- By Priyanka Koul
- Sat, 11 Jan 2025 03:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 13-year-old girl who recently joined the Juna Akhada to embrace a life as a 'sanyasin' has been expelled after the organisation deemed her entry a violation of its rules. The girl's guru, Mahant Kaushal Giri, who facilitated her initiation, has also been barred from the Akhada for seven years.
Srimahant Narayan Giri, the international spokesperson for Juna Akhada, explained that their guidelines prohibit the admission of women under the age of 25. "The issue of a minor girl joining the Akhada was discussed during a general meeting on Friday. It was unanimously decided to revoke her membership and suspend Mahant Kaushal Giri for seven years for violating the rules," he stated.
After her induction, Rakhi had been given the new spiritual name of Gauri Giri by her guru. However, her membership in the Akhada was short-lived due to the violation of its longstanding rules.
The girl, Rakhi Singh, has been returned to her parents with due respect. Her mother, Reema Singh, revealed that Mahant Kaushal Giri had been visiting their village for the past three years to recite the Bhagwat Katha. During this time, she suddenly felt renunciation for worldly pleasures and expressed her wish to become a saadhvi to her parents. Later, the parents considered their daughter's wish to be God's wish and handed her over to Juna Akhada.
However, Juna Akhada’s regulations are clear: only women aged 25 and above are eligible for admission. Exceptions are made for minor boys donated by their families, but no such provisions exist for minor girls. This rule ensures adherence to the organisation's traditions and safeguards its sanctity.
According to the rules of Juna Akhada, woman aged 25 years or above are given admission. If a parent donates a minor boy to Juna Akhada, he is given admission in the Akhada.
The decision to expel both Rakhi and her guru was reached in the presence of senior officials, including Patron Mahant Hari Giri and Chairman Shrimahant Prem Giri. During the meeting, the saints expressed their disapproval of Mahant Kaushal Giri’s actions, criticising his decision to accept a minor girl without prior consultation.
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Juna Akhada, one of the oldest and largest of the 13 Akharas in India, traces its origins back to Adi Shankaracharya, the great Hindu philosopher and theologian. Its primary mission is to uphold Sanatan Dharma, preserve ancient Vedic traditions, and promote spiritual discipline.
