DIVESTING FOR THE DIVINE

 

 

“Exorcists, sorcerers, cremation-ground colonists, future and past-prescient, supernatural power beings… the world has all kinds of theories about us. And nude that we go around, some also think we are related to Early Man! (like all of the rest of us aren’t!). But the fact is that we are just another set of mortals who walk the earth; the difference is just that we stay away from most worldly pleasures to contemplate of the divine usually. What’s different is that, in an attempt to attain God, we follow extremely arduous routines that are simply not in the capacity of the ordinary.

Around 1250 years ago, Adi Shankaracharya, to protect the Hindus from the marauding Mughal armies, had laid the foundation for this religious army of ours so it opposed those cruel pillagers as they went about demolishing temples and imposing sanctions on Hindu rituals! History has enough tales of sacrifice of the Nagas…



BRASS TACKS

The Naga Sadhus remain a subject of intrigue for the laity. Belonging to various Akharas, the Naga Sadhus lead a primordially austere life, implying renunciation of all habiliments of the material world. They are largely followers of Lord Shiva.

We are sadhus (saints) of a different kind – along with study of the shaastras (scriptures), we are also well-versed in the shastras (weapons). It’s not easy – in the first stage, one relinquishes aspects of the physical and the material as part of a strict regime. Only when that is successful does a guru deem him good to be a Naga sanyasi. Then begins the real tough stage with the Naga surrendering himself to a lifetime of celibacy thereafter, which involves spoliation of one’s private parts too. Other rites include discharging rituals usually performed post-death to indicate the severance of all ties with ‘life’: a new birth as a Naga Sadhu. Giving up clothes is like crossing the final frontier – no more inhibitions about this world. Many conventions have changed with time, though. Keeping in mind civil courtesies, some Naga sadhus have chosen to return to bare-essential vestments. Then the custom of wrecking the male organ has also been discontinued in most akharas owing to many a loss of life in the process.

Moksha (salvation) in mind, some choose to go off to the Himalayas, others prefer to remain in the refuge of their gurus. Some sects of Sadhus follow the school of Lord Shiva (11 of the 13 akharas are ‘shaivas’ or Shiva followers) while others, Lord Vishnu. Most are Hatha yogis – they lead a life that’s in apparent conflict with nature. It is the most gruelling existence – imagine standing in the blistering heat of June with bonfires lit around, or meditating underwater in the peak of chilly winters…

Shiva followers that we are, the cremation grounds are usually our favourite haunts; what other place offers you more peace and serenity? Smearing ash about ourselves has a scientific explanation – it not just keeps us warm but also acts handy as a sanitising agent. The wandering mendicant often ends in places afflicted with water scarcity, so it’s a convenient practice. And indulging in dope has less to do with inducing artificial ecstasy, rather it is about ensuring a trance state that’s closer to a meditative experience. The talk of the lot feeding on human flesh is absolute bunkum, though. We’re pure vegetarians.

The enthusiasm of the Nagas at the time of the Holy Bath during Kumbh traces to the days of the Mughals again, when the Nagas would arrive in noisy groups, often on horses and elephants – posing a stentorian challenge to the Mughals trying to prohibit us.

Like I mentioned, we were originally formed to defend the integrity and culture of our country. Today, the government has only to bid us and we, the 50 lakh of us, would be willing to set ourselves on the altar for the sake of the country once again…