Maha Kumbh Mela - A Sacred Convergence

MAHA KUMBH MELA

Apart from the Purna Kumbha Mela which takes place once in twelve years at these four places, there is the Maha Kumbh Mela which is held only in Prayagraj. It is celebrated once in 144 years or after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas are completed.

This year 2025 The Maha Kumbh Mela is taking place at Prayagraj. The government is taking great interest in this and giving all conveniences to the guests and participants. It will be a unique event, unheard of in any country where millions flock to one place in order to get spiritual merit. All those who can make a visit to Prayag Raj during this month-long period should make the effort.

The Maha Kumbh Mela takes place only in Prayag Raj at the Triveni Sangam in which the rivers, Ganga and Yamuna meet with the Saraswati which comes as an underground river. This unique confluence of the three most sacred rivers of Bharat is known as the Triveni Sangam and possesses tremendous spiritual energy making it the unique site for this festival. This is surely the world’s largest religious congregation. This is not just another religious event but a testimonial to the rich spiritual heritage of this ancient country.

As I have mentioned many times every festival and ritual in Hinduism has a scientific reason. Let us search for the scientific reason behind this incredible festival.

As you know our bodies are made up of 72% water and the earth is also made up of 72% water. So, the water element is the most important part of our physical make up. So, it a special part of our culture that we are all urged to make use of the great rivers of our country and take a dip whenever we can do it. This is supposed to enhance the power of the water element in our bodies. The Kumbh makes use of the confluence of our main rivers at certain points in the country. At the confluence of these great rivers, at these specific places, a kind of vortex is created where there is a terrific outburst of spiritual energy. This is specially enhanced on particular dates on which certain planetary configurations take place. This was fully understood by our ancient rishis who were great astronomers and astrologers. They wanted everyone in this country to benefit from this special influx of spiritual power and hence they made a festival in which everyone could come and take a dip at that spiritually enhanced time and place so that everyone had a chance to get a spurt in their spiritual evolution even though they did not understand the science behind it.

Hence, we find that literally millions of people from all over the country come pouring into these particular places at the specified times in order to benefit from it. Poor villagers save up money for years in order to go for the dip. In olden days they would walk for miles or come on bullock carts in order to have a dip at that particular place at the particular time which was considered to be astronomically significant. The date is chosen to maximise the power one can get from taking a dip on that particular date and time in which the sun, moon and Jupiter are aligned. Every villager knows that a “snan” or bath at that particular place, at that particular time is conducive to moksha or liberation. Can you imagine the faith of millions of Indians who are inspired with that one supreme goal in life which is to attain liberation from these mortal coils. Can you find any culture anywhere on the earth which has put the attainment of enlightenment and liberation above all other considerations!!! This is the only country which has spent so much of time and effort in trying to discover a mystery beyond this earth. This is not just a belief but it is the experience of our great sages - the rishis who spent years of time and effort in order to make those who came after them to understand about the existence of such a life and reach that state in this very lifetime. This was their direct experience, which out of their great compassion for humanity, they endeavoured to make everyone else experience.

Actually, they have given us many methods known as “yogas”. These “yogas” might be too difficult for ordinary people so they also gave us festivals and rituals which would benefit everyone even though they might not actually appreciate the scientific significance. The Kumbh Mela is one such amazing festival in which the month-long period during which the festival takes place, is divided into certain dates on which, what is known as “sacred snans” or “dips in the sangam” take place which depend on various planetary positions. This knowledge has been ingrained into our culture so that even to this day every villager knows that by immersing oneself in these holy waters at these specific times one can cleanse oneself of all our sins, liberate both ourselves and our ancestors from the cycle of mundane existence and attain moksha!

Many great gurus and their disciples from all over Bharat participate in this unique even and set up their own akkaras (religious orders) and ashrams along the huge campus near the Triveni sangam (confluence).

The first bath is led by a procession of the various saints from different “akharas” or monastical orders. It is known as Shahi Snan or Raja Yogi Snan. This year, 2025, it will take place on the 13^th January which is called the Paush Purnima Snan or the bath on the full moon day of the month of Paush. This day marks the start of Kalpavasa which is a period of intense spiritual practice and devotion for the pilgrims.

The next bath will be on the 14^th January, which is Makara Sankranti. This is the day on which Dakshinayanam ends and Uttarayanam starts. This marks the sun’s transition from Cancer to Capricorn. This is one of the highlights of the Kumbh and marks the commencement of the event. Since so many of the great gurus and yogis take bath at the same time, the people who take a dip on that day will get the added benefit of their presence. The whole event will end on February 26^th on Maha Shivaratri. Of course, it is considered sacred to take baths on any of the days during this period - starting from Paush Purnima to Maha Shivaratri. However specific dates have special significance due to the conjunction of the planets as mentioned before. On these dates we can also see and participate in magnificent processions of different “akkaras” of gurus and famous ashrams. All of them set up their own ashrams with tents and so on where the gurus will give lectures. They also vie with each other to provide food for any pilgrim who comes so that there is never a dearth of food for even the poorest pilgrim.

The next bath is on January 29^th known as Maouni Amavasya which is considered to be another most sacred day for a holy dip. Largest gatherings are seen on this day.

Next important date is February 3^rd – Vasant Panchami or the 1^st day of Spring.

Then comes Magh Pournami on February 12^th. This is the second full moon of the event which is again considered to be very auspicious. As we can see many of the baths coincide with the phases of the moon – full moon and new moon being the most powerful. In fact, most of our festivals coincide with some phase of the moon since the moon is the planet which is closest to us and hence has greatest effect on us.

The final snan is on February 26^th which is Maha Shivaratri. The Royal bath on that day signals the conclusion of this incredible event.

On every snan there will be the royal procession of the akharas or monastic orders each representing a different discipline. The procession will consist of ascetics, saints and sadhus. The procession is normally led by the “naga babas” or naked sadhus, known for their extremely austere lifestyle. Covered only with sacred ash and adorned with huge rudraksha malas and garlands, they march with great poise, carrying tridents and banners symbolising their order. They are accompanied by drummers with their rhythmic beats and devotional chants which set the atmosphere for the whole incredible event. After, the royal bath of the saints, processions are led by various leading ashrams from all the holy cities of Bharat like Rishikesh and Haridwar etc. It is said that many sages who live in the heights of the Himalayas who are never visible to the ordinary human eye come down for this sacred event. They hardly ever show themselves to others but their presence can be felt in the vibrations of this amazing place. It is only after this that everyone else is given permission to dip in the holy sangam.

It is believed that those who take a dip in the Triveni Sangam on those particular times, are eternally blessed.

I had the great good fortune to participate in the Purna Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 1986. It was a most memorable experience as can be imagined. In those days there was not so much of protocol and rules and anyone could go and take a place on the banks of the Ganga so as to be the first to take a dip at the auspicious time (muhurtam). At the correct time the priests would blow conchs and all those who were fortunate to be there would jump into the river. The most auspicious place for this in Haridwar was Hari ki Pauri where the elixir had fallen. There were no policemen or cordons or bridges at that time. We could take our places where we wished. I and my brother and another American friend caught our places the previous evening on the banks exactly at the place which was supposed to be most holy at Hari Ki Pauri. Even though it was summer, nights were really cold on the river banks. We sang kirtans and bhajans throughout the night and waited for dawn to break over the river. At about 3 am the sound of the conch jolted us out of the lethargy that had fallen over us. It was the auspicious moment. All of us jumped into the icy waters and felt the ambrosia flowing over our heads washing away the accumulated sins of many births. I’ve never had this good fortune again since now the place is normally blocked and bristling with police and guards. Of course, nobody is allowed to sit at that particular spot any more. I can only be grateful to Vanamali for having given me that magic moment at least once in this lifetime!

I have also had a memorable experience at Prayagraj. The Mela grounds covered many square metres and we had to walk for miles behind a huge procession which was coiling its way to the Triveni Sangam which was the confluence of the three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Of course, we did not reach there exactly at the auspicious time when the conch blew but we did have an exhilarating dip along with hundreds of other devotees just as the sun was rising on the eastern horizon. Again, an unforgettable experience! This was the time I had the good fortune to mee the famous Pilot Baba.

I had one more experience at Prayagraj for the Magh Mela (mini kumbh). We were staying with the Sacha Dham ashram at that time. We went in their boat in the wee hours of the morning towards the Triveni Sangam (confluence of the three rivers). All the while we were chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama and singing bhajans. Again, it was an incredible experience-jumping into the icy waters of the sangam from the boat!

After that I have been many times to Haridwar for the Kumbh and met many saints but I don’t think there has ever been an occasion as memorable as the first one! I realise that it is only by the great grace of God that one can have such experiences.

I strongly urge all those who are young and healthy to make use of this unique opportunity and make a visit to Prayag Raj during this period. The experience will definitely be worth the effort.

Hari Aum Tat Sat!