#WakeUpAkhilesh

courtesy

Sir Ravindra Jadeja ‏@SirJadeja  Jun 2

Every country makes mistake
Pakistan Made LeT.
Afghanistan made Taliban.
And we made the Samajwadi Party.Time to correct it.#WakeUpAkhilesh

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

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..

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.

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.