ALLAHABAD: When 10-year-old Amteshwar from Azamgarh district tonsured his head, changed into saffron robes and embraced the mantra, it was not just any child adopting the route to sainthood. He’s perhaps the first Dalit child to take ‘deeksha’ from the first Dalit Mahamandaleshwar and walk the ascetic path.A class 5 student, Amteshwar, who was born Aman Rawat, took celibacy vows with five gurus, including the Dalit mahamandaleshwar Kanhaiya Prabhunand Giriji Maharaj, who performed deeksha rituals.“I want to be like my guruji and become a great spiritual head. I will live with my parents, but become a great saint. And that’s why I have come under his tutelage,” said Amteshwar.This was not a sudden decision. The boy had been readying to tread the spiritual path for over a year-and-half now when he already started learning mantras and performing puja under Kanhaiya Prabhunand Giri.“When we performed the deeksha, we gave Aman the name Amteshwar, tonsured his head, leaving behind a sliver of hair smeared in bhabhoot (ash) and gave him the mantra, loin cloth, saffron robes and a rosary of rudraksh. Our caste didn’t have religious heads, leave alone anyone a high priest after Sant Ravidas. And Amteshwar has the mettle to go a long way,” said Mahamandaleshwar Kanhaiya Prabhunand Giri.After the three-hour deeksha ritual, a thanapati went around the Juna Akhara distributing sweets with Amteshwar in tow as he announced his entry into the spiritual world.

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