Akhadas against granting special time slot for sadhvis for holy dip during Kumbh mela

NASHIK: The sadhvis, led by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shree Trikal Bhavantaji Maharaj, have approached the district administration seeking a special time slot for the holy dip and special arrangements for their 10,000-member strong akhada during the Kumbh mela. But the mahants of the Vaishnav as well as the Shaiv akhadas are against allowing them any special treatment, saying the ascetic community had transcended worldly inhibitions and did not consider sadhvis as different entities from them.
Shree Trikal Bhavanta Maharaj of the Gayatri Triveni Teerth Peeth Prayag, Allahabad, approached the administration seeking special arrangements for the women members of her team who would be visiting the religious congregation in Nashik next year.
"We had visited the Kumbh mela in Allahabad last year and were provided with separate time slots for the baths, along with other arrangements. We have also approached the Nashik district administration with a similar proposal as also for and we will not settle for anything less," the sadhvi said, warning that the women sadhvis would boycott the Kumbh mela in the absence of the arrangements.
The mahants from the Shaiv akhada have, however, ruled out providing any special treatment to the sadhvis. "There is no gender discrimination between us. Sadhvis have been going for royal baths since ancient times. They have even earned the title of Mahamandaleshwar. Why the fuss?" Shri Mahant Shankaranand Saraswati of the Taponidhi Shri Anand Panchayati akhada said.
Similar was the reaction from the mahants of the Vaishnav akhadas.
"Firstly, there cannot be any new akhadas, be it the Shaivas or the Vaishnavs. The akhadas are traditional and not subject to registration with government offices. The government is just a facilitator and the akhadas are ruled by their own set of norms. The number of akhadas cannot exceed the set numbers and hence a new akhada cannot come into existence. This also means that there can be no more akhadas to share the timings of the royal bath," Mahant Ramsnehi Das said.
The district administration, however, has sought some time to ponder over the application, saying it would consult the relevant offices and the akhadas before making the final decision.
"The Kumbh mela cell will contact the seers to understand and discuss the issue with the concerned offices and decide on the matter. We are actually just the facilitators and we will only ensure that the pilgrims and the seers get the best possible stay and memories from Nashik. As far as carving out a special time slot for the sadhvis for the royal bath for is concerned, we have also requested them to approach the akhadas and together, find a solution," a senior official from the administration said.
At present, there are 13 akhadas of sadhus - 10 belonging to the Shaiv sect and three to the Vaishnav sect. The Shaivs take the holy dip at Trimbakeshwar, where the Godavari originates, about 30 km from Nashik city, while the Vaishnavs take the holy dip in Ramkund in Godavari in Panchavati, Nashik city.