After 144 years, the Maha Kumbh will be held in Prayagraj, at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. Sadhus and seers have reached the Kumbh Kshetra. The Hindu holy scriptures describe Maha Kumbh’s great splendour. This is why every Sanatani wishes to take a dip in Prayagraj Kumbh at least once in his lifetime. As per Hindu beliefs, not just bathing at the Triveni Sangam, but the darshan of Akshayvat is also essential for the fulfilment of the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage.
Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious and cultural gathering based on scientific concepts. According to astronomy, Ardha Kumbh, Purna Kumbh and Maha Kumbh are organised when the planets and stars are in a particular position. Although the oldest written information about the Kumbh is found in the travel accounts of Chinese traveller Huen Tsang, in religious texts it is considered as the beginning of the universe.
The Atharva Veda mentions the Kumbh Mela. The Atharva Veda mentions ‘Chaturtha Dadami’ and ‘Poorna: Kumbhoshadhikaal Aahitastam’. However, the 14th-15th century scholar Sayana and the 17th-century scholar Udgeethas point out that the first verse belongs to a hymn in praise of the Vishtari Yajna and the second to ‘divine time’. Here, Kumbh means ‘water pot’, not the festival.
Puranas describe Kumbh in detail
Whatever it is, Kumbh is mentioned in the Puranas. The story is told in the Matsya Purana. When the ocean was churned, a pot of Amrit (nectar) emerged as a jewel. To prevent the Asuras (demons) from drinking the Amrit, the Devtas fled with it, and the demons pursued them. Meanwhile, Amrit drops fell in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. Kumbh Melas are being held wherever Amrit drops have fallen.
Similar descriptions are found in the Skanda Purana and the Padma Purana. The Padma Purana states, “पृथिव्यां कुम्भयोगस्य चतुर्धा भेद उच्चते। चतु:स्थले नितनात् सुधा कुम्भस्थ भूतले।। चन्द्र प्रस्रवणा रक्षां सूर्यों विस्फोटनात् दधौ। दैत्येभ्यश्च गुरु रक्षां सौरिदेवेंद्रजात् भयात्।।”This means that there are four types of Kumbha Yoga on earth. Nectar (Suddha) flows in four places at all times. Here, protection flows through the sun and moon.
Regarding Kumbh, it is said in the Skanda Purana, “माघे मासे गंगे स्नानं यः कुरुते नरः। युगकोटिसहस्राणि तिष्ठंति पितृदेवताः।।”That is, the ancestors of a person who takes a bath in Ganga in the month of Magh reside in heaven. Whereas, in the Padma Purana it is said, “त्रिषु स्थलेषु यः स्नायात् प्रयागे च पुष्करे। कुरुक्षेत्रे च धर्मात्मा स याति परमं पदम्।।”This means, the righteous person who takes a bath in Prayag, Pushkar and Kurukshetra goes to the supreme abode.
It is said in the Garuda Purana, “अग्निष्टोमसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च। कुंभस्नानस्य कलां नार्हंते षोडशीमपि।।” (Even thousands of Agnistomas and hundreds of Vajpeyi sacrifices are not equal to one-sixteenth of a Kumbha bath.) According to the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, “प्रयागे माघमासे तु स्नात्वा पार्थिवमर्दनः। सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्येत पितृभिः सह मोदते।।” That is, by taking a bath in Prayag in the month of Magh, one is freed from all sins and his ancestors are pleased.
According to the Agni Purana, “कुंभे कुंभोद्भवः स्नात्वा प्रायच्छति हि मानवान्। ततः परं न पापानि तिष्ठन्ति शुभकर्मणाम्।।” That is, taking a bath in Aquarius frees one from sins and leads one to good deeds. According to the Vishnu Purana, “अयं कुंभः परं पुण्यं स्नानं येन कृतं शुभम्। सर्वपापक्षयं याति गच्छते विष्णुसन्निधिम्।।”That is, bathing in Kumbh is extremely pious and one goes to Vishnu world.
Meanwhile the Srimad Bhagavat Purana says, “तत्रापि यः स्नानकृत् पुण्यकाले। गंगा जलं तीर्थमथाधिवासम्।। पुण्यं लभेत् कृतकृत्यः स गत्वा। वैकुण्ठलोकं परमं समेति।।” That is, a person who takes a bath in Ganga in holy times attains merit and goes to Vaikuntha Dham. In the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata it is said, “त्रिपुरं दहते यज्ञः स्नानं तीर्थे तु दहते। सर्वपापं च तीर्थे स्नात्वा सर्वं भवति शुद्धये।।”
This implies that Yagya purifies the three worlds, but by bathing in the Tirtha, all sins are destroyed and the person becomes completely pure. It is said in the Kurma Purana that all sins are destroyed by taking a bath in Kumbh. In order to destroy the sins in Kumbh and make the bath fruitful, one should also take a pledge not to commit sins.
Chinese travellers mentioned Kumbh during the time of Emperor Harsha
Besides Mastya Purana and Padma Purana, Kumbh is also mentioned in Skanda Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Brahma Purana, Kurma Purana, Padma Purana, Bhagwat Purana, Vishnu Purana, Garuda Purana and Valmiki Ramayana. According to beliefs, Kumbh has been organised since time immemorial. Some say that it is even older than the Indus Civilization. It is said that it is 1,000 years older than the Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilisation.
Kalidas, who was one of the nine gems (navratna ministers) of Emperor Vikramaditya of the Parmar dynasty who lived 500 years before the birth of Christ, has also mentioned it in his immortal work Raghuvansham. Chinese traveller Huen Tsang (or Xuanzang), who stayed in India from 629-645 AD during the reign of Emperor Harshvardhan Bains, who is also known as Emperor Harsh in history, has also described Kumbh. There are many descriptions of it in the Mughal period.
It is believed that most of the Puranas were written in a later period. Many were even written in the 15th and 16th century. It is said in some religious texts that the Kumbh Mela was first started by Emperor Harshvardhan. Huen Tsang came to Prayagraj during his journey and he has written in his travelogue that Emperor Harshvardhan used to organize a fair at the confluence of rivers every five years and used to give donations to the poor there.
The significance of Akshayvat, CM Yogi removed the restrictions imposed during the Mughal period
It is said that the benefits of bathing in Prayagraj Kumbh are obtained only when one visits the Akshayvat tree located there. There is an ancient fort on the banks of Sangam, in which this Akshayvat is located. Akshayvat is also mentioned in the Puranas. It is said that this vatvriksh has been a witness to the development and destruction of the universe. It never gets destroyed. Mughal tyrant Akbar had banned the darshan and worship of Akshayvat.
After this, the late CDS General Bipin Rawat came here and visited the Patalpuri temple and later due to his efforts, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lifted the ban on the visit of common people here in the year 2018. Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also came here and visited this eternal Akshayvat.
It is said about this Banyan tree that Mata Sita blessed this tree that it will remain green even when the earth will submerge in water and everything will be destroyed during the Pralaya Kaal. Apart from this, there is also a belief that Lord Krishna had sat on this Banyan tree in his childhood form. Since then, Shri Hari sleeps on its leaves. In Padma Purana, Akshayvat has been called the umbrella of Tirtharaj Prayag.
Hwen Tsang has written about Akshayvat that there is a temple in the city and there is a huge banyan tree in it. Its branches and leaves are spread far and wide. The description of this banyan tree is also found in Valmiki Ramayana. It is said that Bharadwaj Muni had told Lord Shri Ram that both the brothers should go to the confluence of Ganga-Yamuna and a very big banyan tree will be found there. From there, both the brothers should cross the Yamuna.
Bharadwaj Muni tells Lord Ram about Akshayvat that other trees from all sides will surround it. Many Siddha Purushas will be living in its shade. After reaching there, one should seek blessings from the Banyan tree. It is said that Mother Sita did the same and also blessed Akshayvat that whoever worships Akshayvat after taking a bath in Sangam will get the fruits of the bath.
It is said that Brahma started a yagya at the Sangam of Prayagraj at the beginning of creation. In this, Lord Vishnu became the host and Lord Shiva became the deity. At the end of the Yagya, the three gods produced a tree from their power, which is today called Akshayvat. According to scientists, the age of this banyan tree is said to be 5270 years. It is said that the roots of this Akshayvat are located in the netherworld.
It is said that attempts were made to destroy Akshayvat during the Mughal period. Apart from this, many Muslim invaders also tried to destroy it by cutting and burning it, but they failed. It is believed that there are five such Vat trees on the earth. First Akshayvat in Prayagraj, second Siddhavat in Ujjain, third Vanshivat in Vrindavan, fourth Mokshavat in Gaya and fifth Panchavat in Panchvati.
When is Maha Kumbh, Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh organised?
This time Kumbh is being held in Prayagraj after 144 years. Interestingly, Kumbh is of five types – Maha Kumbh, Poorna Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh, Kumbh and Magh Kumbh, which is also called Magh Mela. The Maha Kumbh, which is being held after 144 years, is organised only at the Sangam of Prayagraj. According to the scriptures, when Jupiter enters Taurus and the Sun enters Capricorn, then Kumbh Mela is organised in Prayagraj.
The Poorna Kumbh is held every 12 years. The full Kumbh is held at 4 pilgrimage sites – Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik and Prayagraj. Haridwar is situated on the Ganga river, Ujjain at the Shipra river, Nasik at the Godavari river and Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. When the Sun enters Aries and Jupiter enters Aquarius, the Kumbh Mela is held at Haridwar.
Meanwhile, Ardh Kumbh is organised every 6 years only at two places- Prayagraj and Haridwar. Magh Kumbh is organised every year only at Prayagraj. When the Sun enters the Leo, the Kumbh celebrated in Ujjain is called Simhastha Kumbh. When the Sun and Jupiter enter the Leo sign, then this Kumbh Mela is celebrated in Nashik.