Actress Mamta Kulkarni becomes Mahamandleshwar of Kinnar Akhara; receives new name after taking sanyas

Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni – who entertained her fans with films such as Karan Arjun, Baazi, China Gate and more, renouncing her worldly life and embarked on a spiritual journey. The actress – who returned to India almost after 24 years following a significant legal victory in the drug haul case, has taken sanyas and assumed a new identity. Scroll down to know the details.

Mamta Kulkarni takes sanyas, becomes Mahamandleshwar

On Friday evening, the Uttar Pradesh government announced that amid the ongoing Maha Kumbh, actress Mamta Kulkarni first took ‘sanyas’ in the Kinnar Akhara and was then given a new name ‘Mai Mamta Nand Giri’ in the same akhara. The stated that after performing ‘Pind Daan’, the Kinnar Akhara performed her pattabhishek (consecration ceremony).

As per the announcement, Mamta reached the Kinnar Akhara in Maha Kumbh on Friday. There she met Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi of Kinnar Akhara and sought his blessings. She also met the president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), Mahant Ravindra Puri. Post that, the actress was seen in the clothes of a ‘sadhvi’ and even took a dip in the sacred waters of the Sangam. With this induction, the actress now joins the ranks of the revered mahamandaleshwars – a title given to spiritual leaders who play a vital role in religious discourse and social upliftment.

Check out some images of Mamta Kulkarni taking sanyas here:

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A post shared by Mamta Kulkarni 🔵 (@mamtakulkarniofficial____)

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A post shared by Mamta Kulkarni 🔵 (@mamtakulkarniofficial____)

Mamta on becoming a mahamandaleshwars

After taking sanyas and performing the pattabhishek, Mamta said it would be “my good fortune that I am also becoming a witness in this holy moment of Maha Kumbh”. The actress revealed that she took initiation (deeksha) from Guru Shri Chaitanya Gagan Giri in Kupoli Ashram 23 years ago and now she was entering a new life with complete sanyas.

Speaking to reporters, Mamta Kulkarni said, “I started my penance (tapasya) in 2000. And I chose Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as my ‘pattaguru’ because today is Friday… it is the day of Maha Kaali (Goddess Kaali). Yesterday, preparations were on to make me a mahamandaleshwar. But today Maa Shakti instructed me that I choose Laxmi Narayan Tripathi because that person is a ‘saakshaat’ (direct) form of Ardhnaareshwar. What else can be a bigger title than an Ardhnaareshwar doing my ‘pattabhishek’.”

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A post shared by Mamta Kulkarni 🔵 (@mamtakulkarniofficial____)

Mamta: I didn’t want to go back to Bollywood

In a press conference held after the pattabhishek, Mamta Kulkarni said, “Laxmi Narayan Tripathi understood my 23 years of penance and Swami Mahendranand Giri Maharaj took my test in which I passed. I did not know that I was being tested for the last three days. I got the invitation to be made mahamandaleshwar only yesterday.”

Adding that she said she joined the Kinnar Akhara because it was the ‘madhyam maargi’ (middle path), the actress stated, “I did not want to go back to Bollywood, so I left Bollywood 23 years ago. Now I will independently preach Sanatan Dharma by adopting the ‘madhyam maarg’. I had earlier come here for Maha Kumbh 12 years ago.”

Mai Mamta Nand Giri added, “I had to go to Kashi Vishwanath for darshan today but the pandit I knew there went missing today. I don’t know why they disappeared. But Swami Mahendranand Giri, Indra Bharti Maharaj and another maharaj appeared before me in the form of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.”

About the Kinnar Akhara

The Kinnar Akhara was established in 2018 by the eunuch community and functions under the Juna Akhara. While an akhara is a Hindu religious order, Pind Daan is a ritual performed to pay homage to the departed ancestors.

Also Read: Mamta Kulkarni clarifies she’s NOT back in Mumbai for Bollywood; says, “I’m not planning return as an actress”