Akharaとは 意味・読み方・使い方

In Hinduism, Akhara (also akhada, literally "wrestling arena") is an organization of the different sects of Sadhus Vairaghis yogis or Hindu Renunciates. Its history dates back to the circa 2500 BC when Adi Shankaracharya established seven Akharas(possibly 10 as they are also known as Dasnaami), Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara. Some yogis link these akharas to Gorakhnath rather than to Shankaracharya. Today there are 3 major Akharas (Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna) and 3 minor Akharas (Atal affiliated with Mahanirvani, Anand affiliated with Niranjani, Avahan affiliated with Juna). Furthermore there is one small Brahmachari Akhara named Agni, affiliated to Juna. There also numerous minor Akhara's usually set up by disciples as an affiliate to the major group or sometimes due to disagreements on succession or Gurudev of an Akhara.