Maha Kumbh Mela is the most sacred pilgrimage among Hindu pilgrimages. This festival is celebrated in Prayagraj after an interval of twelve years.
मेष राशि गते जीवे मकरे चन्द्र भास्करौ ।
अमावस्या तदा योगः कुम्भख्यस्तीर्थ नायके ॥Meaning: Kumbh festival is organized in Prayag on the day of Amavasya when Jupiter enters Capricorn in the cycle of Aries and Sun and Moon enter Capricorn.
During the Samudra Manthan, a pitcher full of Amrit was also found. There was a fight between the Devgan and the demons for Amrit. Then, on the signal of Devraj Indra, when his son Jayant was trying to run away with the Amrit Kumbh, some demons chased him.
The fight for Amrit Kumbh continued for twelve days in heaven and a few drops of Amrit fell from that Kumbh at four places. These places were Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik on earth. The holy rivers of these places got the credit of getting the drops of Amrit.
Kumbh is organized at every place after twelve years. For Amrit Kumbh, the heavenly calculations fought for twelve days, which is equivalent to twelve years for the people of the earth. At each place, different planets and dates are fixed for the Kumbh festival.
The pitcher is also called Kumbh, hence the huge spiritual ceremony of these Amrit-receiving places came to be known as Kumbh.
Types of Kumbh Mela:
❀ The occurrence of this festival is based on the position of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter according to Hindu astrology.
❀ The Allahabad Kumbh Mela is held when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha around the period of January-February.
❀ The Haridwar Kumbh Mela takes place when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Chaitra around the period of March-April.
❀ The Ujjain Kumbh Mela takes place when Jupiter is in Leo and the Sun is in Aries, or when all three are in Libra during the Hindu month of Vaishakh around the period of April-May.
❀ The Nashik Kumbh Mela takes place when the Sun and Jupiter are in Leo during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada around the period of August-September.
The Legend Behind the Kumbh Mela:
According to Hindu mythology, Amrit, believed to be the potion of immortality, was created during the Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean). The divine creator Lord Brahma instructed the Devas to churn the Amrit with the help of the Asuras.
When the Asuras came to know about the Devas' plan that they would not share it with them, they chased the Devas for twelve days.
The four sites of the Kumbh Mela are believed to be the places where drops of Amrit fell from the Kumbh while it was carried by a Deva to save it from the hands of the Asuras.
The four drops fell at Prayag, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain, giving these sites mystical properties. Four holy rivers flow through these areas, making them the site of the bathing ritual.
It is believed that during the dates of the Kumbh Mela, the water of the confluence turns into Amrit, which has divine properties that help pilgrims attain salvation.
