Published on February 21st, 2013 | by Anusuya Suresh
With prayers on their lips and faith in their hearts, lakhs of devout pilgrims head to the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad. While some of them stay at hotels in Allahabad, others put up camp at some nearby place, coming to the mela area for the snaan and satsang. A sense of religious fervour pervades the celebrations at all the 4 places where the Kumbh Mela is held ? Nashik, Ujjain, Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad). However, there is something palpably different about the mela at Prayag, also known as the Purna Kumbh. Here are 5 little-known aspects of the Kumbh Mela.
1. Significance of Kumbh Mela at Prayag
Of all the four locations, the Kumbh Mela at Prayag is considered special, always drawing the greatest number of pilgrims. Why so? ?Prayag? means the place of purification and this refers to the incident when Lord Brahma (the Creator in the Hindu pantheon) performed a ritualistic sacrifice or yajna at this place during the process of creation, in order to purify the atmosphere. Even today, amidst all the din of the mela, pilgrims find an expression of deep inner peace, lending credence to this belief.
2. Triveni Sangam ? Which is the third river?
Prayag is also revered because it is located at the confluence of three of the most sacred Indian rivers ?Yamuna, Ganga and Saraswati ? giving it the name of ?Triveni Sangam.? While the Yamuna and the Ganga are visible to the eye, the Saraswati is considered a mystical entity who makes her presence felt at Prayag, where she joins the other two rivers. In fact, research studies by the Indian Space Research Organization located at Jodhpur and the Ground Water Department of Rajasthan have found through satellite images that there was indeed a drainage system matching the description of the course of the river Saraswati mentioned in the Vedas. In all the other places where the Kumbh Mela is held, there is just one river ? Godavari in Nashik, Shipra in Ujjain and Ganga in Haridwar; the confluence of three holy rivers is what makes the Kumbh at Prayag the most special.
3. Why once in 12 years?
The Kumbh Mela at Prayag, like the current one in 2013 is called the Purna Kumbh and it is held once in 12 years. What is the significance of the number 12? The scriptures say that an entire human year is equivalent to a single day and night for the deities. The great war between the deities and the demons that resulted in the churning of the ocean to bring out the pot of nectar went on for 12 days and nights. In human time, this equals 12 years and this is the reason why the Purna Kumbh is celebrated once in 12 years.
4. No Non-Veg Food and Alcohol Served at Kumbh Mela
Anywhere within the perimeter of the Kumbh Mela, you can find a variety of food showcasing cuisine from around the country. However, there is a rider ? no non-vegetarian food or alcoholic drinks are served. In fact, at many places you are likely to find that even onion and garlic have been omitted from the cooking; all this is designed to keep the diet as ?sattvik? or positive as possible, as mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.
5. Bathing at Sangam
Scientists studying Ganga water have found it does not support the growth of mosquitoes, cholera germs and several other harmful bacteria. Many of them believe that there is some material present in the Ganga that kills pathogens and also keeps the oxygen content high.
A ritualistic bath in the waters of the three rivers is considered to have the power to wash away all sins and liberate the bather from the unceasing cycle of birth and death.
This year, this ritual has also attempted to wash away the evil of social inequality ? on February 10th, 2013, several dalit scavengers bathed along with people of the priestly class during the Kumbh, hopefully, paving the path for a more equal society.
Described variously as ?the world?s most massive act of faith? and ?the greatest tented city in the world that is built for just 56 days,? the atmosphere at Kumbh Mela at Allahabad is something that just cannot be described in words. The best way to understand it is to stay at one of these hotels in Allahabad, and experience it yourself, with the ritualistic snaan and satsang that help pilgrims achieve that elusive inner peace and calm amidst all the outer commotion.
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Photo Credit : Shreyank Gupta?via cc
About the Author
Anusuya Suresh : A postgraduate in Pharmacy, Anusuya Suresh has over 12 years of experience in teaching. She currently teaches at Bangalore and has authored a textbook that deals with the subject of plant-based medicines and Indian systems of medicine. Armed with a working knowledge of graphology (handwriting analysis) and trained as a life skills educator, she works on her own initiative to develop innovative workshops on personality development for her students. She is an articulate and entertaining speaker on topics such as Herbal Medicines, Personality Development, Stress Management, Spiritual Practice and Emotional Intelligence. She is also a freelance writer on topics ranging from health, travel and parenting to relationships, self-improvement and spirituality.
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