The Naga class of the Dashanami Sanyasis, a sort of renunciant ascetic, is known by this name.
The Dashanami Nagas are Shiva followers (bhakta) who are
divided into akharas or regiments in the manner of an army.
The Nagas' principal vocation until the beginning of the
nineteenth century was as mercenary warriors or merchants, both of which have
practically vanished in modern times.
This akhara is said to have fought against the Moghul
emperor Aurangzeb's armies in 1664, and they are credited with rescuing Benares
from being sacked.
One of the seven primary Dashanami Naga akharas, the
Mahanirvani Akhara is still one of the most powerful.
The Mahanirvani Akhara's main headquarters are in Allahabad,
which hosts the Kumbha Mela, one of the world's biggest and most significant
bathing (snana) festivals.
Their power in Allahabad has enabled them to take the most
coveted position at the head of the Kumbha Mela bathing procession.
Each akhara has a (guardian) god who determines its
organizational character; the Mahanirvani Akhara's tutelary deity is the renowned
sage Kapila.
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