Fri Jan 24 14:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Former Bollywood Actress Mamta Kulkarni Ordained as Mahamandaleshwar in Kinnar Akhada
**Prayagraj, India** – In a surprising turn of events, former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, known for her roles in films like *Karan Arjun* and *Tiranga*, has been ordained as a Mahamandaleshwar (a high-ranking spiritual leader) in the Kinnar Akhada (the transgender monastic order) during the ongoing Kumbh Mela.
The ceremony, held Friday evening, was shrouded in secrecy until Kulkarni’s arrival at the Akhada’s camp. After a traditional ceremony involving abhishekam (ritual bathing), the cutting of a lock of hair, and the bestowing of a saffron robe and mala, she was formally declared as Yamai Mamta Nand Giri. The Akhada’s Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi presided over the ceremony.
Kulkarni, who has reportedly been involved in spiritual pursuits for the past 23 years, revealed that she was initially unaware of the ordination. She stated that her plans to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple were disrupted when her appointed priest failed to appear. She then unexpectedly received the offer to become a Mahamandaleshwar and accepted after initially declining.
She explained her choice of the Kinnar Akhada, highlighting its adherence to the “middle path” in spirituality, offering freedom from rigid constraints. Kulkarni also emphasized her commitment to serving the Akhada and promoting Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism). She stated that she would use her position to engage in humanitarian work and donate earnings to the Akhada.
Kulkarni’s unexpected ordination has sparked significant media interest, echoing the attention garnered by the Kinnar Akhada in 2019. The Akhada is known for ordaining both men and women as Mahamandaleshwars, a recent example being a Delhi woman who took monastic vows shortly after marriage.
Kulkarni, who rose to fame in the 1990s before disappearing from the film industry in 2002 amidst controversy, expressed her emotions, stating that the ordination felt like a culmination of years of spiritual practice. Her decision has reportedly upset some of her fans, but she maintains that it was guided by divine will. The ceremony concluded with Kulkarni taking a ritual bath in the Sangam along with other Kinnar Akhada saints.
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