good fortunes. It has Sarva Vashankari mudra. Bloom is the Beeja mantra.

5. Sara Arthasadhaka chakra, composed of ten small triangles. It fulfils all expectations. It has Sarvonmalini Mudra. Sah is the Beeja of this mudra.

6. Sarva Rakshakara chakra, composed of ten small triangles. It saves the devotee from all troubles. It has Sarva Mahankusha mudra. Krom is the Beeja mantra of this mudra.

7. Sarva Rogahara chakra, composed of eight small triangles. It removes all diseases. It has Sarva Khechari mudra. Hasakhapharem is the Beeja mantra.

8. Sarva Siddhiprada chakra, composed of 1 small triangle. It confers all fulfillments. It has Sarva Beeja mudra.  Hasoum Beej Mantra.

9. Sarva Anandamaya chakra, composed of a point or Bindu. It stands for attainments of Paramount bliss absolute. It has Sarva Yoni mudra. The aim is the Beej mantra.

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