Prayagraj (UP), January 19: The Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has officially launched the initiation process for thousands of individuals aspiring to become Naga Sadhus across various Akharas. After a stringent three-tier application review, the selection process is now in full swing.
This unique recruitment process is taking place at the sacred Triveni Sangam, where aspirants are applying to embark on the path of Naga Sannyas. Thousands of young sanyasis from different Akharas are preparing to renounce worldly life in dedication to Sanatan Dharma.
The registration process for these initiations has begun, with many sanyasis applying. According to a report by Times of India, the Akharas are quietly conducting interviews and issuing registration slips. The applications are being scrutinized, and those who meet the criteria set by the Juna, Shri Niranjani, Shri Mahanirvani, Aawahan, Atal, and Anand Akharas will be selected for initiation as Naga Sadhus.
After undergoing the rituals of mundan (head shaving) and pind daan (a form of ritual offering), the final initiation will take place during the Amrit Snan festival on Mauni Amavasya (January 29). On this day, the candidates will stand naked, symbolizing their complete devotion to religion, as they undergo the sacred ceremony.
During the initiation, Acharya Mahamandleshwar will conduct the rituals, and the sabhapati (ceremony leader) will explain the Akhara’s rules and regulations. The candidates will then take an oath, completing their transition into Naga Sannyas, before proceeding to take the Amrit Snan.
This year, it is expected that around 2,000 individuals will be initiated as Naga Sadhus in the Juna Akhara, and 1,100 in the Shri Niranjani Akhara. Similar initiation processes are also underway in the Shri Mahanirvani, Atal, Anand, and Aawahan Akharas.
The initiation process begins months in advance. Six months prior to the Kumbh, the Thanapati (head) of each Akhara, along with the Ashtakoshal Mahant, conducts an in-depth investigation of each candidate's background and activities. They prepare a detailed report, which is then reviewed by the Acharya Mahamandleshwar of the respective Akhara.
Mahant Ravindra Puri of the Niranjani Akhara shared that, in the first phase, around 300 to 400 individuals are being initiated as Naga Sadhus under the Niranjani Akhara.
Among the 13 Akharas participating in the Maha Kumbh, seven are Shaiv Akharas, and six of these offer initiation, or deeksha, into the prestigious Naga Sadhu tradition.
