PRAYAGRAJ: Anointing film actress Mamta Kulkarni as Mahamandeleshwar by Kinnar Akhara has caused ripples and surfaced internal rifts and differences within the akhara.
In a dramatic move, Rishi Ajaydas, one who claims to be the founding member of Kinnar Akhara, posted a letter on social media in which he has removed Acharya Mahamandeleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, from the said post.
The action against Tripathi was taken by the founder for making Mamta Kulkarni Mahamandeleshwar of the akhara, a process that defied the rules and regulations of making someone Mahamandeleshwar, said Das who heads a ashram in Hasampura, Ujjai, Madhya Pradesh.
“Tripathi did not do any religious work or anything that could uplift the Eunuch (Kinnar) society. Rather, making an actress Mahamandeleshwar, and that too a person who left the country as a traitor, forced me to take this action,” said Rishi Ajaydas while talking to TOI on the phone. Das claimed that he founded the akhara in Ujjain Kumbh, way back in 2016.
Also known as Computer Baba, Das was also the coordinator of Kinnar Akhara during Simhastha (Ujjain Kumbh), 2016 and had invited a number of celebs in the first appearance of Kinnar Akhara in any Kumbh.
Das also said that the contract signed by Tripathi in 2019, merging Kinnar Akhara with Juna Akhara, is unconstitutional and stands no ground. In fact, it amounts to forgery done by Tripathi.
However, the Acharya Mahamandeleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, termed his letter as ‘a piece of trash’. “He is not even a member of the akhara, which was registered by me, and a letter issued by him deserves nothing more than a dustbin,” said Tripathi, while reacting to the letter issued by Das. Since he is not a member of the akhara, what ground does he stand on to issue such a letter, questions Tripathi. The Acharya Mahamandeleshwar has also said that legal action will be taken against Das for circulating a letter which has baseless allegations.
Commenting on the developments, the international spokesperson of the Juna Akhara, Mahamandeleshwar Narain Giri, said, “Kinnar Akhara is part of Juna Akhara, and Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi is the Acharya Mahamandeleshwar of the said akhara as far as our opinion is concerned.”
When asked about how correct it was to anoint Mamta Kulkarni as Mahamandeleshwar, the spokesperson said, “It is up to the head of Kinnar Akhara to decide whom to make Mahamandeleshwar, and Ajaydas has absolutely no say in the affairs of the Kinnar Akhara.”
In addition to this, Mahant Durga Das, who also claims to be the founder member of Kinnar Akhara, said, “One individual cannot overthrow the Acharya Mahamandeleshwar from the post, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, was, is and will remain the head of the Kinnar Akhara.”