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{{short description|Place of practice for Indian martial artists or in Hindu monastic orders}}
{{other uses}}
[[File:Kumbamella2001.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A ceremonial procession of akhara marching over a makeshift bridge over the [[Ganges]] river, during [[Kumbh Mela|Kumbha Mela]] at [[Prayagraj]], 2001]]
'''Akhara''' or '''Akhada''' ([[Sanskrit]] and [[Hindi]]: '''अखाड़ा''', shortened to ''khara'' [[Hindi]]: '''खाड़ा''') is an [[India]]n word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of [[Indian martial art]]ists or a ''[[sampradaya]]'' monastery for religious renunciates in [[Guru–shishya tradition]].<ref name=hin>[https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=9XC9bwMMPcwC&pg=RA16-PA200&dq=1954+Kumbh+stampede#PRA16-PA200,M1 Akharas and Kumbh Mela] ''What Is Hinduism?: Modern Adventures Into a Profound Global Faith'', by Editors of Hinduism Today, Hinduism Today Magazine Editors. Published by Himalayan Academy Publications, 2007. {{ISBN|1-934145-00-9}}. ''243-244''.</ref> For example, in the context of the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]] sect, the word denotes both martial arts and religious monastic aspects of the trident wielding martial regiment of the renunciating [[sadhu]]s.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/>

==Etymology==
The term ''akhara'', is a gender-egalitarian term,<ref name=perfarts1/> which means the ''circle'' or more precisely ''the spiritual core'',<ref name=core1>[http://www.newsweek.com/carnival-soul-indias-maha-kumbh-mela-62863 Carnival of the Soul At India’s Maha Kumbh Mela, News Week, Tahir Shah, 3 May 2013]</ref> ''congregation'' or ''league'',<ref name=tahir>[Three Essays: Cannibalism, The Kumbh Mela, The Legacy of Arab Science, Tahir Shah, pp.42]</ref> it is similar to the Greek-origin word ''academy'' and the English word ''school'', can be used to mean both a physical institution or a group of them which share a common lineage or are under a single leadership, such as the school of monastic thought or the school of martial arts. Unlike the [[gurukul]] in which students live and study at the home of a [[guru]], members of an akhara although train under a guru but they do not live a domestic or homely life. Some strictly practice [[Brahmacharya]] (celibacy) and others may require complete renunciation of worldly life. For example, wrestlers are expected to live a pure life while living at akhara with other fellow wrestlers, refraining from sex and owning few material possessions.

In some languages such as [[Odia language|Odia]] the word is officially transcribed as ''akhada'', by way of rendering the flapped {{IPAblink|ɽ}} sound as a ''d''. The [[Haryanvi language|Haryanvi]] and [[Hindustani language|Khari Boli]] dialects shorten this to ''khada'' (खाड़ा).

==History==
[[File:Jarasandha's Akhara.JPG|thumb|right|240px|The historic [[Jarasandha]]'s Akhara at [[Rajgir]], mentioned in the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.]]

===Foundation dates of martial akharas===
[[Jadunath Sarkar]] documented the founding date of various akharas based on a 19the century manuscript provided to him by the Nirvani Akhara of Dashanami Sampradaya.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

* [[Shaivism|Shavite]] martial akharas: [[Dashanami Sampradaya]] has 10 akharas, 6 of which are ancient akharas. The manuscript cited by Sarkar details the [[Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar|genealogy]] of head of 6 akharas. According to this manuscript, the six military akharas were founded in the following years, Dashanami military kharas had prohibition against eating meat or taking of narcotics:<ref name=HinduRakshak1>David N. Lorenzen, 2006, [https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=SO-YmMWpcVEC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=dashnami+akhara+aurangzeb&source=bl&ots=0wgApFz5ro&sig=ACfU3U2-hWLiwJSp9R2cfhs-ma1HnWi_DA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjOm9Cv9vnoAhUScCsKHd8ADZQQ6AEwAHoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=dashnami%20akhara%20aurangzeb&f=false Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History], Yoda Press, p.51-65.</ref>
# 547 CE, Avahan Akhara 
# 646 CE, Atal Akhara  
# 749 CE, Nirvani Akhara 
# 1146 CE, Juna Akhara which was originally called "Bhairavi Akhara" 
# 1856 CE, Anand Akhara 
# 1904 CE, Niranjani Akhara


* [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] akharas: Followers of Vaishnavism are also called [[Bairagi Caste|Bairagi]] or Vairagi. Among the Bairagi, those who became part of the military akharas were organised in the 7 akharas founding dates of most of which are unclear. Each of the akhara accepted members from all 4 sects of Vaishnavism. Bairagi military akharas generally did not follow the prohibition against eating meat or taking of narcotics. Vaishnavism has following four major sects and 7 martial akharas:<ref name=HinduRakshak1/> 
** subsects or paramparas
*** Sri founded by Ramananda
*** Brahma founded by Madhava 
*** Ridra founded by Vishnusuvamin
*** Sanakadi founded by Nimbarka
** Martial akharas - total 7:
# [[Dadu Dayal|Dadupanthi]]s: Armed martial akharas were first likely formed by the Dadupantji guru '''Jait Sahib''' (1693–1734 CE) when he recruited armed Naga [[Sadhu#Hinduism|sadhu]]s. In 1733, Dadupanthis were tax-paying farmers in [[Jaipur State]] and martial naga sadhus used employed to enforce the payment of taxes. In 1793, Dadupanthis and Jaipur State had an agreement under which Dadhupanthis provided 5000 armed soldier sadhus to defend the Jaipur State. During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], Dadupanthis acted as auxiliaries who assisted the [[Presidency armies|East India Company forces]].<ref name=HinduRakshak1/>
# [[Sadh|Satnami]] martial akhara: Satnamis are an offshoot/subsect of [[Ravidassia religion|Ravidassia sect]] which in turn is a [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]] of Vaishnavism founded by the 14th century [[sadhu]] called [[Ramananda]]. [[Sadh#Satnami revolt|Satnami revolt]] was a major rebellion against [[Aurangzeb]], the Mughal Emperor, occurred in [[Narnaul]] and surrounding localities in the year 1672. The revolt was caused by the oppression led by the revenue officials of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Emperor.<ref name="Hastings2003">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Grierson|first=George Abraham|author-link=George Abraham Grierson|editor-last=Hastings|editor-first=James|editor-link=James Hastings|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics]]|title=Sadhs|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Encyclopedia_of_Religion_and_Ethics_Volume_11.pdf&page=70|date=1908|publisher=[[Charles Scribner's Sons]]|volume=XI: Sacrifice-Sudra|location=New York|pages=46–47}}</ref> A large reinforcement was sent to contain the revolt and in the following battle thousands of Hindu Satnamis were killed.<ref name="Hastings2003"/><ref>https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.61973 |Chapter XV</ref> Satnamis revolted against the [[Islamic extremism|Islamist zeal]] of [[mughal empire|mughal]] king [[Aurangzeb]].<ref name=HinduRakshak1/>
# [[Sikhism|Sikh]]'s martial akharas: [[Khalsa]] armed akharas were formed by [[Guru Govind Singh]] in 1699 against the [[Islamic extremism|Islamist zeal]] of [[mughal empire|mughals]], most notably against [[Aurangzeb]]. [[Banda Singh Bahadur]], also called Banda Bairagi, who fought against Mughals was originally a Vaisnavite Bairagi.<ref name=HinduRakshak1/> [[Udasi]] are a Sikh martial akhara.
# Partial list, please help expand.

===Historical timeline===

In its earliest usage, ''akhara'' referred to training halls for professional fighters. [[Govind Sadashiv Ghurye]] translates the term as "military regiment".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft6n39p104&chunk.id=ch09&toc.depth=1&toc.id=ch09&brand=eschol |title=The Wrestler’s Body |publisher=Publishing.cdlib.org |access-date=2012-03-29}}</ref> Ancient use of the word can be found in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (c. 400 BCE text describing 900 BCE era) epic which mentions [[Jarasandha]]'s Akhara at [[Rajgir]]. Legendary figures like [[Parashurama]] and [[Agastya]] are credited as the founders of the early martial akhara in certain regions of India.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/>

Svinth (2002) traces press ups and squats used by South Asian wrestlers to the pre-classical era.<ref name=Svinth>{{cite web|author=Kim Taylor |url=http://ejmas.com/kronos |title=Kronos: A Chronological History of the Martial Arts and Combative Sports |publisher=Ejmas.com |access-date=2015-09-27}}</ref> Many of the popular sports mentioned in the [[Vedas]] and the epics have their origins in military training, such as boxing (''[[musti-yuddha]]''), wrestling (''maladwandwa''), chariot-racing (''rathachalan''), horse-riding (''aswa-rohana'') and archery (''dhanurvidya'').<ref name="Timechart">{{cite book |title=The Timechart History of India |year=2005 |publisher=Robert Frederick Ltd. |isbn=0-7554-5162-7}}</ref>

When the 8th-century philosopher [[Adi Shankaracharya]] (788–820 CE) founded the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]], he divided the ascetics into two categories: [[Shastra#Shastradhari|Shastradhari]] ([[Sanskrit]]: शास्त्रधारी, lit. scripture-bearers) intelligentsia and [[Astra (weapon)#Astradhari|Astradhari]] ([[Sanskrit]]: अस्त्रधारी, lit. weapon-bearers) warriors. Shankaracharya established Naga sadhus as an astradhari armed order.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/> He also popularised the [[Char Dham]]s during the rein of [[Katyuri kings|Katyuri dynasty]] of [[Garhwal Kingdom]].<ref name=handa1>{{cite book |last1=Handa |first1=O.C(Omacanda) |title=History of Uttaranchal |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7_Ct9gzvkDQC&pg=PA37|year=2002 |publisher= Indus Publishing|location=New Delhi |isbn=9788173871344}}, p.26</ref>

In 904 CE and 1146 CE, [[Niranjani Akhara]] and [[Juna Akhara]] were founded respectively.<ref name=akhara11/>

In 1398 CE, Islamic fanatic [[Timur]] massacred thousands of Sadhus of various Akharas and [[Hindu]]s at Haridwar mela after sacking Delhi to punish the  [[Tughlaq Dynasty]]'s [[Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq]]'s perceived lack of brutality towards Hindus.<ref name=akhara11/>

In 1567 CE, [[Yogi Nath|Jogi]]s (Giris) and [[Sannyasa|Sannyasi]] (Puris) battled each other as detailed in the [[Tabaqat-i-Akbari]], both are 2 of the 10 orders of Dashanami Akhara. Puris were outnumbered by 200 to 500 by Jogis, [[Akbar]] asked his soldiers to smear ash and join Puris to help them, this led to the victory of Puris,<ref name=HinduRakshak1/>

In 1657/1672 CE, [[Sadh|Satnami revellion]] against Aurangzeb's Islamic zeal of persecution of Non-Muslims.<ref name=HinduRakshak1/><ref name="Hastings2003"/>

In 1664 CE, Dashanami Akhara possibly battled [[Aurangzeb]].<ref name=HinduRakshak1/>

In 1690 CE and 1760 CE, Akharas of Saivites and Vaishnava sects fought each other at Nashik mela (60,000 died) and Haridwar mela (1,800 died).<ref name=akhara11/>

In 1770-1820 CE, during [[Fakir-Sannyasi rebellion|Sannyasi rebellion]] against [[Company rule in India]],<ref name="ascetic">{{cite journal
| author=Lorenzen, D.N.
| title = ''Warrior Ascetics in Indian History''. 
| journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society
| year = 1978 
| volume = 98 
| issue = 1
| pages = 617&ndash;75
| doi = 10.2307/600151
| jstor = 600151 
}}</ref> Akharas played a key role specially the Dashanami akhara.

In 1780 CE, the [[Company rule in India|East India Company administration]] establish the sequence of order of procession for royal bathing by the akharas at [[Kumbh Mela]] to eliminate disputes.<ref name=akhara11/>

Today, akhara may be used for religious purposes or for the teaching of [[yoga]] and martial arts. Some of the noted Akhara organizations include [[Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad]] (All India Akhara Council), [[Nirmohi Akhara]], [[Shri Dattatreya Akhara]] and [[Guru Hanuman#Guru Hanuman Akhara|Guru Hanuman Akhara]].

==Akharas within Guru–Shishya traditional Sampradaya-Paramparas ==
{{see also | Sampradaya | Parampara | Guru–shishya tradition | Gurukula }}

[[Sampradaya]] is a particular system of belief and within it a particular [[guru]]'s lineage is called ''[[parampara]]''. There are 3 distinct belief-system Sampradayas (Vaishnava, Shaivite and Dashanami sampradaya), each of which follows one of 3 types of Guru–shishya parampara lineage ([[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]], [[Rishi]] and [[Human|Manav]] parampara), each sampradaya-parampara may have several akharas of shastradhari (intellectuals) or astradhari (warriors), and larger akharas may have own one or more permanent [[matha]]s.

[[Sampradaya]] ([[Sanskrit]] : सम्प्रदाय [[IAST]] ''{{IAST|sampradāya}}'') translated as ‘tradition’, 'spiritual lineage' or a ‘religious system’.{{sfn|Gupta|2002}}{{refn|group=note|The word commands much more respect and power in the Indian context than its translations in English does.}} It relates to a succession of masters and disciples, which serves as a spiritual channel, and provides a delicate network of relationships that lends stability to a religious identity.{{sfn|Gupta|2002}} ''Sampradaya'' is a body of practice, views and attitudes, which are transmitted, redefined and reviewed by each successive generation of followers.{{sfn|Gupta|2002}} A particular [[guru]] lineage is called ''[[parampara]]''. By receiving [[Diksha|diksha (initiation)]] into the ''[[guru–shishya tradition]]al'' ''parampara'' of a living guru, one belongs to its proper ''sampradaya''.{{sfn|Gupta|2002}} One cannot become a member by [[birth]], as is the case with ''[[gotra]]'', a seminal, or hereditary, [[dynasty]]. In the traditional residential form of education, the shishya remains with his or her guru as a family member and gets the education as a true learner.<ref>[[A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]] ''Srimad Bhagavatam'' 7.12.1, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1976, {{ISBN|0-912776-87-0}}</ref> In some traditions there is never more than one active master at the same time in the same ''guruparamaparya'' (lineage).<ref>Padoux, André. "The Tantric Guru" in David Gordon White (ed.) 2000. ''Tantra in Practice'', p. 44. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press {{OCLC|43441625}}</ref>

: '''Sampradaya:''' three sampradayas are Vaishnava, Shavite and Advait
::* [[Sampradaya#Vaishnava sampradayas|Vaishnava sampradaya]]: has 4 major Guru–shishya traditional paramparas 
::** [[Sri Sampradaya]] parampara of guru [[Ramanujacharya]], 
::** [[Madhva Sampradaya]] parampara of guru [[Madhvacharya]], 
::** [[Rudra Sampradaya]] parampara of guru [[Vishnuswami|Viṣṇusvāmī]]/[[Vallabhacharya]] 
::** [[Kumara sampradaya]] parampara of guru [[Nimbarka]]

::*[[Sampradaya#Shaivite sampradayas|Shaivite sampradaya]]: has 6 major Guru–shishya traditional paramparas 
::**[[Nandinatha Sampradaya]]<ref name = nan>[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3247 Hawaii Saiva siddhanta Church article]</ref> parampara of guru [[Tirumular]] (now known as [[Siddha Sampradaya]] of [[Shaiva Siddhanta]])
::** [[Shaiva Siddhanta|Meykandar Sampradaya]]<ref name = nan/><ref>Mathew Chandrankunnel (2008) "Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics" P. 720 {{ISBN|8182202582}}</ref> parampara of guru Meykandar (now known as Saiva Adheenams of [[Shaiva Siddhanta]] in [[South India]])
::** [[Adinath Sampradaya]]<ref name = nan/> parampara of guru [[Matsyendranath]] and [[Gorakshanath]] (now known as [[Nath Sampradaya]] of [[Siddha Siddhanta]])<ref>[http://www.advaita.org.uk/teachers/navnath_sampradaya.htm Nisargathatta maharaj]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nathorder.org/wiki/International_Nath_Order |title=International Nath Order |access-date=2018-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127001629/http://www.nathorder.org/wiki/International_Nath_Order |archive-date=2016-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
::** [[Kashmir Shaivism|Trika Sampradaya]] (also known as Ragasya Sampradaya and Trayambaka Sampradaya)<ref>[[Prithivi Nath Kaul Bamzai|P. N. K. Bamzai]] (1994) "Culture and Political History of Kashmir"</ref><ref name=agam>V. N. Drabu (1990) "Śaivāgamas: A Study in the Socio-economic Ideas and Institutions of Kashmir (200 B.C. to A.D. 700) Indus Publishing {{ISBN|9788185182384}}</ref> parampara of guru [[Durvasa]] and [[Vasugupta]] who follow [[Kashmir Shaivism]]<ref>[http://www.universalshaivafellowship.org Lakshmanjo Academy]</ref>
::** [[Lingayatism|Lingayat Sampradaya]] parampara 
::**[[Shiva Advaita|Srouta Sampradaya]] parampara

::* [[Advaita Vedanta|Advaita Sampradaya]] (also known as [[Dashanami Sampradaya#ēkadaṇḍis|Ekadandis]], currently known as [[Dashanami Sampradaya]]): After the decline of Buddhism, a section of the Ekadandis were organized by [[Adi Shankara]] in the 8th century in India to be associated with four ''[[matha|maṭha]]''s paramparas to provide a base for the growth of Hinduism. Dashanami Sampradaya, "Tradition of Ten Names", is a [[Hindu]] monastic tradition of ''Ekadandi sannyasins'' (wandering renunciates carrying a single staff)<ref>''Journal of the Oriental Institute'' (pp 301), by Oriental Institute (Vadodara, India)</ref><ref>''Indian Sadhus'' by Govind Sadashiv Ghurye</ref><ref>''Advaitic Concept of Jīvanmukti'' by Lalit Kishore Lal Srivastava</ref> generally associated with the [[Advaita Vedanta]] tradition.
::** Bhogavala parampara of guru [[Padmapāda]] at [[Govardhana matha|Govardhana Pīṭhaṃ]] ([[Puri]] in Odisha)
::** Bhūrivala parampara of guru [[Sureśvara]] at [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ]] (in Karnataka)
::** Kitavala parampara of guru [[Hastamalakacharya|Hastāmalakācārya]]  at [[Dvaraka Pitha|Dvāraka Pīṭhaṃ]] (Dwaraka in Gujrat)
::** Nandavala parampara of guru [[Totakacharya|Toṭakācārya]] at [[Jyotirmath|Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ]] ([[Jyotirmath]] in Uttrakhand)


: '''Paramparās:''' 3 types (Daiva, Rishi and Manav)
::'''Daiva-paramparā'''
::* [[Nārāyaṇa]]
::* [[Shiva|Sada Shiva]]
::* Padmabhuva ([[Brahma|Brahmā]])
::'''Ṛiṣhi-paramparā'''
::* [[Vasistha|Vaśiṣṭha]]
::* [[Śakti Maharṣi|Śakti]]
::* [[Parāśara]]
::* [[Vyāsa]]{{refn|group=note|the famous redactor of the vedas, he is also traditionally identified with [[Bādarāyaṇa]], the composer of the [[Brahma Sutra|Brahmasūtras]]}}
::* [[Śuka]]
::'''Mānava-paramparā'''
::* [[Gauḍapāda]]
::* [[Govinda bhagavatpāda]]
::* [[Śankara bhagavatpāda]], and then Shankara's four disciples
::** [[Padmapāda]]
::** [[Hastāmalaka]]
::** [[Toṭaka]]
::** Vārtikakāra ([[Sureśvara]]) and others

==Two types of Akhara: Shashtradhari and Astradhari==
When the 8th-century philosopher [[Adi Shankaracharya]] founded the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]], he divided the ascetics into two categories:<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/>  
* [[Shastra#Shastradhari|Shastradhari]] ([[Sanskrit]]: शास्त्रधारी, lit. scripture-bearers) intelligentsia. 
* [[Astra (weapon)#Astradhari|Astradhari]] ([[Sanskrit]]: अस्त्रधारी, lit. weapon-bearers) warriors. This refers to the [[Dashanami Sampradaya#Naga Sadhus|Naga sadhus]] (a sub-set of [[Dashanami Sampradaya]]), an armed order created by Shankaracharya to act as a Hindu army. These highly militant [[sadhu]] used to serve as mercenaries and thus were divided into akhara or regiments.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/> Akhara evolved into the "fighting martial force" of medicants likely as a reaction to the [[Persecution of Hindus#Medieval persecution by Muslim rulers|harsh and brutal treatment of Hindus]] by the [[Mughal Empire#Modern views on the decline|Muslim Rulers]].<ref name=hun2>{{cite book |author=Mark Tully |title=No Full Stops in India |url=https://archive.org/details/nofullstopsinind00tull |url-access=registration |year=1992 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=978-0-14-192775-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/nofullstopsinind00tull/page/127 127]–}}</ref> Akharas' act of self-defence of turning into armed monasteries of mystics,<ref name=hun2/><ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/23|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/23 23–4]}}</ref> also led to the unintended consequence of their sectarian fights among themselves turning into violent armed clashes at [[Kumbh Mela]]s with disastrous consequence including numerous deaths,<ref name="David_1996">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jEUdPqYQjhoC&pg=PA156 |title=Contesting the Nation |editor=David Ludden |chapter=Soldier Monks and Militant Sadhus |author=William R. Pinch |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=1996 |isbn=9780812215854 |pages=141–156 }}</ref><ref name=hun3>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V1L99XsB1gkC&pg=PA252 |title=Gods Gateway: Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place |author=James Lochtefeld |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |isbn=9780199741588 |pages=252–253 }}</ref><ref name=hun4>{{cite book |author=Hari Ram Gupta |title=History of the Sikhs: The Sikh commonwealth or Rise and fall of Sikh misls (Volume IV) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S1wwAQAAIAAJ |year=2001 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers |isbn=978-81-215-0165-1 |page=175 }}</ref> which diminished only after the East India Company administration limited the warrior role of akharas.<ref name=hun5>{{cite book |first=Kama |last=Maclean |title=Pilgrimage and Power: The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, 1765-1954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MALacgnsroMC&pg=PA5 |date=28 August 2008 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-533894-2 }}, pp=57-58.</ref> Presently, Naga sadhu still carry weapons, but they rarely practice any form of fighting aside from wrestling.

==Astra Martial Arts Akhara==
{{see also | Paika akhada}}
[[Astra (weapon)|Astra]] (HIndi: अस्त्र), the weapons or martial arts have a long tradition in India. The oldest recorded organized unarmed fighting art in South Asia is [[malla-yuddha]] or combat-wrestling, codified into four forms and pre-dating the [[Vedic Period]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kathinayoga.com/KalariWorld/Articles/other_article3.html |title=Kalarippayattu, The divine martial art of Kerala |date=16 May 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516231037/http://www.kathinayoga.com/KalariWorld/Articles/other_article3.html |archive-date=16 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Stories describing [[Krishna]] report that he sometimes engaged in wrestling matches where he used knee strikes to the chest, punches to the head, hair pulling, and strangleholds.<ref name=Svinth/> Based on such accounts, Svinth (2002) traces press ups and squats used by South Asian wrestlers to the pre-classical era.<ref name=Svinth/>

In modern usage, ''akhara'' most often denotes a wrestling ground<ref name="Lochtefeld2002"/> and is typically associated with [[pehlwani|kushti]]. For wrestlers, the akhara serves as a training school and an arena in which to compete against each other.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/life-in-satpals-akhada-early-mornings-and/353170/|title=Life in Satpal’s akhada: Early mornings and lots of ghee|last=Chakravertty|first=Shreya|date=26 August 2008|work=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=10 June 2013}}</ref> The akhara used by wrestlers still have dirt floors to which water, red ochre, buttermilk and oil are added. Aside from wrestling, other fighting systems are also taught and practiced in akhara, which are commonly named after their founder. Indian martial artists may still practice in regional versions of traditional akhara today, but these are often replaced with modern training studios outside [[India]].

==={{anchor | Dangal }} Dangal ===
{{see also | Almond milk | label 1 = Badam milk | Churma | label 2 = Choorma | Ghee | label 3 = Desi Ghee }}
While akhara is a place where practicing martial artists lodge and train under a martial art guru, akhara is also usually an [[arena]] for the ''dangal'' organised among the competing sports person.<ref name=dangal1>Rudraneil Sengupta, 2016, [https://books.google.com/books?id=1OboDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=dangal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8yem7icLaAhXHtY8KHeq2AgQQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=dangal&f=false Enter the Dangal: Travels through India's Wrestling Landscape], chapter 1 and 2.</ref> While living at akhara, [[Pehlwani|pehlwan]] practice celibacy, stay smoke free and alcohol free and they eat nutrition tradition diet usually rich in milk, [[ghee]], dried nuts and roti.<ref name=dangal1/> ''Dangal'' is originally a Punjabi language word which means  ''[[Sparring]] or competition in akhara''.<ref name=dangal2>[https://www.hindimeaningind.in/word/dangal/ meaning of Dangal], HindiMeaningInd.in.</ref> '''Sparring''' is a form of [[training]] common to many [[combat sports]] which may vary in its precise form varies, but it is relatively '[[Aliveness (martial arts)|free-form]]' fighting, with enough rules, [[customs]], or agreements to make injuries unlikely.

===Langot===
[[File:Südindischer Meister um 850 002.jpg|thumb|200px|Youth in langota harvesting lotus in pond, 850 CE]]
[[Langota|Langot]] (लंगोट) or langota (लंगोटा), also [[Kaupinam]] (कौपिनम) or kaupina (कौपिन), is a traditional style of Indian [[loincloth]] for men, worn as [[underwear]] in [[Akhara#Dangal|dangal]] held in akharas. It is now mainly used by men when exercising and other intense physical games especially [[Wrestling in India|wrestling]], to prevent [[hernias]] and [[hydrocele]].<ref name="Mahatyagi2007">{{cite book|author=Raman Das Mahatyagi|title=Yatan Yoga: A Natural Guide to Health and Harmony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IjpmZ3ysHTsC&pg=PA33|year=2007|publisher=YATAN Ayurvedics|isbn=978-0-9803761-0-4|pages=33–}}</ref>

Langota, mostly worn by wrestlers, is a [[Sewing|sewn]] undergarment which covers the [[buttocks]] and [[groin]]. A kaupina, mostly worn by ascetics or by older men in many parts of India, is a similar but unsewn garment that does not cover the buttocks and instead it passes between the buttocks.

===Major Martial Arts Akharas===
The major traditional Indian-origin martial arts akhara, mostly focused on [[wrestling]] and [[Pehlwani]], by state include:
* [[Haryana]]<br> In terms of national and international medals, Haryana is India's power house for the power sports due to its [[Jat people|Jat]] culture's focus on hard work, soldiery and sportsmanship. 
**'''Ch. Bharat Singh Memorial Sports School''' <br> at Nidani village in [[Jind district]].<ref name=SAI1/>
** '''Narayan Akhara & Yog Samiti''' at [[Khanda, India]]
** '''Ch. Pratap Singh Memorial Samiti Akhara''' <br> at  [[Kharkhoda]].<ref name=SAI1>[http://www.sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/writereaddata/mainlinkFile/File1186.pdf Adopt a akhara scheme]</ref>
** '''CCHAU Giri Center Akhara for Girls and Boys''' <br> at [[Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University#Giri Centre for Sports Activities|CCSHAU Giri Center]] in [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]].
** '''Hindu Public School Akhara for Girls and Boys''' <br> at Chaudhariwas village of [[Hisar district]], in collaboration with Mahavir Phogat.<ref name=HPS1>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/phogat-to-launch-hisar-wrestling-nursery-on-feb-15/articleshow/57115973.cms Phogat to launch Hisar wrestling nursery on Feb 15, India Timea, 15 Feb 2017]</ref><ref name=hps2>{{Cite web |url=http://hindupublicschool.org/about.aspx |title=About Hindu Public School |access-date=2017-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601194512/http://hindupublicschool.org/about.aspx |archive-date=2017-06-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** '''Guru Ganga Ram Akhara'''<br> at [[Hansi]]
** '''Guru Haripal Akhara''' <br> at [[Gurgaon]], other akharas in the city are at Tripari, Sohna, Nathupur, Daultabad, Badshahpur and Farukhnagar<ref name=haripal1>[http://www.merinews.com/mobile/article/India/2014/08/06/akharas-hidden-in-plain-view-of-gurgaon-wrestling-still-in-shadows/15899743 Gurgaon akharas].</ref>
** '''Guru Leelu Akhara''',<br> at Ladpur in [[Jhajjar district]].<ref name=akhara3/><ref name=leelu1>[http://kushtiwrestling.blogspot.sg/2013/09/guru-leelu-akhada-in-ladpur-haryana.html Guru Leelu Akhara]</ref>
** '''Guru Shyam Lal Akhara''',<br> at Arjangarh village of [[Gurgaon]].<ref name=akhara3/> 
** '''Hanuman akhara'''<br> at [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]].
** '''Lala Diwanchand Modern Wrestling Centre''' <br> at Chara village in [[Jhajjar district]]<ref name=SAI1/>
** '''Mahabir Stadium Akhara for Girls and Boys''' at [[Mahabir Stadium]] in [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]].
** '''Mahavir Singh Phogat Akhara for Girls and Boys''',<br> at [[Balali]] village of [[Charkhi Dadri district]], founded by [[Mahavir Singh Phogat]], the father and coach of Olympian [[Geeta Phogat]] and [[Babita Kumari]], inspired from their hard work with help of its story line Amir Khan made a movie and made crores out of it [[Dangal (film)|Dangal]]
** '''Purn Giri Akhara''' at Shamsukh village in [[Hisar district]].
** '''Tau Devi Lal Stadium Akhara for Girls and Boys''' at [[Tau Devi Lal Stadium]] in [[Gurgaon]].<ref name=haripal1/>
* [[Kerala]]
** '''Parashurama Akhara'''
* [[Maharashtra]]
** Motibag Akhara,Gnagavesh Akhara ,Shahupuri Akhara, ,Kolhapur , established by rajashri [[Shahu of kolhapur]]
** '''Chinchechi Talim Akhara''',<br> at Shukrawar Peth or Pune, founded by ''Mhaskaji Damodar Pandit'' in 1773 during the [[Peshwa]] rule of [[Narayan Rao]].<ref name=akhara3/>
** '''Devlachi Talim Akara''',<br> at Mahatma Phule Peth in Pune, founded by [[Samarth Ramdas]] in the 16th century.<ref name=akhara3>[https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Indian-Akharas-Wrestling-Training-Centres/#.xkydid5t4 Top 10 Indian akhara training centres, ScoopWhoop]</ref> 
** '''Hanuman Vyayam Prasark Mandal''',<br> founded in 1914 at [[Amravati]].<ref name=akhara2>[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-akhara-praised-by-gandhi-lies-unsung-on-its-centenary-in-amravati-1686959 Akhara praised by Gandhi lies unsung on its centenary in Amravati, DNA News, 1-May-2012]</ref>
** '''Shree Laxminarayan Vyayam Shala''',<br> founded in the 1930s at Arthur Road in Mumbai.<ref name=akhara3/>
* [[New Delhi]]
** '''Chandgi Ram Akhara''',<br> founded by master [[Chandgi Ram]] in 1975, first women's wrestling akhara in India.<ref name=chandgi1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/locality/chandni-chowk/chandgi-ram-akhara-promoting-women-wrestling-40-years-53722 |title=Chandgi Ram Akhara promoting women wrestling since 40 years, DNA News, Bhanvi Arora, 20-February-2015 |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728045901/http://www.dnaindia.com/locality/chandni-chowk/chandgi-ram-akhara-promoting-women-wrestling-40-years-53722 |archive-date=2016-07-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** '''Chhatrasal Akhara''',<br> at [[Chhatrasal Stadium]].
** '''Guru Hanuman Akhara''',<br> founded by [[Guru Hanuman]] in 1925 at Maujpur.<ref name=akhara1>[https://rohitgautamphotography.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/the-oldest-wrestling-school-of-india-guru-hanuman-akhara/ Guru hanuman akhara]</ref>
** '''Guru Jasram Ji Akhara''',<br> founded in the mid 20th century.<ref name=akhara3/> 
** '''Guru Rajkumar Goswami Akhara'''<ref name=akhara3/>
* [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
** '''Ranjit Akhara''',<br> founded by [[Guru Hargobind]] (1595-1644 CE) at [[Akal Takht]] in [[Amritsar]].<ref name=shivkhara1/> 
* [[Uttarakhand]] 
** '''Akali Nihang Baba Darbara Singh Sanatan Suraj Bansia Shastar Vidiya Shiv Akhara''',<br> founded in 1661 for the [[Nihang]] martial arts, such as [[gatka]].<ref name=shivkhara1>[http://www.shastarvidiya.org/history/ranjit_akhara.html Ranjit Akhara]</ref><ref name=shivkhara2>[http://www.shastarvidiya.org/articles/misunderstandings.html Hindu origin of Sikh religion and martial arts, www.shastarvidiya.org]</ref>
* [[Uttar Pradesh]]
** '''Goswami Tulsidas Akshara''',<br> at Varanasi, said to be founded by the [[Tulsidas]] (1497/1532[1]–1623)<ref name=tulsi1>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/article6571162.ece#im-image-0 Fight clubs of varanasi, The Hindu Business Line, 7 Nov 2014]</ref> 
** '''Shivalay Pehalwanji ka Akhara''',<br> at Mathura.<ref name=akhara3/> 
* [[Tamil Nadu]]
** '''Agastmuni Akhara''' 
* [[Orissa, India|Orissa]]
** [[Paika akhada]]
* [[West Bengal]]
** [[Nashipur Akhara]]

==Shashtra Monastic Akhara==
[[File:Front facade of Naya Udasin Akhara, Kankhal.JPG|thumb|400px|left|Front facade of Naya Udasin Akhara, Kankhal]]

''[[Shastra]]'' (Sanskrit and Hindi: शास्त्र) means treatise, scriptures or the school of thoughts based on those. There has been a long monastic tradition of obtaining "Shashtra Vidhya" (knowledge of '''Sashtras''') in various [[Sampradaya]] schools of thoughts in [[Hinduism]], where disciples could learn one or more of the following in a monastic setting: [[Hindu texts|Hindu scriptures]], [[Yoga|Yoga Sashtra]], [[Vastu shastra]] (architecture), [[Vaimānika Shāstra]] (ancient aerospace technology),  [[Jyotiḥśāstra]] (astrology), [[Nadi astrology|Nadi Sashtra]] (fortune telling), [[Rasa shastra]] (medicine), [[Shilpa Shastras]] (arts  and craft), [[Natya Shastra]] (dance, drama and performing arts),<ref name=perfarts1>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cHILthAUauEC&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=akhara+circle&source=bl&ots=h1flX7D472&sig=OWaNDL1pqD22J0DjG5Y2I8sWTRI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiauLO51rzUAhVCN48KHX9ZDsM4ChDoAQgxMAQ#v=onepage&q=akhara%20circle&f=false Art and Culture: Painting and Perspective, Volume 2, Ahsan Jan Qaisar, Som Prakash Verma.2002]</ref> [[Tantra]], [[Para Vidya]] (Higher scholar), [[Madhu-vidya]] (knowledge of bliss), and so on.

===Organization of Monastic Akhara===
According to some texts, an akhara is governed by the sacred body of five ''Sri Pancha'' and organized into 52 [[Matha]] (Sanskrit: मठ) or ''Marhi'' (Hindi: मढ़ी). Many assume 52 ''Marhi'' to refer to 52 lineages but they refer to 52 Desas (countries). These 52 Marhis are divided into 8 ''Davas'' corresponding to 8 directions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2016-09-20|title=Structure of the Mahanirvani Akhada|url=https://akhada.org/structure/|access-date=2020-12-28|website=Mahanirvani Peetam|language=en-US}}</ref> The maths are permanent centres of monastic practice with physical structures, led by a ''mahant'' or spiritual leader. Though not all akharas follow this structure, mainly due to the insufficient size. For example, smaller akhara, some as small as having only one marhi, may be set up either as a subsidiary affiliate to a larger and more established older akhara group or occasionally an independent akhara due to the disagreements over succession. Akharas can march as subsidiary akhara under the current preferential order of sequence in the ''Shahi Snan'' during ''Kumbh Mela'' or they are given the last place if their claim for the independent akhara is approved by the authorities.<ref name=relDis1/>

====Sri Pancha====
According to the texts, the top administrative body of each of the akhara is the ''Sri Pancha'' (sacred body of five), representing [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]], [[Shakti]] and [[Ganesha]]. It is elected by consensus from among the [[Mahant]]s of [[Matha]] or ''Marhi'' (Sanskrit: मठ and Hindi: ''मढ़ी '') that make up an akhara on every [[Kumbh Mela|Kumbha Mela]] and the body holds its post for 4 years. It is a concept similar to centuries-old Indian republican consensual elective system of [[Panchayati raj|Panchayat]] (at an individual village level) and [[Khap]] (grouping of the related villages within a union).

Among the five elected ''Sri Pancha'' of the akhara, they hold the following positions in the decreasing order of seniority, all of which can be considered [[guru]] in their own right:

* [[Mahant#Acharya Mahamandaleshwara|Acharya Mahamandaleshwara]], the Great leader and Teacher of the spiritual order of the God
* [[Mahant#Mahamandaleshwara|Mahamandaleshwara]], the senior divisional leader of the spiritual order of the God
* [[Mahant#Mandaleshwara|Mandaleshwara]], the divisional leader of the spiritual order of the God 
* [[Mahant#Sri Mahant|Sri Mahant]], the senior spiritual leader
* [[Mahant]], the spiritual leader or master. Each [[Matha]] (marhi) within the akhara is governed by a [[mahant]]

===Sampradaya-based Classification of Akharas===
{{anchor | Ananda akhara | Anand akhara | Avahan akhara | Agni akhara | Atal akhara }}

[[File:Nashipur Akhara Chandeliors.JPG|thumb|300px|[[Nashipur Akhara]] Chandeliers.]]
[[File:A young boy practising, Gatka, SIkh martial art.jpg|thumb|300px|A young boy practising, [[Gatka]], SIkh martial art of [[Udasi|Udasi Akhara]].]]

At highest level, ''akhara'' are classified into one of the four different [[Sampradaya]] (philosophical denominations) based on their traditional systems:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstfoundation.in/WW-Rel/Hindu/akhada.htm |title=Akhada |publisher=www.firstfoundation.in |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref><ref name=akharaList>[https://mahakumbhmelaujjain.wordpress.com/tag/agni-akhara-akharas-in-ujjain-kumbh-avahan-juna-akhara-mahamandleshwar-mahanirvani-akhara-nirmal-akharasnirvani-akhara/ Akharas At Simhastha Kumbha Mela Ujjain, 17-Jan-201]</ref> Each sampradaya has several [[parampara]]s (lineages), each started by a [[guru]] based on the [[guru-shishya tradition]]. The subsidiary status is as per the traditional ''Shahi Snan'' preferential sequence of procession, though time to time several subsidiary akharas have unsuccessfully tried with authorities to have this sequence altered as the number of their followers grew.<ref name=relDis1>[South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora, Knut A. Jacobsen, ISBN hardback 978-0-415-4373-3, ISBN ebook ISBN hardback 978-0-203-93059-5]</ref>

Initially there were only 4 akharas based on the sampradaya (sect), which have split into subsidiary akharas due to differences in the leadership and expansion in the followership. In January 2019, there were 13 akharas that are allowed to participate in Prayagraj Kumbh Mela and they have formed the [[Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad]] with 2 representatives from each of the 13 akharas to manage the akhara-related affairs across all kumb melas and across the nations.<ref name=parikinnar1>[https://www.amarujala.com/india-news/kumbha-was-also-used-in-the-mughal-period-what-is-the-history-and-importance-of-the-arena?pageId=1&pageId=2&pageId=3&pageId=4&pageId=5 Akharas and their history], Amarujala, 18 Jan 2019.</ref>

* '''A. [[Shaivism|Sanyasi Akhara]]''' (Hindi: '''सन्यासी अखाड़ा''') of the followers of [[Shiva]]. Examples of [[Dashanami Sampradaya#Naga Sadhus|these akharas]] include the <br>'''1. Niranjani Akhara''' and its subsidiary '''2. [[Ananda Akhara]]''', <br>'''3. Juna Akhara''' and its subsidiaries '''4. [[Avahan Akhara]]''' and '''5. [[Agni Akhara]]'''.<ref name=akharaList/><ref name=relDis1/> <br>'''6. [[Pari Akhara]]''', an exclusive akhara of female sadahavi (saints), was included in Prayagraj Kumbh for the first time starting from 2013 as a subsidiary akhara of one of the existing akhara. <br>'''7
* '''B. [[Vaishnavism|Vairagi Akhara]]''', also '''[[Bairagi Caste#Bairagi Akharas|Bairagi Akhara]]''' (Hindi: '''बैरागी अखाड़ा''') of the followers of [[Vishnu]]. Examples of such akharas include the <br>'''8. [[Mahanirvani Akhara]]''' (or simply ''Nirvani'') and its subsidiaries '''9. [[Atal Akhara]]''', <br>'''10. [[Nirmohi Akhara]]''' and '''11. [[Digambara#Digambar akhara|Digambar akhara]]''', and '''12. [[Khalsa]] akharas'''.<ref name=akharaList/><ref name=relDis1/>


* '''C. [[Udasi#Akhara locations|Udasi Akhara]]''' (Hindi: '''उदासी अखाड़ा''') of the followers of [[Sikhism]]. Examples of such akharas include the <br>'''13. Nirmal Akhara'''.<ref name=akharaList/><ref name=relDis1/>


* '''D. [[Brahma|Kalpwasis akhara]]''' (Hindi: '''कल्पवासी अखाड़ा''') of the followers of [[Brahma]], generally ordinary people who are temporarily living the austere life during the Kumbh Mela to mimic [[Vanaprastha]] (Sanskrit: वनप्रस्थ)  "retiring into a forest" stage of later life.<ref name=akharaList/><ref name=relDis1/> In that sense kalpwasi akhara is a temporary akhara of no fixed ongoing organisation or leadership.<ref name=parikinnar1/>

===Still-extant Ancient Akharas===
The still-extant seven [[Shastra#Shastradhari|Shastradhari]] or monastic Hindu akhara founded by the 8th-century philosopher [[Adi Shankaracharya]] (also the founder of four [[Adi Shankara#Mathas|Mathas]]) can be classified, in terms of affiliation and the number of followers, as three major akharas, three minor akharas under major akharas and one smaller akhara under the major akhara:<ref name=hin/>  
{| class="wikitable" style="background:white;" cellpadding=4
|- align="center"
! style="background:#FF9900;"| # !!style="background:#FF9900;"| Akhara !!style="background:#FF9900;"| Subsidiary Akhara !!style="background:#FF9900;"| Sub-subsidiary Akhara 
|- align=center
| '''1''' || align=left | [[Niranjani Akhara]] <br>Founded in 904 CE<ref name=akhara11>[http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/load_more/Magazine/233746/ Kumbh Mela was originally known as Magh Mela, Outlook India]</ref> || [[Ananda Akhara]], attached to  Niranjani Akhara || -
|- align=center
| '''2''' || align=left | [[Juna Akhara]] <br>Founded in 1146 CE<ref name=akhara11/> || [[Avahan Akhara]], attached to Juna Akhara  || [[Agni Akhara]], attached to Juna Akhara 
|- align=center
| '''3''' || align=left | [[Mahanirvani Akhara]] ||  [[Atal Akhara]], attached to  Mahanirvani Akhara || -
|}

The akhara with the most [[sadhu]] is ''Juna Akhara'', followed by ''Niranjani Akhara'' and ''Mahanirvani Akhara''. Among these, today, three are considered major akhara (Juna, Niranjani and Mahanirvani) and three minor akhara (Avahan affiliated with Juna, Ananda affiliated with Niranjani and Atal affiliated with Mahanirvani). The 7th, small [[Brahmacharya|Brahmachari]] (celibate) akhara named Agni is also affiliated with Juna Akhara.

===Akharas Today===
There are numerous other still-extant akharas, founded by the disciples of the existing akharas, that are usually loosely or directly aligned under one of the existing akhara lineage. The [[Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad]] (ABAP) (Hindi: '''अखिल भारतीय अखाड़ा परिषद''',  transliterated as '''All India Akhara Council'''), founded in 1954,<ref name="akhara foundation">[http://hindi.webdunia.com/indian-religion-kumbh-mela/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AD-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%88-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6-113013000090_1.htm, Tussle between Akhara members, WebDuniya]</ref> is the apex organisation of 13 akharas of [[Hindu]] [[Sant (religion)|Sants]] (saints) and [[Sadhu]]s (ascetics) representing the largest followership in [[India]].<ref name="A">{{cite web|title=Akhara Parishad welcomes verdict on Ayodhya|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Akhara-Parishad-welcomes-verdict-on-Ayodhya/Article1-606592.aspx|publisher=The Hindustan Times|date=2010-09-30|access-date=2010-10-02| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004003017/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Akhara-Parishad-welcomes-verdict-on-Ayodhya/Article1-606592.aspx| archive-date= 4 October 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="D">{{cite web|title=Akhara Parishad do not see eye-to-eye with VHP|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/14/stories/2005061410370300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050728104339/http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/14/stories/2005061410370300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2005-07-28|date=2005-06-14|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2010-10-01}}</ref> These are entitled to the special privilege of the ''Shahi Snan'' at [[Kumbh Mela]] and [[Ujjain Simhastha]] mela in a pre-determined sequence.<ref name=akharaList/>

====Akharas Sequence At Kumbh Mela's Shahi Snan====
The monastic akhara and their Sri Pancha of various sects meet during the [[Kumbh Mela|Kumbha Mela]]. The [[Dashanami Sampradaya#Naga Sadhus|Naga sadhu]] and the various akhara traditionally lead and initiate the bathing rituals before the general population steps in.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kEj-2a7pmVMC&pg=PA259&dq=Kumbha+Mela&as_brr=0#PPA259,M1 Kumbha Mela] ''Students' Britannica India'', by Dale Hoiberg, Indu Ramchandani. Published by Popular Prakashan, 2000. {{ISBN|0-85229-760-2}}.''Page 259-260''.</ref><ref name=mis>[https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=1pCXqynwwQcC&pg=PA21&dq=1954+Kumbh+stampede#PPA21,M1 Maha Kumbh] ''Mahakumbh: The Greatest Show on Earth'', by J.S. Mishra. Published by Har-Anand Publications, 2007. {{ISBN|81-241-0993-1}}. ''Page 21''.</ref>

The order of procession is 

# Mahanirvani akhara with Atal akhara,
# Niranjani akhara with Anand akhara,
# Juna akhara with Ahvahan and Agni akhara,
# Nirvani akhara, 
# Digambar akhara, 
# Normohi akhara,
# Naya Udasin akhara, 
# Bada Udasin akhara, and 
# Nirmal akhara.

==See also==
* [[Gurukula]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==Further reading==
'''Martial arts akhara'''
* Joseph S. Alter, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C&pg=PA181&dq=dangal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8yem7icLaAhXHtY8KHeq2AgQQ6AEITjAH#v=onepage&q=dangal&f=false The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India].
* Rudraneil Sengupta, 2016, [https://books.google.com/books?id=1OboDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=dangal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8yem7icLaAhXHtY8KHeq2AgQQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&q=dangal&f=false Enter the Dangal: Travels through India's Wrestling Landscape].
* Saurabh Duggal, 2017, [https://books.google.com/books?id=xEXVDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=dangal&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8yem7icLaAhXHtY8KHeq2AgQQ6AEISDAG#v=onepage&q=dangal&f=false Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat].

'''Monastic akhara'''
* Federico Squarcini, 2011, [https://books.google.com/books?id=1etcIIqQq9QC&pg=PA26&dq=sampradaya+and+parampara&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG_ce-xsLaAhVHsY8KHX_fBSYQ6AEIKzAB#v=onepage&q=sampradaya%20and%20parampara&f=false Boundaries, Dynamics and Construction of Traditions in South Asia].
* Leela Prasad, 2012, [https://books.google.com/books?id=tZcdTw0toXsC&pg=PA247&dq=sampradaya+and+parampara&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG_ce-xsLaAhVHsY8KHX_fBSYQ6AEIRTAG#v=onepage&q=sampradaya%20and%20parampara&f=false Poetics of Conduct: Oral Narrative and Moral Being in a South Indian Town].
* [[Monika Boehm-Tettelbach|Monika Horstmann]], Heidi Rika Maria Pauwels, 2009, [https://books.google.com/books?id=kv0xPCZ6e9sC&pg=PA170&dq=sampradaya+and+parampara&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG_ce-xsLaAhVHsY8KHX_fBSYQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=sampradaya%20and%20parampara&f=false Patronage and Popularisation, Pilgrimage and Procession].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian martial arts}}

[[Category:Indian martial arts]]
[[Category:Hindu monasticism]]
[[Category:547 establishments]]
[[Category:6th-century establishments in India]]