Nirmohi Akhara
Encyclopedia
Nirmohi Akhara
(meaning "Group without Attachment") is a Hindu
religious denomination. It is one of the 14 akhara
s recognized by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad
and belongs to the Vaishnava sampradaya
. It is headed by Mahant Bhaskar Das.
This group has been in the spotlight in connection with the Ayodhya debate
since 1949 when it filed a suit to take over the disputed site of Babri Mosque
.
They have renounced the material world for the company of God. They are “sadhus”, Hindu holy men often characterized by ascetic tendencies. They have claimed in court that there is no mosque called Babri Masjid at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
in the area called the Ram Chabutra, adjacent to the Babri Mosque. The sub-judge held that two large religious structures in close proximity could potentially be a threat to public order. Permission was denied by the court, though the Nirmohi Akhara has since kept up its effort to reclaim the land and construct the temple.
In 1989, the Nirmohi Akhara filed a lawsuit against the Uttar Pradesh State government claiming that they had been worshiping the deities installed at a temple at the then disputed site since ancient times. Accordingly, they requested the Court to hand over management of the temple to the Nirmohi Akhara.
On September 30, 2010], a Lucknow
panel of three judges of the Allahabad High Court
pronounced the verdict on the case deciding to give a third part of the land to each party, namely the Sunni Waqf Board, Ram-Lalla Deity, and Nirmohi Akhara, with the Ram-Lalla Deity retaining its present position and the Nirmohi Akhara. The areas were named Sita Rasoi and Ram Chabutara within the disputed site.
Akhara
In Hinduism, Akhara is an organization of the different sects of Sadhus Vairaghis yogis or Hindu Renunciates....
(meaning "Group without Attachment") is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religious denomination. It is one of the 14 akhara
Akhara
In Hinduism, Akhara is an organization of the different sects of Sadhus Vairaghis yogis or Hindu Renunciates....
s recognized by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad
The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad is the apex organisation of Hindu Sants and Sadhus in India. The ABAP is composed of 14 Akharas, or organisations of Hindu sants and sadhus.-Organisation:...
and belongs to the Vaishnava sampradaya
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
. It is headed by Mahant Bhaskar Das.
History
It was established in 1720 by Ramanandacharya. The rich sect owns many temples and mutts in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Bihar. Members of the sect are expected to lead a simple and austere life of celibacy and accept Rama as their God. New recruits to the sect are mainly in their teens and can be from any Hindu caste. They are put through a grueling schedule of mastering the Hindu scriptures (Vedas and Upanishads) and martial arts. In former times, members of the sect had a mandate to provide protection to the followers of Rama and were provided rigorous training in archery, swordsmanship, and wrestling. Some of this curriculum still exists but is more moderate.This group has been in the spotlight in connection with the Ayodhya debate
Ayodhya debate
The Ayodhya dispute is a political, historical and socio-religious debate in India, centred on a plot of land in the city of Ayodhya, located in Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh...
since 1949 when it filed a suit to take over the disputed site of Babri Mosque
Babri Mosque
The Babri Mosque , was a mosque in Ayodhya, a city in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh, on Ramkot Hill . It was destroyed in 1992 when a political rally developed into a riot involving 150,000 people, despite a commitment to the Indian Supreme Court by the rally organisers that the mosque...
.
They have renounced the material world for the company of God. They are “sadhus”, Hindu holy men often characterized by ascetic tendencies. They have claimed in court that there is no mosque called Babri Masjid at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Lawsuits
Nirmohi Akhara filed a suit in 1985 (as per Allahabad High Court Judgement dated 30 September 2010, see below reference No.4) with the sub-judge of Faizabad, seeking consent to construct a temple for the Hindu God RamaRama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
in the area called the Ram Chabutra, adjacent to the Babri Mosque. The sub-judge held that two large religious structures in close proximity could potentially be a threat to public order. Permission was denied by the court, though the Nirmohi Akhara has since kept up its effort to reclaim the land and construct the temple.
In 1989, the Nirmohi Akhara filed a lawsuit against the Uttar Pradesh State government claiming that they had been worshiping the deities installed at a temple at the then disputed site since ancient times. Accordingly, they requested the Court to hand over management of the temple to the Nirmohi Akhara.
On September 30, 2010], a Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
panel of three judges of the Allahabad High Court
Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court or the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad is a high court having jurisdiction over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh since 1950...
pronounced the verdict on the case deciding to give a third part of the land to each party, namely the Sunni Waqf Board, Ram-Lalla Deity, and Nirmohi Akhara, with the Ram-Lalla Deity retaining its present position and the Nirmohi Akhara. The areas were named Sita Rasoi and Ram Chabutara within the disputed site.