From Prayagraj comes a seismic shift: Kinnar Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Mamta Kulkarni is poised to abandon her lofty perch, deeming it a ‘mockery’ in an era overrun by faux spiritual giants. Her forthright interview lays bare the erosion of sacred offices.
Plunging into spirituality unveiled stark deceptions, Kulkarni confessed. ‘The pious exterior hides chaos—rogue claimants to thrones like Mahamandaleshwar or Shankaracharya, armed with neither erudition nor enlightenment. Sainthood defies mere proclamation.’
She turned to ancient lore for validation, stressing Upanishads’ core: self-realization trumps textual mastery. Citing Shvetaketu’s incomplete wisdom despite Vedic prowess, she drew modern parallels in a title-saturated landscape.
Personal encounters fuel her dismay: ‘Authentic sages are scarce; pretenders dominate, fixated on fame.’ Proliferation of new titleholders has trivialized traditions. Critiquing akhara pioneer Rishi Ajay Das’s ilk, she rebuked their scorn for dance and music—vital in depictions of dancing Shiva and Krishna’s divine frolics.
Heeding inner guidance, resignation beckons. ‘Fakes everywhere render positions pointless. True mastery is egoless, unadorned tapas—free from spectacle.’ Kulkarni’s move catalyzes reflection on purifying spirituality from dilution, championing essence over empty honorifics.