Prayagraj: President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), Mahant Narendra Giri on Sunday said there are 13 recognised Hindu monastic orders and there will be no additions.
Giri said, “Kul terah akhare hain aur terah hi rahenge (There are only 13 recognised Hindu monastic orders and the number will not increase).”
“There is no dispute if the seers and saints associated with Kinnar Akhara join Shahi snan and other religious activities with Juna Akhara in the forthcoming Kumbh at Haridwar,” he added.
Giri further made it clear that seers and saints associated with Akhara Parishad opposed recognition or registration of any new order as 14th akhara. “Humne bina kisi ka naam liye, 14th akhare ke roop mein kisi ko manyata dene ka virodh kiya (Without taking any names we opposed addition of another akhara as the 14th one), he added.
The issue of granting recognition to a new akhara had come up during the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad meet held in the Sangam City on January 1, wherein the members said they would lodge protest if any organisation is recognised or allotted akhara status. However, when seers and saints associated with Kinnar Akhara came to know about development, their head Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Laxmi Narayan Tripathi expressed concern and said ABAP should involve it in more constructive and productive work.
Tripathi said Prayagraj Kumbh had recognised us and despite acknowledging all the facts, there should be no unwanted statements or dispute on this issue. ABAP general secretary and patron of Juna Akara, Mahant Hari Giri told TOI, “We have promised seers and saints associated with the Kinnar Akhara to protect their rights as it is part of Juna Akhara. If seers of Kinnar Akhara are willing to take part in Shahi Snan and other religious activities, they are most welcome.” However, seers and saints associated with ABAP said they had not taken name of Kinnar akhara since it is a part of Juna Akhara.