In Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

, Akhara (also akhada

Akhada

akhada or akharha may refer to:*a school of Pehlwani * an organization of Hindu sects, see Akhara...

, literally "wrestling arena") is an organization of the different sects of Sadhu

Sadhu

In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...

s Vairaghis yogis or Hindu Renunciates.
Its history dates back to the circa 2500 BC when Adi Shankaracharya  established seven Akharas(possibly 10 as they are also known as Dasnaami), Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Avahan, Agni and Anand Akhara. Some yogis link these akharas to Gorakhnath rather than to Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya

Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...

.