How Kumbh Mela Represents The Vibrancy of Sanatan Dharma

According to UNESCO, the Kumbh Mela is the world's biggest gathering of individuals of Hindu heritage. All facets of life, from hospitality and spirituality to intellectualism, are brought together on a journey that depicts the vast and diverse culture of India in a celebration of salvation.

Samudra Manthan to churn the ocean for Amrith. Image Source: Vedicfeed.com

The world's largest gathering in UNESCO's list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity', the Kumbh Mela is nearly two thousand years old, and every 12 years sadhus from all over the country congregate at Mela's site as if it were a family reunion from their caves in woodland nooks, villages, or hills. Amongst the four cities Prayagraj, Nashik, Haridwar, and Ujjain, the Kumbh Mela held in Prayagraj is the oldest of all.  Sadhus and other Hindus on pilgrimage do rituals besides riverbanks while they engage in meditation, spiritual discourse, and Langars. They spend a month together before returning with the riches of this spiritual congregation, where spiritual energies are at their peak, to their native homes once again.  Each year, the exact dates are calculated by the zodiac positions of Jupiter, the Sun, and the Moon. According to Hindu astrology, the Sun is the Atma, the moon is man, and Jupiter is dharma.

Many individuals, from devotees to sadhus, come here to discover their gurus, feel the high energies, pursue dharma, and many other serendipitous happenings that can occur in such a huge event.  Sanatan Dharma recognizes God as consciousness. Kumbh depicts how Indian civilization has been an expression of all the individual spiritual discoveries in many domains such as the arts and sciences. The Kumbh symbolizes the underlying unity and ultimate oneness of Indian identity, regardless of personal views, the commonality being, simply, knowing the fundamental essence of existence, by freely honoring the variety in all of creation and among each other, and the inherent divinity in everyone.

The word Kumbh is derived from the everlasting pot of nectar battled over by the Devtas and demons in ancient Vedic literature known as the Puranas. Mela is a Sanskrit term that means "gathering" or "meeting."

The Samudra Manthan is one of the folktales organized. Vishnu organized the churning of the cosmic ocean to achieve Amrith (immortality nectar). The Asuras and Devas were required to participate, but they began to quarrel over how the Amrith would be shared between them. The churning of the Ocean of Milk was a tedious task, with Mount Mandara serving as the churning rod and Vasuki, the serpent that resides on Shiva's neck, serving as the churning rope. Vishnu suggested to the Devas that they negotiate a peace treaty with the Asuras in exchange for something valuable. After reaching an agreement, the Devas and Asuras could churn the Ocean of Milk for Amrita. After many trials and tribulations, the nectar was extracted, and a few droplets dropped in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik, which is why the Kumbh Mela is celebrated in these cities.

The search for knowledge and the liveliness of intellectualism at the Kumbh Mela should not be overlooked. Attendees at the mela spend their time discussing, debating, reading, and exchanging views with one another and the general public through Katha Pravachan Parampara, a traditional method of teaching through storytelling. This technique allows one to create their unique morality and knowledge via their own self, ending on what seems appropriate based on their own intellect and inner guidance. The Satsang and the tradition of singing together take those who attend the Kumbh Mela to another plane of experience, singing of gods who embody higher spiritual truths via song.

To make this a reality, society joins together from all walks of life, including police, labourers, business people, student employees, children, women, and doctors. They come to the Kumbh to do Seva with the mindset of Atithi Devo-Bhava, the guest is near to God. The security and trust of oneness are felt in the flow of the great number of pilgrims, Hindus, sadhus, and ordinary people here. The Kumbh Mela provides a whole new route for employment and sustenance for both people and traditions, allowing them to thrive.