Actor Mamta Kulkarni turns into Mai Mamta Nand Giri – Firstpost

After enthralling her followers, movie lovers and viewers in numerous roles and characters she performed, actor Mamta Kulkarni on Friday (January 24, 2025) launched into a religious journey by renouncing her worldly life and assuming a brand new identification of ‘Mai Mamta Nand Giri’, the Uttar Pradesh authorities mentioned.

In a press release, the UP authorities mentioned within the ongoing Maha Kumbh, Kulkarni first took ‘sanyas’ within the Kinnar Akhara after which she bought a brand new title ‘Mai Mamta Nand Giri’ in the identical akhara.

After performing ‘Pind Daan’, the Kinnar Akhara carried out her pattabhishek (consecration ceremony).

Kulkarni, 52, reached the Kinnar Akhara in Maha Kumbh on Friday the place she met Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi of Kinnar Akhara and sought his blessings. She additionally met the president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), Mahant Ravindra Puri.

Kulkarni took a dip within the sacred waters of the Sangam and was seen within the garments of a ‘sadhvi’.

Kinnar Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri alias Tina Maa instructed PTI that Kulkarni carried out her personal ‘Pind Daan’ on the banks of River Ganga on Friday. Round 8 pm, she was consecrated as mahamandaleshwar amid Vedic chanting within the Kinnar Akhara.

The Kinnar Akhara was established by eunuchs in 2018 and it capabilities beneath the Juna Akhara. Whereas an akhara is a Hindu spiritual order, Pind Daan is a ritual carried out to pay homage to the departed ancestors.

With this induction, Kulkarni joins the ranks of the revered mahamandaleshwars — a title given to religious leaders who play a significant position in spiritual discourse and social upliftment.

After sanyas and pattabhishek, Mamta mentioned it might be “my success that I’m additionally turning into a witness on this holy second of Maha Kumbh”.

She mentioned she was receiving the blessings of the saints. She took initiation (‘deeksha’) from Guru Shri Chaitanya Gagan Giri in Kupoli Ashram 23 years in the past and now she was coming into a brand new life with full sanyas, the assertion added.

Talking to reporters, Kulkarni mentioned, “I began my penance (‘tapasya’) in 2000. And I selected Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as my ‘pattaguru’ as a result of as we speak is Friday… it’s the day of Maha Kaali (Goddess Kaali).

“Yesterday, preparations have been on to make me a mahamandaleshwar. However as we speak Maa Shakti instructed me that I select Laxmi Narayan Tripathi as a result of that particular person is a ‘saakshaat’ (direct) type of Ardhnaareshwar. What else generally is a greater title than an Ardhnaareshwar doing my ‘pattabhishek’,” she mentioned.

Kulkarni mentioned she needed to face an examination for the title of mahamandaleshwar.

“I used to be requested what did I do in 23 years. After I cleared all of the examinations, I bought the ‘upaadhi’ of mahamandaleshwar,” she mentioned.

She mentioned she was feeling very good right here and such planetary positions are being fashioned after 144 years. No Maha Kumbh might be as pious as this one, she added.

Requested whether or not there was anger amongst a piece of the seers over her ‘deeksha’, she mentioned, “A number of persons are indignant, my followers are additionally indignant, they really feel that I’ll return to Bollywood. However it’s all proper.

“Regardless of the Gods want. Nobody can supercede the need of Mahakaal and Mahakaali. He’s ‘param Brahm’. I’ve carried out the ritual of ‘Pind Daan’ at Sangam,” she instructed reporters.

Tina Maa mentioned within the presence of Mahamandaleshwar Swami Mahendranand Giri of Juna Akhara, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi of Kinnar Akhara and different Kinnar Mahamandaleshwars, 5 Mahamandaleshwars — Girnari Nand Giri, Krishnanand Giri, Rajeshwari Nand Giri, Vidya Nand Giri and Neelam Nand Giri — have been consecrated on this programme.

She mentioned Kulkarni has been related to Juna Akhara for the final two years and he or she got here in touch with Kinnar Akhara for the previous two-three months.

Tripathi confirmed Kulkarni’s affiliation with the Kinnar Akhara and her religious journey.

“Mamta Kulkarni has been in contact with us for the previous one-two years. She had beforehand been linked with Juna Akhara,” Tripathi mentioned.

When Kulkarni got here to Maha Kumbh, she expressed her want to serve Sanatan Dharm, the seer mentioned, including the seers don’t stand between a devotee and the divine and thus, they revered her want. Kulkarni has now accomplished the sacred rituals and can quickly formally be part of the akhara, Tripathi mentioned.

In a press convention held after the pattabhishek, Kulkarni mentioned, “Laxmi Narayan Tripathi understood my 23 years of penance and Swami Mahendranand Giri Maharaj took my take a look at by which I handed. I didn’t know that I used to be being examined for the final three days. I bought the invitation to be made mahamandaleshwar solely yesterday.” She mentioned she joined the Kinnar Akhara as a result of it was the ‘madhyam maargi’ (center path).

“I didn’t need to return to Bollywood, so I left Bollywood 23 years in the past. Now I’ll independently preach Sanatan Dharma by adopting the ‘madhyam maarg’. I had earlier come right here for Maha Kumbh 12 years in the past,” she mentioned.

The brand new mahamandaleshwar additionally mentioned, “I needed to go to Kashi Vishwanath for darshan as we speak however the pandit I knew there went lacking as we speak. I don’t know why they disappeared. However Swami Mahendranand Giri, Indra Bharti Maharaj and one other maharaj appeared earlier than me within the type of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.” Kulkarni mentioned her thoughts instructed her that if she did penance for 23 years, she deserved a certificates (of the publish of mahamandaleshwar).

About her movie journey, she mentioned, “I acted in 40-50 movies and after I left the movie business, I had 25 movies in hand. I didn’t take sanyas resulting from any downside, however to expertise the bliss.” Mahant Balak Das, the Peethadhishwar of Patalpuri Math, mentioned, “The method of turning into a mahamandaleshwar could be very easy. There are 13 akharas, every have distinctive guidelines however the central worth of service stays paramount.” He mentioned turning into a mahamandaleshwar includes 12 years of dedication and religious follow.

“The method contains each day chanting of Ram Japa 1,25,000 occasions and residing a lifetime of strict penance (Tapomayi Jeevan). The aspirant should observe a disciplined routine with solely three-four hours of sleep per day,” he mentioned.