The Northern line of spiritual succession of Swami Vishnudevananda Giri's tradition dates back to the ancient monastic order Juna Akhara, founded over a thousand years ago by the great saint Shri Adi Shankaracharya. The main deity of this order is Dattatreya.

The Juna Akhara order — is one of the largest and oldest sannyasa orders in India.

“Akhara” — is an organization of various associations of sadhus, renounced yogis, and Hindu hermits.

History of the Order's Founding

The history of the order dates back to the eighth century AD, when Adi Shankaracharya organized seven main akharas (and possibly all 10, as they are known as the Dashanami):

• Mahanirvana Akhara
• Niranjana Akhara
• Atala Akhara
• Avahan Akhara
• Agni Akhara
• Anand Akhara
• Juna Akhara, which united 52 lineages of the sannyasi order, joined by centuries of spiritual connection: 16 lineages of Puri, 14 of Giri and another 13 of Giri, 4 of Bharati, 4 of Saraswati, and 1 of Lama. Within the akhara, Tibetan lamas from the lineage of Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche, are recognized.

According to the lineage of discipleship, lifestyle, and place of residence, sadhu-sannyasis from the akharas receive one of ten prefixes to their spiritual name, associated with the sampradaya:

• Bharati (filled with light, striving for knowledge)
• Giri (living in the mountains, mountain dwellers)
• Puri (living in cities)
• Saraswati (scholars, guides of science)
• Van (living in forests)
• Aranya (living in groves)
• Tirtha (living in places of pilgrimage)
• Parvat (living high in the mountains)
• Sagar (living on the water, by the water)
• Nathi (protectors of the faith)

Leadership of the Order

Juna Akhara is the most numerous of the monastic orders in India. Since 1998, the Acharya of Juna Akhara has been Swami Avdheshanand Giri.

The order includes many tens of thousands of babas (hermits, saints) and several thousand tapa-swamis (hermits who perform their austerities in the Himalayas, on the Gangotri glacier).

Structure of the Order

The following hierarchy is maintained within the Order:

• Acharya — the chief spiritual figure, head of the Order, having the authority to initiate Mahamandaleshwars
• Mahamandaleshwar — a leader and spiritual mentor whose duties include leading a group of monks, as well as initiation into the order (sannyasa-diksha).
• Mandaleshwars — chief mentors and heads of directions
• Mahants — mentors and heads of ashrams, religious organizations
• Sannyasi — monks who have taken vows and follow the rules of the Order
• Brahmachari — students at the stage of preparation for admission into sannyasa

Initiation of Swami Vishnudevananda Giri into the Order

On February 9, 2010, at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, on the initiative of Shri Pilot Babaji, Swami Vishnudevananda Giri was initiated into the Juna Akhara order with the status of Mahamandaleshwar of the monastic order of Dattatreya, receiving the full name: 

Shrotriya Brahmanishtha Anant Shri Vibhushit Panch Dashanam Juna Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishnudevananda Giri

World-renowned, established in Brahman, possessing boundless powers, Lord of the Universal Mandala, the one who attains bliss through Vishnu, rising to the very peak beyond all limits

The initiation was conducted by: Acharya Panch Dashanam Juna Akhara Avdheshananda Giri Maharaj.

Initiation of Swamini Ananda Lila Giri into the Order

On February 8, 2013, for the first time in history, the status of Mahamandaleshwar in the Juna Akhara order was given to a woman from Europe – a Russian-speaking nun, a disciple of Guru Swami Vishnudevananda Giri, Swamini Ananda Lila Giri.

Swamini Ananda Lila Giri has dedicated most of her life to spiritual practice, long and dark retreats, and currently serves as the Mahant of the Avadhuta Siddha Ashram in India, Kerala (Omalur), which she organized and maintains near the place of mahasamadhi of the param-guru of Swami Vishnudevananda Giri — Swami Brahmananda Shri Shiva Prabhakara Siddha Yogi Paramahamsa.