Namaste
Today I had recall of a brief encounter with an initiate of Juna Akhara in Kashi Varanasi. This is a very interesting order, and my first reaction despite language barriers was that of almost feeling as if this One was as a Saiva brother in soul.
It occurred to me, that many Western Hindus have never heard of Juna Akhara order, many of Whom become Naga Sadhus. I could never aspire to their renunciation, to be a Sadhu is no minor matter. Nor do I know a lot of this order, other than that an obvious spiritual power is in their possession.
I am wondering if there are members who are part of this order at any level. I doubt much response, again this forum uses English as the primary language in script and in communication of the forum, many of this order beside not participating in many “modern conveniences” are not often using English.
But by chance, who knows, there could be some insight from One, and this is of interest to me because I sense now among “Western Hindus” a new phase of this journey which is now looking towards such and these type of Sadhus. I sense this from conversations among other avenues outside of this particular forum.
They recently had participation in the Kumbha Mela. You can search and read of their participation, you will find such renunciates of the highest spiritual domain and path. Some will go about naked, or partially naked and in ashes – very much they make me think of Lord Shiva. There are some of Juna Akhara Who do not go about naked, but are Gurus who take any Hindu, they do not care about caste, gender, they welcome the sincere who seek Sannyas, and they teach of the Ekadandi of the Dasanami tradition and other such commitments.
I know little of them, though as I have noted I am a great, avid admirer of Trailinga Swami who shares much with such order(s). But I am also vastly ignorant of their Holy Order(s), yet extremely of interest as I see is now emerging from others as well as if there is a new phase emerging and aiming at moksha.
For example there is Sri Avdheshananda Giri Maharaj, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara order.
Here is an interesting video of Avdheshananda I found, he is entitled “Acharya Mahamandaleshwar” of this same order that came to my thoughts today, there are some English commentary in the video. I notice a Westerner in the video dressed as member of the Naga Sannyasis named Baba Rampuri.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZTRXIGjCDg
Anyway, there are other examples of this Order. What I also found is that this sect (of which there are other orders) do not practice “by birth only Varna”. Birth into a varna can come by good or bad karma, but it is not what rules the house of varna and in this order I am finding that whatever varna the Guru has, so the sincere practitioner to that Teacher takes the varna of that Teacher in that very same life, no matter what birth circumstances is the seeker or whether even such has any such varna known by birth or parentage at all, it is a question of the quality of one's state at that time and formative in nature. So obviously, this is another reason this order is of great interest to Westerners.
Perhaps there are those who have been involved in this order at some level? Please, the purpose of the thread is input from those who actually know and welcome Juna Akhara and would be willing to shed further light. Please no “guru bashing”. Thank you!
Om Namah Sivaya
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