Mahant Ram Puri
UJJAIN, INDIA, July 11, 2004: Paramanand Puriji Mahara assumed the ancient seat of the Pir of Dattatreya Akhara as head of one of the major monastic orders of India yesterday in Ujjain. Mahant Ram Puri, who witnessed the event, reports:
“The abhishek (water blessing) yesterday was the stuff of legends. I sat with the eight brahmins and three other sadhus as the Vedic rites were performed. I watched the transformation take place, it was as astounding as anything I’ve ever seen. Then the thousands of yogis came, of all sects, Nagas, Naths, Udasis, Vaishnavs, Bhairagis, and flowers from all directions as chaddars piled up like a mountain covered in roses and marigolds around the new Pir. For an hour it rained flowers from the sky. Thirty to forty Muslim elders from different Muslim communities were seen laughing and enjoying the blissful atmosphere with Naga Sannyasis, and then fed and honored in a traditional bhandara. (The Hindu Dattatreya Akhara has historical connections with the Muslim community.) Members of the Christian community also came. The residents of Ujjain flocked in huge numbers to meet the new occupier of the ancient seat, and were so happy afterwards that celebrations took place around the city. Not only did all the high priests come for the new Pir’s darshan, but twenty deities from the Mahakal Jyoti Ling Temple were brought down to the Kshipra River where they were bathed and then gazed at the new Pir, who presented himself from across the river, in front of Datt Akhara. People were still arriving at midnight last night, and Pir Ji was going strong. His assuming the gadi is extremely popular with everyone and this is seen as a very good sign.”