Religious significance of the All Bharat Kumbha Mela

Kumbha Mela Prayagraj 2019

A series doing a live presentation of the
Kumbha Mela with news reports : Kumbha Darshan

This special series of articles titled ‘Kumbha Darshan’ has been created to commemorate the Kumbha Mela. Through it we will make an attempt to give our readers its entire spectrum through pictures and special importance This will make our readers understand the extraordinary nature of the Hindu Dharma and the necessity to perform spiritual practice. During the auspicious period of the Kumbha Mela Hindus should make a resolve (sankalp) to undertake spiritual practice because it is this alone which will certainly ferry them across in the upcoming adverse times.

1.Endowing merit

Since the Kumbha Mela is merit endowing if one bathes at Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain or Trimbakeshwar-Nasik at that time, it endows infinite merit. That is precisely why millions of devotees and ascetics gather there.

A. ‘During the Kumbha Mela different Deities, Matrukas (Divine Mothers), Yakshas (demi-gods), Gandharvas (celestial singers) and Kinnars (celestial musicians) remain active in the atmosphere of the earth. By performing spiritual practice devotees receive blessings from all of them and the target is achieved within a shorter time.

B. The Kumbha Mela occurs in the purview of rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari and Kshipra. Since at that time several Deities, meritorious souls, Sages and inferior messengers are awakened, along with their blessing, assistance is also received from them.

C. During this period accomplishing merit is infinite times more than at other times. The action too is conducive to the karma while the action gets the support of the karma.

D. As during the Kumbha Mela the frequencuies of merit travel all over, man’s mind gets purified and through his thoughts his actions too become fruitful; that is both the action and the karma become pure.’

– A scholar (Writings of Sadguru (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil are published under the pseudonym of ‘A scholar’)

2. Expiating sin

As bathing in sacred places of pilgrimage cleanses sins many devotees bathe at seats of the Kumbha to achieve this.

3. Bathing in river Ganga

During this Kumbha Mela the Ganga remains in Her hidden form in the places of pilgrimage of Prayag (Ganga), Haridwar (Ganga), Ujjain (Kshipra) and Trimbakeshwar-Nasik (Godavari). As during the Kumbha Mela bathing in the Ganga is of spiritual significance  devotees and Saints bathe there.

The fruit of bathing in the Holy rivers during the Kumbha Mela is equivalent to the merit derived from performing 1000 Ashwamedha fire sacrifices, 100 Vajpay aand 1 lakh circumambulations around the earth. A ritualistic bath at the Kumbha is also equivalent to 1000 baths in the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, 100 baths in the month of Magh and 1 million baths in the month of Vaishakh, in River Narmada.

3A. Reasons for Holy men bathing in the Ganga during the Kumbha Mela 

During the Kumbha Mela Holy men bathe in it to cleanse it of the sins of others who have bathed there, with their energy.

3B. Mutual relationship between Seats of the Kumbha and River Ganga

1. Kumbha Melas at Prayag and Haridwar are held on the banks of River Ganga.

2. The Kumbha Mela at Trimbakeshwar-Nasik is held on the banks of River Godavari. Sage Gautam brought the Ganga to Trimbakeshwar-Nasik in the name of Godavari. The Brahma Puran states that the Ganga which lies beyond the Vindhya mountain is Gautami (Godavari).

3. The Kumbha Mela at Ujjain is held on the banks of River Kshipra. Where this sacred river flowing in the north moves eastwards, in the ancient time it has a confluence with River Ganga.. Today a Shivalinga named Ganeshwar lies there. In the Skanda Puran too River Kshipra is considered as the Ganga.

Thus the history of all seats of the Kumbha is associated with River Ganga.

3C. Due to bathing in the flowing water at the
Kumbha Mela Divine energy flows into the physical body

The Kumbha Parva is associated with astronomy and geology.  Planetary positions during the Kumbha Mela generate energy of science which during the Kumbha mela charges the flowing water. By bathing in the flow of such a river with mere touch of that water Divine Energy starts flowing through your physical body.

4. Offering unto ancestors  (pitrutarpan)

The Ganga is meant basically to liberate ancestors. Hence at the Kumbha Mela along with ritualistic bathing in the Ganga Scriptures advise that offerings be made unto deceased ancestors.

5. Holy company of Saints

Shankaracharyas belonging to different peethas (schools), ascetics from thirteen akhadas, Mahamandaleshwars, Shaiva and Vaishanav sects, scholars, renunciants, and Saints from all over Bharat come together. Thus it assumes the form of a vast Divine congregation of Saints from all over Bharat. For devotees this is the greatest opportunity to enjoy the Holy company of Saints.

(Reference : Sanatan’s Holy text titled Greatness of the Kumbha Parva (including the places of pilgrimage for the Kumbha Parva and special features of Kumbha Melas.)

दर्शनात्तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसङ्कीतर्र्नादपि ।

मृत्तिकालम्भनाद्वापि नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥

–       Matsya Puran, Chapter 104, Shloka (Holy verse) 1

Meaning : Darshan (paying respects) to, chanting in or touching the soil of the king of places of pilgrimage, Prayag cleanses man of his sins.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat