The Shri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara is not just one of the oldest akharas, it is also much smaller than its peers given its strict adherence to rules.
A standout feature of the Akhara is the non-appointment of Mandaleshwars and Mahamandaleshwars - titles that are bestowed on the top-ranking saints of other akharas. There is no bar from such appointments, but saints of the order are in agreement that not doing so has kept the akhara away from the usual controversies that follow these.
Satyam Giri, the Shri Mahant of the body explained that the appointment to such posts generally involved money and influence. There is a flip side too, the akhara has far fewer new followers as there is nothing but asceticism to aspire for. It has fewer devotes and thus receives much less in gifts and has weaker economic resources. Many of its properties have also been lost as there are not enough saints to manage them.
Giri said that the akhara had also been wary of accepting such members who were the only sons in a family. “We do not want a begrudging acceptance from parents”, he said. While the akhara is headquartered in Varanasi, it has followers and members across the country with Junagarh in Gujarat being prominent on that list.
The akhara has elected office-bearers. At the top is the sachiv (secretary) but it is mandatory that these functionaries also follow the rules of tapasya (austerity) and pooja (prayer) that are mandatory for other members.
The word ‘Atal’ translates into ‘unchanging’ and this akhara has stayed true to it by not permitting any laxity in its rules of initiation. One desirous of joining the akhara has to practice brahmacharya (abstinence) for 12 years. Among the many challenging rituals is bathing with water from 108 pots in the peak of winter for 41 days. Not many are able to cope. Thus, the akhara’s current strength is around 1,500. This is a still greater number from the just 25 members it was reduced to when many of its Naga sadhu members were poisoned.
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The Atal akhara was one of the original akharas established by Adi Shankaracharya and the more flamboyant akharas of today like the Mahanirvani were born from it.
It is an akhara of ten names—such as Giri, Puri and Bharti—which are borne by its members. These are further divided into 52 madis. These translate roughly into the gotras that Hindus are divided into.
One of the standout features of the akhara is that the form of the deity worshipped cannot be glimpsed by any member barring the pujaris (ordained worshippers). It is also one of the few that allows entry to women, though their numbers are in single digits.
