History of the Akharas

Akharas is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training. Both in the context of Indian martial arts or a Sampradaya  which is a monastery for religious renunciates in Guru-Shishya prampara tradition. Members of akharas although train under a guru but they do not live a domestic or homely life. Some strictly practice Brahmcharya (celibacy) and others may require complete renunciation of worldly life.

Initially there were only 4 akharas based on the sampradaya (sect). They are 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. They formed the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad with 2 representative from each of the 13 akharas to manage the akhara related affairs across all kumb melas and across the nation. Adi Shankaracharya was the founder of seven major Indian Akharas known as Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara.