Kumbh Mela : Everything You Want To Know

Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering in entire world. During the festival, millions of people assemble to take holy baths, especially on certain auspicious days, in holy water of river by the side of which this mela is held.

Kumbh Mela : An Epitome of Spiritual Quest

India is a country where knowingly or unknowingly, all are living a pattern of life that aims to seek liberation…! The main purpose of life here is to attain moksha from cycle of birth and death. Kumbh Mela hold a significant position among all spiritual seekers of India and World.

Apart from having holy bath, people from all over the globe gather to have “darshan” and seek blessings from Sadhus. These ascetics and monks come down to Mela from Himalayas as well as from other parts of India. It can also be referred as religious congregation of people. Including male and female, young and old, high and low, rich and poor, rural and urban, educated and illiterate…!

No advertisement, no invitation, yet a massive confluence develop in Kumbh Mela with an aim of spiritual quest…! To know the reason of their existence…! To find the purpose of their life..!

Mythological Story of Kumbh Mela 

The Kumbh Mela traces its origin to a Hindu legend, which tells how four drops of the Gods’ holy elixir fell to earth from a “Kumbh” or pot, during a battle in heaven.

Once Sage Durvasa cursed the Devtas out of their arrogant behavior. As a result, Indra and other deities became weak. And the demon attacked on them and defeated them. So they went to Lord Vishnu for seeking solution. He suggested to churn “Ocean of Milk” (Ksheer-Sagar) and get the nectar of immortality from its base.

Churning of Milky Ocean (Samudra-Manthan) was an uphill task. It was not possible to perform it without the help of Demons. Hence Gods reached for an agreement with Demons to accomplish this task. It was decided that all perks coming out from the Milky Ocean would be shared equally. Many significant things came out but the most precious was The Kumbh….!! (filled with Amrit-the nectar of immortality).

Than started a scramble between Gods and Demons to possess this elixir. Gods handed over the kumbh to Garuda – A giant sized bird (vehicle of Lord Vishnu) who flew with Amrit to safety in heaven. During the flight few drops of nectar were spilled at twelve different places. Out of those twelve locations, four were on the Earth and remaining eight were on the heaven.

Why The Mela is Hold at Gap of 12 Years Only

Due to spilling of nectar drops, four places on the Earth, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain and Nasik became sacred. Hence kumbh mela takes place at these four locations.

It is celebrated every 12 year because it took Garuda that long to reach the heaven. (Deity’s one day is considered to be as one year of earth. So Garuda took “12 days of deities” thus 12 years of earth to reach the heaven with nectar pot)

Also Jupiter is said to be the most important planet in consideration of Kumbh Mela holding dates. (As he is the Guru – The Spiritual Mentor). And Jupiter takes approximately 12 years to complete it’s one transit cycle through all zodiac signs.

Types of Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela is hold at four different locations by turn and continues for about a month. The time and place for holding this unique Mela is decided on basis of position of Jupiter, Sun and Moon. (Most of the Hindu festival are solar/lunar transit based festivals, but Kumbh holds importance of Jupiter transit too, besides that of a Sun)

• Kumbha Mela – held at all four places Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain and Nasik every 3 years in rotation (i.e. every 12 years at each place)
• Ardha Kumbha Mela – held at Haridwar and Prayagraj every 6 years (which was recently declared to be known as “kumbh mela”)
• Purna Kumbha Mela – held only at Prayagraj every 12 years (which was recently declared to be known as “maha kumbh mela”)
• Maha Kumbha Mela – held only at Prayagraj every 144 years

(*After 12 Purna Kumbh Melas, each one lasting 12 years, “2013 Maha Kumbh Mela” has unlocked a new circuit that is going to last next 144 years. The next Maha Kumbh Mela will be hold in the year 2157…!)

Astrology Behind Kumbh Mela Dates

As the Sun, Moon and Jupiter played a major role in safe-guarding the pot of nectar from demons, the Kumbh Festival is organized only when these three planets form a special Yoga by positioning themselves into specific zodiac signs.

The rules of organizing Kumbh Mela are detailed in table below:

Si No.	Place of Kumbh Mela	Position of Jupiter and Sun in Zodiac Signs	Approx. time for start of Mela	Type of Kumbh Mela
1	Haridwar	Sun in Mesh Rashi when Jupiter is in Kumbh Rashi	Mid April	Kumbh on bank of river Ganga
2	Prayagraj	Sun in Makar Rashi when Jupiter is in Vrishabh Rashi	Mid January	Purna Kumbh on confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati
3	Ujjain	Sun in Mesh Rashi when Jupiter is in Simha Rashi	Mid April	Kumbh on bank of river Kshipra
4	Nasik	Sun in Simha Rashi when Jupiter is in Simha Rashi	Mid July	Kumbh on bank of river Godavari
5	Prayagraj	Sun in Makar Rashi when Jupiter is in Vrishchik Rashi	Mid January	Ardha Kumbh on confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati
6	Haridwar	Sun in Mesha Rashi when Jupiter is in Simha Rashi	Mid April	Ardha Kumbh on bank of river Ganga

(*When Kumbh Mela is held at Ujjain, at the same time an Ardha Kumbha Yoga is considered to happen at Haridwar. Also the Kumbh at Nasik and Ujjain are hold almost together, only at difference of few months…!)

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 – Actual Period

Dates: 14 April 2021 to 13 May 2021

(*You may find difference in Kumbh Mela dates on various sites. But above is the actual solar month that holds a planetary combinations which result in “Nectar Formation” in waters of the river…! And thus, this period is significant as per traditions – for holy bath in Ganges in Haridwar Kumbh Mela.)

Kumbh as Meeting Place for Sadhus

Kumbh mela are also the meeting place for ascetics and yogis of various sects of Sanatan Dharma. For centuries, the biggest say at festival for tourist and pilgrims are “The Naked Ash Smeared Naga Sadhus” who belong to various akharas.

It attracts sadhus who stay naked all year, ascetics who practice most severe physical discipline and hermits who leave their isolation to come down here in Mela. They gather in camps along river bank, lecture and debate, smoke ganja, drink tea and meet pilgrims seeking spiritual wisdom and knowledge renewal.

Naga : The Stars of Kumbh Mela

The bridge to Spiritual Divine besides River is a Sadhu and Ascetics. The ascetics renounces all joys and attachments of material world. In case of Naga sadhus-even the clothes….!

Nagas cannot keep ties with caste, gotra or family. In fact, they have to perform their own funeral rights..!! With nudity, matt hair and ash smeared body, these warrior monks are devotees of Lord Shiva.

These sadhus see themselves as the defenders of the faith, which they refer not to as Hinduism but as “Sanatan Dharma” or Eternal Faith. As defenders of Sanatan Dharma they learn certain martial arts such as wrestling and swordsmanship.

Proclaiming themselves as warrior saints, their entire life style is designed in such a way that they conquer the elements of world. Sadhus have to live life in single minded devotion and hashish helps to attain that. (That’s what they say..!) At kumbh they set up tents for the whole month. They are the celebrities of Kumbhmela.

Reason That Lead to Birth of Akharas

Akharas – “The Millitant Ascetics” are central to Kumbh Mela. In early times, with rise of new religions and constant invasions by foreign rulers, Sanatan Dharma was under threat. When Mughal rulers committed religious atrocities, burnt scriptures, destroyed Nalanda and Kashi universities, this provoked the need to defend the Dharma.

It was than A Visionary Sage Adi Shankracharya , the 8^th century reformer of Sanatan Dharma, started a movement. He created four monastic organization (Shankracharya Peeth or Math) and seven akharas. He organised sadhus into akharas, and made them responsible for preserving, protecting and propagating Sanatan Dharma. The akharas gave instructions in arms-wrestling, swordsmanship, horse riding etc for physical strength, and also in scripture to keep it alive.

In early medieval times, the akharas protected temples and religious properties from plunders by Mongolian, Buddhist and Hindu rulers, and later by Mughal rulers. (Nagas consider themselves belonging to Sanatan Dharma and not specific Hindu dharma). These militants aspects of akharas strengthened after Muslim invasions who slaughtered large number of mela pilgrims in 1398.

About Akharas : In Detail

There are 13 major and many minor akharas. (The 14th major, Kinnar Akhara has been included recently)

7 of them, Mahanirvani, Niranjani, Juna, Atal, Ahvahan, Agni and Anand Akhara are thousands year old. Dating back to 8th century, founded by Adi Shankara. He set up these akharas to save and protect Sanatan Dharma. Juna Akhara is by far the largest order of sadhus participating in Kumbh Mela .

Akharas have of two types sadhus:

1. “Acharyas” who dedicates to scriptures and
2. “Nagas” who are trained warriors

Head of akhara is known as “Mahamandaleshwar”. These akharas having a special historical and religious significance are categorized into three on the basis of “Deities They Worship”.

The 3 categories include:

1. Shaiva
2. Vaishnava
3. Udasin

The 14 Types of Akharas

*1) Mahanirvani Akhara

With headquarters standing in Prayagraj, Mahanirvani Akhara worships Maharaj Kapil Muni.

*2) Niranjani Akhara

Having a strong base in Prayagraj, the Niranjani Akhara is one of the popular akharas. Niranjani Akhara is said to be the second biggest Akhara after Juna. They worship Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva.

*3) Juna Akhara

Also known as Bhairavi Akhara, Juna is one of the largest akharas in Kumbh Mela. It has its headquarters located in Kashi. They worship Lord Dattatreya along with their 52-ft high saffron holy flag (Dharma-Dhvaja).

*4) Atal Akhara

The headquarters of the Atal Akhara is in Varanasi. The Atal Akhara worships Lord Ganesha.

*5) Ahvahan Akhara

The headquarters of the Ahvahan Akhara is in Haridwar and worships Lord Dattatreya and Shri Ganesha. It is believed that the saints of Ahvahan Akhara responded first to call of Adi Shankaracharya.

*6) Agni Akhara

Agni Akhara recruits only celibate brahmins who are favored by Devi Gayatri. They worship Lord Agni and the headquarters of this akhara is located in Junagadh, Gujarat. The Agni Akhara have Brahmins (and not naga sadhus..!) who wear Janeu (a sacred white thread) who can later join other akharas as a Naga if they wish to.

*7) Anand Akhara

Considered as the second oldest akhara, Anand Akhara worship Lord Sun. The headquarters of this Akhara is in Nasik, Maharashtra.

*8) Nirmohi Akhara

The headquarter of the Nirmohi Akhara is in Haridwar. Falling under the Vaishnava category, Nirmohi Akhara worships Lord Hanuman and a 52-ft high white flag.

*9) Bada Udasin Akhara

Yogiraj Nirvandev founded Bada Udasin Akhara. Its headquarter is in Haridwar. This akhara worship Shree Chandra Dev and 75-ft-high holy flag in Kumbh Mela.

*10) Naya Udasin Akhara

The sadhus of the Bada Udasin Akhara founded Naya Udasin Akhara. The akhara follows different orders as compared to most other traditions. This akhara is known for its simplicity.

*11) Nirmal Akhara

Durga Singh Maharaj founded Nirmal Akhara in Punjab. Linked to Sikhism, this Akhara worship Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

*12) Digambar Ani Akhara

The headquarters of Digambar Ani Akhara is located in Haridwar. They worship five color flag. Other than this, they even worship the weapons.

*13) Nirvani Ani Akhara

With the headquarters located in Haridwar, Nirvani Ani Akhara worships Lord Hanuman as its main deity along with red color flag.

*14) Kinnar Akhara

As of now, there were 13 Akharas. But Kinnar Akhara, an exclusive akhara for transgenders has also been included in Kumbh Mela recently.

Shaahi Snaan in Kumbh

To initiate the holy bathing rituals, “Peshwai” (Royal Entry) is performed by the the Naga Sadhus very enthusiastically. They head the akharas by singing and dancing. Shaahi snaan is also known as “Rajyogi Snaan” and is main bath of Kumbh Mela.

Few tithis are deemed as auspicious in Kumbh Mela. On those tithis, the akharas go down to river in pre-determined order, bathe and return with great fan-fair. Amavasya is the main bathing day during Mela, when Sun and Moon are positioned in the same zodiac sign.

Details of Shaahi Snaan is as below in table:

Si No.	Place of Mela	Tentative Tithis for Shaahi Snaan
1	Haridwar	Amavasya Baisakhi Chaitri Purnima
2	Prayagraj	Makar Sankranti Vasant Panchmi Mauni Amavasya
3	Ujjain	Chaitri purnima Vaishakhi purnima Akshay Tritiya Vaishakhi Amavasya
4	Nasik	Hariyali teej Shravan poornima Hartaleeka teej Bhadrapad amavasya

(*Here tithis are based on purnimanta calendar. For calendar, where month ends on amavasya, the name of tithi changes accordingly. In short, full moon, new moon and other auspicious tithis falling in the month of concerned solar transit act as shaahi snaan tithis.)

Significance of Kalpa Vaas in Kumbh Mela

Kalpa Vaas has huge importance in Kumbh Mela. Reciting of mantras, fasting and listening to holy Vedas/Scriptures forms part of Kalpa Vaas. “Deep-Daan” (offering of light to river) also holds significance during these days.

“Kalpa Vaasi” are the devotees who spend whole month at the Kumbh and alter their lifestyle to pious. Living in tents, eating simple foods, strictly following celibacy are their MUSTS…! They meditate and bathe in holy waters 3 times every day. This month long disciplined lifestyle is called Kalpa Vaas.

Its underline principle is that such a spiritual retreat will rejuvenate not only the body but soul as well. Its prescribed for all Hindus, but only aged practice Kalpa Vaas most of the times….!

Water as the Sacred Element in Kumbh

72% of human body consists of water out of the other “Panch Mahabhuta”(the five main elements). So in order to get control over your self for attaining moksha, the water element plays the major role…! The Rig Veda too mentions magical property of water. Many cultures worship body of water such as rivers, lakes, streams, springs, wells as the divine power.

Kumbh represents a cultural continuity for a civilization that traces its origin to the rivers who are sacred and life givers. They are the places of pilgrimage and bridges mortal humans and eternal divine…!

Bathing in these rivers during Kumbh Mela is seen as an act of great merit. It gives Moksha from cycle of birth and re-birth. It cleanses not only your body but soul..! So the “Kumbh Mela Snaan” is no ordinary bath…! It is an elaborate ritual…! A ritual that cleanses the unwanted frequencies (of sin or bad deeds) from your body and chakras with its pure-high frequency “currents”…!

Story of River Ganga and Kumbh Mela

Once Ganga turned arrogant. That was before she came down from Lord Shiva’s Kamandal (Water pot). So to destroy her arrogance, Lord Shiva sent her down and asked her to cleanse the sins of the world. Ganga asked, “But Lord, who will cleanse my sins.?’ The Lord said, “When you’ll cleanse sins of others, than every 6 or 12 years, at Kumbh Mela, Naga Sadhus will step in your waters to cleanse you…!”

So after 12 years there is one particular moment when Ganga’s sins (which she absorbs from those who bathe in her) are cleansed. The true naga ascetic achieves this through their good karma. Also the devotees who bathe downstream from the nagas gain merit too… The true asceticism is an emblem of Sanatana Dharma, which true Nagas carry forward…!

Mention of Kumbh Fair in Legend Records

The Mahabharata mentions Prayag as a site of pilgrimage, but the first historical record occurs in the account of 7th century chinese traveler Xuanzang. He wrote about Prayag and its ageless, month-long festival at the confluence of two rivers. He came to India in 629-645 during empire of King Harshvardhan. The traveller mentioned into his legend about Harshvardhan as the King who used to do charity of his entire wealth and prosperity among people during the time of this sacred congruence.

Proclamation by UNESCO

(Source – ich.unesco.org) UNESCO recognized Kumbh Mela as India’s cultural heritage. The Inter-government Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO has inscribed ‘Kumbh Mela’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 12th session held at Jeju, South Korea from 4-9 December 2017. The Committee also acknowledged that knowledge and skills related to ´Kumbh Mela´ are transmitted through the “Guru-Shishyaparampara” (teacher-student relationship) by way of saints and sadhus teaching their disciples about traditional rituals and chants.

 

 

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Har Har Gange

Krishna

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‘New Nagas’ are Made in Kumbh Mela Only. They Go Through ‘Digambara Rituals’ under the Akhara Flag in Presence of Their Guru. After Undergoing Certain Ceremonies – They Achieve ‘Avadhut’ Status.