Suryapraksha

(“effulgence of the sun”) Name given to
the banner that is the symbolic emblem
of the Mahanirvani Akhara, a particular
group of the Naga class of the
Dashanami Sanyasis. The Nagas are
devotees (bhakta) of the god Shiva,
organized into different akharas or regiments on the model of an army. Until
the beginning of the nineteenth century
the Nagas’ primary occupation was as
mercenary soldiers, although they also
had substantial trading interests; both
of these have largely disappeared in
contemporary times. All of the akharas
have particular features that signify
their organizational identity, and this
particular banner—one with strong
connections to a martial identity—is
one such feature.