Kumbh Mela 2019 : Who are Naga Sadhu’s and all about their Mysterious world!
The world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims, Kumbh Mela, began in Prayagraj on January 15 and will continue till March 4. Millions of devotees congregate here to take a holy dip in river Ganga. Thousands of ash-clad naked Naga Sadhus visited Prayagraj to take a holy dip in the Ganga. The Kumbh Mela snan is opened to the commoners only after the Naga Sadhu’s holy dip, Shahi Snan.
But who are these Naga Sadhu’s? revered and feared by the people. There are so many theories about how they live and how they travel. Many say that Naga Sadhu’s use technology, which they acquired with severe penance something similar to modern day ‘Nano Technology’ which makes the time travel possible for them. Many believe in this theory as Naga Sadhu’s are never seen anywhere walking or during any other time other than during the Kumbh Mela’s and that too just few kilometers away to the town and no one knows how and where they travel. So let us find out who these Naga Sadhu’s who are a major tourist attraction at the Kumbh Mela –
Naga Sadhus
Naga Sadhu’s remind us of saints devoid of any material possessions, without clothes and with ash rubbed all over their body. Naga sadhus are known to be epitome of non-violence and have a huge history behind them.
Naga Sadhus are considered the as militant groups of Hindus for safeguarding Hinduism and India from foreign invaders. It was founded by Shankra charya the the devotee of lord Shiva. They are both Shivities and militant both for defending Sanatan Dharma, which is the base and entity of India. They mostly live in Himalayan Caves about and they appear during the time of Kumbh Mela. They are always lashed with Trishul of Lord Shiva, sword and other deadly weapons in their hands for Dharma. They never disturb or kill any innocent people of the Society.
How they Live
The Naga Sadhus have unique characteristic features drawing inspiration from the famous Hindu god Shiva. They hold tridents crowned with human skulls. Their bodies are smeared in thick ash and they wear heavy coils of matted hair on the head. These saints remain completely naked even during biting cold. They smoke Marijuana through a pipe called a Chillum or Shiv Muli. They use it as a tool to avoid the worldly distraction yet have self-control even in the intoxicated state. But as they advance in spiritual life they renounce intoxication too. The Naga Sadhus renounce the materialistic world and practice celibacy to escape from the cycle of birth and death and to attend salvation. As they belong to the Shaivite sect, they have matted locks of hair and their bodies are covered in ash like Lord Shiva.
The journey to being a Naga Sadu is fulled with penance pain and endurance. Naga Sadhus have to give up their family, all worldly desires and practice a life of celibacy. They even need to conduct their own last rites as a way of telling the world that they are “dead” – they will now only live a life of penance. A Naga Sadhu eats only once a day and can beg for food at 7 seven houses each day, failing which he has to go to bed starving.
They do not like to live near the common people society because of influence of lust, sex, and worldly attractions. They live in Akahara. They have some divine powers also for delivering the powers and that is why, they are commonly seen showing powers.
The Naga Sadhus do Tapsya for escaping out from the cycle of 84 Lakhs different Yonis of death and rebirth. They are highly energetic military of Hindus for safeguarding Hinduism, but they are never threat to any other people or faiths. They are the true devotee of Lord Shiva and but if they learnt anywhere threat to any temple, they surprisingly appear in groups and come forward to safeguard it. They have no fear of death and life.
The Rules of Becoming Naga Sadhu
Strong Celibacy and Penance: A person who is interested in pursuing a life of Naga Sadhu, he should have complete control over his lust, sexual feelings. Practising Brahmacharya is not limited to only physical body but also on moral values. Mentally a person should renounce material wealth and desire for worldly things. First such person is tested rigorously on the norms of Brahmacharya then it is ensured that he attained self-control, he is admitted in the group for training to become Naga. This permission to become Naga is known as Diksha but there are many other conditions which need to be fulfilled before the permission is given.
Service to Bhagwan: A person who attained control over his senses is of no use if he does not have love for the Bhagwan, people and country. Ego-centered person is liability on society and country. He cannot be trusted to perform Rashtra Dharm.
Servicing and following orders of his Guru help the person in removing self-ego. Selfless bhakti sows the seed of developing human loving nature to protect people and country. Youth (age:16 to 18) belonging to Varna system: Brahman, Vaishya, Kshatriya and Shudra come forward to serve the country as Naga Sadhus. There is no restriction for anyone provided he is ready to undergo immense penance offered in the process of achieving Naga position.
Last Rites: It is very important to perform last rites, considering himself dead for the family and society. It is like new birth of a person in a new world of Nagas. The last rites, Pind Daan and Shraddh are performed by the individual himself, relinquishing his connection with the family members and friends. After this, Guru gives him new name and identity.
Naga Sadhus and Kumbh mela
Naga Sadhus are mostly seen only during the Kumbh Mela. Naga Sadhus are a particular group of Shaivite saints who reside in the Himalayan Caves and come to visit the civilization only during the Kumbh Mela. This is the only event when these ascetic saints can be seen amongst the general Indian population. This is because they are used to a life of oblivion and they are asked to shun people, but it is an exception during the Kumbh. This is the place they come to hoping to connect with God and go back to their life of oblivion soon after.
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