Nashik and Trimbakeshwar are gearing up for the grand Simhastha Kumbh Mela, but an unexpected debate has emerged within the ascetic community. Six sadhus have applied for firearms licences, citing personal safety and the need to protect their akhada properties. This development has sparked a divide among sadhus, with some defending the decision as practical and others condemning it as a troubling departure from spiritual ideals.
Administration Clarifies No Link to Kumbh Mela
The Nashik Rural police and district administration have clarified that the licences have no connection to the mega religious gathering. Resident Deputy Collector Rohit Rajput stated that each application underwent a detailed threat perception assessment by police teams. They evaluated whether there was a genuine need before submitting a recommendation to the district administration, which made the final decision. He emphasized that many applications are rejected for failing to meet the criteria, and firearms licences are not routinely handed out.
Sadhus Defend Their Applications
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Someshwaranand Maharaj defended his application, explaining that it pertains to Shriram Peeth Ashram in the Beze-Chakore region, a lonely forest stretch. He said, "We run a gaushala rescuing cattle from illegal smuggling, which invites threats. The area is isolated, and we have already faced an attack reported to the Trimbak police. A firearm licence is not about power; it is about survival against wild animals and anti-social elements." Shree Mahant Sudhir Das of Nirvani Akhada echoed this sentiment, noting that they often move with cash and valuables, making personal protection a necessity, not a luxury.
Opposition from Fellow Ascetics
A section of sadhus argued that the very idea of ascetics taking up firearms undermines the ethos of their calling. Shree Mahant Satyagiri Maharaj of the Shree Panch Dashnam Awahan Akhada, who oversees Kumbh Mela arrangements, stated that these applications are individual decisions, not an institutional position. He said, "Our akhada has nothing to do with such moves. Sadhus have always safeguarded their spaces through traditional means and with the support of state security forces." Mahant Shankaranand Saraswati of the Anand Akhada warned of the message this sends to the public, emphasizing that during the Kumbh Mela, every akhada is under round-the-clock police protection, making firearm licences unnecessary and risking portraying the monastic community negatively.
