Sahaja Yoga Meditation Australia

Kumbh Mela, 2010

One of the holiest of holy festivals and fairs of Hindus – the Kumbh Mela – attracts the largest number of religious and spiritual seekers at one place who come down to receive their blessings by bathing in the waters of the River Ganges during this particular auspicious festival.

Interestingly, Sahaja Yogis in Haridwar had hosted a big stall in that fair where a very successful  Self Realization program during Kumbh Mela was worked out to reach more than 31,000 seekers from various parts of the globe from March to April 2010. The seekers who received their Self Realization were from all sects including the ritualistic sadhus (saints) and various religious seekers.

There were such moments that can be described as unique experiences of its own kind (never heard of before), as many saints who had come from the high recesses of the Himalayas just expressed their anxiousness to receive their Self Realization. They just turned up near the hosted stall of Sahaja Yogis, and when asked what they were seeking they said affirmatively that they had come all  the way to receive their Self Realization, as if they knew everything beforehand like any other expert who could tell what is going to happen next. One of them claimed after seeing the photograph of Shri Mataji after the Self Realization that they  have already met Her with Her holy darshan at Himalayas from where they were coming to attend this special event.

Significance and legend behind the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar
According to astrologers, the “Kumbh Fair” takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage festival. It takes place at the following four locations of India: Prayag at Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh),  Haridwar  (Uttarakhand), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Nasik (Maharashtra).

The origin and significance of this Kumbh is very ancient and dates back to the time of the churning of the primordial sea (Samudramanthan). The resultant effect of this primordial churning is said to ensue a fierce battle between Gods and demons (Asuras) when the pot of nectar of immortality, called the “elixir of life” came out of the sea. The legend says that to prevent the vessel of ambrosia (Amruta) being snatched away forcibly by the powerful Asuras, four designate  deities, namely Brahaspati (Jupitar), Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon) and Shani (Saturn), were entrusted to take it to a safer place for the gods. Asuras, learning of the conspiracy, turned furious and chased these four gods running away with the vessel. This legendary chase  is said to have lasted for twelve days and nights during which the Devtas and Asuras went round the earth. During this chase the Devtas (deities) put the prized vessel containing ambrosia at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik.

According to Indian Holy Scriptures and Puranas, during the process of the fight that ensued between the Devtas and Asuras over the rightful possession of the  Amruta, it spilled out of the vessel at these four places which turned them into holy places on earth during the chase. To commemorate this holy event of chasing and shifting their hiding places with the vessel of the Amrut, Kumbh  is celebrated at the above four places periodically.

In India the festival is religiously very important for the Hindus. At every Kumbh occasion, millions of Hindus take part in the celebrations. During the 2004 Kumbh at Haridwar, more than 10 millions devotees were said to have participated at the site. Saints, seers, priests and yogis from all corners of India gathered to participate in Kumbh. Haridwar is considered very holy, due to the fact that the River Ganga enters the plains cascading from mountains through this route.

It is popularly believed since ancient times that bathing during this Kumbh season in the waters of the Ganges helps cure the seeker of all sins and evils, while granting one salvation and boons. It is also believed that during the phase of this Kumbh the water of Ganga is charged with positive healing effects.

(Photograph: liveindia.com)