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| Spiritual Bathe-Kumbh melas-2016 | | | Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
India is a land of fairs and festivals and one such fair that attracts a number of people from around the world is Kumbha Mela. The cultural tradition of India has always given a religious significance to all the river systems and so does the Kumbh Mela. The 'Kumbh Mela' an important feature and auspicious event of Hindus is going to be held in 2016 as 'Ardh Kumbh' in Haridwar, Uttrakhand State from January to May 2016 and 'Full Kumbh' at Ujjain,Madhya Pradesh State in the months of April and May 2016. Both the occasions are of utmost importance for the Hindus. It is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred Rivers. 'Kumbh Mela' is presently considered to be one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world and as World's largest congregation of religious pilgrims. The 'Kumbh Mela' is held periodically at one of the four places by rotation at Haridwar, Uttra Khand State, Allahabad (Prayag), Uttar Pradesh State, Nasik (Trimbak), Maharashtra State and Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh State. The main festival sites of all are located on the banks of Rivers. At Haridwar it is River Ganga, at Allahabad (Sangam) on the confluence of the River Ganga and Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, at Nasik River Godavari and at Ujjain River Shipra (Kashipra). At any given place, it is held once in twelve years.
The religious significance of the rivers hosting Kumbh Mela goes as;
n Ganga: The Ganga is sacred river to Hindus it is embodiment of all sacred waters in Hindu Mythology. The Hindus immerse the ashes of the deceased persons in Ganga for their salvation. Vedic rituals after death are performed on the bank of the River.
n Yamuna: It is believed that a bathe in Yamuna, relieve one of bodily pains at the time of his death.
n Saraswati: symbolizes Knowledge, Music and Art. The Rig-Veda describes this River as Third River to form confluence at Allahabad along with Ganga and Yamuna. This river is physically nonexistent now.
n Godavari: also known as South Ganga. A legend goes that saint Gautam Rishi to get absolved of 'Gao Hatya' worshipped lord Shiva, who appeared as Tryambak along with this river to absolve Gautam Rishi.
n Shipra: is symbol of 'purity' (Of Soul, Emotions, Body, etc.) The ancient Hindu texts suggest that the shipra originated from the heart of Varah, lord Vishnu's incarnation as a bore.
There are several references of river side festivals in ancient Indian texts, but the exact age of kumbh Mela is uncertain. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) described ritual, at the confluence of two rivers in Pryag, by Emperor Shiladitya (identified with Harsha). According to some scholars, this is earliest surviving historical account of Kumbh Mela which took place in 644CE. The earliest extant texts that contain the name "kumbh mela" are 'KHULASAT-UT-TAWARIKH' (1695CE) and 'CHAHAR GULSHAN' (1789CE). Both these texts used the term kumbh Mela.
According to medieval Hindu theology, the mythological origin of this festival is found in one of the most popular medieval Parana's, the 'Bhagavata Purana'. We do not find the exact date of starting of these festivals. A common conception, advocated by the 'Akharas' is that Adi Shankara started the Khmbh Mela at Paryag in 8th century, to facilitate meeting of holy men from different regions but academics doubt the authenticity of this claim.
Until the East India Company rule, the Kumbh Melas were managed by the Akharas (Sects) which sometimes turned violent. The history records that the clash between Shaivite Gosains and Vaishnavite Bhairagis sect in 1760 at Haridwar claimed hundreds of death. Shaivite Sanyasi and Vaishnavite Bhairagis clash in 1789 at Nasik Kumbh Mela over the bathing order, claimed thousands of life of both sects. Another bloody clash between Shaivites and Udasis sect at Haridwar, over erecting of a camp claimed hundreds of deaths in 1796. These clashes were owing to the indulging of these sects in trade. The clashes subsided after the Company Administration, limited trade-Warrior role of Sadhus. Several stampedes have occurred in Kumbh Melas. After stampede in 1820 at Haridwar, the company took extensive infrastructure measures including construction of new Ghats. The first British reference to Kumbh Mela in Allahabad occurs only in an 1868 report which mentions certain increased measures to be taken for this fair going to be held in 1870. Major stampedes have been experienced at Allahabad in 1840, 1906, 1954, 1986 and 2013. Stampedes also claimed lives in Nasik in 2003 and Haridwar in 2010. The 'Kumbh Mela' is catagorised into three types, owing to its occurrence, Full (complete) Kumbh, Ardh (Half) Kumbh and Maha Kumbh.
1. The Full Kumbh Mela occurs every twelve years at a given place.
2. Ardh Kumbh (Half Kumbh) Mela occurs between two Full/Puran Kumbhs at Paryag and Haridwar only.
3. 'The Maha Kumbh Mela' occurs, after twelve full / puran (complete) Kumbhs Mela i.e. after every 144 years.
The bathing in the river waters, during this auspicious occasion is linked with the falling of droplets of 'Amrut' divine nectar from the a pot, which emerged as one of the unique item among other fourteen items including poison, Kamdhenu (A wish fulfilling cow) etc., during the churning (Samudramanthan) from the Ocean by the Devtas and Demons. The Kumbh derives its name from this immortal pot of nectar. Kumbh is a pottery (earthen pot) in India. In the context of Hindhu, 'Kumbha' symbolizes the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance.
The 'Samudramanthan' finds mention in 'Bhagavata Purana', 'Vishnu Purana', and 'Mahabharat' and even in 'Ramayan' also. The epic of 'Samudramanthan' and emergence of Amrut is well defined in 'Kurma Purana', one of the eighteen Purana's, a vast genre of Indian literature, which literally means 'ancient, old'. It goes down as that a garland was offered by sage 'Durvasa' to 'Indra', the king of Gods. The 'Indra' placed it around his elephant, but the animal trampled it. This act of 'Indra' was taken as insult by the sage; hence Durvasa cursed the Gods to lose their immortality, strength, and divine powers. The demons taking advantage of this curse defeated 'Indra' and captured his kingdom. Later on Lord Vishnu advised Devtas to drink Amrut, nectar of divine which they have to obtain by churning the ocean of milk. For the purpose Devtas obtained the services of 'Mount Mandata' as the churning staff and the serpent 'Vasuki' as the churning rope. Under an agreement the Devtas obtained the help of Demons in churning. The churning process culminated with the Dhanvantri, the physician of the Gods, who brought with him the pot of 'Amruta' nectar of immortality. Thereafter a battle ensued between Devtas and Demons for possession of this nectar. To save it from falling to the Demons, Vishnu incarnated as Mohini and took away nectar pot to the sky. A battle between the Devtas and Demons continued for twelve days and twelve nights, which are twelve years for the human. The Amrut-kalsh was kept down twelve times. At these twelve places, the droplets of Amrut fell from the pot and the ethereal droplets merged into the Holy waters at an auspicious astrological time in heaven. Once in every twelve years, the same astrological configuration falls into place. As such all these places are considered to be the Kumbh Mela places. Of these twelve places eight are in other Loks and four on earth - Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Tryambakeshwar-Nasik. At all these places the Kumbh Mela is held. The ideological significance of Bathe in these Kumbh river points, that nectar keeps on spurting into these Holy Waters for the entire period/duration of the Kumbh Mela. When we take dip in these Holy Waters, during that time, the subtle energy points in our human aura and our physical human body absorb these cosmic energies fully. These energies effect a change in the mind, body and spirit.
The 'Kurma Avtar' is also linked to this episode of churning. The Lord Vishnu incarnated himself as 'Kurma Avtar' (Kurma means Tortoise) in order to save 'Mount Mandata' from sinking in the mud occurred because of churning.
The ensuing 'Ardh Kumbh' and 'Full Kumbh' is going to be held in 2016 at Haridwar and Ujjain respectively.
The Ardh Kumbh bathe dates have been announced as;
n January 14, 2016 (Thursday) - Makar Sankranti - First Snan
n February 08, 2016 (Monday) - Amavasya -Second Snan
n February 12, 2016 (Friday) - Vasant Panchmi -Third Snan
n February 22, 2016 (Monday) - Magh Purnima - Fourth Snan
n March 07, 2016 (Tuesday) - Mahashivratri - First Shahi Snan
n April 07, 2016 (Thursday) - Second Shahi Snan, Chaitra Amavasya.
n April 08, 2016 - Navsamvat Aarambh/Chetra Shukl Pritpada snan
n April 14, 2016 - Mesha Sakranti
n April 15, 2016 (Friday) - Ram Navami - Snan
n April 22, 2016 (Friday) - Chaitar Purnima - Snan
n May 06, 2016 (Friday) - Amavasya Krishan Paksh. Man day Royal Snan by six Akharas of Vishnav and Udasin sects.
n May 21, 2016 (Saturday) - Vaishakh Purnima - snan
The 'Full Kumbh' Snan dates at Ujjain have been announced as;
n April 22, 2016, Friday - First Snan.
n May 09, 2016, Monday - Kumbh Snan.
n May 11, 2016, Wednesday - Kumbh Snan.
n May 17, 2016, Tuesday - Kumbh Snan.
n May 19, 2016, Thursday - Kumbh Snan.
n May21, 2016, Saturday - Shahi Snan.
It is believed that bathing during Kumbh cures the bather of all sins and evils and grants the salvation. It is also believed that during Kumbh Yog, (As per Jyotisha a yoga is given rise to when one planet, sign or house is related to another of the same kind or different kind by way of placement, aspect or conjugation) the water of these rivers is charged with positive healing effects and that water at the time of Kumbh Mela is charged positively by enhanced electromagnetic radiation of the Sun, Moon and the Jupiter. |
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