India is a land of diversity whether it is culture, religion, language, festivals, food or way of dressing. Due to so much diversity and cultural heritage, there are so many festivals to celebrate. Kumbh Mela is also one of the traditions from our rich cultural heritage. It has not only religious significance but also social impact. Declared as “Intangible Cultural Heritage” by Unesco, Kumbh Mela is the largest human congregation on Earth.
Kumbh Mela Meaning
Kumbh means ‘pot’ and pot is used to hold water. Water is life and flow of water shows the way to lead life. According to Hindu mythology, Kumbh means the pot of nectar and the places where nectar dropped Hindus celebrate Kumbh Mela.
Kumbh Mela means Pot/Pitcher festival and it is celebrated by performing a bathing ritual at the confluence of 3 sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and mystical Saraswati known as Sangam. According to Hindu mythology, taking a dip in Sangam at Prayagraj in the auspicious month of Magh will cleanse their souls and lead to salvation. This festival is 55 days long, but there are 3 most auspicious days:
Makar Sankranti
This day marks the first day of auspicious month Magh and it is dedicated to Sun god. Astronomically Sun enters in Capricorn as per Hindu Calendar and winter ends and days start to become longer onwards. On this day, taking a dip in Sangam results in the absolution of past sins of a person and his/her ancestors, according to Hindu mythology.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th or 15th Jan as per astronomical positions of the sun. This day Hindus pray to the sun god and offer him khichdi(mix of pulses and rice), jaggery, til and donate money to priests(pundits) and poor. Snan on this day is known as first royal bath(shahi snan or Rajyogi snan) day. Sadhus take a dip in Sangam at sunrise time, after their bath other Akhada saints take bath and in the last general public performs bathing ritual and pooja at Sangam. There are 7 important rivers mentioned in Hindus sacred text for auspicious day snan and puja(bath and prayer), these are:
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥
Gange Ca Yamune Caiva Godaavari Sarasvati |
Narmade Sindhu Kaaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru ||
Meaning: O Holy Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and also Godavari, Saraswati …
Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri; Please be Present in this Water near me (and make it Holy).
Mauni Amavasya
Mauni means maun or absolute silence and Amavasya means to live together, combinedly it means coexisting with absolute silence. Humans have to free their mind completely with all the flickering thoughts and there should be absolute silence and this ritual is known as Maun Vrat. Hindus do this vrat (fasting) in Magh month. In Bhagwad Gita, Krishna says that it’s very difficult to control the mind but only by absolute silence and detachment you can control it. some verses of Gita are as following:
Ch6 verse 34: Arjuna asks
चञ्चलं हि मन: कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् |
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् || 34||
chañchalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛiṣhṇa pramāthi balavad dṛiḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣhkaram
Meaning: The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate, O Krishna. It appears to me that it is more difficult to control than the wind.
Ch6 verse35: Lord Krishna Replied
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् |
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || 35||
Asamsayam mahabaho mano durnigraham calam
Abhyasena to kaunteya vairagyena ca grhyate.”
Meaning: “Doubtless O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and hard to control but by practice and non-attachment, O son of Kunti, it can be controlled.”
Ch2 verse56:
दु:खेष्वनुद्विग्नमना: सुखेषु विगतस्पृह: |
वीतरागभयक्रोध: स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते || 56||
duḥkheṣhv-anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣhu vigata-spṛihaḥ
vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ sthita-dhīr munir uchyate
Meaning: One whose mind remains undisturbed amidst misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom
According to Vedic astrology, the Moon controls the mind. On Mauni Amavasya moon is absent so the mind is unstable and restless so humans should do maun vrat by remaining silent that day. On this day Hindus perform following rituals:
- Taking a dip in Sangam or in any 1 of the sacred 7 rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri. As per the belief, the water of these sacred rivers becomes Nectar on this auspicious day.
- Offer puja to ancestors(pitra puja).
- Meditation and fasting and donation to priest and poor.
Vasant Panchami
This day marks the arrival of Spring season and is dedicated to the goddess Saraswati. Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and wisdom. Hindus take a dip in Sangam and wear yellow clothes and offer prayer to her.
There are 3 other auspicious dates for royal bath also: Paush Poornima, Magh Poornima, and Mahashivratri.
All the 6 days are known as Shahi Snan Or Royal Bath days on which, first dip will be taken by Naga Sadhus after them other Akhadas and Sadhus will take a dip and offer prayers and in Last General public will get to perform the bathing ritual at Sangam.
So Kumbh Mela is not only performing bathing rituals at Sangam, but also it insists on the confluence of Wisdom, Silence, and Enlightenment. Human Soul can be enlighted through knowledge and wisdom and then mind attains absolute silence. This is the transition of the soul into the god( Aatma ka Parmatma se milan)
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