Swami Avimukteshwaranand explains the significance of Naga Sadhus, their unwavering commitment to spirituality, and their tradition of living without clothes as a symbol of renunciation.
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00:00The word Naga is derived from the word Nag.
00:07Nag means mountain.
00:10Ag.
00:11Naga Chhati Thi Nagaha.
00:13Ag Chhati Thi Agaha.
00:15Ag and Nag, these two names are called by them.
00:18The one which does not move, stays still at one place,
00:21that is called Nag.
00:23It means the one which is a symbol of firmness.
00:26The one which does not move, stays still at one place,
00:29that is called Naga.
00:34Naga is also taken in the sense of nakedness.
00:37Because the sanyasis,
00:39when they become sanyas,
00:41they give up everything.
00:43They give up everything,
00:44become completely naked,
00:45and go to the Himalayas.
00:48At that time, their guru,
00:50like we became sanyas,
00:52we also have the same method.
00:54By giving up everything,
00:55we do not even have to wear a cap.
00:57By giving up everything,
00:58we become completely naked,
01:00and go to the Himalayas for penance.
01:03At that time, Guru Maharaj said,
01:04wait.
01:05As soon as you walk 8 steps,
01:06they stopped you.
01:07They gave you a cap,
01:08and gave you clothes.
01:11They said,
01:12wear this.
01:13You have to do sadhana as per our orders.
01:16So, the gurus stop you,
01:17that is why the sanyasis stay still.
01:19Otherwise,
01:20they become completely naked,
01:22and go to the Himalayas for penance,
01:24after becoming sanyas.
01:26So, this state of being completely naked,
01:28is also associated with the word naga.
01:31So, the sanyasis who do not wear clothes,
01:34who stay naked,
01:36who are called digambars,
01:38who stay in the disguise of digambars,
01:40they also come.
01:42Basically,
01:43the importance of the nagas
01:45has increased in the society.
01:46This is their importance
01:47from the spiritual point of view.
01:49But what happened,
01:51when in our history,
01:53in the last few days,
01:55there have been many religious attacks.
01:57In our country,
01:58there have been many attackers,
02:00who were interested in the wealth here,
02:02but along with this,
02:03they were also interested in the religion here.
02:05They wanted to destroy the religion here,
02:07and establish their religion here.
02:10In such a time,
02:11when there was a need for protection of religion,
02:14the nagas presented themselves,
02:16and they fought.
02:18So, there are many such fights in history,
02:20where the naga sanyasis,
02:22the sadhus fought.
02:23There have been detachments among them,
02:24and sanyasis have also been there.
02:25And these people have dedicated their lives
02:27to protect their religion.
02:29So, since they did this,
02:30their importance has increased,
02:34in the eyes of the common people,
02:36and also in the eyes of the rulers of our country.
02:38Because,
02:39to dedicate one's life,
02:41to fight with one's life at stake,
02:43if someone is there for religious culture,
02:45then people follow him.
02:47So, as a brave man,
02:48as a protector of religion,
02:49he was respected.
02:52And since then,
02:53he has been given special respect.
02:56And,
02:57the royal respect,
02:58when there were royal people,
02:59they gave it to him.
03:01So, they used to take him on special trips
03:02to bathe him.
03:04Since then,
03:05he has been a special Mahatma
03:06in Kumbh Parva.
03:07Deekshas are held in Kumbh Parva.
03:10So, many people keep thinking,
03:11where will I find a Guru?
03:12Where will I find a Guru?
03:13Nowadays,
03:14through WhatsApp,
03:15and through media,
03:16everyone knows,
03:17where the Guru is at this time.
03:19But,
03:20at no time,
03:21there was no such facility
03:22in the media.
03:23So, no one knew
03:24where the Guru was.
03:25And,
03:26the Sanyasi people
03:27used to roam around all the time.
03:28So, people used to know
03:29that wherever he is,
03:30when Kumbh Parva comes,
03:31he will come.
03:32So, we will go there
03:33and take Deeksha from him.
03:34Till then,
03:35he used to wait.
03:36So, in Kumbh Parva,
03:37from many directions,
03:38many disciples
03:39who wanted to take Deeksha,
03:40used to gather.
03:41So,
03:42there used to be
03:43a Deeksha program.
03:44So,
03:45there used to be
03:46a Deeksha program.
03:47That tradition
03:48is still going on.
03:49So, when Kumbh Parva
03:50comes,
03:51the Gurus
03:52stay there.
03:53Many disciples
03:54pray for Deeksha
03:55at that time.
03:56So,
03:57their Deeksha
03:58happens
03:59at that time.
04:00It happens
04:01in all four Kumbhs,
04:02especially
04:03in Prayag.
04:04In Prayag,
04:05there is
04:06a special Mahatma.