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Opinion
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| MahaKumbh 2025: Know Who Was Responsible For The Origin Of Kumbh Mela | | | | Kumbh is the largest religious and cultural event in Sanatan Dharma. Know about the origin of Kumbh stems from a mistake made by a deity.
MahaKumbh 2025: Kumbh is regarded as the largest religious and cultural festival in India, held every 12 years at sacred locations such as Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. During this grand event, millions of saints, devotees, and pilgrims from across the globe gather to take a holy dip in the sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, and Shipra. It is believed that the waters of these rivers turn as pure as nectar during the Kumbh.
The Maha Kumbh is set to begin on Monday, January 13, 2025, with the first royal bath (Shahi Snan). This grand event will take place in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, where devotees and saints will bathe at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.
The Mythological Origin Of Kumbh:
The origin of Kumbh is deeply rooted in the legend of the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) as described in Vishnu Purana, Kurma Purana, Skanda Purana, Bhagavata Purana, and Brahmavaivarta Purana. However, a popular folklore also attributes the beginning of Kumbh to a mistake made by the Moon God (Chandra). This tale, while not found in ancient scriptures, is elaborated in Prof. D.P. Dubey's book, Kumbh Mela: Pilgrimage to the Greatest Cosmic Fair.
Lord Moon’s Mistake:
According to the legend, the gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain the pot of nectar (Amrit). During the churning, 14 precious treasures emerged, with the pot of nectar being the last, carried by Lord Dhanvantari. A fierce dispute erupted between the gods and demons over the nectar. To safeguard it, Indra’s son Jayant fled with the pot, accompanied by the Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Jupiter (Brihaspati), and Saturn (Shani), each assigned specific responsibilities to protect the nectar.
Surya was tasked with ensuring the pot wouldn’t break, Chandra had to prevent the nectar from spilling, Brihaspati was to keep the demons at bay, and Shani was to monitor Jayant to ensure he didn’t consume the nectar himself. While the gods fulfilled their duties, Chandra’s oversight caused drops of nectar to fall at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. This is why these locations are considered holy, and the Kumbh is held here.
Astronomical Significance:
The Kumbh Mela is also tied to celestial alignments. The event is held when the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn align in a specific configuration, which occurs every 12 years, making these intervals sacred for the grand gathering.
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