Himangi Sakhi named first transgender Shankaracharya with Pushkar as ‘peeth’:Pushkar declared peeth during Mahashivratri event in Bhopal

Himangi Sakhi was declared the country’s first ‘Kinnar Shankaracharya’ and formally anointed at a Kinnar Dharma Conference held in Bhopal on the occasion of Mahashivratri. During the event, Pushkar in Rajasthan was also declared the first Kinnar Shankaracharya ‘Peeth’. The programme was organised by the Kinnar Vaishnav Akhada and attended by saints and representatives of the Kinnar community from several states, including Kinnar Akhada founder Rishi Ajay Das. The ceremony marked what organisers described as a historic step towards establishing spiritual leadership within the Kinnar community. Organisers also claimed that 60 members of the Kinnar community who had earlier converted to other religions re-embraced Hinduism after undergoing a purification ritual. However, officials said the claim could not be independently verified at the administrative level. See photos… This is what Kinnar Shankaracharya Himangi Sakhi said after the coronation Who is Himangi Sakhi?
Himangi Sakhi is the head of Maa Vaishnav Kinnar Akhada and is regarded as a prominent religious leader in the Kinnar community. She has previously held the titles of Mahamandaleshwar and Jagadguru, and has now been conferred the title of Shankaracharya. Her first peeth will be established in Pushkar, Rajasthan. She said additional peeths would be set up across the country, and that as Shankaracharya, she would form a team to address religious and social matters related to the Kinnar community. Four Jagadgurus and five Mahamandaleshwars announced
During the conference, four Jagadgurus and five Mahamandaleshwars were declared under the Kinnar religious tradition. Jagadgurus announced: Mahamandaleshwars announced: Religious scholar objects, cites tradition of only four recognised peeths
Pandit Vinod Gautam of Bhopal, associated with the Jyotish Math tradition, objected to the declaration of a Kinnar Shankaracharya Peeth. He said Sanatan tradition recognises only four main peeths established by Adi Shankaracharya — Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand, Sringeri Sharada Peeth in Karnataka, Govardhan Math in Odisha, and Dwarka Sharada Peeth in Gujarat. He stated that the Shankaracharya position is traditionally limited to these four peeths, raising questions about the recognition of any new or fifth peeth. Questions raised over akhada recognition and appointment process
Pandit Gautam also said the akhada system traditionally recognises 13 akhadas, with the Kinnar Akhada considered a sub-akhada within this structure. He added that recognition of the Shankaracharya title requires approval from the Akhada Parishad and adherence to established religious procedures. He said the appointment involves a defined spiritual process, including knowledge of the Vedas and Vedanta, and adherence to the sanyasa and dandi traditions. He emphasised the need to preserve the dignity and sanctity of the Shankaracharya position.