From today
starts the famous and one of the largest religious congregations of the world,
the Kumbh Mela (the fair of the
pot). This event attracts millions of people from across the world and this
year it could be much more as it is also the Maha Kumbh, the Great Kumbh, which takes place once in twelve
years.
This event, as
we all know has its origins in the famous mythical episode of the Amrita-manthan or samudra-manthan (churning of the ocean). But what many might not
know is the reason for the churning. According to a legend, once Lord Indra
came across Sage Durvasa (better known for his infamous temper). On seeing
Indra, Sage Durvasa took out a garland from his neck and gifted it to Indra.
Indra in his arrogance put the garland on his elephant, who obviously unaware
of its importance trampled it under its feet. Seeing this, Sage Durvasa was
angry and cursed Indra that he and his ilk, i.e. the other gods would lose all
their strength and the position, due to this act of arrogance.
Soon, the gods
were devoid of any energy and strength and seeing this, the asuras, attacked them and got the better
of the gods. The gods assembled and sought help from Lord Brahma, who suggested
the churning of the ocean, from which, would emerge the celestial physician,
Dhanwantri who could save them with his divine potion or nectar, better known
as amrita, the elixir of immortality.
However, for this they would need the help of the asuras who were very strong. A discussion was held between the gods
and asuras and it was decided that
all would get a share of the amrita.
On churning,
many riches emerged and so did Dhanvantri with the pot of amrita. On seeing
this, the asuras tried to gain
control of the pot, but Vishnu took the form of Mohini, the enchantress and ran
away with the pot. While Mohini was trying to save the pot from the asuras, the pot spilt some drops of the
amrita on Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, which have become the famous
places of the Kumbh fair. It is said that the gods and the asuras fought for twelve days, which was equivalent to the twelve
years on earth to gain control of the pot.
In the war
between the gods and the asuras,
three gods, Sun, Moon and Jupiter played a very important role in protecting
the pot from the asuras. Since then,
the Kumbha Mela is held to commemorate this event, and the dates are calculated
on the basis of the planetary positions of Sun, Moon and Jupiter. The four
places where drops of nectar had been spilt, are supposed to acquire divine
powers on these days and bathing in the rivers on these days, washes away all
the sins and one can achieve salvation. The fair is held every four years in
the above regions and every twelve year is the Maha-Kumbh, like the one which
is being held in Allahabad this year.
I don’t know if
the sins are washed away on this day or not, but the massive congregation of
believers on this day has something to do with faith. Braving the chilling
winter and dipping in the cold waters can only be an act of faith and hope for
salvation. How many achieve salvation is a statistics for god to maintain, but
the Kumbh is definitely a visual treat even for the non-believer. It must be
something, which made Mark Twain, in 1895 to comment –
“It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can
make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail
enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure
the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in
fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of
it is beyond imagination, marvellous to our kind of people, the cold whites.”
Some of the main
dates for this year for bathing are as follows –
14 January – Makar Sankranti
27 January – Paush Purnima
6 February – Ekadashi Snan
10 February – Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main
Bathing Day)
15 February – Basant Panchami Snan
17 February – Rath Saptami Snan
21 February – Bhisma Ekadashi Snan
25 February – Maghi Purnima Snan
For more on
Makara Sankranti, read Makara Sankranti
