Kotpad 17th January 2025 During the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, a vibrant glimpse of Sanatan Dharma can be witnessed. This sacred festival of life and faith also brings together the various Akharas. While the Sanskrit term “Akhara” traditionally refers to a wrestling arena, it encompasses a deeper, subtler world. Shailvi Sharda provides a glimpse into this fascinating realm.
It was the curse of Durvasa that paved the way for the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) and the Kumbh traditions. “Once, the renowned yet short-tempered sage Durvasa cursed the gods, stripping them of their powers. Taking advantage of this, demons established their rule over heaven. The distressed gods sought help from Lord Vishnu, who advised them to perform the churning of the ocean to retrieve their lost treasures,” said Professor Madan Mohan Pathak from the Central Sanskrit University in Lucknow, referencing the Bhagavata and Vishnu Puranas.
“Among the 14 gems that surfaced was the Amrit Kumbh (pot of nectar for immortality). A tussle broke out between the gods and demons over it. Lord Vishnu, in the form of Mohini, intervened,” Pathak said. “Over time, the belief that bathing in these rivers during cosmic moments grants purity, prosperity, and immortality gave rise to the Kumbh rituals.”
Akharas: Arenas of the Protectors of Dharma
In Sanskrit, ‘Akhara’ means a wrestling arena, but upon closer inspection, they reveal themselves as entire microcosms within the protective walls of monasteries, seen during the Mahakumbh. “Akharas represent a social order within the ecosystem of ‘mathas’ (monasteries) or ‘ashrams’ (educational campuses for sages) that have taken on the responsibility of preserving the traditions of Sanatan Dharma,” explains Rana PB Singh, a retired professor of cultural geography from Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Vedic scholar and author Mahant Mithlesh Nandini Sharan from Ayodhya says that tracing the exact origin of Akharas is difficult but refers to them as “living testimonies of the Sanatan tradition.”
“The tradition of Akharas is as old as religion itself. Naturally, those who protected the saints needed to be physically fit, and the place where they practiced their skills was called an Akhara,” says Mahant Mithlesh. “Without Akharas, the Kumbh would just be a religious fair.”
Adi Shankaracharya and the Dashanami Tradition
Adi Shankaracharya, the visionary who unified Sanatan traditions in the 8th century during a time of division among rival sects, is credited as the progenitor of the current form of Kumbh rituals.
In his book, A History of the Dasnami Naga Sannyasis, author Jadunath Sarkar wrote that the ten visionary groups that existed in the 8th century — namely Giri, Puri, Bharati, Ban, Aranya, Parvat, Sagar, Teerth, Ashram, and Saraswati — were associated with the four ‘mathas’ established by Adi Shankaracharya.
The ‘Puri,’ ‘Bharati,’ and ‘Saraswati’ branches were linked to the Sringeri Matha (South), while the ‘Ban’ and ‘Aranya’ branches were connected to the Govardhan Math