Niranjani Akhara is the name of a subgroup of the Dashanami Sanyasis' Naga class; a specific sort of renunciant ascetic.
The Dashanami Sanyasis are Shiva worshippers (bhakta) who are divided into akharas or regiments in the manner of an army.
The Dashanami Sanyasis' major occupation until the beginning of the nineteenth century was as mercenary warriors, while they also had significant trading interests; both of these have virtually vanished in modern times.
The Niranjani Akhara is one of the seven primary Dashanami Sanyasi akharas, and it is one of the most powerful, along with the Mahanirvani Akhara.
Their contrasting positions in the bathing (snana) processions during the Kumbha Mela festivals demonstrate this power: at Haridwar, the Niranjani Akhara goes first, followed by the Mahanirvani; in Allahabad, the sequence is reversed.
The Juna Akhara, rather than being a subsidiary of the Niranjani Akhara, became a distinct procession in 1962.
The Juna Akhara will lead the Sanyasi processions for bathing on the Shivaratri festival, followed by the Niranjani and Mahanirvani Akharas, according to the provisions of the 1962 agreement.
For the other two important bathing days, the Niranjanis would be first, followed by the Juna and Mahanirvani Akharas.
The Niranjani Akhara's ability to hold the top spot is mostly due to their local power: the Niranjani Akhara was formerly highly strong in Haridwar, where it still controls major land.
However, the Mahanirvani Akhara was located in Allahabad.
Another indication of the Niranjani Akhara's standing is that it has the Ananda Akhara as a subsidiary organisation.
Each akhara has distinct characteristics that determine its organizational identity, particularly distinctive tutelary deities.
Skanda, the son of Shiva and Parvati and the heavenly general leading Shiva's supernatural army, is the tutelary god of the Niranjani Akhara.
The choice of a heavenly warrior shows the akhara's power and previous military prowess, in addition to functioning as an identifying marking.
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