one of the preferred methods for
committing religious suicidewas to
jump from the branches of the vata
tree; this practice is also mentioned
four centuries later by the Islamic
scholar Alberuni.
Alakananda River
The longest and largest Himalayan tribu-
tary of the GangesRiver; the Ganges forms
at Devaprayag, where the Alakananda
unites with a second major tributary, the
BhagirathiRiver. As with all the Himalayan
tributaries of the Ganges, the Alakananda
River is considered sacred. Important pil-
grimage places (tirtha) along the river
include the temple town of Badrinathnear
its headwaters, its junction with the
Pindara Riverat Karnaprayag, its junction
with the MandakiniRiver at Rudraprayag,
and Devaprayag.
Alakhiya Akhara
The name of one subgroup of ascetics
within the Nagaclass of the Dashanami
order of Sanyasis. The Dashanami
Nagas are devotees (bhakta) of the god
Shiva, organized into different akharas
or regiments that follow the model of an
army. Until the beginning of the nine-
teenth century, the Nagas’ primary
occupation was as mercenary soldiers,
although they also had substantial trad-
ing interests; both of these occupations
have largely disappeared in contempo-
rary times. The Alakhiya akhara is a
subunit of the Juna akhara, one of the
largest and oldest of the Naga akharas.
The name Alakhiya comes from the
word alakh(“without characteristics,” a
name for the Supreme Being), which
many Shaiva asceticsutter when beg-
gingfor alms.Alakananda RiverThe Alakananda River near Badrinath Garhwal.
As a tributary of the Ganges, its waters are considered sacred.