Krishna Dharajiya Famously known as ‘Bhavnath no Melo’ or Bhavnath Fair, is a festival that celebrates devotion towards Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri in lap of prideful Mount Girnar where the famed Bhavnath Mahadev temple stands, in Junagadh city of Gujarat. This fair is assumed as Mini Kumbh Mela, where Naga Sadhus bathe in holy mrugikund.
Main attraction of Bhavnath Fair is presence of Nagas (naked sages), throughout five days of festival and their procession at night of Mahashivratri.
Day of Holding Fair
The fair starts on Magh Vad -Navmi as per Hindu calendar and usually falls in month of February or March as per western calendar. Bhavnath Fair lasts for 5 days and witnesses a huge gathering of people from all over India as well as world.
Bhavnath Fair is a holy place for “Alakh na Aaraadhak’ (devotees of Universe) where saints and common people gather too. It stands very much next to Kumbh Mela significantly. A place with intense spiritual energy, Bhavnath fair makes you feel the celebration of Divinity and Universal Life Force.
Dates of Bhavnath Fair – Year 2021
As per Hindu Calendar, prescribed tithis for organizing Bhavnath fair falls as below:
Dates: 25-02-2022 to 01-03-2022
Ancient History of Bhavnath Fair
Bhavnath Fair has been a place of sadhu gatherings for hundreds of years. Girnar is abode of Navnath and 84 Siddhas. It is heaven for saints and house for yogis. Girnar is a place of supreme solace for all – especially for those who are dispassionate towards worldly affairs..!
It is said that Lord Shiva himself attends this fair….! Mythological history of two important place is connected with this fair, Bhavnath Mahadev and Mrugikund.
Story of Bhavnath Mahadev
Once Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra appeared in form of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Shiva was in samadhi into water at time of cataclysm. A dispute arose between Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra over who is most important and great among themselves. At that time Shiva interfered and ended the conflict by giving task of origin to Brahma, nurture to Vishnu and destruction to Rudra. Lord Brahma, father of the world requested Lord Shiva to stay on earth and give happiness to world. So Lord Shiva looked at earth and saw a mountain (Girnar) adorned with forests and came to open land of Girnar.
Contrary on other side, Mata Parvati found Lord Shiva missing from Kailash and started searching for him. Ultimately She came to know that other deities have send him to earth. She became furious and took seat on mount Girnar. Lord Shiva found that her consort with other gods have settled on mount, so he established himself in form of Bhavnath Mahadev in foothills of Girnar. The day Lord Shiva appeared as Bhavanath was the day of Vaishakh Sud Purnima. Mata Parvati lived as Ambika on Mount Girnar and Lord Vishnu as Damodar in Damodar Kund. Other Deities, Yakshas and Gandharvas made different places of Girnar as their abode.
Story of Mrugikund
Mrugikund, which is next to Bhavnath Mahadev, has a wonderful story too. According to folklore, one day attendant of King Bhoja of Kanyakubja city informed him about a woman with a human body wanders in herd of deer in forest of Revatachal (ancient name of Girnar). It jumps like a deer. Her face is like of a deer while rest of the body is of a woman. King bought this new animal to his palace, after days of hard work. He then urged the Pandits to resolve this difference. As the Scholars were unable to find a way for, King Bhoja went to a sage named Urdhvareta who was doing penance in Kurukshetra.
The ascended sage gave human tongue to that bizarre being so that it can speak of its previous birth. The deer headed woman immediately replies that in previous birth she was a deer. Once a lion chased her for hunt. So she ran away. But in hurry, her head stick to bamboo bush while rest of the body fell into water of river Suvarnarekha. As a part of miracle, she got birth of human being by falling into the holy waters of river. But as her head stick to the bush, she got face of deer in her present birth.
Raja Bhoj inquired as per orders of the ascending sage. And surprisingly, they saw a deer skull in the bush on the same place. They threw it into waters of Suvarnarekha river. Immediately, whole body of the bizzare reforms into human body again. King Bhoj married her by getting blessings of scholars. Then, following his wife’s suggestion, the king built a tank at the foot of Revatachal (Girnar).That tank is the present age Mrugikund.
Naga Sadhus in Bhavnath Fair
The main attraction of Bhavnath’s fair is procession of Nagasadhus on night of MahaShivratri. During the fair, the Nagabavas, who live in different places of their sects, arrive at their respective arenas in Junagadh.
According to local experts, Nagasadhus from places like Kashi, Haridwar, Nasik, Trambak and Nepal who have been undergoing intense penance all year round come to bhavnath in Shivratri and provide “darshan” to their devotees.
The Nagasadhus, who never apper in public in general, surely visits Junagadh on MahaShivratri…! There is also a very popular ritual practiced by Naga sages of performing martial art or holy dance on Mahashivratri night.
Schedule of Bhavnath Fair
The fair is inaugurated by hoisting flag at Bhavnath Mahadev Temple. It is the time, when monks and saints of different sects from locality and abroad gather. Also, people flock to experience this Divine Moment at foothills of Girnar…!
The fair commences with a procession made by Naga sages seated on back of the elephant and heading temple of Bhavnath Mahadev. They blow thungis, conch shells, call out name of the lord and wave flags as they move towards temple.
The procession, after turning finally comes to Mrugikund, adjoining Bhavnath temple. Nagasadhus before proceeding towards Bhavnath mahadev temple, take a ritualistic bath in holy Mrugikund, which is then followed by other monks and sages.
After bathing ritual, Priests of Bhavnath performs Aarti and Mahapuja of Mahadev. The fair ends by the morning of Shivratri. The next morning, Nagasadhus and sages leave for their respective places.
Why Naga Sadhu Procession is So Special?
Just as the royal bath is important in Kumbhmela, so it is in Mrugikund in this fair of Bhavnath…! It is believed that Lord Shiva himself leads this procession in form of Nagasadhu….!
Descending from the top of Girnar, Lord Duttatreya also joins the procession. Under the leadership of Lord Shiva and Duttatreya, the devotees of Sanatan Dharma, the Nagabavas, jump into the Mrugikund.
Folklore says, King Gopichand and King Bhartuhari joins in this procession too. There’s also a myth that famous characters of Mahabharata, immortal Ashvatthama and five Pandavas visit Bhavnath Fair in disguise to bathe in Mrugikund on midnight of MahaShivratri and pay homage to Bhavnath Mahadev.
Hatha Yoga by Nagas
The sadhus march towards Bhavnath temple in Digambar state with their weapons and symbols. They demonstrate their tremendous powers gained through “HathaYoga” during the procession. These sadhus are powerful – physically, mentally and spiritually…!
They show the skills of pulling heavy vehicles on the sloping roads of foothills with their motor senses tied to a rope. Also they make a man on each side of an iron rod passed through their penis…! But that is never only about powers or achievements…!
Supernatural Events in Bhavnath Fair
People get many kinds of realizations during Bhavnath Fair. Many of them get blessings from the Nagasadhu, as well as “things” that are considered to be inaccessible and extremely valuable…!
Legends says that many times during the fair, a Naga appears in two different places at the same time…! It is said that some of the sadhus who jumps to bathe in Mrugikund never comes out and disappear from water itself, to their origin places….!
Arrangements in Fair
Bhavnath fair of Shivratri, which is been held for many years, has gained fame in India as well as abroad. Just like Kumbh Mela, good arrangements are made for sadhus and saints to stay in fair of Bhavnath.
The akhara for sadhus to stay in the fair is arranged by officials of Junagadh. Revadis of different sizes for stay of monks are made in foothills of Girnar. It is arranged in such away that even people can benefit from darshan of these sadhus. The monks gladly give darshan and blessings to people during these five days.
Well arrangements of food for the day and sleeping facilities at night, are made for all sadhus-saints and people who attends this fair. Besides, Santvani is also performed in nights by renowned artists of Saurashtra.
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Har Har Mahadev
Krishna
(Another fair is hold every year from Vaishakh Sud Navmi to Purnima as per Hindu calendar at Bhavnath in foothills of Girnar.)
Girnar is not just a straight plain mountain of black stones. There is Consciousness in its each and every pebble and grain. It is a source of Immense Spiritual Power for Seekers, Sages, Ascetics and Devotees of Universe…!!!
Girnar is Older Than Himalayas and “The Great-Grand Father” of all Mountains…!
