KUMBH MELA - FOR EVERY ONE

Dear Balarishi,

All saints and sadhus make it a point to attend Kumbh mela. Is it meant mainly for saadhus? What is the the importance of Kumbh mela for a common man?

Kumbh Mela is a very important event for anyone who has some interest in spirituality. Kumbh mela happens in four places at different periods , based on subtle calculations. All these four places are banks of holy rivers. The places are Haridwar (bank of river ganga), Nashik,( bank of river Godhavari), Ujaini (bank of river kshipra) and Allahabad (the union spot of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi). It is said that when Devas and Asuras churned Amirtha from the ocean of milk , the Asuras ran away with Amrutha and Devas chased them for twelve days and twelve nights. During this chase Amirtha is said to have spilled in these four places.

The Amritha is said to merge in these holy rivers during Kumbh Mela.

In Kumbh mela the important event is all the Naaga Saadhus coming in procession for their holy dip. This is very important because in spirituality, the galaxy of these Saadhus representing various tantra traditions and spiritual orders is something very rare. By taking a holy dip these saadhus offer the essence of their penance to the holy river.These rivers which are holy by their own nature becomes holier as they carry the powerful energies of these Saadhus. This is why it is considered to be very auspicious to take a dip immediately after the Snaanam of the Saadhus. This procession happens only on prescribed days for Snanam.

By taking this holy dip the karmic obstacles for a Sadhaka vanishes and his life is cleansed to a great level. Important turning points in the path of life happens after such spiritual sojourns for a saadhaka. There are various classifications in Kumbh Mela like Ardha Kumbh Mela, Poorna Kumbh Mela, Maha kumbh mela and Maha Mela.

The kumbh mela which is happening now in Allahabad is Maha kumbh Mela.