Dussehra 2024: On the day of Dussehra, there is a ritual of weapon worship in the Naga Sanyasi Akharas of the Dashnami Sanyasi tradition established by Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya. For the last 2500 years, Naga Sanyasis associated with the Dashnami Sanyasi tradition have been following this tradition and performing weapon worship in their respective Akharas. The spears named Surya Prakash and Bhairav ​​Prakash kept in the Akharas since ancient times are worshipped as deities. 

Dashnami sanyasis worship these spears in the form of gods with Vedic rituals. Following this tradition, spears named Bhairav ​​Prakash and Surya Prakash were worshipped as gods on Saturday on the day of Dussehra at Shri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara, Kankhal. Along with this, weapons of today's era and many types of killers of ancient times were worshipped with chanting of mantras.

On the occasion of Kumbh Mela,
spears in the form of Bhairav ​​Prakash and Surya Prakash gods walk ahead of the procession of the Akharas and these gods in the form of spears are the first ones to take a bath in the Ganga among the royal baths in Kumbh. After that, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the Akharas, Shri Mahant of the Mahamandaleshwar community and other Naga Sadhus take a bath. That is why on the occasion of Vijayadashami, weapon worship has special importance in the Akharas. 

Shri Mahant Ravindra Puri Maharaj, Secretary of Shri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara, says that on Dussehra we worship our ancient gods and weapons because Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya established the tradition of scriptures and weapons to protect the nation. Our gods and goddesses also have scriptures in their hands. Ravana was killed by Lord Rama on the day of Vijayadashami. There has been a special tradition of Shakti worship in the Indian tradition. 

'If Muslim religious leaders protest against spitting and urinating in food, they become silent' - Baba Ramdev
 

Weapons were worshipped.
According to the ancient tradition of Mahanirvani Akhara, the weapons were worshipped by the Ramta Panch Naga Sanyasis of the Akhara. The tradition was started by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Surya Prakash and Bhairav ​​Prakash are our spears, which we bathe in the Kumbh Mela. They are worshipped and the weapons of today are also worshipped. 

Shankaracharya established Akharas to make the sanyasis proficient in scriptures and weapons so that religion could be protected. The sanyasis who were proficient in scriptures were also made proficient in scriptures by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Therefore, along with scriptures, worshipping weapons is also necessary because we cannot move without power. Similarly, it has been stated in the Vedic tradition that any kind of war cannot be fought without weapons.

In the tradition of Akhadas established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya, weapon worship is considered to be of great importance, that is why Akhadas have been following this tradition for centuries and on the day of Dussehra, weapon worship is done in all Dashnam Akhadas. After these weapons are first bathed in Mother Ganga during the Kumbh procession, the entire group of Naga sanyasis take a bath in the Ganga. The saints of Dashnam Akhadas are proficient in the scriptures as well as in using weapons.