As the third “amrit snan” ended on Basant Panchami on Monday, the Naha Sadhus, who are the main attraction of Maha Kumb this year, are leaving to their Akharas and the place from where they belong.
After this Maha Kumbh, they will be seen at Ardha Kumbh, which will take place in Haridwar after two years. The Naga Sadhus are those who leave attachment from real life and people to connect with God.
Since the Maha Kumbh started in Prayagraj, the Naga sadhus are camping to hold the river for amrit snan. The last snan is scheduled to take place on Mahashivratri on January 26, and after that, the flag of different akharas will be removed from Mahakumbh.
The Sadhus will leave after having “Kadhi pakoda” in their akharas. Seers from the Shaiv Akharas will leave before sadhus of the Ani and Udaseen alharas from the Mahakumbh.
As per the tradition, the sadhu will approach Kashi, also known as Varanasi, for some rituals and certificates related to initiation into ascetic life.
Who are Naga Sadhus?
The Naga Sadhus, men who are smeared in ash, sometimes have dreadlocks the same length as their height and are said to feast on the dead. This group has always been a topic of intrigue and conversation. They are the ascetics who gave up everything and learnt to live a new life in search of spiritual enlightenment. The protectors of the temples, Naga Sadhus are an attraction of the Maha Kumbh and men who dedicate their life to religion. Here we mention 7 mind-boggling facts about Naga Sadhus.
They Avoid Any Clothing
One of the most unique attributes that help identify a Naga Sadhu is that they do not wear any clothes and remaining naked is a part of their identity. This nakedness is a symbol of their detachment from the material, something that is extremely important and dear to humans in the material world, and renouncing the clothes is a way of renouncing the material world. To protect themselves from the cold, or wind, or the heat, they smear ‘bhasm’ all over their body, which is basically ash that is considered holy and pure.
It Can Take Over 10 years To Become A Naga Sadhu
Becoming a Naga Sadhu is not a casual decision at all, but rather a hard, challenging journey that makes people give away years and years of their life. Most people say and believe that becoming a Naga Sadhu can easily take over 10 years, and these 10 years are spent in celibacy, meditation, and austerity.
Naga Sadhus Do Not get Cremated
Unlike most Hindus, who are cremated after death, Naga Sadhus have a different way to give up life and their human bodies. It is believed that when a Naga Sadhu is ready to give up his life, their bodies are just buried under Earth while they sit in a meditative position. Another practice that many follow is that their body is immersed in a holy river, as is, usually the Ganga as it is believed to go straight to heaven then on.
They Perform Their Pind Daan
Pind Daan is a ritual that Hindus do to honour their ancestors who have passed, and is only done after their death to enable them to have a smooth transition into the afterlife. But, the Naga Sadhus, when they are initiated into the practice, perform their own Pind Daan, while alive and living. Why? It is believed that being a Naga Sadhu is a whole new birth of a person, and the Pind Daan is a symbol of the end of their life on material Earth.
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