Renowned actress Mamta Kulkarni, beloved for her stellar performances across various roles on the silver screen, has embraced a spiritual path by renouncing worldly life at the Maha Kumbh. She took sannyas at the Kinnar Akhada, where her anointment was completed. Her new spiritual name will be Yamai Mamtanand Giri. The Kinnar Akhada, established in 2015 and distinct from the 13 major Sanatan Dharma akhadas, bestowed this title upon her. The Akhada is led by 'Acharya Mahamandaleshwar' Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi.
In keeping with akhada traditions, Mamta Kulkarni was clad in saffron robes and adorned with a garland. Amidst Vedic chants, she was anointed with vermilion and turmeric. She bathed in milk, her eyes filled with tears. On Friday, Mamta first met Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, after which the Kinnar Akhada declared her a Mahamandaleshwar. Similar to how organizations and governments are managed by people holding various positions, akhadas are also governed by 'saints' and renunciates who hold specific titles. The highest title is Shankaracharya, followed by Mahamandaleshwar.
The Process to Become Mahamandaleshwar
To become a Mahamandaleshwar, an individual must first perform their own symbolic funeral rites and then undergo an anointment. To achieve this status, Mamta Kulkarni took a sacred bath at Sangam Triveni, performed her own symbolic funeral rites, and relinquished her identity as Mamta Kulkarni. She will now be known as Yamai Mamtanand Giri and be acknowledged as a Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada.
Source: aajtak
How Did Mamta Sudden Become a Mahamandaleshwar?
Many are curious about Mamta Kulkarni's rapid ascent to becoming a Mahamandaleshwar. It's expected that one undergoes initiation and a prolonged period of penance to relinquish worldly desires. Akhadas require that a Mahamandaleshwar be a renunciate, free from worldly attachments, distant from familial ties, and knowledgeable in Vedas and scriptures. Those familiar with Mamta Kulkarni's past note her life was fraught with controversies until recently.
Arrest Warrant Issued in Drug Trafficking Case
Allegations suggest that around 2013, Mamta left the Hindi film industry to marry Dubai-based drug lord Vicky Goswami, who served a 12-year sentence for drug trafficking. Although Mamta denies these accusations, in 2016, Mumbai police issued an arrest warrant in a drug trafficking case against her, noting the seizure of drugs worth 8 million rupees linked to a company she directed. Mamta has admitted to her affection for Vicky Goswami and mentioned her absence from India from 2000 to 2024. Prior to leaving the film industry, Mamta was rumored to have connections with the underworld, allegedly having gangsters pressure a director for a film.
Source: aajtak
Controversy Over Topless Photoshoot
In 1993, Mamta Kulkarni posed topless for a magazine, sparking widespread controversy. Her transformation into a Mahamandaleshwar leaves many astonished. People wonder why she chose Kinnar Akhada specifically. The reason lies in its distinctiveness from the 13 major Sanatan Dharma akhadas. Kinnar Akhada allows a balanced life of spirituality and worldly existence—renunciation doesn't necessitate severing worldly and familial ties. This is why Mamta opted for this akhada; she can embrace spirituality without forsaking worldly living.
