WHO ARE NAGAS ?

WHO ARE NAGAS ?

Naga Sadhus are a particular group of Shaivite saints who reside in the Himalayan Caves and come to visit the civilization only during the Kumbh Mela. This is the only event when these ascetic saints can be seen amongst the general Indian population.
The order of Naga Sadhus was founded by Dattatreya and the date of founding is lost in time. Perhaps an age when humans never cared for time. Shankaracharya first organized the Nagas to protect Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).

The Naga Sadhus have unique characteristic features drawing inspiration from Lord Shiva. They hold tridents crowned with human skulls. Their bodies are smeared in thick ash and they wear heavy coils of matted hair on the head. These saints   remain completely naked even during biting cold. They use it as a tool to avoid the worldly distraction yet have self-control even in the intoxicated state. But as they advance in spiritual life they renounce intoxication too. The Naga Sadhus renounce the
materialistic world and practice celibacy to escape from the cycle of birth and death and to attend salvation. As they belong to the Shaivite sect, they have matted locks of hair and their bodies are covered in ash like Lord Shiva.

Naga Sadhus – often misunderstood and jeered by the western media – are the epitome of renunciation. Nag Sadhus don’t bother whether they are misunderstood or called the naked holy men of India or ash-smeared and naked Hindu saints. They represent human beings in purity and are representatives of Lord Shiva. As they belong to the Shaiva sect, they have matted locks of hair and their bodies are covered in ashes like Lord Shiva.

The Nag Babas are a warrior class and are divided like a regiment in an army. They have no fear of death and when Naga Sadhus are in anger the best option is ‘to run.’ Few people on the earth can face their wrath.

The trident, sword, stick, conch shells and other weapons and musical instruments they carry symbolize their warrior status. They smoke a maijuana pipe, known as a chillum or Shiv muli.

The place where the Naga Sadhus live is called ‘Akharas.’ The member of an ‘Akhara’ should always be ready for an intellectual fight and even for wrestling.