45-kg 'crown', 2.25 lakh beads: 'Rudraksha' baba steals attention at Maha Kumbh

A Naga Sanyasi from Shri Shambhu Panchdashnam Awahan Akhara, Geetanand Giri hails from Kot Kapura, Punjab.

Along with millions of devotees, Geetanand Giri Maharaj or "Rudraksha Baba", took a holy dip in Sangam as part of the first ‘Amrit Snan’ of Mahakumbh 2025.

“The sky today is as grand as the mela,” the seer told News18.

Rudraksha Baba has become a fascinating figure at the Kumbh Mela due to his extraordinary penance. Every day, he performs 12 hours of meditation wearing a 45-kg crown of Rudraksha beads on his head.

Originally pledging to wear 1.25 lakh Rudraksha beads, he now claims to have 2.25 lakh beads adorning his head, thanks to offerings from devotees.

“People know me as the Rudraksh Baba. These 11,000 rudraksh are the rudras of Lord Shiva. I have been wearing these for a very long time now. These rudras were given to me by my worshippers... Every seer wears these rudras,” Rudraksh Baba told ANI.

A Naga Sanyasi from Shri Shambhu Panchdashnam Awahan Akhara, Geetanand Giri hails from Kot Kapura, Punjab. He recounts leaving home at the tender age of two and a half years to dedicate his life to spiritual practices. After embracing the life of a Sanyasi, he pursued his education up to 10th grade at a Sanskrit Vidyalaya.

In Ardh Kumbh 2019, he took a solemn vow at the Triveni Sangam to wear a crown of 1.25 lakh Rudraksha beads for 12 years as part of his spiritual practice. Six years into this journey, his dedication has inspired many, leading devotees to give him additional Rudraksha garlands, increasing the number of beads to 2.25 lakh.

The seer begins his day at 5 am with a sacred bath, after which the Rudraksha crown is placed on his head amidst the chanting of mantras. For the next 12 hours, he remains in deep penance, meditating until 5 pm, when the crown is removed with another round of mantras.

He plans to complete his resolution during the next Ardh Kumbh, following the Maha Kumbh. Once fulfilled, he intends to immerse his Rudraksha crown in the Triveni Sangam, marking the culmination of his spiritual vow.