Documenting The Maha Kumbh

This Is My 58620 Hindu Blog As Hope And Hindutva Message Of Universal Peace

The Hinduism I shoot is pristine sacramental and has humility as its essence through the cosmic eyes of divinity .

I shoot Lalbagh Chya Raja every year for his followers and my Hindu friends ,,I have a camera I make positive use of my pictures to spread the beauty of my cultural inheritance and the power of our collective ethos as Indians .

I only hope and pray that the humility of Lord Ganesha in the avatar of Lalbagh Chya Raja touches his volunteers that they dont get carried away by spiritual arrogance ,, which is a heady substance that does not sustain the spirit of the Lord..and his message of Peace .

Soon I will be shooting Goddess Durga her workshops her pandals and her Visarjan too including the Pitru Paksh that I have always shot come what may..

I am thankful to those who helped me shoot Lalbagh Chya Raja the karyakartas  the committee members of the Lalbagh Chya Raja Mandal and Mr Sudhir Salvi Mr Ashok Pawar without their help I would have not been able to shoot this visarjan set of 781 pictures all shot in a few hours at the Pandal and in and around the Pandal.



Lalbagh Chya Raja Flickr

About Lalbagh Chya Raja Wish Granter And The Remover Of Obstacles

from wikipedia


Lalbaugcha Raja (Marathi: लालबागचा राजा) is the most famous Sarvajanik Ganapati, [1] kept at Lalbaug, a prominent locality in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturti festival. The idol is kept for public display for Eleven days thereafter it is immersed on the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi.

It is believed that this Idol of Lord Ganesha is Navsacha Ganpati (Marathi: नवसाचा गणपती) (which means the "one who fulfills all wishes") and hence over 1.5 million people visit this Ganesh Pandal daily during the 10 day Ganesha festival. [2]

Since the last few years, a few days prior to the Ganesh Chaturthi, a Mukh Darshan Ceremony (Lalbaugcha Raja's first look and photoshoot) is organized by the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshostav mandal. Last year the ceremony took place on Thursday, September 5, 2013. This unveiling of Lalbaugcha Raja is covered every year by all national and regional channels.[3]

There are two queues for taking blessings of the Lalbaugcha Raja - THE NAVSACHI LINE and MUKH DARSHANACHI LINE.

The Navsachi line is for people who want to get their wishes fulfilled. In this line you get to go on the stage and touch the feet of Lalbaugcha Raja and take his blessings so that all your wishes get fulfilled. However this line attracts huge public and it takes around 25 – 30 and sometimes up to 40 hours to get darshan in this line.

The second line in meant for Mukh darshan i.e., to get a glimpse of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesha Idol from some distance without going onto the stage. This line also attracts huge public and it takes around 5 – 8 hours and sometimes up to 12 – 14 hours to get darshan in this line as well, especially on Weekends. [4]

In 2014, the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati is now in its 80th year.


The Mandal[edit]
Lalbaugcha Raja is the popular Ganesh Idol of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. The Mandal, formerly known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug[5] was founded in 1934 at Lalbaug Market.

History[edit]
The Mandal, formarly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in 1934,[6] because of a vow (Nav'as) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Ganesha for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this idol of Lord Ganesh has become popular as He fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.

The Naga Sadhu

on a winter cold morning
on the banks of the ganges
a naga guru pensive sad
i shot all alone in a crowd
flooded by old memories
of earlier kumbhs  agony
ecstasy of his thoughts
i tried to capture decipher
each one of them in the
fishermans net i caught
at that very hallowed
solemn spot ..

a muslim  photographer poet
held by a slender thread in a
cosmic plot ..overwrought
his cultural inheritance that
had pulled him from mumbai
his jouney into a saffron world
of vermilion tiny dots the chant
of har har mahadev from  the
soul of his camera on to your
hearts he bought .amrit nectar
of humility humanity as offerings
from his guru he got ..for once
his caste color creed he forgot

shot after shot after shot..stealing
curds from Krishnas pot ,,,,

Basant Panchami Shahi Snan
Maha Kumbh.the winds
 whispered beggarpoet ,,
once home forget me not ,,,
we are born we die become air
fire water wind ..mankinds lot ..

Shooting The Naga Sadhus At The Shahi Snan Is a Risky Business Too

Basant Panchami Maha Kumbh

On this auspicious God sent Day while heading towards the banks of the Ganges for the Royal Bath or Shahi Snan , the Naga Sadhus are over excited , some of them high in spirits , rushing adrenalin , and if you are not cautious you can be attacked by a few volatile hot headed sadhus , either with their sticks or even the swords or trishul..perhaps because some press photographer , or foreign photographer steps in their way making them all the more agitated .

As  I was dressed in white and looked like a Sadhu I saved a lot of  unwary photographers from getting beaten..but than the photographers the crowds and the stupid cops of UP are over excited too, the cops have no inkling about handling the Naga Sadhus , they are abusive rude and insulting to the foreign photographers ..and we talk of Devo Atithi Bhava..there is no Press Stand here at the Sangam , preferential treatment for VVIP photographers is possible , you have to pull strings in high places .

I pity the Photo Blogger but because of his ability to become a reptile in such situations he gets away with some good shots too..

I was with my Guru a Naga Sadhu and Kotal Naga Cop so I was lucky  to be at the right place right time..

There is no discipline , here at all badly stage managed , and absolutely no disaster management on this side of the banks.. whatever lifeguards etc are on the boats of the baks  a small place left for the Holy Dip , in which even the crowds keeps pushing in

Most of them are Bhakts of the various Akhadas with their families ..

All in all I had a Great Maha Kumbh..

The Maha Kumbh ...The Greatest Event On Earth In India ..

Kumbh Mela is the greatest pilgrimage and festival in the Hindu religion. The event is a religious and cultural spectacle which occurs once in 12 years attracting participants from around the globe to take a dip in the holy waters of Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati. Maha Kumbh Festival 2013 was   one of the biggest congregations in the history of mankind.


When Guru (Jupiter) and the Sun are in the zodiac sign Leo(Simha Rashi), the Kumbh is celebrated in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik.
Next Kumbh Mela will be held at Nashik in year 2015.


Nashik Maha Kumbh Mela 2015

Nasik Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela is the most eventful and significant spiritual get-together for Hindus in India. It is held once in every Twelve years. at Four important pilgrim centers take turns to host it. These are Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar. Every 12th year, the Kumbh Mela is held on a grand scale at each above cities. This grand celebration is called Puran Kumbh.

Nashik is the centre for Kumbh in the state of Maharashtra. Millions pilgrims go to the Nasik Kumbh Mela and take a dip in the holy waters of Kushavarta and Ramkund. The Kumbh at Nashik is believed to be the most sacred festival of all.

The Sadhus who visit the Kumbh in large numbers reside in the Tapovan which is situated at the left bank of river Godavari.

Climate In Nashik

The climate in Nasik is pleasant throughout the year except for the summer months from March – Mid June. The summers are very hot and the maximum temperature can go up to 42°C and it is advisable to avoid going to Nasik during this time. Nasik enjoys medium rainfall from June to September and it is a good time to visit. The Winters are from December to February and the climate is pleasant. This is the best time to go there.

Since Nashik is one of the important cities of Maharashtra, it is well-connected by road, rail and by air with all parts of India. It is 185 Kms away from Mumbai and one can reach there via NH-3. Pune is 220 kms. Deluxe and luxury buses are available from Shirdi, Pune, Aurangabad and Mumbai. There are two airports near Nasik – Pune and Mumbai and both are 175 Kms from Nashik. Nasik is well-connected to many cities and towns via railway, since it is one of the important stations of the Central Railway.



The Story behind Kumbh

The holy water Amrit had to be protected from the demons. The demigods hide it at different places namely Patllok, Swargalok and Mrutyulok. They were on the earth (Mrutyulok) for twelve days of demigods which is equal to twelve years of earth for them. The gods stayed on the earth with the Amrut for twelve years. Therefore, the Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years at four places where drops of Amrut had fallen.
The Kumbh Mela is celebrated depending upon the position of the stars and planets. When Guru (Jupiter) and the Sun are in the zodiac sign Leo(Simha Rashi), the Kumbh is celebrated in Trimbakeshwar, Nasik. When the Sun is in the zodiac sign Aries(Mehsa Rashi), the Kumbh takes place at Haridwar. When Guru(Jupiter) is in the zodiac sign Taurus(Vrishabha Rashi) and the sun is in the zodiac sign Capricorn(Makkar Rashi), it is celebrated at Prayag. When Guru(Jupiter) and the Sun are in the zodiac sign Scorpio(Vrishchik Rashi), it is celebrated at Ujjain.

Shri Shankaracharya had once appealed to his disciples of the Vaidik Dharma to come together at the time of the Sinhastha Kumbha Mela, while he was recognizing the importance of the Kumbha. The devotees and pilgrims along with people from various religions and sects assemble for the kumbha adter following Shri Shankaracharya’s appeal.

The next Kumbh Mela at Nashik will be celebrated in the year 2015. The festival will start on 14th July and will continue for a year.



Date-2015DayEvent
14th July 2015TuesdayFlag hoisting of the main ceremony at Ram Kunda
14th August 2015FridayFlag hoisting of the Akhara at Sadhugram
29th August 2015SaturdayFirst Shahi Snan
13th September 2015SundaySecond Shahi Snan
18th September 2015FridayThird Shahi Snan
For more information on Kumbh Mela, follow the link to the facebook page  Kumbh Mela

nasik kumbh

HIS HOLINESS SWAMl AVDHESHANAND GIRI.

views on my photos 20 June 2014  47,435

Juna Akhara
In the 5th century B.C., India’s greatest philosopher and commentator on sacred texts, Adi Shankara, organized the lineages of shamans, yogis and ascetics into India’s first monastic order, the Order of the Sannyasis of the Ten Names (Dasnami Sannyasi) which exists until this day.

In the 7th century A.D., 52 lineages within the Order of Sannyasis formalized their age-old network into an elite brotherhood, a society, that became known as Juna Akhara, or the “Ancient Circle”.


H.H. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj is the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (chief religious authority) of the Juna Akhara, appointed in 1998.

A great yogi, a scholar, and a well-recognized authority on Vedanta, Swami Avdheshanand relates equally to his two worlds, that of the Naga Sanyassis, who he initiates, and that of an international public he serves with spiritual discourses, teachings, and a number of social projects ranging from hospitals to water harvesting.
In addition to his position as Head Trustee of the Acharya Mahasabha, the organization of all of India’s traditional religious leaders, he is a member of the World Council of Religious Leaders, he has appeared at the United Nations on many occasions, and he is a close friend of the Dalai Lama.

H.H. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj was made the Acharya or Spiritual preceptor of the prestigious and acclaimed Sri Panch Dasnaam Juna Akhara, designating him as PRIME SAINT in 1998 at the Haridwar Maha Kumbh.
Thousands of saints across India and elsewhere have been initiated by the Acharya, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdeshanand Giri Ji.

courtesy

rampuri.com/about-baba-rampuri/juna-akhara/

Shooting The Maha Kumbh Was Not About Pictures ,,,

I had shot the Nasik Kumbh, but the Maha Kumbh was a different ballgame this was Uttar Pradesh I was miles away from Mumbai and this was a huge Kumbh that had come after 144 years ..

And the man in the picture made it possible for me , he made me a Sadhu tto shoot the Sadhus ,,he is the Naga Guru on whose invitation I came to absorb the cosmic colors of the Kumbh.

He is a teacher who gave up domestic life to become a Naga Sadhu born and bred in Karnataka he made the jungles his home at Flim City Mumbai.

He is an artist very good at drawing , he used to draw Muslim Holy Places on the floor close to Haji ali Dargah and earn alms , till a humble Muslim gave him Rs 500 and told him that people stamp on it and it desecrates a thought .. he stopped drawing completely.

He used to beg on the mountains close to Haji Malang but was robbed of his belongings , he saw tough life .. but he respects all Faith quotes from the Holy Koran.. and when I met at Nasik Kumbh his driver was a Muslim..

And I was the second Muslim to live with them at Trimbakeshwar.. I could not accompany him to the Shahi Snan at Nasik but we kept in touch and I like him , he came home met my family and a bond was created .

His name is Shri Vijay Giri Triveni of Juna Akhada he stays now at his Shanti Ashram at Santosh Nagar off Dindoshi Film City.

All these images , moments , feelings sentiments I have showcased are because of him , he did not want to leave at the Sangam as the cops were beating photographers , so I exited with him.. leaving behind a great photo opportunity with no regrets ..
Because of him I met the Sabapati, Maha Mandleshwars , and where he felt there would be animosity among some hardcore Hindu right wingers he introduced me as Ashok Bharti..photohrapher thinker poet.

He has not been well and the day we were leaving Allahabad in the heavy rains I carried his belongings on my shoulder and drenched to the bone got him access to the Allahabad Station they were not allowing people inside the concourse without valid ticket , I had a ticket and a Press Card so his entourage walked in and took a train for Mumbai in a challu dabba while I waited for my train that was late in the evening.

I have not met him , nor talked to him a long time now but we are cosmically connected , he will call me for the Nasik Kumbh ,, I know that and he knows it too.

I Get Ready For The Shahi Snan 15 Feb Basant Panchami

Considered one of the holiest places in India, the Sangam is where the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati merge.

I was with the procession of Nagas led by Sant Avdesh  Anandji...and we were ready since 3 am..

This was the greatest experience and taking the dip in the Sangam with my Naga Guru.. meeting some old photographer friends like Laurent Salles ,,

Because I was with my Guru I could not break  away from him ,I  left all photo opportunities and walked back with him to Sector 4 Juna Akhada .

And I had no regrets the dip in the Sangam was cool refreshing ..and I forgot it was Winter ,,I was barefeet like the rest..

The Maha Kumbh Origins

The origin of Kumbha Mela lies in the beautiful story of the time when the gods and demons churned the ocean in search of the nectar of immortality.

The fight between good and evil has existed from time immemorial.  According to the story, the demons were always fighting with their brothers, the gods.  However, the gods did not want to fight; they remained peaceful and calm.  This did not deter the demons from killing them, though.  Hence, the forces of good were falling to the forces of evil.  One day, the devas went to Lord Brahma and said, “We are losing so many of our brothers and sisters in the never-ending war with the demons!  If this continues, none of us will be left.  Please help us!”  Lord Brahma told them to go to Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu listened to their story and sympathetically responded, “If you churn the great milky ocean, you will find a gold pot of nectar.  He who drinks this nectar will be blessed with the boon of immortality.  However, you are not strong enough to churn the ocean yourselves.  You must attain the help of your brothers, the demons.”

The gods were in great distress.  “But, Lord Vishnu,” they said.  “If the demons know that the reward of churning will be immortality, they will take the nectar all for themselves.  Then we will be in even more trouble!  Alternatively, if we hide from them the reason, they will never agree to help us.”

Lord Vishnu assuaged them and told them to simply go and request help from the demons.  So, the gods left the abode of Lord Vishnu and successfully convinced their demon brothers to help with the task.  The churning of the great milky ocean by the gods and the demons became a momentous event.  The snake Vasuki offered himself to serve as the rope required for churning, and Lord Vishnu Himself became a huge turtle on whose back they could easily churn.

So, the fantastic churning began with the hope of divine nectar filling the minds of the gods.  However, after a great deal of effort, what emerged was not nectar, but poison!  The gods and demons knew that in order to continue churning, they could not simply toss the poison aside.  Someone had to drink it.  So, a conflict began.  Who would drink the poison and thereby allow the historic churning to continue?  No one would agree to sacrifice himself, until Lord Shiva came forward and said, “I will drink the poison if it will preserve peace and enable my brothers and sisters to attain the nectar of immortality.”  The sacrifice Lord Shiva made an example of why He is Maha Deva and all the other gods are simply devas:  this selflessness and dedication to the welfare of others.

After more churning, at last out of the murky waters emerged fourteen precious jewels, including Goddess Lakshmi, Kamadhenu (the wish-granting divine cow), along with many other treasures.  At the end, Lord Vishnu Himself appeared, holding the precious Kumbha in His hands.

However, Indra – the King of the gods – knew that the demons were planning to abscond with the treasure of immortality.  So, he immediately signaled to his son, Jayant, who lept forward, grabbed the pot of nectar and quickly ran away.  The demons, however, were stronger and quicker than Jayant and they pursued him relentlessly.  Indra sought aid from Jupiter (Guru), Surya (the Sun), the moon and Saturn to protect his son and preserve the Kumbha.  The long chase lasted twelve days, which was the equivalent of twelve years on Earth.  During this chase – which traversed the realms of the Earth, the heavens and the moons – Jayant rested only four times.  While he rested, he placed the Kumbha on the ground and a few drops of holy nectar spilled onto the Earth in each place.  It is these four places that have now become the four centers of pilgrimage for the Kumbha Mela.

courtesy
www.kumbhamela2013.org/aboutkumbhmela/mythology/

The Kumbh Mela The nectar – or knowledge of divinity

views on my photos 18 June 2014   50,551
The Japanese Disciple Of The Naga Guru


We live in India but are restricted to our own religiosity , our own blinkered ideology,and the Kumbh is not just a Hindu event , it is a universal appeal of cleaning the mind the soul through purification in the Ganges , as in the case at Allahabad.

Behind the camera the world is not just Hindu Muslim Christian or Buddhist , it is a complex chimera waiting to unfold , and this is why I shot the Maha Kumbh , through the eyes of a curious world.

Without ignorance but with the camera deciphering every expressive nuance that touches people who come here to seek peace Nirvana and Moksh.

The Kumbh a world away from chaos , yet there is chaos even from themoment you step out of the train hire a rickshah to take you to Sector 4 the heart soul of the Nagas.

The unintelligent cacophony of the crowds , the hurry a march against time , and if you watch the processions of the various Askhadas led by the Naga Sadhus of Sant Avdesh Anandji..you are caught in a time wrap..

My desire was to shoot the Mauni Amavasya but I could not get tickets , I was financially unprepared , I had no friends in Allahabad , but than an invite by my Naga Guru Shree Vijjay Giri Triveni Juna Akhada gave me hope , I was carrying just about Rs 4000, shalwls , coverlets to distribute among the poor , what money remained I handed it over to my Guru for his kindness hospitality ,,

I returned to Mumbai without money but happiness and the pictures I had shot , there are some pictures marked private such as the Hijras taking a dip in the Ganges , and pictures of a person I met who later died tragically , in Mumbai , she touched a lot of people a lot of souls though she was going through her own pain turmoil.. out of respect to her Memory I have kept her soul alive privately.. hope to meet her parents one day and hand over the pictures to them.. this was the saddest part of my Maha Kumbh..

I never got over it.. I met Chandrasawamiji, Shri Chetan Vaidyaji, the Sabapatis , and Shree Avdesh Anandji ..and other Gurus of the highest Naga hierarchy and Imet the greatest Guru of Photography Mr Raghu Rai..


Kalashasya mukhe vishnu kanthe rudra samaashritah
Muletvasya sthito brahmaa madhye maatriganaah smritaah
Kukshau tu saagaraah sarve sapta dvipaa vasundharaa
Hrigvedo yajurvedo saamavedohrytharvanah
Angaishca saritaah sarve kalasham tu samaashritaah

The above Sanskrit shlokas tell us that the trinity of gods – Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Sustainer and Shiva the Destroyer– in addition to all the Goddesses, Mother Earth with Her seven islands, and all knowledge in the form of the Rigveda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda and Atharva-Veda exist in Kumbha.  Thus, Kumbha is the symbol of all that is, and all that exists.  The Kumbha Mela is a celebration, a festival of the glory of Kumbha.  It is a celebration of all knowledge and all life.

Kumbha Mela stands for the source of divine beauty and knowledge.  Since time immemorial, the Indian and Hindu cultures have been concerned about the welfare of the entire planet.  Even in the mythology, the Kumbha Mela meant distribution – not hoarding – of the nectar.

A Moment Called Maha Kumbh ..

Allahabad, one of the prominent and sacred cities of india, is described with great reverence in ancient scriptures as Prayag or Teerathraj, i.e. 'the holiest pilgrimage centre, The city is situated at the confluence of India's holiest rivers - The Ganga, The Yamuna and The Mythical Saraswati. The Sangam, as the confluence of these three rivers is called, is the venue of sacred fairs & rituals and attracts large number of pilgrims throughout the year. With the irresistible attraction of Kumbh Fair, hailed as the world's largest congregation of Devotees, the glory of the city has certainly doubled. The Kumbh Fair is held every 12th year and Ardh Kumbh Fair every 6th year
Maha Kumbh has a mesmerizing influence over the minds of Indians as it is witness to the largest human garthering in history for the same cause on a single day irrespective of any worldy barriers of caste, creed, colour and religion. It is once in a lifetime experience seeing millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world come together for a common goal-this spectacle of Faith is truly unforgettable.
This festival is held in highest regard as the ritual bath in the sacred water on this day saturated with flower & incense fragrance amidst chanting of vedic hyms and mantras liberates one from all suffering and miseries of life . The Kumbh Mela considered the most sacred and greatest of india festivals where the ceremonial dip in the Holy river is an important ritual. It is belived that bathing on the auspicious days cleanses one of all sins and attains Moksha (meaning liberation from the cycle of life, Death and Rebirth).


Main Bathing Dates - During Kumbh Fair - 2013
Makar Sankranti14 January
Paush Poornima27 January
Mauni Amavasya10 February
Basant Panchami15 February
Maghi Poornima25 February
Mahashivratri10 March

www.up-tourism.com/mahakumbh.htm

Hinduism

from wikipedia
Hinduism (Hindi: सनातन धर्म; Sanātana Dharma, which means Endless Religion/Eternal Law) is a very old religion that is still practised today. It was one of the first religions that had the idea of reincarnation (that people can be born again after death), karma (one event invents another), and more ideas. Hinduism is the federation of a number of faiths (a group of sub-religions or sects (Sampradaya[1]) joined together, which have evolved from people who lived in the Indian subcontinent (land near the Indian Ocean). One group accepts varna, another declines. One group accepts vedas, another declines. One group accepts god, another declines god itself. But they are all called Hindus. According to the Indian constitution, the definition for a Hindu is whoever who lives in India and is not a Muslim or a Christian.

In Hinduism spiritual practice (such as praying) is very important.
Hinduism encourages tolerance for what other people believe. Hindus believe that there is not only one correct understanding of the one True God.
Not all people agree on whether Hinduism is polytheistic (believing in many gods) or monotheistic (believing in one god). Many people think that Hindus believe in many gods. Others argue that there is only one god in Hinduism. Under this view, this one god (referred to as Brahman) is expressed in multiple ways. Nirguna Brahman is God without form, or God without personal attributes. All personal forms of God in Hinduism, such as Vishnu or Shiva, are different parts of God in personal form or God with attributes. Many Hindus believe that the difference between polytheism and monotheism is not as great as people in the West might think, because they believe there are different ways of looking at the truth.[2]. Many Hindu sects are atheistic (do not believe in God)[3][4].
God's energy is Devi, the Divine Mother. For worshipers of Vishnu (or Vaishnavas) who follow Ramunjacharaya's philosophy, Devi is Lakshmi, the Mother of all, and who pleads with Vishnu for mankind. For worshipers of Shiva (or Shaivas), Devi is Parvati. For Shaktas, that is, worshipers of Devi, Devi is the personal form of God to attain the impersonal Absolute, God. For them, Shiva is personified as God without attributes.


A brief overview[change | change source]
Hinduism takes ideas from the Vedas, the Upanishads, as well as the teachings of many Hindu gurus through the ages. Many different types of thought come from six main Vedic/Hindu schools. Bhakti sects, and Tantric Agamic schools are very common paths within Hinduism.

The Eternal Way[change | change source]
"The Eternal Way" (in Sanskrit सनातन धर्म, Sanātana Dharma), or the "Perennial Philosophy/Harmony/Faith", is the one name that has represented Hinduism for thousands of years. According to Hindus, it speaks the idea that certain spiritual principles are true for all time, surpassing man-made beliefs, and representing a pure science of consciousness. This consciousness is not just that of the body or mind and intellect, but of a soul-state above the mind that exists within and beyond our existence, the pure Self of all. Religion to the Hindu is the search for the divine within the Self, the search to find the One truth that really never was lost. According to this belief, somebody looking for truth will find it, no matter who they are. Everything that exists, from vegetables and animals to mankind, are subjects and objects of the eternal Dharma. This inner faith, therefore, is also known as Arya/Noble Dharma, Veda/Knowledge Dharma, Yoga/Union Dharma, Hindu Dharma or, simply, the Dharma.

What can be said to be common to all Hindus is belief in Dharma, reincarnation, karma, and moksha (liberation) of every soul through a variety of moral, action-based, and meditative yogas. Still more basic principles include ahimsa (non-violence), the importance of the Guru, the Divine Word of Aum and the power of mantras, love of Truth in many manifestations as gods and goddessess, and an understanding that the essential spark of the Divine (Atman/Brahman) is in every human and living being, allowing for many spiritual paths leading to the One Unitary Truth.

An example of Hindu spirituality in daily life is the bindi, which is a common marker for Hindu women. It stands for different things. For some, it may represent opening a "third eye" that helps people gain knowledge. Hindus all think it is important to learn things through meditating. They believe this gives them an intuition beyond the mind and body, something often associated with the god Shiva. Men, too, may place a tilak mark on their foreheads, usually on religious occasions. Its shape may stand for devotion to a certain main god: a 'U' shape stands for Vishnu, a group of three lines for Shiva. It is not uncommon for some to meld both together in an marker signifying Hari-Hara (Vishnu-Shiva indissoluble).

Hinduism states that success can be only achieved by effort. As it is called if karma or prayash is done along with dharma then success is achieved.

Yoga Dharma
Hinduism tells about a particular way of life to lead as a Hindu. This is done by way of Yogas (spiritual practices), mainly as follows:

Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Loving Devotion)
Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action - selfless service)
Raja Yoga (meditational Yoga) and
Jnana Yoga (Yoga of Knowledge and Realisation)
The way to do all these have been described in the two main texts of Hindu Yoga: the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras. The Upanishads also contain important texts about yoga.

The four goals of life
Hinduism believes in four main goals of life. They are kama, artha, dharma and moksha. It is said that all humans seek kama (pleasure, physical or emotional) and artha (power, fame and wealth), but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within a higher, pragmatic framework of dharma, or moral harmony in all.

The four stages of life
In Hinduism, life of a human being is divided into four stages. These stages are called Ashramas, and they are:

Brahmacharya, the first quarter of life as a bachelor - to be spent in learning, building the body and the mind.
Grihasthya, the second quarter of life as a person with a family, and doing work for livelihood.
Vanaprastha, the third phase of life, spent in forests and in meditation.
Sanyasa, the last phase of life, spent without any feeling and attachment to the world.
Festivals[change | change source]
India, Mauritius and Nepal are very popular to celebrate festivals. In Nepal Dashain is celebrated which is called Dusshera in India. Similarly, Tihar or Diwali is also celebrated where houses are lit up for welcoming Goddess Laxmi. People exchange gifts and have a lot of fun together with their families. Likewise Teej is also a very popular Hindu festivals where ladies fast without water for their husband's long life and also enjoy by singing folk songs and dancing.

Origins, names and society[change | change source]
Historical origins and aspects of society[change | change source]
Little is known about Hinduism origins. It has been around since before history was written down. It has been said to have come from what the Aryans believed. Before the Aryans came to India, there were the hundreds of faith and beliefs of Dravidians, and Harappans living in the Indian subcontinent. They came together under the Hindu name during the British Raj. Different ideas of where the Veda come from, and understandings of whether or not the Aryans were native or foreign to Indian soil can change estimates of Hinduism's age from 4000 to 6000 years.

Historically, the word Hindu comes from before Hinduism was thought of as a religion. This term is of Persian origin and first referred to people who lived on the other side (from a Persian point of view) of the Sindhu or Indus river. It was used to refer to not only ethnicity but also the Vedic religion as far back as the 15th and 16th centuries by such figures as Guru Nanak (who started Sikhism). During the British Raj, the term's use was made standard, and eventually, the religion of the Vedic Hindus was given the name 'Hinduism.' In actuality, it was merely a new name for a culture that had been around for millennia before.

Legal Definition of Hinduism[change | change source]
In a 1966, Supreme Court of India said exactly what Hinduism was for the purposes of the law. The Court's ruling said what a number of conditions a person had to meet to be a Hindu.

Current geographic distribution[change | change source]
The nations of India, Mauritius, and Nepal as well as the Indonesian island of Bali have more people who are Hindus than people who are not Hindus.In these nations, specially Nepal and India Hinduism is very popular. These countries also have many Hindus:

Bangladesh (12 million),
Sri Lanka (2.5 million),
the United States (2.0 million)
Pakistan (3.3 million),
South Africa (1.2 million),
the United Kingdom (1.2 million),
Malaysia (1.1 million),
Canada (0.7 million),
Fiji (0.5 million),
Trinidad and Tobago (0.5 million),
Guyana (0.4 million),
the Netherlands (0.4 million),
Singapore (0.3 million)
Myanmar (0.3 million),
Suriname (0.2 million),
Australia (0.1 Million).
There are also strong Hindu communities in the countries of the ex-Soviet Union, especially in Russia and Poland. The Indonesian islands of Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Borneo also have big native Hindu populations. In its Yoga stream, Hinduism is even more widespread all over the world with 30 million (less than one percent can not be 30 million for US population) Hindus in the United States alone.

Dharma in orthodox Hindu society: caste[change | change source]
According to one view, the caste system shows how strongly many have felt about each person following his or her dharma, or destined path. Many Hindus say it goes against the true meaning of dharma. However, caste plays a big role in Hindu society, although it is now losing favor and is illegal in India.

In early Vedic periods, the Brahmins began not letting young candidates become priests if they were in a lower caste. This became more part of the culture over centuries until it became almost impossible to move up into a higher caste. Even though people had tried to change things for years, caste is so much of a part of in Indian culture that even people who convert to Christianity have been known to have different church meetings for different castes.

Hindu philosophy: the six Vedic schools of thought[change | change source]
The six Astika or orthodox (accepting the authority of the Vedas) schools of Hindu philosophy are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa (also called just 'Mimamsa'), and Uttara Mimamsa (also called 'Vedanta'). The non-Vedic schools are called Nastika, or heterodox, and refer to Buddhism, Jainism and Lokayata. The schools that continue to affect Hinduism today are Purva Mimamsa, Yoga, and Vedanta. See Hindu philosophy for a discussion of the historical significance of Samkhya, Nyaya, and Vaisheshika.

Purva Mimamsa[change | change source]
The main purpose of the Purva Mimamsa line of thought was to make the Vedas more of a part of life, and led people to understand it better. Adi Shankara and Swami Vivekananda followed this line of thought to explain the meaning of Hindu beliefs.

Yoga[change | change source]
The Yoga system is thought to have come from the Samkhya philosophy. The yoga referred to here, however, is specifically Raja Yoga (or meditational union). It is based on the sage Patanjali's text called the Yoga Sutra, which is about the Yoga philosophy that came before. Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita are also important writings in the study of Yoga.

Uttara Mimamsa: The Three Schools of Vedanta[change | change source]
The Uttara ("later") Mimamsa school is perhaps one of the cornerstone movements of Hinduism and certainly was responsible for a new wave of philosophical and meditative inquiry, renewal of faith, and cultural reform. Primarily associated with the Upanishads and their commentary by Badarayana, the Vedanta Sutras, Vedanta thought split into three groups, initiated by the thinking and writing of Adi Shankara. Most Hindu thought today in some way relates to changes affected by Vedantic thought, which focused on meditation, morality and centeredness on the one Self rather than on rituals and meaningless societal distinctions like caste. See Vedanta for greater depth.

Pure Monism: Advaita Vedanta[change | change source]
Advaita literally means "not two"; thus this is what we refer to as a monistic (or non-dualistic) system, which emphasises oneness. Its consolidator was Adi Shankara (788?-820?) expounded his theories largely based on previous teachings of the Upanishads and his own guru Govinda Bhagavadpada.

By analysis of experiential consciousness, he exposed the relative nature of the world and established the non-dual reality of Brahman in which Atman (the individual soul) and Brahman (the ultimate reality) are identified absolutely. It is not merely philosophy, but a conscious system of applied ethics and meditation, all geared towards attaining peace and understanding of truth.

Adi Shankara denounced caste and meaningless ritual as foolish, and in his own charismatic manner, exhorted the true devotee to meditate on God's love and apprehend truth.

See Advaita Vedanta for more.

Qualified Monism: Vishistadvaita Vedanta[change | change source]
Ramanuja (1040 - 1137) was the foremost proponent of the concept of Sriman Narayana as the supreme Brahman. He taught that Ultimate reality had three aspects: Isvara (Vishnu), cit (soul) and acit (matter). Vishnu is the only independent reality, while souls and matter are dependent on God for their existence. Because of this qualification of Ultimate reality, Ramanuja's system is known as qualified non-dualism.

Dualism: Dvaita Vedanta[change | change source]
Like Ramanuja, Madhvacharya (1199 - 1278) identified god with Vishnu, but his view of reality was purely dualistic in that he understood a fundamental differentiation between the ultimate godhead and the individual soul, and the system is therefore called Dvaita (dualistic) Vedanta.

Mandirs[change | change source]
Puja (worship) takes place in the Mandir (temple). Mandirs vary in size from small village shrines to large buildings, surrounded by walls. People can also visit the Mandir at any time to pray and participate in the bhajans (religious songs). Hindus also worship at home and often have a special room with a shrine to particular gods.

Temple construction in India started nearly 2000 years ago. The oldest temples that were built of brick and wood no longer exist. Stone later became the preferred material. Temples marked the transition of Hinduism from the Vedic religion of ritual sacrifices to a religion of Bhakti or love and devotion to a personal deity. Temple construction and mode of worship is governed by ancient Sanskrit scriptures called agamas, of which there are several, which deal with individual deities. There are substantial differences in architecture, customs, rituals and traditions in temples in different parts of India. During the ritual consecration of a temple, the presence of the universal all-encompassing Brahman is invoked into the main stone deity of the temple, through ritual, thereby making the deity and the temple sacred and divine

Alternative cultures of worship[change | change source]
The Bhakti schools[change | change source]
The Bhakti (Devotional) school takes its name from the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless and overwhelming love of God as the beloved Father, Mother, Child, or whatever relationship finds appeal in the devotee's heart. The philosophy of Bhakti seeks to tap into the universal divinity through personal form, which explains the proliferation of so many gods and goddesses in India, often reflecting the singular inclinations of small regions or groups of people. Seen as a form of Yoga, or union, it seeks to dissolve the ego in God, since consciousness of the body and limited mind as self is seen to be a divisive factor in spiritual realization. Essentially, it is God who effects all change, who is the source of all works, who acts through the devotee as love and light. 'Sins' and evil-doings of the devotee are said to fall away of their own accord, the devotee shriven, limitedness even transcended, through the love of God. The Bhakti movements rejuvenated Hinduism through their intense expression of faith and their responsiveness to the emotional and philosophical needs of India. They can rightly be said to have affected the greatest wave of change in Hindu prayer and ritual since ancient times.

The most popular means of expressing love for God in the Hindu tradition has been through puja, or ritual devotion, frequently using the aid of a murti (statue) in conjunction with the singing or chanting of meditational prayer in the form of mantras.

Devotional songs called bhajans (written primarily from the 14th-17th centuries), kirtan (praise), and arti (a filtered down form of Vedic fire ritual) are sometimes sung in conjunction with performance of puja. This rather organic system of devotion attempts to aid the individual in connecting with God through symbolic medium. It is said, however, that the bhakta, through a growing connection with God, is eventually able to eschew all external form and is immersed entirely in the bliss of undifferentiated Love in Truth.

Altogether, bhakti resulted in a mass of devotional literature, music and art that has enriched the world and gave India renewed spiritual impetus, one eschewing unnecessary ritual and artificial social boundaries. See bhakti yoga for more.

Tantrism[change | change source]
Main page: Tantra
According to the most famous Western Tantrik scholar, Sir John Woodroffe (pseudonym Arthur Avalon): "The Indian Tantras, which are numerous, constitute the Scripture (Shastra) of the Kaliyuga, and as such are the voluminous source of present and practical orthodox 'Hinduism'. The Tantra Shastra is, in fact, and whatever be its historical origin, a development of the Vaidika Karmakanda, promulgated to meet the needs of that age. Shiva says: 'For the benefit of men of the Kali age, men bereft of energy and dependent for existence on the food they eat, the Kaula doctrine, O auspicious one! is given' (Chap. IX., verse 12). To the Tantra we must therefore look if we would understand aright both ritual, yoga, and sadhana of all kinds, as also the general principles of which these practices are but the objective expression." (Introduction to Sir John Woodroffe's translation of "Mahanirvana Tantra.")

The word "tantra" means "treatise" or "continuum", and is applied to a variety of mystical, occult, medical and scientific works as well as to those which we would now regard as "tantric". Most tantras were written in the late Middle Ages and sprang from Hindu cosmology and Yoga.

Important symbolism and themes in Hinduism[change | change source]
Ahimsa and the cow[change | change source]
Many Hindus are vegetarians (do not eat meat) because of their respect for life. About 30% of today's Hindu population, especially in orthodox communities in South India, in certain northerly states like Gujarat, and in many Brahmin areas around the subcontinent, are vegetarian.

Most Hindus who do eat meat do not eat beef. Some do not even use leather products. This is most likely because many Hindus have relied so heavily on the cow for all sorts of dairy products, tilling of fields and fuel for fertiliser that its status as a willing 'caretaker' of humanity grew to identifying it as an almost motherly figure. Thus, while most Hindus do not worship the cow, and rules against eating beef arose long after the Vedas had been written, it still has an honored place in Hindu society. It is said that Krishna is both Govinda (herder of cows) and Gopala (protector of cows), and Shiva's attendant is Nandi, the bull. With the stress on vegetarianism (which is usually followed even by meat-eating Hindus on religious days or special occasions) and the sacred nature of the cow, it is no wonder that most holy cities and areas in India have a ban on selling meat-products and there is a movement among Hindus to ban cow-slaughter not only in specific regions, but in all of India.

Hindu symbols[change | change source]
Hindus use many symbols and signs. The two most important symbols used by Hindus are the "Aum" and the "Swastika (Hinduism)".

Forms of worship: murtis and mantras[change | change source]
Contrary to popular belief, practiced Hinduism is neither polytheistic nor strictly monotheistic. The various Hindu gods and avatars that are worshipped by Hindus are understood as different forms of One truth, sometimes seen as beyond a mere god and as a formless Divine Ground (Brahman), akin but not limited to monism, or as one monotheistic principle like Vishnu or Shiva.

Whether believing in the One source as formless (nirguna brahman, without attributes) or as a personal god (saguna Brahman, with attributes), Hindus understand that the one truth may be seen as different to different people. Hinduism encourages devotees to describe and develop a personal relationship with their chosen deity (ishta devata) in the form of a god or goddess.

While some censuses hold worshippers of one form or another of Vishnu (known as Vaishnavs) to be at 80% and those of Shiva (called Shaivaites) and Shakti at the remaining 20%, such figures are perhaps misleading. The vast majority of Hindus worship many gods as varicolored forms of the same prism of Truth. Among the most popular are Vishnu (as Krishna or Rama), Shiva, Devi (the Mother as many female deities, such as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Durga), Ganesha, Skanda and Hanuman.

Worship of the said deities is often done through the aid of pictures or icons (murti) which are said not to be God themselves but conduits for the devotee's consciousness, markers for the human soul that signify the ineffable and illimitable nature of the love and grandeur of God. They are symbols of the greater principle, representing and are never presumed to be the concept or entity itself. Thus, Hindu image worship is a form of iconolatry, in which the symbols are venerated as putative sigils of divinity, as opposed to idolatry, a charge often levied (erroneously) at Hindus. For more details on this form of worship, see murti.

Mantra[change | change source]
Hindus use several prayers and group of words. Some group of words are called mantras. These words are said to give the speaker a deeper concentration and understanding, thus coming closer to Brahman. A well known mantra is om or aum. It symbolizes Brahman, and is often the opening word in many prayers. To pronounce a mantra well, you should say it slowly, and in a deep voice.

Hindu texts[change | change source]
There are many texts relating to Hinduism. Most of them have been written in Sanskrit and Tamil. These texts are called Hindu scriptures. Some of the important Hindu texts are:

Shruti
Smriti
Puran
Shruti[change | change source]
The Vedas are considered scripture by all Hindus. While most Hindus may never read the Vedas, they strongly believe that the search for eternal knowledge is important (Veda means knowledge). Classed with the Vedas (which specifically refer to the Rig/Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas) are their famous commentaries, the Upanishads.

Smriti[change | change source]
The post-Vedic Hindu scriptures form the latter category, the most notable of which are the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, major epics considered scripture by most followers of Sanatana Dharma, their stories arguably familiar to the vast majoriy of Hindus living in the Indian subcontinent, if not in other places also. Other texts considered important by today's Hindus include the Devi Mahatmya, an ode to Devi, the Divine Mother, and the Yoga Sutras, a key meditative yoga text of Shri Patanjali. There are also a number of revered Hindu Tantras and Sutras that command the respect of various Hindu sects of different persuasion, some including the Mahanirvana Tantra, Tirumantiram and Shiva Sutras.


simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism

Within The Soul of Our Flesh We Are One ..

he is a hindu
i am a muslim
two sides of
coin both
pucca indian

our diverse
religion our
faith held
in the hands
of a mother
we both are
her sons

he has never
met my kind
in his bastion
i shoot hope
and hindutva
message of
peace tolerance
harmony on the
soul of humanity
for everyone

we are different
rooms in gods
mansion ,,,
live let live
is our mission

Har Har Mahadev .

1. Mahadev is a lord of lords. Mahadev’ second very famous name is Lord Shiva. Shiva is a Sanskrit word, means auspicious. In Hindu Pantheon believe in Trinity (Trimurti), - Bramha Dev, Vishnu Dev and Mahadev. Vishnu is the preserve and Bramha is the creator and mahadev is a responsible for distraction. He is the destructive from of the Almighty. Mahadev is a symbol of Power or ‘Shakti’. Mahadev have a nature of Yogi and he believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force in the universe because of his responsibility. He is responsible for death and destruction, but he is provided the medium between old journey to new journey for nature or soul..

Shooting The Naga Sadhus ,,And trying to Avoid Frontal Nudity Was Just Not Possible ..

And it is Flickr that has this issue , but than how does one explain to them that this part of the Naga Sadhu culture ..

So in keeping with Flickr terms and guidelines most of my pictures of the Maha Kumbh had to be moderated ..so they are only view-able to Flickr members.

And my subject was the Maha Kumbh and the Naga Sadhus , I began my day waling barefeet in winter , meeting the Naga Babas talking to them , listening to them , and taking their permission before shooting them.

As a photojournalist blogger I was documenting their lifestyle , I shot penile yoga ling kriya..

I stayed with my Naga Guru , every morning his disciple made hot water for me to bathe , and than came tea , food was always at Sector 4 at Juna Akhada . pure satvik food.

But there were times when my Naga Guru , was busy with meetings I would walk away to the banks by myself shoot the barbers sadhus and it was one such trip I saw the Hijras taking the dip in the Sangam.. I did not hesitate I shot them.

The saddest part were the poor at the Maha Kumbh ..I gave them money , sometimes they invited to eat food with them and it was a humble experience.

I dont write notes  I simply shoot I met Chandraswamiji and many Naga heads.

It was just a few that knew me as a Malang or a Shia Muslim.

For me this was not about just religion , but this was culture a way of life and as a photographer if I did not shoot this ,,than I would have to re learn photography all over again..

For me because I lived with the Naga Sadhus it was easy , I could shoot without reservation , but time was short and because of my work had to come back to Mumbai.

I shot over 3500 images ,, and these are color images I am tweaking to monochrome adding text .. reliving it all over again.

The World of Naga Babas Maha Kumbh

The Naga Sadhu with the white turban is a highly well connected Naga Guru , he was a friend of my Naga Guru,, so thanks to him I saw the initiation of the new Naga novices joining the fold at Sector4 Juna Akhada on Basant Panchami ..15 Feb 2013.

He was very close to the Sabapati of Panch Dasham Juna Akhada .

He took us by boat on the Sangam where some guys were duplicating the Naga Sadhu holy dip of the Shahi Snan on film.. the sadhus were from the Agni Akhada..

For money you could  shoot what you wanted , there were touts with connection to the Naga Babas .

Sadly to make a quick buck young gus would flash their genitals for foreigners to shoot , they were dressed as sadhus ..

However I shot the real ones I lived with the real ones and thanks to this Naga Guru met some great living saints of the Juna Akhada hierarchy..

Shooting The Kumbh Is An Experience Of A Lifetime

When I shot my first Nasik Kumbh a few years back..I was raw naive and stupid in more ways than one .. I shot the Nasik Kumbh both at Ramkund and Trimbakeshwar ..
I shot the Shahi Snan both plces I shot mostly on slide..Vevia 50

I remember it was tough I had no pass no press card , and yet I survived .. I fell in the Godavari with my camera and 80- 200 lenses but I survived that too.

Trimbakeshwar was a blessing in disguise , I met a Naga Sadhu took his pictures got chatting he had seen me many times at Film City as he stayed at Santosh Nagar near Film City .

He invited me to his tent and told me to stay with them and so I met my Naga Guru Shri Vijay Giri Triveni of Panch Dasham Juna Akhada.

I shot the Shahi Snan and on my return to MUmbai kept in touch with him , he visited my house ..
He invited me to the Ardh Kumbh I could not make it because of Moharam.

However when he invited me to Allahabad Maha Kumbh , it was the best thing to happen to me ,, I lived with the Naga Sadhus and my set at Flickr is a tribute to my Guru..

I shot the Shahi Snan rest is history.

I created new relationships to further my love for shooting the Kumbh and these are all part of my Hindu Blogs 56000 at Flickr titled Hope And Hindutva A Message of Hope And Humanity .

So you need faith..and the dip in the Sangam cleansed me too.. holistically healing the poetry of my soul and smoothing my rough edges.

Today my soon to be three year old grand Daughter , Nerjis Asif Shakir shoots the street by herself with the Canon 60D ,, So Faith moves Mountains ,,, and even the God hidden in the Camera.

The Sadhus - Maha Kumbh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Hinduism, a sādhu (Sanskrit: साधु sādhu, "good; good man, holy man") is a religious ascetic or holy person.[1] Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa (liberation), the fourth and final aśrama (stage of life), through meditation and contemplation of brahman. Sādhus often wear saffron-coloured clothing, symbolising their sanyāsa (renunciation). This way of life is open to women; the female form of the word is sādhvī साध्वी. In 2014 an all-female akhada (group of sadhus) was formed; it is believed to be the first such group in India.[2]

The Sanskrit terms sādhu ("good man") and sādhvī ("good woman") refer to renouncers who have chosen to live a life apart from or on the edges of society to focus on their own spiritual practice.[3]

The words come from the Sanskrit root sādh, which means "reach one's goal", "make straight", or "gain power over".[4] The same root is used in the word sādhana, which means "spiritual practice". 'Sadhu' can also be used as Vidhyartha, meaning 'let good happen'.

Sadhu rituals[edit]
Sadhus are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal.

A sadhu is usually referred to as Baba by common people. The word baba also means father, grandfather, or uncle in many Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix -ji may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciate. It is also a term of endearment for small boys.

There are 4 to 5 million sadhus in India today and they are widely respected for their holiness,[5] and sometimes feared for their curses. It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus help to burn off their karma and that of the community at large. Thus seen as benefiting society, sadhus are supported by donations from many people. However, reverence of sadhus is by no means universal in India. Historically and contemporarily, sadhus have often been viewed with a certain degree of suspicion, particularly amongst the urban populations of India. Today, especially in popular pilgrimage cities, posing as a sadhu can be a means of acquiring income for non-devout beggars.

There are naked (digambara, or "sky-clad") sadhus who wear their hair in thick dreadlocks called jata. Aghora sadhus may claim to keep company with ghosts and live in cemeteries as part of their holy path. Indian culture tends to emphasise an infinite number of paths to God, such that sadhus, and the varieties that sadhus come in have their place.

A popular characteristic of Sadhu ritualism is their utilisation of marijuana (known as charas) as a form of a eucharist in line with their worship of Shiva who was believed to have an adoration or affinity for the leaves of the plant.[6] The plant is widely used during the celebration of Shivaratri.

Sadhu sects[edit]
Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice extreme asceticism while others focus on praying, chanting or meditating. There are two primary sectarian divisions within the sadhu community: Shaiva sadhus, ascetics devoted to Shiva, and Vaishnava sadhus, renouncers devoted to Vishnu and/or his incarnations, which include Rama and Krishna. Less numerous are Shakta sadhus, who are devoted to Shakti. Within these general divisions are numerous sects and subsects, reflecting different lineages and philosophical schools and traditions (often referred to as "sampradayas").

The Dashanami Sampradaya are Smartists; sadhus in the sect take one of the ten names as an appellation upon initiation. The sect is said to have been formed by the philosopher and renunciant Adi Shankara, believed to have lived in the 8th century CE, though the full history of the sect's formation is not clear. Among them are the Naga, naked sadhu known for carrying weapons like tridents, swords, canes, and spears. Said to have once functioned as an armed order to protect Hindus from the Mughal rulers, they were involved in a number of military defence campaigns. (1953: 116; cf. also Farquhar 1925; J. Ghose 1930; Lorenzen 1978)[7] Generally in the ambit of non-violence at present, some sections are known to practice wrestling and martial arts. Their retreats are still called chhaavni or armed camps, and mock duels are still sometimes held between them.

While sadhus ostensibly leave behind traditional caste at initiation, the caste backgrounds of initiates does influence the sects into which they are admitted; certain ascetic groups, such as the Dandis within the Dashnami sampradaya, are composed only of men of brahmin birth, while other groups admit people from a wide variety of caste backgrounds.[citation needed]

Female sadhus (sadhvis) exist in many sects. In many cases, the women that take to the life of renunciation are widows, and these types of sadhvis often live secluded lives in ascetic compounds. Sadhvis are sometimes regarded by some as manifestations or forms of the Goddess, or Devi, and are honoured as such. There have been a number of charismatic sadhvis that have risen to fame as religious teachers in contemporary India—e.g., Anandamayi Ma, Sarada Devi, Mata Amritanandamayi, and Karunamayi.[8]

The processes and rituals of becoming a sadhu vary with sect; in almost all sects, a sadhu is initiated by a guru, who bestows upon the initiate a new name, as well as a mantra, (or sacred sound or phrase), which is generally known only to the sadhu and the guru and may be repeated by the initiate as part of meditative practice.

Becoming a sadhu is a path followed by millions. It is supposed to be the fourth phase in a Hindu's life, after studies, being a father and a pilgrim, but for most it is not a practical option. For a person to become sadhu needs vairagya. Vairagya means desire to achieve something by leaving the world (cutting familial, societal and earthly attachments).

A person who wants to become sadhu must first seek a guru. There, he or she must perform 'guruseva' which means service. The guru decides whether the person is eligible to take sannyasa by observing the sisya (the person who wants to become a sadhu or sanyasi). If the person is eligible, guru upadesa (which means teachings) is done. Only then, the person transforms into sanyasi or sadhu. There are different types of sanyasis in India who follow different sampradya. But, all sadhus have a common goal: attaining moksha (liberation).

Living as a sadhu is a difficult lifestyle. Sadhus are considered to be dead unto themselves, and legally dead to the country of India. As a ritual, they may be required to attend their own funeral before following a guru for many years, serving him by doing menial tasks until acquiring the necessary experience to leave his leadership.

While the life of renunciation is described as the fourth stage of life in the classical Sanskrit literature of the Hindu tradition, and the members of certain sects—particularly those dominated by initiates of brahman background—have typically lived as householders and raised families before becoming sadhus, many sects are composed of men that have renounced early in life, often in their late teens or early 20s. In a few cases, those who choose the sadhu life are fleeing from family or financial situations which they have found to be untenable,[citation needed] if there is some worldly debt that remains to be repaid, would-be renunciates are encouraged by their gurus to pay off those debts before they become sadhus.[9]

In 1970 the first westerner became a Sadhu, Baba Rampuri.

The ruggedness of the sadhu life deters many from following the sadhu path. Such practices as the obligatory early morning bath in the cold mountains require a detachment from common luxuries. After the bath, sadhus gather around the dhuni, or holy fireplace, and begin with their prayers and meditation for the day.

Some sadhus dispense cures to the local community, remove evil eyes or bless a marriage. They are a walking reminder to the average Hindu of Divinity. They are generally allowed free passage on the trains and are a close-knit organisation.

Kumbh Mela, a mass-gathering of sadhus from all parts of India, takes place every three years at one of four points along sacred rivers in India, including the holy River Ganges. In 2007 it was held in Nasik, Maharashtra. Peter Owen-Jones filmed one episode of "Extreme Pilgrim" there during this event. It took place again in Haridwar in 2010.[10] Sadhus of all sects join in this reunion. Millions of non-sadhu pilgrims also attend the festivals, and the Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of human beings for a single religious purpose on the planet; the most recent Kumbh Mela started on 14 January 2013, at Allahabad.[11] At the festival, sadhus are the "biggest crowd pullers", with many of them "completely naked with ash-smeared bodies, sprint into the chilly waters for a dip at the crack of dawn".[12]

The lives of sadhus in contemporary India vary tremendously. Sadhus live in ashrams and temples in the midst of major urban centres, in huts on the edges of villages, in caves in the remote mountains. Others live lives of perpetual pilgrimage, moving without ceasing from one town, one holy place, to another. Some gurus live with one or two disciples; some ascetics are solitary, while others live in large, communal institutions. For some sadhus the brotherhood or sisterhood of ascetics is very important.

The rigour of the spiritual practices in which contemporary sadhus engage also varies a great deal. Apart from the very few that engage in the most dramatic, striking austerities—for example, standing on one leg for years on end or remaining silent for a dozen years—most sadhus engage in some form of religious practice: devotional worship, hatha yoga, fasting, etc. For many sadhus, consumption of certain forms of cannabis[13] is accorded a religious significance.[14] Sadhus occupy a unique and important place in Hindu society, particularly in villages and small towns more closely tied to tradition. In addition to bestowing religious instruction and blessings to lay people, sadhus are often called upon to adjudicate disputes between individuals or to intervene in conflicts within families. Sadhus are also living embodiments of the divine, images of what human life, in the Hindu view, is truly about – religious illumination and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Though some ascetic sects possess properties that generate revenue to sustain members, most sadhus rely on the donations of lay people; poverty and hunger are ever-present realities for many sadhus.

The Sad Tale Of The Naga Sadhu At Maha Kumbh

I have known him since the Nasik Kumbh , he is a hardcore Naga Sadhu and is a disciple of my Naga Guru, he does the morning Arti , and his prowess I saw  at Nasik pulling a car with his penis - also known as penile yoga .

When I reached  Sector 4 where I was staying with my Naga Guru , I found him troubled , it turned out that he had gone for a dip he had placed his clothing on a  a parked tractor .. he is slightly short of hearing too , when he finished his prayers and came out of the river his clothing his money  and the tractor was not there ., he came back to the Guru and narrated his loss ,,

Most of the Naga Sadhus move about naked at Allahabad , so his coming back stark nude was not surprising.

He wanted to go back to Mumbai as a tragedy had befallen his family member , when I heard about his loss I gave him money for the train ticket , he hugged me and he left before the Shahi Snan .

I had taken this picture as a memory.. there were lot of thieves , pick pocketeers  at the Maha Kumbh .. and it is unavoidable , but what hurt most is they did not spare the poor who slept out in the cold at the banks of the Sangam.

I had a great Kumbh and thanks to my Naga Guru I could move around the various Akhadas , I was also scheduled to meet Swami Nityanandji , but the guy who was to take me for the meeting turned up late and Swamiji had left..

Documenting The Maha Kumbh The Naga Babas And The Naga Sadhus

I could have left much earlier to shoot the Maha Kumbh , but I had to finish my work load and besides I was short of financial resources ..but I was destined to shoot the Maha Kumbh ,,

I lived with the Naga Sadhus and as my Guru is a Naga Sadhu I had the comforts of a tent , food was free ..but yet when I left Allahabad I gave my Guru some amount for all that he had done for me , it was not much but sufficient  as he had spent a lot for his disciples that came from Mumbai and other parts of Gujrat .

I shot a lot , and I was lucky too shoot the Shahi Snan on Basant Panchami.. I also shot a group of Hijras taking the Holy Dip,..I met great Saints , Tantriks and Aghori Sadhus .

The Maha Kumbh I ca never forget , and I left the following day after  Basant Panchami.. it was the most badly managed Kumbh and if it was successful it was only because of the Sadhu Samaj and the Hindu organizations who put up a great effort despite a poor show by the Uttar Pradesh government ,,

Foreigners were being fleeced , robbed ,, and it was terrible to say the least but media will not write all that ,, the poor thankfully were taken care by the various Akhadas and Sadhu groups.

I got along well with the Naga Sahus , and I looked like a Sadhu myself , people  touching my feet , offering me money to pray for them and bless them.. all what I got as Dakshana charity I gave to the poor  and my Guru.

I had taken woolen kambhal , covering and shawls that I distributed among the shivering poor who slept on the banks of the Sangam...

I met Chandraswamiji he blessed me ..

But I cherish meeting one of the great tantrics from Hardwar Kapoor Khamakhya .. he is a bhakt and follower of Goddess Khamakhya.

My Guru called me Ashok Bhartiya .. the Hindu name he had given to me as he felt it was best I be known as that among the top Naga Sadhus he introduced me to ..I also saw the initiation of Naga Sadhus on Basant Panchaami at Junagadh Akhada , I was told to hide my camera it was a private affair .

I met a lot of Saints Sadhus from various cults , some knew me as the Malang from Ajmer .some I knew from the Nasik Kumbh.

Yes I will shoot the Nasik Kumbh if I am alive ,, it is a moment in my lifes history I would not want to miss .

The  Naga Sadhus those who knew I was a Shia Muslim were very respectful to me , and this respect was beyond the realm of my photography.

There were some sad moments at the Kumbh ..but I savor Gods wish that he wanted me to be there and be a part of my cultural inheritance and my Indianess .

The Greatest Show On Earth The Maha Kumbh ...

This is a picture of young Naga Sadhu novice , and they ere at the Holy Bath known as the Shahi Snan at the Sangam or the confluence of three rivers Ganga Jamuna Saraswati..

As I was with the Naga Sadhus dressed as a Sadhu I had clear access to the greatest moment in a Hindu devotees life and the euphoria of the naked Naga Sadhus is unimaginable ..

The worlds best photographers , photojournalists were here shooting the making of History .

And mind you if you are a travel photographer and if you have not shot the Kumbh than you are missing something.

To be this close to the Naga Sadhus is my cosmic destiny , God gave me access , and added a texture too my own spirituality that values respects all diverse faith at that moment behind the camera I was not a Muslim but a Naga Sadhu personified .

My Naga Guru from Juna Akhada was the kotwal, the Naga Police and so I stayed behind him , but honestly I think I wiill be more comfortable at the Nasik Kumbh as it is closer home and in my own state of Maharashtra.


I had one of the best Kumbhs I was barefeet , and most of the Naga Babas respected me as they knew I was a Malang of a Sufi order and some had met me at the Naik Kumbh at Trimbakeshwar..

I met a lot of old friends , familiar faces , Mr Raghu Rai was there I shot his pictures too..My nephew who works for Reuters a brilliant photographer Adnan Abidi was there too ,Flickr photographers like Shubh Singh and many more .

I could have hung out shooting pictures but I decided to move out of this glorious
sands of time with my Naga Guru, I was under his protection and I only shot what I was destined to shoot nothing more nothing less .


I have copied a page from the net for those who want to know more about the Maha Kumbh ..
The Greatest Event this side of the planet in the Land of Mysticism and Dreams India.
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The Kumbh Mela in India is as mesmerizing as it is spiritual. This ancient northern Indian festival is a meeting of mystical minds. The largest religious gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela brings Hindu holy men together to discuss their faith and disseminate information about their religion. It's attended by millions of people each day.

The Mela takes place on a rotational basis in four of the most holy Hindu places in India -- on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik (Maharastra), the Shipra river in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), the Ganges river in Haridwar (Uttarakhand), and convergence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Allahabad/Prayag (Uttar Pradesh).
When is the Kumbh Mela Held

In each location once every 12 years. Theoretically, it should happen every three years in a different place. However, the exact time and place of the festival depends on astrological and religious considerations. This means that the Mela sometimes happens only a year apart at the different sites.

There is also a Maha Kumbh Mela, which is held once every 12 years. In between, in the sixth year, the Ardh Kumbh Mela (half mela) takes place as well.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is considered to be the most auspicious mela. It always occurs in Allahabad, as the confluence of the rivers there is considered to be particularly holy. The Ardh Kumb Mela occurs in both Allahabad and Haridwar.


What is the Legend Behind the Kumbh Mela

Kumbh means pot or pitcher. Mela means festival or fair. Hence, the Kumbh Mela means festival of the pot. It specifically relates to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology.

Legend has it that the gods once lost their strength. In order to regain it, they agreed with the demons to churn the primordial ocean of milk for amrit (the nectar of immortality). This was to be shared equally between them. However, a fight broke out, which went on for 12 human years. During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. Drops of nectar are believed to have fallen in the places that the Kumbh Mela is now held -- Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.

The Sadhus at the Kumbh Mela

The sadhus and other holy men are an integral part of the Mela. Pilgrims who attend it come to see and listen to these men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment.

There are various types of sadhus:

Nagas -- naked sadhus who smear their bodies with ash and have long matted hair. Constant exposure to the weather makes them resistant to temperature extremes. Their eyes are bloodshot from constantly smoking charas (marijuana), which they believe aids enlightenment.
Urdhwavahurs -- who have emaciated bodies from rigid spiritual practices.
Parivajakas -- who have taken a vow of silence.
Shirshasinse -- who remain standing, sleep with their heads resting on a vertical pole, and meditate standing on their heads.
Kalpvasis -- who remain by the river banks and devote their time to meditating, performing rituals, and bathing numerous times a day.
What Rituals are Performed at the Kumbh Mela

The main ritual is the ritual bath. Hindus believe that submerging themselves in the sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the new moon will absolve them and their ancestors of sin, thus ending the cycle of rebirth. Pilgrims start lining up to bathe from around 3 a.m. on this day.

As the sun comes up, the different groups of sadhus move in procession towards the river to bathe. The Nagas usually lead, while each group tries to outdo the others with more grandeur and fanfare. The moment is magical, and everyone is absorbed in it.

After bathing, the pilgrims wear fresh clothes and proceed to worship by the river bank. They then walk around listening to discourses from the various sadhus.

courtesy
goindia.about.com/od/festivalinformation/a/kumbh-mela-ind...