Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni has officially resigned from her position as Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhara, days after her expulsion from the religious order. In a video shared on Instagram, Kulkarni stated, “People have issues,” addressing the controversy surrounding her appointment.
Her resignation follows internal disputes within the Kinnar Akhara, leading to her and Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi’s expulsion by founder Rishi Ajay Das.
In a video statement, Kulkarni announced her resignation, addressing the controversy saying “I, Mahamandaleshwar Yamai Mamta Nandgiri, am stepping down from this position.”
“The honour I received was for my 25 years of spiritual practice, but some people have issues with my role as Mahamandaleshwar,” she added.
#WATCH | Prayagraj | Mamta Kulkarni says, “I am resigning from the post of Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhada. I have been ‘sadhvi’ since my childhood and I’ll continue to be so…”
(Source – Mamta Kulkarni) pic.twitter.com/iQAmmBkjVR
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2025
“My Guru, Shri Chaitanya Gagangiri Maharaj, was a Siddha Mahapurush. I have done 25 years of penance with him. I don’t need to go to Kailash, Manasarovar, or the Himalayas because all the worlds are already in front of me,” said Kulkarni.
Kulkarni also spoke about the financial controversies linked to her appointment, revealing that she couldn’t provide the Rs 2 lakh amount when it was requested.
Kulkarni said that Jai Ambagiri Mahamandaleshwar paid the amount from his own pocket, emphasising that the money she possesses comes from her deep penance, not material pursuits.
Rishi Ajay Das, founder of Kinnar Akhara, on January 31 expelled Mamta Kulkarni from the Akhara. Famous actor Mamta Kulkarni renounced the worldly life, took ‘sanyas’ by performing her own ‘pind daan’ and was consecrated as the ‘Mahamandaleshwar’ of the Kinnar Akhara at the Maha Kumbh Mela underway in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.
Das also expelled Mahamandaleshwar Laxminarayan Tripathi from the Kinnar Akhara for inducting Mamta Kulkarni, who is accused of treason, to the Akhara and designating her as Mahamandaleshwar without his knowledge.
