A glimpse into the politics of Hindu monasteries

Some monasteries and Shankaracharyas have created confusion by supporting or opposing the Congress or the BJP.

- ALOK MEHTA

This time Maha Kumbh in Prayag started with great pomp and without any dispute between the Akharas. But some political parties and leaders made statements against the ruling BJP and the state government even in the name of Kumbh. There is no doubt that there used to be big disputes and conflicts on the issue of "me first" for the first Shahi Snan (this time it was called Amrit Snan). In 1968-69, there was such a serious dispute between the Akharas regarding the Simhastha Kumbh of Ujjain that one Akhara group organized Kumbh in 1968 and the other group organized it in 1969. I feel that Sadhus and Saints abandon their family and worldly attachments and adopt renunciation, then why do they fight? Starting from the biggest organization of Sadhus and Saints, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, to the Sadhus and Saints of different Akharas, there is always a war going on.

Some fight for position and chair, while others keep opening fronts for dominance in the arena. In the past years, there have been public controversies over the position and dominance of the Shankaracharyas. Not only this, some monasteries and Shankaracharyas have created a strange confusion in society by supporting or opposing the Congress or Bharatiya Janata Party. There is detailed mention of politics and power in the Vedas, but the role of sages, saints and Shankaracharyas is only to advise the ruling system.

Akharas can be called the monasteries of Hinduism. Initially, there were only four major Akharas, but due to ideological differences, they got divided and today there are 13 major Akharas. Kumbh is held only by Akharas. The main reason for organizing Kumbh was spiritual and religious discussions.

Akharas initiate disciples in their own traditions and give them titles. While common people come to Kumbh to earn punya, the sadhus claim that they come to purify the Ganga.