Kumbh Mela Timeline
10,000 bce: Historian S.B. Roy postulates presence of ritual river bathing.
600 bce: River Melas are mentioned in Buddhist writings.
400 bce: Greek envoy to Indian King Chandra Gupta reports on a Mela.
ca 300 ce: Roy believes the present form of Melas crystallizes at this time. Various Puranas, written texts based on ancient oral traditions, recount the dropping of the nectar of immortality at four sites after the "churning of the ocean."
547: Earliest recorded founding date of an akhara (order), the Abhana.
600: Chinese pilgrim and writer Hiuen-Tsang attends a Mela at Prayag (modern Allahabad), organized by King Harsha.
904: Founding of Niranjani Akhara.
1146: Founding of Juna Akhara.
1300: Kanphata Yogi militant ascetics are employed in the Rajasthan army.
1398: Timur lays waste to Delhi to punish the sultan's tolerance toward Hindus, then proceeds to Haridwar Mela and massacres thousands.
1565: Madhusudana Sarashwati organizes fighting units of Dasanami orders.
1684: Frenchman Tavernier estimates 1.2 million Hindu ascetics in India.
1690: Shaivites and Vaishnava sects battle at Nasik; 60,000 are killed.
1760: Shaivites and Vaishnava battle at Haridwar Mela; 1,800 die.
1780: British establish the order for royal bathing by the monastic groups.
1820: Stampede leaves 430 dead at the Haridwar Mela.
1906: British Calvary intercede in a Mela battle between sadhus.
1954: Four million people, 1 percent of India's population, attend the Mela at Allahabad; hundreds die in a stampede.
1989: Guinness Book of World Records proclaims the crowd of 15-million crowd at the February 6, Allahabad Mela "the largest-ever gathering of human beings for a single purpose."
1995: "Half-Mela" (at six-year interval) at Allahabad has 20 million pilgrims on January 30 bathing day.
1998: Haridwar attracts 25 million in four months; ten million on April 14.
2001: Mela at Allahabad attracts 70 million pilgrims in six weeks, 30 million on January 24 alone.
2003: Mela at Nasik attracts 6 million pilgrims on the main bathing day.
2004: Mela at Ujjain; main days are April 5, 19, 22, 24 and May 4.
2007: Ardh Kumbh Mela at Allahabad. The holy city of Allahabad (Prayag) has hosted Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela (festival) from 3rd January 2007 to 26th February 2007.
Rituals of Kumbh
Maha Kumbh is the largest human gathering in history for the single cause, This auspicious time & space is attended by millions of people on a single day. Since the beginning of time Kumbh has been a center of Hindu culture & faith. The participants from all the walks of life attend this cosmic zone. 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 devout believe that simply by bathing in the Ganges zone is freed from their past sins (karma), and thus one becomes eligible for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized. Kumbh Mela (especially the Maha Kumbh Mela) is the most sacred of all the Hindu pilgrimages. Millions of holy men and women (saints, monks, and sadhus) attend this spectacle of faith.
The Kumbh mela is huge gathering of Sadhus & Gurus from all over India & abroad. They come in Millions from all the corners for this common goal. There are thousands of sect in India the most common are two, Vaishnava (Followers of Vishnu) & Shaiva (Followers of Shiva). The greatest feature of this Mela are furious & exotic Naga Sadhus (The Naked ones) covered in ash, matted hairs. They are known as preserver of faith.
This holy event with such tremendous faith has gained international fame. Famous ancient traveller. Hiuen Tsiang of China, was the first to mention Kumbh Mela in his diary. His diary mentions the celebration of 75 days of Hindu month of Magha (January-February), which witnessed half a million devotee including sadhus, common man, rich & famous & kings.
Ever since than this Holy event has seen considerable increase in the attendance of devotees During days of Shankara back in 8th century the Kumbh Mela saw a growth to enormous proportions, In 1977 there were 15 million pilgrims, whereas in 1989 this number increased to 29 million & during 2001 Maha Kumbh Mela drew an estimated 70 million people over 44 days, making this the largest single gathering of humanity in recorded history.
Courtesy: www.Kumbh.org
According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius. Kumbh (Kumbh means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage. It takes place at the following four locations of India:
Prayag, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
Haridwar (Uttarakhand)
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
Nasik (Maharashtra)
History and Legend
The origin of the Kumbh is very old and dates back to the time when Kalash (pot of nectar of immortality) was recovered from Samudramanthan (during the churning of the primordial sea), for which a tense war between Devtas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) ensued. To prevent the Amrita Kalash being forcibly taken into possession by Asuras, who were more powerful than Devtas, its safety was entrusted to the Devtas Brahaspati, Surya, Chandra and Shani. The four Devtas ran away with the Amrita Kalash to hide it from the Asuras. Learning the conspiracy of Devtas, Asuras turned ferocious and chased the 4 Devtas running with Amrita Kalash. The chase, lasted 12 days and nights during which the Devtas and Asuras went round the earth and during this chase, Devtas put Amrita Kalash at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik.
To commemorate this holy event of the Amrita Kalash 12 years. According to other Pauranic legends, actual fight in the Amrita Kalash being knocked, out of which Amrita being put at 4 places, Kumbh is celebrated every took place between Devtas and Asuras resulting (Nectar) fell down at the above 4 places.
The Religious Importance
Ardh Kumbh and Maha Kumbh are the occasions when millions of people gather to take holy dip in the sacred waters. This is main reason for one to attend the Maha Kumbh and the Ardh Kumbh festival. It is believed that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh takes human out of the circle of life and death and one attains Moksha. Devotees, saints/Sadhus turn up in great number from all over the world to take a dip in the holy waters of rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythological Sarashwati at Prayag (Sangam). According to traditions these holy rivers offers purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of all those who take bath.
The festival is religiously most important for the Hindus. At every Kumbh occasion, millions of Hindus take part in the celebrations. During 2004 Kumbh at Haridwar, more than 10 millions devotees gathered at the site. Saints, priests, and yogis from all corners of India, gathered to participate in Kumbh. Haridwar is considered very holy, due to the fact that Ganga enter plains from mountains here itself. The festival is visited by the most amazing saints from all across India. The Naga Sadhus are one such, who never wear any cloth and are smeared in ash. They have long matted hairs and are not at all affected by the extremes of heat and cold. Then there are the Urdhwavahurs, who believe in putting the body through severe austerities. There are the Parivajakas, who have taken a vow of silence and go about tinkling little bells to get people out of their way. The Shirshasins stand all 24 hours and meditate for hours standing on their heads. Spending the entire month of Kumbh on the banks of Ganga, meditating, performing rituals and bathing thrice a day, are the Kalpvasis. It is believed that bathing during Kumbh cures the bather of all sins and evils and grants the bather, salvation. It is also believed that at the time of Kumbh Yoga, the water of Ganga is charged with positive healing effects and that water at the time of Kumbh is charged positively by enhanced electromagnetic radiations of the Sun, Moon and the Jupiter, the flux of which also varies in accordance to positions and the phases of the moon, and also by the + and - signs of the sun spots. The following table shows the positions of the planets when the Kumbh Fair is held at four different places in India.
Haridwar Ardh Kumbh Mela 14th January to 28th April 2010
30th January – Magh Purnima
12th February – Sri Mahashivrati Snan – Shahi Snan
15th March – Somvati Amavas – Shahi Snan
16th March – Navsamvatarambh Snan
24th March – Sri Ramnavmi Snan
16th March – Navsamvatarambh Snan
24th March – Sri Ramnavmi Snan
30th March – Chaitra Purnima (Parv Snan) / Vaishnav Akhare Snan
14th April – Mesh Sakranti – Shahi Snan – Mukhya Snan Parv
28th April – Vaishakh Adhimas Purnima Snan
Here is a comprehensive list of Kumbh Mela dates with the names of the host cities. The Maha Kumbh Mela is held every three years in each of four different locations (Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain), returning to each of four places every twelve years. Besides the regular Kumbh Mela, an Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela (festival) takes place six years after the Maha Kumbh in each location.
Haridwar Ardh Kumbh Mela 2010 (January 14th to April 28th)
Haridwar (the gateway to God) will host the Ardh Kumbh Mela in the year 2010
Allahabad (Prayag) Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 (January 27th to February 25th)
The Maha Kumbh Mela will again be held at Allahabad (Prayag) in the year 2013.
Nasik Maha Kumbh Mela 2015 (August 15th to September 13th)
Nasik will host the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2015
Ujjain Maha Kumbh Mela 2016 (April 22nd to May 21st)
The Kumbh Mela in the year 2016 will be held at Ujjain.
HARI AUM
If you are planning to visit Kumbh Mela event, please email: myyatra@DivineTravellers.com, our team of expert will come up with comfort tour itineraries.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Great event on Earth: Kumbh Mela: Part: 1:
About Kumbh
They came by the millions! Some arrived on overcrowded trains carrying five times their normal capacity. Some came by bus, by car, some by ox drawn carts, and others rode on horses, camels, and even elephants. The rich and famous chartered private planes and helicopters, while the less affluent came on foot carrying their bed rolls and camping equipment in heavy bundles on their heads. Wave after wave, they formed a veritable river of humanity that flowed onto the banks of the Ganges at Allahabad to celebrate the greatest spiritual festival ever held in the history of the world, the Kumbh Mela.
Kumbh Mela has gained international fame as "the world's most massive act of faith." Pilgrims come to this holy event with such tremendous faith and in such overwhelming numbers that it boggles the mind. Faith is the most important thing for the pilgrims at Kumbh Mela, they have an "unflinching trust in something sublime". To understand the significance of the Kumbh Mela and the important role that it plays in the spirituality of India, it is helpful to know something about the background of the sacred Ganges River. The devout believe that simply by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from their past sins (karma), and thus one becomes eligible for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Of course it is said that a pure lifestyle is also required after taking bath, otherwise one will again be burdened by karmic reactions .The pilgrims come from all walks of life, travelling long distances and tolerating many physical discomforts, such as sleeping in the open air in near freezing weather. They undergo these difficulties just to receive the benefit of taking a bath in the sacred river at Kumbh Mela.
This spectacle of faith has for many centuries attracted the curiosity of foreign travellers. Hiuen Tsiang of China, who lived during the seventh century, was the first to mention Kumbh Mela in his diary. He gave an eyewitness report that during the Hindu month of Magha (January-February) half a million people had gathered on the banks of the Ganges at Allahabad to observe a celebration for 75 days. The pilgrims, writes Hiuen Tsiang, assembled along with their king, his ministers, scholars, philosophers, and sages. He also reports that the king had distributed enormous quantities of gold, silver, and jewels in charity for the purpose of acquiring good merit and thus assuring his place in heaven.
In the eight century, Shankara, a prominent Indian saint, popularized the Kumbh Mela among the common people, and soon the attendance began to grow to enormous proportions. Shankara placed special importance to the opportunity of associating with saintly persons while at Kumbh Mela. Both hearing from sadhus (holy men) and sacred bathing are still the two main focus at Kumbh Mela. By 1977, the number of pilgrims attending Kumbh Mela had to risen to 15 million! By 1989, the attendance was in the range of 29 million-nearly double that of the previous record. Photographer David Osborn and I contributed to this year's record participation by spending seven austere weeks living in a tent on the banks of the Ganges, observing the Kumbh Mela with wonder and admiration.
The ancient origin of the Kumbh Mela is described in the time honoured Vedic literatures of India as having evolved from bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons produced the nectar of immortality.
The sages of old have related this story thus: once upon a time, the demigods and demons assembled together on the shore of the milk ocean which lies in a certain region of the cosmos. The demigods and demons desired to churn the ocean to produce the nectar of immortality, and agreed to share it afterwards. The Mandara Mountain was used as a churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the rope for churning. With the demigods at Vasuki's tail and the demons at his head, they churned the ocean for 1,000 years. A pot of nectar was eventually produced, and both the demigods and demons became anxious. The demigods, being fearful of what would happen if the demons drank their share of the nectar of immortality, stole away the pot and hid it in four places on the Earth: Prayag (Allahabad) Hardwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. At each of the hiding places a drop of immortal nectar spilled from the pot and landed on the earth. These four places are believed to have acquired mystical power, and festivals are regularly held at each, Allahabad being the largest and most important.
Besides the Ganges, there are also two other sacred rivers located at Allahabad, the Yamuna and the Sarashwati. The Yamuna, like the Ganges has its earthly origin in the Himalayas. The Sarashwati, however, is a mystical river which has no physical form. Its is believed that the Sarashwati exists only on the ethereal or spiritual plane and is not visible to the human eye. This holy river is mentioned many times in India's sacred texts such as the Mahabharata and is said to be present at Allahabad where it joins the Yamuna and the Ganges. This confluence of India's three most sacred rivers at Allahabad is called the sangam. The combined sanctity of the three holy rivers, coupled with the spiritual powers obtained from the pot of nectar of immortality, has earned Allahabad the rank of Tirthraja, the king of holy places. The main highlight for most pilgrims during a Kumbh Mela is the observance of a sacred bath at the sangam. It is said that a bath in either of the sacred rivers has purifying effects, but where the three rivers meet, the bather's purification is increased one hundred times. Furthermore, it is said that when one takes a bath at the sangam during the Kumbh Mela, the influence is one thousand times increased.
According to astrological calculations, the Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years and begins on Makar Sankranti, the day when the sun and moon enter Capricorn and Jupiter enters Aries. The astrological configuration on Makar Sankranti is called "Kumbh Snan-yoga" and is considered to be especially auspicious, as it is said that the passage from Earth to the higher planets is open at that time, thus allowing the soul to easily attain the celestial world. For such reasons it is understandable why the Kumbh Mela has become so popular among all classes of transcendentalists in India This year Makar Sankranti fell on January 14th and the Kumbh Mela began with all the pomp and glory for which it is famous. The temperature dropped to 35 degrees Fahrenheit on the evening of the 13th, but bathers were not to be discouraged. Just past midnight, thousands began to enter the confluence of the three rivers, immersing themselves in the icy cold water. Loud chanting of "Bolo Ganga Mai ki jai (all glory to Mother Ganga)" filled the clear night air as the pilgrims washed away their bad karma. They came away from the bathing area wrapped in blankets and shivering from the cold. But as quickly as they came out of the water, thousands more came in their wake. With continual chants of "Bolo Ganga Mai ki jai" they entered the waters. At dawn the sky reddened and the sun rose to reveal a crowd of five million enthusiasts slowly advancing towards the sangam. From the center of that mass of humanity came a marvellous procession announcing the official beginning of the Kumbh Mela. Bands played, people danced in jubilation, and colourful flags and banners flew above the crowd.
At the head of the procession were the nagas, India's famed naked holy men. These holy men engage themselves in renunciation of the world in search of equilibrium. They hope to escape the world's concomitant reactions and suffering by their austere practices such as complete celibacy and non-accumulation of material possessions. Thus they are known as liberationists. With matted locks of hair, their bodies covered in ashes, and their tridents (the symbol of a follower of Shiva) raised high, they descended upon the bathing area. Entering the water in a tumult, blowing conch shells and singing "Shiva ki jai, Ganga ki jai," they splashed the sacred waters upon each other and played just like children. Indeed, they are said to be the very children of the Ganges.
Next came the Vaisnava vairagis, the wandering mendicants who dedicate everything to Vishnu, the Sustainers. These saints live a life of service and complete dedication. Then came the innumerable other sects of ascetics dressed in saffron coloured cloth and carrying their staffs of renunciation. All the centuries gone by of India's spiritual evolution were simultaneously there together in the procession. Each in turn bathed in the sangam.
Several hours passed before the procession had finished. Then began the mass bathing of the pilgrims. From the high banks of the river one could see the dark blue water of the Yamuna mixing with the silver gray water of the Ganges. Bathers, immersed up to the waist, scooped up water with folded palms and offered it to heaven in a timeless gesture. Boatmen rowed their boats full of pilgrims to a small sandbar in the middle of the sangam which soon disappeared under a cloud of bathers. There was none to young or old for this occasion. A young mother sprinkled a few drops of the rivers' water over the head of her newborn baby, asking God to bless her child with a good life and prosperity. In another place an elderly couple eased themselves into the cold water. Some bathers made offerings of flowers, sweets, and coloured dyes to the sacred waters, while others offered Vedic hymns. The chanting of AUM - the supreme combination of letters - and Sanskrit mantras issued from the lips of every pilgrim. As night fell, thousands of campfires could be seen burning along the riverbanks. In the central festival area, gaily decorated pandals (large tents) accommodated the thousands who listened to some of India's most exalted gurus lecturing on spiritual and philosophical topics. In some pandals there were Indian drama and classical dance groups whose exotic costumes and performances attracted large audiences. In other pandals there were elaborate displays and dioramas illustrating the stories from India's ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. There was so much to see and do that there was never a dull moment. Some pilgrims prefer to come to the Kumbh Mela on the days of the big sacred baths like Makar Sankranti and then return home, while others prefer to set up camp and stay for the duration. This year at Kumbh Mela there was six scheduled days for important baths. Those who remained for the full 41 days of the festival and observe all the important baths are called kalpvasis.
This year the Indian government spent more than 8 million dollars on preliminary organization for the Kumbh Mela. According to national newspaper reports, arrangements provided 5,000 gallons of purified drinking water every minute;8,000 buses which shuttle pilgrims in and out of the festival area that spread over 3,00- acres; 16,000 outlets and 6,000 poles which provided electrical facilities; 6,000 sweepers and sanitation employees who worked around the clock to maintain health standards; 9 pontoon bridges which spanned the Ganges at intervals; 20,000 policemen, firemen, and the Indian National Guard who kept a constant vigil at checkpoints and with closed circuit TV guarded against traffic congestion and other possible outbreaks or disturbances; and 100 doctors and nurses on call at all times at medical assistance stations.
An entire city sprang up along the banks of the river during the Kumbh Mela complete with markets, hospitals, and even a tourist camp to accommodate visitors from foreign countries. The tourist camp informed me that they had sheltered over 1,000 visitors from abroad during the festivities, most being from Europe and South America. Some of these visitors from abroad had never been to India before. Others seemed as well acquainted with what was happening as did the Indians. In the market areas all the required necessities and luxuries of Kumbh Mela were for sale. In one place fruits and fresh vegetables were available. In another place wool blankets, which sold briskly, were piled in big stacks for easy selection. Along the main thoroughfares gypsies spread their wares which included different shapes and sizes of brass pots and bowls, beads for meditation, exotic perfumes, incense like kastori (musk) and chandan (sandalwood), and even tiger's claws set in gold. It was also interesting to note that all the food arrangements throughout the festival were vegetarian. There was not a trace f meant, fish or eggs to be found in any camp or in any public eating place. We learned that meat is strictly taboo amongst all types of transcendentalists in India.
For the novelty seekers there was also a wide selection of oddities in the market. For a rupee or two one could employ a snake charmer who, when playing on his pungi (snake charmer's flute) would make the cobras dance, swaying to and fro. It is a long standing belief that the cobra is charmed by the sound of the pungi. Having observed several of these performances , however, it was our conclusion that the snake charmer charms his audience rather than the snake.
Many palm readers and mystic soothsayers set up shop along the Ganges offering passers-by a look into the future. Astrology and palmistry are traditional sciences in India, but one could not help but think that some of these "mystics" were simply out to turn a fast rupee from a gullible public. No doubt that among the sincere and authentic spiritualists at Kumbh Mela there were also the cheaters and hence the cheated. Buyer beware.
The camel, a hardy beast of burden, used in India for centuries to transport cargo long distances and through difficult terrain, was the unsung hero of Kumbh Mela. Carrying heavy loads of firewood, tents, and foodstuffs on their raised backs these awkward creatures formed the very lifeline to the Kumbh Mela residents. In the soft sand, cars, trucks, and even horse carts often got stuck. But the camel was rugged and the goods always got through.
For everyone at Kumbh Mela, early mornings were the most austere time of day because it was always colder than at any other time. However, chilly sunrise is considered the most auspicious time of the day for spiritual practices. Every day at dawn , thousands arose early to bathe in the Ganges and return to their camps to change mantras and meditate. At the northern end of the festival grounds, cast against the still blue sky, stood a lone grass hut built upon sturdy stilts. This was the ashram of Devara Baba who, according to his followers, is more than 200 years old. Devara Baba is a lifelong vegetarian and celibate yogi. His admirers believe that his exceptional longevity is due to the fact that he only drinks and bathes in the Ganges, whose waters are considered very sacred. When we asked Devara Baba about his exact age, he replied, " I have lost count of the years. It has been a very long time."
Every morning and evening tens of thousands of pilgrims walked the two mile stretch along the Ganges to the ashram of Devara Baba with the hope that they might get a glimpse of this ancient sage. Much to their delight Devara Baba was always willing and even happy to accommodate them. Sitting on the veranda of his simple raised hut, the old sage relaxed in the warm rays of sunlight and blessed his visitors. Sometimes smiling or raising his hand in a gesture of grace Devara Baba radiated the aura of peacefulness. Some pilgrims brought offerings of fruits and flowers, while others came only with their prayers for blessings. It was our prayer to the sage that he allow us to take a few photographs, and in his usual gracious manner he consented. As prominent as Devara Baba was, we sensed that there were many great souls who went undetected in our midst. We photographed until we ran out of film and were left only with a feeling of helplessness. Kumbh Mela was indeed a magnificent and awesome encounter. It was impossible to capture the festival. Indeed, it was the festival that captured us. Words, film, print, and paper can not do justice to the event — it is one that has to be experienced personally.
HARI AUM
If you are planning to visit Kumbh Mela event, please email: DivineTravellers@gmail.com, our team of expert will come up with comfort tour itineraries.
They came by the millions! Some arrived on overcrowded trains carrying five times their normal capacity. Some came by bus, by car, some by ox drawn carts, and others rode on horses, camels, and even elephants. The rich and famous chartered private planes and helicopters, while the less affluent came on foot carrying their bed rolls and camping equipment in heavy bundles on their heads. Wave after wave, they formed a veritable river of humanity that flowed onto the banks of the Ganges at Allahabad to celebrate the greatest spiritual festival ever held in the history of the world, the Kumbh Mela.
Kumbh Mela has gained international fame as "the world's most massive act of faith." Pilgrims come to this holy event with such tremendous faith and in such overwhelming numbers that it boggles the mind. Faith is the most important thing for the pilgrims at Kumbh Mela, they have an "unflinching trust in something sublime". To understand the significance of the Kumbh Mela and the important role that it plays in the spirituality of India, it is helpful to know something about the background of the sacred Ganges River. The devout believe that simply by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from their past sins (karma), and thus one becomes eligible for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Of course it is said that a pure lifestyle is also required after taking bath, otherwise one will again be burdened by karmic reactions .The pilgrims come from all walks of life, travelling long distances and tolerating many physical discomforts, such as sleeping in the open air in near freezing weather. They undergo these difficulties just to receive the benefit of taking a bath in the sacred river at Kumbh Mela.
This spectacle of faith has for many centuries attracted the curiosity of foreign travellers. Hiuen Tsiang of China, who lived during the seventh century, was the first to mention Kumbh Mela in his diary. He gave an eyewitness report that during the Hindu month of Magha (January-February) half a million people had gathered on the banks of the Ganges at Allahabad to observe a celebration for 75 days. The pilgrims, writes Hiuen Tsiang, assembled along with their king, his ministers, scholars, philosophers, and sages. He also reports that the king had distributed enormous quantities of gold, silver, and jewels in charity for the purpose of acquiring good merit and thus assuring his place in heaven.
In the eight century, Shankara, a prominent Indian saint, popularized the Kumbh Mela among the common people, and soon the attendance began to grow to enormous proportions. Shankara placed special importance to the opportunity of associating with saintly persons while at Kumbh Mela. Both hearing from sadhus (holy men) and sacred bathing are still the two main focus at Kumbh Mela. By 1977, the number of pilgrims attending Kumbh Mela had to risen to 15 million! By 1989, the attendance was in the range of 29 million-nearly double that of the previous record. Photographer David Osborn and I contributed to this year's record participation by spending seven austere weeks living in a tent on the banks of the Ganges, observing the Kumbh Mela with wonder and admiration.
The ancient origin of the Kumbh Mela is described in the time honoured Vedic literatures of India as having evolved from bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons produced the nectar of immortality.
The sages of old have related this story thus: once upon a time, the demigods and demons assembled together on the shore of the milk ocean which lies in a certain region of the cosmos. The demigods and demons desired to churn the ocean to produce the nectar of immortality, and agreed to share it afterwards. The Mandara Mountain was used as a churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the rope for churning. With the demigods at Vasuki's tail and the demons at his head, they churned the ocean for 1,000 years. A pot of nectar was eventually produced, and both the demigods and demons became anxious. The demigods, being fearful of what would happen if the demons drank their share of the nectar of immortality, stole away the pot and hid it in four places on the Earth: Prayag (Allahabad) Hardwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. At each of the hiding places a drop of immortal nectar spilled from the pot and landed on the earth. These four places are believed to have acquired mystical power, and festivals are regularly held at each, Allahabad being the largest and most important.
Besides the Ganges, there are also two other sacred rivers located at Allahabad, the Yamuna and the Sarashwati. The Yamuna, like the Ganges has its earthly origin in the Himalayas. The Sarashwati, however, is a mystical river which has no physical form. Its is believed that the Sarashwati exists only on the ethereal or spiritual plane and is not visible to the human eye. This holy river is mentioned many times in India's sacred texts such as the Mahabharata and is said to be present at Allahabad where it joins the Yamuna and the Ganges. This confluence of India's three most sacred rivers at Allahabad is called the sangam. The combined sanctity of the three holy rivers, coupled with the spiritual powers obtained from the pot of nectar of immortality, has earned Allahabad the rank of Tirthraja, the king of holy places. The main highlight for most pilgrims during a Kumbh Mela is the observance of a sacred bath at the sangam. It is said that a bath in either of the sacred rivers has purifying effects, but where the three rivers meet, the bather's purification is increased one hundred times. Furthermore, it is said that when one takes a bath at the sangam during the Kumbh Mela, the influence is one thousand times increased.
According to astrological calculations, the Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years and begins on Makar Sankranti, the day when the sun and moon enter Capricorn and Jupiter enters Aries. The astrological configuration on Makar Sankranti is called "Kumbh Snan-yoga" and is considered to be especially auspicious, as it is said that the passage from Earth to the higher planets is open at that time, thus allowing the soul to easily attain the celestial world. For such reasons it is understandable why the Kumbh Mela has become so popular among all classes of transcendentalists in India This year Makar Sankranti fell on January 14th and the Kumbh Mela began with all the pomp and glory for which it is famous. The temperature dropped to 35 degrees Fahrenheit on the evening of the 13th, but bathers were not to be discouraged. Just past midnight, thousands began to enter the confluence of the three rivers, immersing themselves in the icy cold water. Loud chanting of "Bolo Ganga Mai ki jai (all glory to Mother Ganga)" filled the clear night air as the pilgrims washed away their bad karma. They came away from the bathing area wrapped in blankets and shivering from the cold. But as quickly as they came out of the water, thousands more came in their wake. With continual chants of "Bolo Ganga Mai ki jai" they entered the waters. At dawn the sky reddened and the sun rose to reveal a crowd of five million enthusiasts slowly advancing towards the sangam. From the center of that mass of humanity came a marvellous procession announcing the official beginning of the Kumbh Mela. Bands played, people danced in jubilation, and colourful flags and banners flew above the crowd.
At the head of the procession were the nagas, India's famed naked holy men. These holy men engage themselves in renunciation of the world in search of equilibrium. They hope to escape the world's concomitant reactions and suffering by their austere practices such as complete celibacy and non-accumulation of material possessions. Thus they are known as liberationists. With matted locks of hair, their bodies covered in ashes, and their tridents (the symbol of a follower of Shiva) raised high, they descended upon the bathing area. Entering the water in a tumult, blowing conch shells and singing "Shiva ki jai, Ganga ki jai," they splashed the sacred waters upon each other and played just like children. Indeed, they are said to be the very children of the Ganges.
Next came the Vaisnava vairagis, the wandering mendicants who dedicate everything to Vishnu, the Sustainers. These saints live a life of service and complete dedication. Then came the innumerable other sects of ascetics dressed in saffron coloured cloth and carrying their staffs of renunciation. All the centuries gone by of India's spiritual evolution were simultaneously there together in the procession. Each in turn bathed in the sangam.
Several hours passed before the procession had finished. Then began the mass bathing of the pilgrims. From the high banks of the river one could see the dark blue water of the Yamuna mixing with the silver gray water of the Ganges. Bathers, immersed up to the waist, scooped up water with folded palms and offered it to heaven in a timeless gesture. Boatmen rowed their boats full of pilgrims to a small sandbar in the middle of the sangam which soon disappeared under a cloud of bathers. There was none to young or old for this occasion. A young mother sprinkled a few drops of the rivers' water over the head of her newborn baby, asking God to bless her child with a good life and prosperity. In another place an elderly couple eased themselves into the cold water. Some bathers made offerings of flowers, sweets, and coloured dyes to the sacred waters, while others offered Vedic hymns. The chanting of AUM - the supreme combination of letters - and Sanskrit mantras issued from the lips of every pilgrim. As night fell, thousands of campfires could be seen burning along the riverbanks. In the central festival area, gaily decorated pandals (large tents) accommodated the thousands who listened to some of India's most exalted gurus lecturing on spiritual and philosophical topics. In some pandals there were Indian drama and classical dance groups whose exotic costumes and performances attracted large audiences. In other pandals there were elaborate displays and dioramas illustrating the stories from India's ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. There was so much to see and do that there was never a dull moment. Some pilgrims prefer to come to the Kumbh Mela on the days of the big sacred baths like Makar Sankranti and then return home, while others prefer to set up camp and stay for the duration. This year at Kumbh Mela there was six scheduled days for important baths. Those who remained for the full 41 days of the festival and observe all the important baths are called kalpvasis.
This year the Indian government spent more than 8 million dollars on preliminary organization for the Kumbh Mela. According to national newspaper reports, arrangements provided 5,000 gallons of purified drinking water every minute;8,000 buses which shuttle pilgrims in and out of the festival area that spread over 3,00- acres; 16,000 outlets and 6,000 poles which provided electrical facilities; 6,000 sweepers and sanitation employees who worked around the clock to maintain health standards; 9 pontoon bridges which spanned the Ganges at intervals; 20,000 policemen, firemen, and the Indian National Guard who kept a constant vigil at checkpoints and with closed circuit TV guarded against traffic congestion and other possible outbreaks or disturbances; and 100 doctors and nurses on call at all times at medical assistance stations.
An entire city sprang up along the banks of the river during the Kumbh Mela complete with markets, hospitals, and even a tourist camp to accommodate visitors from foreign countries. The tourist camp informed me that they had sheltered over 1,000 visitors from abroad during the festivities, most being from Europe and South America. Some of these visitors from abroad had never been to India before. Others seemed as well acquainted with what was happening as did the Indians. In the market areas all the required necessities and luxuries of Kumbh Mela were for sale. In one place fruits and fresh vegetables were available. In another place wool blankets, which sold briskly, were piled in big stacks for easy selection. Along the main thoroughfares gypsies spread their wares which included different shapes and sizes of brass pots and bowls, beads for meditation, exotic perfumes, incense like kastori (musk) and chandan (sandalwood), and even tiger's claws set in gold. It was also interesting to note that all the food arrangements throughout the festival were vegetarian. There was not a trace f meant, fish or eggs to be found in any camp or in any public eating place. We learned that meat is strictly taboo amongst all types of transcendentalists in India.
For the novelty seekers there was also a wide selection of oddities in the market. For a rupee or two one could employ a snake charmer who, when playing on his pungi (snake charmer's flute) would make the cobras dance, swaying to and fro. It is a long standing belief that the cobra is charmed by the sound of the pungi. Having observed several of these performances , however, it was our conclusion that the snake charmer charms his audience rather than the snake.
Many palm readers and mystic soothsayers set up shop along the Ganges offering passers-by a look into the future. Astrology and palmistry are traditional sciences in India, but one could not help but think that some of these "mystics" were simply out to turn a fast rupee from a gullible public. No doubt that among the sincere and authentic spiritualists at Kumbh Mela there were also the cheaters and hence the cheated. Buyer beware.
The camel, a hardy beast of burden, used in India for centuries to transport cargo long distances and through difficult terrain, was the unsung hero of Kumbh Mela. Carrying heavy loads of firewood, tents, and foodstuffs on their raised backs these awkward creatures formed the very lifeline to the Kumbh Mela residents. In the soft sand, cars, trucks, and even horse carts often got stuck. But the camel was rugged and the goods always got through.
For everyone at Kumbh Mela, early mornings were the most austere time of day because it was always colder than at any other time. However, chilly sunrise is considered the most auspicious time of the day for spiritual practices. Every day at dawn , thousands arose early to bathe in the Ganges and return to their camps to change mantras and meditate. At the northern end of the festival grounds, cast against the still blue sky, stood a lone grass hut built upon sturdy stilts. This was the ashram of Devara Baba who, according to his followers, is more than 200 years old. Devara Baba is a lifelong vegetarian and celibate yogi. His admirers believe that his exceptional longevity is due to the fact that he only drinks and bathes in the Ganges, whose waters are considered very sacred. When we asked Devara Baba about his exact age, he replied, " I have lost count of the years. It has been a very long time."
Every morning and evening tens of thousands of pilgrims walked the two mile stretch along the Ganges to the ashram of Devara Baba with the hope that they might get a glimpse of this ancient sage. Much to their delight Devara Baba was always willing and even happy to accommodate them. Sitting on the veranda of his simple raised hut, the old sage relaxed in the warm rays of sunlight and blessed his visitors. Sometimes smiling or raising his hand in a gesture of grace Devara Baba radiated the aura of peacefulness. Some pilgrims brought offerings of fruits and flowers, while others came only with their prayers for blessings. It was our prayer to the sage that he allow us to take a few photographs, and in his usual gracious manner he consented. As prominent as Devara Baba was, we sensed that there were many great souls who went undetected in our midst. We photographed until we ran out of film and were left only with a feeling of helplessness. Kumbh Mela was indeed a magnificent and awesome encounter. It was impossible to capture the festival. Indeed, it was the festival that captured us. Words, film, print, and paper can not do justice to the event — it is one that has to be experienced personally.
HARI AUM
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Badrinath temple to reopen on May 19, 2010
The portals of Badrinath temple, situated in Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 3,133 metres, would be reopened on May 19, a senior official said on Wednesday.
On the occasion of Basant Panchami, the date of reopening of the temple was announced at Narendra Nagar palace by the Raj Purohit in presence of Boland Badri Maharaja Manujendra Shah, the official said.
“The Badrinath temple will be reopened on May 19 at 8.05 a.m.,” said Surat Ram Nautiyal, Vice-Chairman of the Chardham Development Council.
The portals of Badrinath shrine were closed for the winter period on November 19 during which the idols of Lord Badri, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, were carried to Narsimha Mandir in Joshimath area for the wintry sojourn.
Article courtesy: beta.thehindu.com
If you are thinking to visit Divine Lord Badri, please do not hesitate to give us a chance to make your dream fulfill with our experienced team at www.DivineTravellers.com, you can send your e-mail at myyatra@divinetravellers.com.
On the occasion of Basant Panchami, the date of reopening of the temple was announced at Narendra Nagar palace by the Raj Purohit in presence of Boland Badri Maharaja Manujendra Shah, the official said.
“The Badrinath temple will be reopened on May 19 at 8.05 a.m.,” said Surat Ram Nautiyal, Vice-Chairman of the Chardham Development Council.
The portals of Badrinath shrine were closed for the winter period on November 19 during which the idols of Lord Badri, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, were carried to Narsimha Mandir in Joshimath area for the wintry sojourn.
Article courtesy: beta.thehindu.com
If you are thinking to visit Divine Lord Badri, please do not hesitate to give us a chance to make your dream fulfill with our experienced team at www.DivineTravellers.com, you can send your e-mail at myyatra@divinetravellers.com.
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