- People have been gathering at the confluence (sangam) of rivers in India for thousands of years. A confluence of rivers is called Prayag. Uttarakhand has five such confluences that give birth to the River Ganga. Prayagraj is the king of confluence because here Ganga, which came from the sky, is joined by earthly Yamuna and the underground Saraswati. In other words, the meeting of three rivers marks the meeting of three worlds.
- Typically these meetings take place during winter solstice (Nashik), spring equinox (Prayagraj), summer solstice (Haridwar) and autumn equinox (Ujjain). During this time, the sun enters the zodiac of Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra. In different parts of India, this period is more special by considering the location of the moon and Jupiter.
- In the sky, around the earth, along the horizon is a highway made of 12 zodiac houses. The moon goes through this highway once every month, the sun goes through them once every year and Jupiter does this same journey over 12 years. So Haridwar’s gathering takes place when Jupiter is in the Kumbh (Aquarius) Zodiac. Prayagraj’s gathering took place when Jupiter was in the Rishabha (Taurus) Zodiac. Nashik and Ujjain when the Sun was in Simha (Leo) Zodiac. When Jupiter goes around the earth 12 times in (12×12) 144 years, then Mahakumbh is held. These names are given by kings who know people love festivals and seek logic in numbers and stars.
- Vedic astrology divides the starry highway circling the earth into 27 Nakshatras. The 12 zodiac divisions (Rashi) came later with Romans and Greeks, around 300 AD, through monsoon sea trade. Zodiac is not mentioned in Vedas, Ramayana or Mahabharata. It became important in later Astrology texts such as Romaka Siddhanta, by the time of Gupta kings (500 AD).
- The original Kumbh was celebrated only when Jupiter entered this Zodiac. It was celebrated in Haridwar, the spot where the Ganga leaves the mountains and enters the plains, during Mesha Sanskranti (spring equinox). Now the word ‘Kumbha’ is used for all gatherings like the Magh Mela of Prayagraj that happens every year around Makar Sankranti (start of Uttaryan) and the Simhastha of Nashik that happened around Karka Sankranti (start of Dakshinayan).
- Yoga means alignment. The alignment of various planets, sun and moon on the starry highway was given different meanings by Brahmins. It was said that during that time the cosmic vibrations made waters holier and so filled with miraculous powers. This encouraged pilgrim tourism and generated wealth in the economy. Governments do this even today. Faith plays a key role in marketing and revenue generation. For example, the annual Hajj pilgrimage of Muslims ensures wealth for Saudi Arabia.
- After 500 AD, as Hinduism became more temple and pilgrimage oriented, Purana texts referred to various holy sites across the countries. Hindus increasingly were referred to as Tirthikas in Buddhist texts, people who go to holy spots to bathe, visit gods, and pray to ancestors. Prayag Mela is mentioned in writings of Chinese pilgrims of the 7th century who said that Hindus believed those who died here went to heaven.
- Nashik and Ujjain melas of ascetics, linked to Trimbakeshwar and Mahakal temples, were promoted by Maratha chiefs in the 17th century. Maratha chiefs always strived to be guardians of Hinduism to attain the status of muchadmired Rajputs. Words like ‘Shahi’ and ‘Peshwai’ reveal the Mughal-Maratha influence.
- Warrior-ascetic gymnasiums (akhara) emerged particularly after 1500 AD to ght the warrior Su-Gazis of Islam. They belong to Shiva, Vishnu and Sikh faiths. But as per legend, they were established by Adi Shankara in 700 AD. Many Vaishnava ascetic-warriors trace links to Parashuram. Shaivas trace their origin to Bhairava and Dattatreya. Sikh warrior-ascetics trace origin to ShriChand, son of Guru Nanakji who chose not to marry. Warrior-ascetics were not just monks, they were also traders, bankers and warriors, running monastic establishments, with secret rituals.
- Veda does not mention such gatherings. But Upanishad does talk of wise men gathering in Mithila to discuss philosophy. Mahabharat does refer to gathering of sages and kings in bathing sports. These were certainly important spots for monastic orders to meet and discuss developments over time, across geography. These gatherings played a key role in the spread of ideas. While South-Indian Vedic scholars like Adi Shankara or Ramanuja and Madhva visited these cities, one is not sure if they participated in such a mela. We must remember melas are common in India, and not hyped as they are today by politicians and media.
- Kumbha Mela’s association with ‘pot’ of Amrita has been popularised in recent years. Instead of the Zodiac, Kumbha now refers to the nectar of immortality churned from the ocean of milk by devas and asuras. We are told drops of his nectar fell in these pilgrim spots and are activated at special moments based on the movement of sun, moon and Jupiter. The story of the churning of nectar comes from Mahabharata, but is not found in any Veda. Images of the churning of the ocean are found in Southeast Asia rather than India. Veda speaks of a hawk carrying Soma to Manu who makes Soma Juice for Indra. There is no concept of churning of the ocean in older texts.
- This Mela, since British rule, helped establish Hindu identity in a major way. Hence, the political spectacle in recent times. It is also a tourist spectacle, a photo opportunity, to show ascetics dressed in exotic attire, posing and displaying Hindu might on elephants, horses and camels. Everyone hopes to find something magical and mystical here. While everyone speaks of the naked ascetic sadhu, and the new queer (kinnar) akhara, no one remembers the akhara of women that some tried to establish, a move that was actively suppressed. Like in Buddhism and Jainism, men control monastic orders. The female nuns, many abandoned widows, have an inferior position. All these monastic powers believe in the magic power of male celibacy that is not found in women as they menstruate. That is why the male ascetic is told to bathe first in the water, at the holy hour, to make the water potent with their energy. This belief in siddhi powers based on celibacy has strong Tantrik roots and is linked to Shiva as well as Hanuman.
- The Mela has a distinct North-Indian appeal. No North Indian knows of the Kumbakonam temple gathering in the South. South India is to the south of the Tropic of Cancer. Traditionally Arya-varta was north of this line, where shadow always falls on the northern side. After 500 AD, all scriptures including Manusmriti expanded the notion of Arya-varta to include the South. From the mountains to the sea, they said. Stories were told of sages travelling South taking rivers and mountains with them. Sapta-Sindhu were not just the tributaries of Indus and Ganga; now they included Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri too.
- Kumbha Mela reminds us that Hinduism is orthopraxic. It’s about not believing or thinking. It is about doing rituals and rites as prescribed by tradition. You take a dip in the waters at the time you are told to declare your faith. Reasons, explanations and stories come later.
- Monastic orders and kings traditionally met at these gatherings to resolve disputes and do succession planning. Monastic orders are not egalitarian. They have much political and economic power, and so great hierarchies like Mandaleshwar and Maha-mandaleshwar, in terms of power and administration are similar to Raja and Maharaja, Rana and Maharana. This made British authorities nervous, especially after 1857. By insisting the gathering was religious, not political, the local priests ensured the British could not stop these vast gatherings, which grew exponentially with the spread of railways and newspapers.
- Confluence of celestial bodies, confluence of rivers, and confluence of many monastic orders, and people defines this gathering. Does it grant immortality? Maybe that’s what politicians hope for. Nature just finds it amusing.
Facts About Kumbha Mela
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