Juna Akhada seers to take pledge for donating bodies
ALLAHABAD: As many as 50 seers of Juna Akhada have decided to take a pledge after the Shahi Snan of Makar Sankranti in Kumbh Mela 2019 for donating their bodies to medical college for research.
Their numbers could increase as Juna Akhada is committed towards social cause, said mahant Harigiriji Maharaj of Juna Akhada and general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP).
Harigiriji Maharaj said through this initiative they want to carry forward the ancient Indian tradition of Daan (donation).
“Our Hindu scriptures say that significance of donation increases if it is made in Teerthraj Prayag or the King of Pilgrimages. There are several types of donations like donating food, clothes, money and even body for the cause of humanity. Since medical colleges don’t have sufficient number of bodies for medical education many saints of Juna Akhada have come forward to fill this gap,” he said.
The seers from Allahabad, Ujjain, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and Karnataka etc have given their consent for taking the pledge, he said.
“Some woman seers will also be taking the pledge. They would be filling up the pledge form provided by the medical college,” he added.
According to him, during Mahakumbh 2013 two dozen saints had taken pledge for donating their bodies.
“But as the preparations were incomplete they could not fulfill their wish. These saints will also be joining the others in Kumbh 2019,” he added.
“Moreover, we will also be launching an awareness drive so that seers of other akhadas and sects could come forward for this social cause. A true seer devotes his life for his deity, guru and social cause. He should always pray for the welfare of humanity. Even after his death he can donate his body so that this also serves a good purpose,” he said.
The akhadas, including Juna and Niranjani, have started major roles for social cause and saving environment.
While Juna Akhada has opened doors for Dalit seers to take over high-rank in the akhada structure, Niranjani under the guidance of Swami Narendragirji has decided to organise bhandaras (public feast) for pilgrims in Kumbh Mela.
The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) has also decided to give bhu-samadhi (land burial) to seers, if they pass away during Kumbh Mela, to maintain the purity of holy rivers.