Adbhud, Divya, Bhavya Mahakumbha 2025
Prof. Kalpana Bora
(Gauhati University. She can be reached at kalpana.bora@gmail.com)
The Mahakumbha Mela at Prayagraj, an incredible con-fluence of Dharma, faith, culture, science, economy, and social harmony, has been going on since January 13, 2025 (Makar Sankranti) and will continue till February 26, 2025 (Mahashivraatri), at Sangam Triveni, where sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati (now Vilupt) meet. Kumbha Mela is held every 3 years in rotation at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik, and hence every 12 years at one particular place. It is held when the Sun, Jupiter, and Moon enter some particular Zodiac constellations, Raashi of the Bharatiya Jyotish system. It is held at Prayagraj from January to February when Jupiter enters Taurus (Vrishabh) or Aries (Mesh) and the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn (Makar). It is held at Haridwar during January-April, when Jupiter enters Aquarius (Kumbha) and the Sun enters Aries. It is held during April-May at Ujjain when Jupiter is in Leo (Singha) and the Sun is in Aries or Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon are in Libra (Tula), and it is held at Nashik during July-September when Jupiter enters Leo or Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon enter Cancer on the lunar conjunction. This year’s Mahakumbh Mela is unique in itself since this constellation alignment is witnessed once every 144 years only—Jupiter is in Taurus, the Sun and Moon are in Capricorn, and Saturn and the Nakshatra Pushy (Pukh) also align. As per ancient Bharatiya scriptures, the four Gods - the Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Saturn were assigned the duty to protect the Amrit pot of Sagar Manthan, and they appear in one line after 144 years.
The earliest mention of the Prayaga and Snana pilgrimage is found in our ancient Bharatiya (Hindu) scriptures like the Rigveda, in the Puranas like the Skanda Puran, Brahma Puran, Vishnu Puran, Varah Puran, and Valmiki Ramayana. As per scriptures like Bhagwat Puran, Vishnu Puran, and Mahabharata, the Sagar Manthan (ocean churning) is one of the very significant events done by gods (Sur) and demons (Asur) to obtain Amrit (drink of immortality), which led to the birth of Amrit, many divine gods, precious gems, etc. There was a fight between the gods and Demons for the pot of Amrit, and Lord Garuda took this pot and flew in the sky. While flying, the Amrit from this pot fell over Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nasik, and Ujjain, where Kumbha Mela is held every 12 years.
Rivers have been the lifeline of the development of civilisations. All old civilisations developed across banks of main rivers, be it Sindhu, Ganga, or Nile. This itself has a scientific reason—banks of rivers give means of living life, mainly water and cultivation. And hence, our sages,
Rishi-Munis used to do Tapasaya, teachings in their Ashrams and Gurukuls made on the banks of rivers, like Sage Bhardwaj had an Ashram in Prayagraj (Sangam, Triveni), Sapta Rishis (Kashyapa, Vashishta, Atri, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, and Gautama) had an Ashram in Haridwar, Maharshi Sandipani (during times of Mahabharata) in Ujjain on the banks of Shipra river, and Gautam Muni in Nashik on the banks of river Godavari. Nashik was known as the place of Panchavati of Ramayan, where Bhagwan Ram, Mata Sita, and Lakshman stayed during their Vanvaas.
The timing of the Kumbh Mela is meticulously determined by specific planetary alignments, with Jupiter (the largest planet in our solar system) playing a crucial role. When Jupiter aligns with the Sun and Moon, it may affect cosmic forces. This time Jupiter reached opposition (an equal distance from the Sun and Earth, which is also the closest distance of Jupiter from Earth) on December 7, 2024. On the opposite side of the planet, the solar wind stretches Jupiter’s magnetic field lines into a long, trailing magnetotail, which sometimes extends well beyond the orbit of Saturn. Hence, the changes in cosmic forces due to this particular alignment of planets and the Sun may have some effect on our Earth too. It may be noted that human brains emit electromagnetic waves, whose frequency changes with the state of mind. So maybe, when millions of people assemble at the banks of sacred rivers with a happy and relaxed state of mind, it gives us even more bliss and relaxation (alpha waves of a few hertz are emitted from the brain in this state, which are electromagnetic waves).
In ancient times, means of communication were not as good as today, and people found the means of assembling at these 4 sacred places as per the positions of planets using the Bharatiya Jyotish system (a Vedanga). These Kumbha Melas provided a unique opportunity for people from different parts of the country to meet, where they would do religious discourses and enhance their spiritual state of mind. Melas provided an excellent opportunity to boost the economy of the place as well, with a showcase of locally made products available for sale. It has been proven scientifically that social interactions give happiness and release stress. These observations reinforce how profound and scientific the ancient Bharatiya knowledge system (including geography and astronomy) has been.
Spending some time on the banks of a river itself gives eternal peace and happiness to mind and heart; it provides a sufficient amount of sunshine to our bodies, which is so important for our health. One can connect to the inner self, to one’s soul, to God, and can experience supreme heights of spirituality. It releases stress too, and I can say this due to my personal experience—I got the rare fortune to take Pavitra Snan at Prayagraj Mahakumbha on January 16, 2025. So, this is another scientific reason behind thousands of years of legacy of holding Kumbha Mela on the banks of sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Shipra.
When I was taking Pavitra Snan at Prayagraj, I felt pure bliss, peace, and contentment, and so did everyone else there, lakhs of devotees. There were people from different parts of our country, as well as abroad. No discrimination based on caste, gender, class, nationality, or people speaking different languages. This scene was just enchantingly charming. There was only one language through which we were connecting—the language of love, spirituality, and chants of Har Har Mahadev, Har Har Gange, Jai Siya Ram, etc. We felt so united. A splendid anubhuti of “Vasudhaivam Kutumbakam”—the” power of Sanatan Dharma. People were offering prayers in any way they liked—an amazing showcase of the democracy and flexibility of Sanatan Dharma. No one seemed to complain about the system, as the purpose of devotees who come to Mahakumbha is to take the Pavitra Snan to attain Moksha, and not any leisure trip. The area was looking like a colourful ocean of people of all castes. The landscape was amazing. Everyone seemed just happy. Soul-enriching!
I visited the tent city on an e-rickshaw and saw many akharas and pandals of sadhus from all over India. Spectacular and grand views and arrangements for devotees and sadhus. People are singing bhajans as if everyone is in a state of meeting God. I got the fortune of taking blessings from a Naga Baba as well, who offered Bhabuti as Prasad. I enjoyed a free lunch of khichadi at a shivir and a free dinner at a bhandara at another pandal. The systems at the Mela Khsetra have been excellent—extreme cleanliness, security, food, toilet facilities, etc. But some kind of self-discipline is also expected from devotees; they should not break barricades to help authorities in the smooth management of crores of crowds at a time.
Many tents/pandals provide free food and staying arrangements for the visitors, and some at a very nominal charge of say Rs. 300 only (there are luxurious ones too). Sangam Nose may be too crowded, so devotees should take Snan at any Ghat, as waters are the same everywhere. Traffic jams are unavoidable, so leave for the station/airport at least 4-5 hours before. This splendidly soulful journey to the Mahakumbha 2025 has been an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having this Pavitra Snan fills devotees with pure joy, strength, and unity with purified souls and spirits as if we have reinforced faith in ourselves, “Samajik Samrasta” (social harmony), Bharatiya culture, humanity, Bharat, and Sanatan Dharma. www.mahakumbh.in