Maha Kumbh Mela is considered to be the most auspicious religious event. The perfect polarisation of various benevolent forces at a specific spot, due to the alignment of planets, constellations, and other celestial bodies, has an extraordinary effect on our planet. This energy is further intensified by the presence of thousands of saints and sages who come together during this cosmic event. This happens every twelve years and twelve of such Poorna Kumbha Melas, over a span of 144 years, leads to the Maha Kumbha Mela.
Symbolic Significance
Symbolically speaking, the forces of creation are collected in one vessel (kumbha) and a celebration (Mela) ensues. This is why the event is called ‘Kumbha Mela’. "Kumbha", meaning the pot, and "Mela", a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, attracts the world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims.
Millions of worshippers take a dip in the holy river Ganga at the confluence of the three rivers (sangam); the holy Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad. The month long Mela (festival) represents a time when the confluence of the three rivers is believed to turn into purifying nectar, allowing the devotees to cleanse themselves as they bathe.
The Kumbh fair takes place when the Jupiter enters the Aquarius and the sun enters the Aries. This planetary position is said to medicate the waters of the Ganga and turn it into nectar. Spiritually, the position of the planets during the Kumbh Mela is good for concentration and meditation.
Mythological Significance
The observance of Kumbha Mela dates back to the Vedic times, before the creation of the universe. There is a legend that speaks for the origin of the Kumbh Mela.
Thousands of years ago, perhaps in the Vedic period, gods and demons agreed to work together for obtaining ‘amrit’ (the nectar of immortality) from the churning of the Milky Ocean, and to share the things thus obtained, equally.
Nevertheless, as Dhanwantari, the divine healer, appeared with the "Kumbh" containing nectar in his palms, a great fight followed between the gods and the demons to wrest the pitcher. The demons ran away with the pot and were chased by the gods. There ensued a battle in the skies for the possession of the pot for twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) between the gods and the demons. It is said that during the battle, drops of ‘amrit’ fell on to four places: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Thus, Kumbha Mela is observed at these four locations where the nectar fell.
Historically, the origin of the Kumbh Mela can be traced to the river festivals in which pots of grains were soaked in the waters of the holy rivers and put to seed with the rest of the grain, during the sowing time.
It has also been considered to be a pre-Aryan fertility ritual, for the Kumbh symbolises the Mother Goddess and also the womb, the generative pot. Rivers, as givers of life and agents of fertility, became ‘tirthas’ (holy places) as they act as bridges between heaven and earth, the mortal humans and the eternal divine.
Records of the celebration of this festival go back to the 10th century, where it is mentioned in various Indian art forms and in the writings of the Arabian, French and English travellers. The Mela finds mention in the Vedas and also in Ramayana, written by Valmiki.
Holy Men
Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of gurus, sadhus and holy men. They come from their ashrams, monasteries, caves and veritable palaces of marble, gold and glass. They come from India’s vast rural backyard, cities, clearings in dense forests and remote ice- bound heights of the Himalayas. Some come humbly with the meagre belongings of a holy man - the water pot, the fire tongs, a shoulder bag and a blanket. Some come with their retinue of disciples following the guru like a medieval army, armed with tridents, chains, spears and muskets. Then, there are the heads of large monastic orders that arrive to the fanfare of brass bands, and some, well-heeled international gurus come in limousines.
There are hundreds of sects and sub sects of Sadhus in the Hindu world. They can broadly be divided in two groups, the Vaishnavas, who are followers of Vishnu and the Shaiva, who are followers of Shiva. The most ferocious and exotic of the sadhus who come to the Mahakumbh Mela are the Nagas (the Naked Ones), the militant wing of the sect, the defenders of the faith. Seated by their ritual fires, covered in ash, matted hair flowing to the ground they accept obeisance and charity of the millions of pilgrims that flock to the festival.
Also, the "Jangams", with peacock feathered turbans are seen here. They are believed to be born out of Lord Shiva’s thigh.
The Jangams who hail from Haryana, Punjab and Himachal with a mixed language, colourfully dressed singing in praise of Lord Shiva and Parvati, are the last exponents of a long traditional culture.
Since time immemorial, the Kumbh Mela, the greatest of all the Indian fairs, has enamoured people from all walks of life. Irrespective of all worldly barriers of caste, creed, region, the Kumbh Mela has wielded a mesmeric influence over the minds and the imagination of the ordinary Indian. The Mela brings alive the most spectacular form of India.
Symbolic Significance
Symbolically speaking, the forces of creation are collected in one vessel (kumbha) and a celebration (Mela) ensues. This is why the event is called ‘Kumbha Mela’. "Kumbha", meaning the pot, and "Mela", a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, attracts the world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims.
Millions of worshippers take a dip in the holy river Ganga at the confluence of the three rivers (sangam); the holy Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, in Allahabad. The month long Mela (festival) represents a time when the confluence of the three rivers is believed to turn into purifying nectar, allowing the devotees to cleanse themselves as they bathe.
The Kumbh fair takes place when the Jupiter enters the Aquarius and the sun enters the Aries. This planetary position is said to medicate the waters of the Ganga and turn it into nectar. Spiritually, the position of the planets during the Kumbh Mela is good for concentration and meditation.
Mythological Significance
The observance of Kumbha Mela dates back to the Vedic times, before the creation of the universe. There is a legend that speaks for the origin of the Kumbh Mela.
Thousands of years ago, perhaps in the Vedic period, gods and demons agreed to work together for obtaining ‘amrit’ (the nectar of immortality) from the churning of the Milky Ocean, and to share the things thus obtained, equally.
Nevertheless, as Dhanwantari, the divine healer, appeared with the "Kumbh" containing nectar in his palms, a great fight followed between the gods and the demons to wrest the pitcher. The demons ran away with the pot and were chased by the gods. There ensued a battle in the skies for the possession of the pot for twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) between the gods and the demons. It is said that during the battle, drops of ‘amrit’ fell on to four places: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Thus, Kumbha Mela is observed at these four locations where the nectar fell.
Historically, the origin of the Kumbh Mela can be traced to the river festivals in which pots of grains were soaked in the waters of the holy rivers and put to seed with the rest of the grain, during the sowing time.
It has also been considered to be a pre-Aryan fertility ritual, for the Kumbh symbolises the Mother Goddess and also the womb, the generative pot. Rivers, as givers of life and agents of fertility, became ‘tirthas’ (holy places) as they act as bridges between heaven and earth, the mortal humans and the eternal divine.
Records of the celebration of this festival go back to the 10th century, where it is mentioned in various Indian art forms and in the writings of the Arabian, French and English travellers. The Mela finds mention in the Vedas and also in Ramayana, written by Valmiki.
Holy Men
Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of gurus, sadhus and holy men. They come from their ashrams, monasteries, caves and veritable palaces of marble, gold and glass. They come from India’s vast rural backyard, cities, clearings in dense forests and remote ice- bound heights of the Himalayas. Some come humbly with the meagre belongings of a holy man - the water pot, the fire tongs, a shoulder bag and a blanket. Some come with their retinue of disciples following the guru like a medieval army, armed with tridents, chains, spears and muskets. Then, there are the heads of large monastic orders that arrive to the fanfare of brass bands, and some, well-heeled international gurus come in limousines.
There are hundreds of sects and sub sects of Sadhus in the Hindu world. They can broadly be divided in two groups, the Vaishnavas, who are followers of Vishnu and the Shaiva, who are followers of Shiva. The most ferocious and exotic of the sadhus who come to the Mahakumbh Mela are the Nagas (the Naked Ones), the militant wing of the sect, the defenders of the faith. Seated by their ritual fires, covered in ash, matted hair flowing to the ground they accept obeisance and charity of the millions of pilgrims that flock to the festival.
Also, the "Jangams", with peacock feathered turbans are seen here. They are believed to be born out of Lord Shiva’s thigh.
The Jangams who hail from Haryana, Punjab and Himachal with a mixed language, colourfully dressed singing in praise of Lord Shiva and Parvati, are the last exponents of a long traditional culture.
Since time immemorial, the Kumbh Mela, the greatest of all the Indian fairs, has enamoured people from all walks of life. Irrespective of all worldly barriers of caste, creed, region, the Kumbh Mela has wielded a mesmeric influence over the minds and the imagination of the ordinary Indian. The Mela brings alive the most spectacular form of India.
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