What Is The Kumbh Mela ?
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The greatest of the Indian spiritual fairs, the Kumbh Mela has held the imagination of the devout, the spiritual researcher and sightseer alike from time immemorial. It is held once every three years by rotation, on the banks of river Shipra in Ujjain, on the Ganga in Haridwar, at the Trymbakeshwar Temple in Nasik, and on the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, Allahabad. A key aim of the devout who visit the Kumbh is to have darshan of the holy men who come from all over India – the ascetics, saints and sadhus – listening to them and receiving their blessings on the journey towards spiritual enlightenment. For most, it is once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seventh-century Shaivite philosopher and spiritual guru Adi Shankaracharya is credited with initiating the Kumbh fair as a spiritual congress for ascetics and spiritual scholars – for the rishis, munis, sadhus and yogis to gather and deliberate the finer points of the spiritual thought and practice, disseminating their philosophical and experiential learning to sincere seekers. Numerous books and television documentaries
have been made about the Kumbh Mela. |
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Mythological Origins Of The Kumbh | ||
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It is said that when the gods were threatened by the demons they approached Lord Vishnu (the principle of universal preservation) seeking the boons of rejuvenation and immortality. The Lord directed them to the primeval ocean in which rested the secrets and treasures of life and death. To help churn the ocean to recover these secrets and treasures, the gods sought the assistance of the demons to whom they promised part of the treasures. | ||
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Using Mount Mandar as a pillar, and the sublime multi-hooded serpent Anant Nag as a rope, with the Lord himself - in his incarnation of Kashchap or Koorma (Tortoise) avatar - providing the impeccable base for these to rest on, the gods and the demons began to churn the ocean which yielded up Surabhi (the holy cow) and Uchchaisvaras (the white horse), Parijata (the wish fulfilling tree), Sankha (the conch), Lakshmi and Vishwakarma. | |
| Finally, Dhanvantari, the divine physician, emerged holding the Kumbh (pitcher) of Amrit (the nectar of life), just a drop of which could bestow immortality. As both demons and the gods lunged for the pot, Dhanvantari flew off to the heavens with the pitcher. | ||
| During his flight, which lasted twelve days, he rested at four places - Nasik, Ujjain, Prayag, and Haridwar - which were each consecrated by falling drops of this holy nectar, becoming centers of the celestial Kumbh. |
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| The Lore Of The Kumbh | ||
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One day, while watching millions of pilgrims at a holy Kumbh, Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, became pensive. Turning to Lord Shiva she said, "You are indeed compassionate, my Lord, but it seems your compassion has done more harm than good for only a fool would lead a virtuous life when moksha can be attained by a mere dip in the holy river.” |
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To answer her doubt, the Lord and the Goddess, taking the form of a Brahmin couple, descended at the Kumbh fair and found a Brahmin inert on the ground, his bereaved wife sobbing profusely. She was telling onlookers who had just bathed, "Lord Shiva promised that the mere touch of one who is sinless can bring my husband to life. However, if the person is not sinless, they will die instantly." Everyone recoiled, for even though they had taken the holy bath none of them truly believed that they had been cleansed of their sins. As the widow sat crying, a seemingly drunken person came along and after hearing her out, with total faith took a plunge in the holy waters, then returned and bent to touch the dead Brahmin. Just then, Lord Shiva revealed himself and said to him, "You have, indeed, attained Moksha, my son – so far, only you." |
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| Kumbh Snan | ||
| “The holy bath during
Kumbh has great merit.”
The holy bath is a central event at any Kumbh Mela. A dip in the sacred waters on the auspicious day is believed to cleanse earnest seekers and their ancestors of all evil and sin, ensuring salvation - freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth. At Nasik, the ritual bath is held in a special tank at the Lord Trymbakeshwar Temple. The tank draws fresh water from the holy Godavari making the bathing much safer than in an open flowing river. |
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Sahsram kartike snanam maghe snanam satani ca, Vaissakhe Narmada kotih, Kumbha snanena tat phalam. Asvamedha sahasrani Vajpeya satani ca, Laksam pradiksanah Prthvyah kumbha snanena tat phalam | ||
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A holy bath during Kumbh bears the same fruit as a thousand holy baths in the month of Kartik, (end of monsoon season) a hundred holy baths in the month of Magh (winter) and ten million baths in the holy river Narmada during the month of Vaishak (Spring). A holy bath during Kumbh bears the same fruit as a thousand “Ashwamedha Yagnas” (special fire ritual), a hundred “Vajpayee Yagnas” (another special fire sacrifice) and a hundred thousand circumambulations of the earth.”Mahamandaleshwar Swami Brahmananda Giriji Maharaj
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| Shanti Mandir at Nasik Kumbh | Home | Nasik Kumbh 2003 |