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History & Legends of Kumbha Mela |
| The origin of the Kumbh is
very old and dates back to the time when Kalasha (pot of
nectar of immortality) was recovered from Samudramanthan
(during the churning of the primordial sea), for which a
tense war between Devtas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons)
ensued. To prevent the Amrita Kalasha being forcibly
taken into possession by Asuras, who were more powerful
than Devtas, its safety was entrusted to the Devtas
Brahaspati, Surya, Chandra and Shani. The four Devtas
ran away with the Amrita Kalasha to hide it from the
Asuras. Learning the conspiracy of Devtas, Asuras turned
ferocious and chased the 4 Devtas running with Amrita
Kalasha. The chase, lasted 12 days and nights during
which the Devtas and Asuras went round the earth and
during this chase, Devtas put Amrita Kalasha at
Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik.
To commemorate this
holy event of the Amrita Kalasha being put at 4
places, Kumbh is celebrated every 12 years.According to
other Pauranic legends, actual fight took place
between Devtas and Asuras resulting in the Amrita Kalash
being knocked, out of which Amrita (Nectar) fell down
at the above 4 places. |
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The Religious Importance |
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The festival is religiously
most important for the Hindus. At every Kumbh occassion,
millions of Hindus take part in the celebrations. During
2004 Kumbh at Haridwar, more than 10 millions devoteed
gathered at the site. Saints, priests, and yogis from
all corners of India, gathered to participate in Kumbh.
Haridwar is considered very holy, due to the fact that
Ganga enter plains from mountains here itself.
The festival is visited
by the most amazing saints from all across India. The
Naga Sadhus are one such, who never wear any cloth and
are smeared in ash. They have long matted hairs and are
not at all affected by the extremes of heat and cold.
Then there are the Urdhwavahurs, who believe in putting
the body through severe austerities. There are the
Parivajakas, who have taken a vow of silence and go
about tinkling little bells to get people out of their
way. The Shirshasins stand all 24 hours and meditate for
hours standing on their heads. Spending the entire month
of Kumbh on the banks of Ganga, meditating, performing
rituals and bathing thrice a day, are the Kalpvasis.
It is believed that
bathing during Kumbh cures the bather of all sins and
evils and grants the bather, salvation. It is also
believed that at the time of Kumbh Yog, the water of
Ganga is charged with positive healing effects and that
water at the time of Kumbh is charged positively by
enhanced electromagnetic radiations of the Sun, Moon and
the Jupiter, the flux of which also varies in accordance
to positions and the phases of the moon, and also by the
+ and - signs of the sun spots. |
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Importance of Kumbh Snan |
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The
main & common reason for one to attend the holy festival
of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy river. It is said
that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or
Ardh Kumbh takes human out of the circle of life & death
( stage known as Moksha ).
Pilgrims & Sadhus in great number from around the world
visit here to liberate themselves. Holy rivers like
Ganges , Yamuna
& celestial Sarawati
at Parayag ( Sangam at Allahbad ) is age old symbol of
Indian Culture & Civilization. These river offers
purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of
those who bath in it. |
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