DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
Anthony Dendauw
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Kumbh Mela or the Maha Kumbh is the largest religious gathering in the World and a center of mass Hindu pilgrimage. Kumbh Mela witnesses millions of devotees taking a dip in the holy rivers.
The main ritual performed at the Kumbh Mela is the ritual bath. Taking a dip in the sacred water of the holy rivers during the auspicious Kumbh Mela is considered to wash away all the past sins and leads to the attainment of Moksha - freedom from the cycle of birth and death - Pilgrims worship by the river banks. Other rituals during the Kumbh Mela include singing devotional songs, spreading devotional messages and offering food to others. Major attraction of the Kumbh Mela are the Naga Babas gathered to take the ritual bath.
KUMBH MELA Kumbh Mela derives its name from the immortal nectar pot where the demigods, Deftas, and the demons, Asuras, fighting over it. Kumbh Mela (the jar) is discussed in the creation story of the ancient Vedic scriptures, the Puranas, some 500 years BC.
Vedic scriptures, the Puranas
These are 18 very old books (legends and stories) about the history of our planet and other planets. These writings are divided into three groups of six books. 6 books cover Vishnu, the sustainer, 6 books describe Shiva, the destroyer, and six books tell the story of Brahma, the creator. These three figures are called Trimurti. It describes the creation of the universum and the churning of the oceans.
SAMUDRA MANTHAN Trimurti, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
In Hinduism, Samudra manthan or Churning of the Ocean of Milk is one of the best known episodes in the Hindu mythology. The story appears in the Bhagavata Purana, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana.
THE LEGEND
Indra, the King of Devas (gods), while riding on an elephant, came across Sage Durvasa who offered him a special garland given to him by the god Shiva. Indra accepted the garland, placing it on the trunk of the elephant as a test to prove that he was not
Indra riding his elephant
an egoistic god. The elephant, knowing that Indra had no control over his own ego, threw the garland to the ground. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was to be treated as prasada. Durvasa cursed Indra and all devas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune.
In battles that followed this incident, the Devas were defeated and Asuras (demons)
Fighting of the Devas and Asuras
led by king Bali gained control of the universe. Devas sought help from the god Vishnu Who advised them to treat asuras in a diplomatic manner. Devas formed an alliance with asuras to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them. However, Vishnu told Vishnu at The Ocean of Milk
Devas that He would arrange that they alone obtain the nectar.
The churning of the Ocean of Milk was an elaborate process. Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, who abides on Shiva's neck, became the churning rope. The demons demanded to hold the head of the snake, while the gods taking advice from Vishnu, agreed to hold its tail. As a result the demons were poisoned by fumes emitted by Vasuki. Despite this, the gods and The churning of the Ocean of Milk
demons pulled back and forth on the snake's
body
alternately,
causing
the
mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. However, once the mountain was placed on the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu, in the form of a turtle Kurma, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back.
The Samudra Manthan process released a number of things from the Milk Ocean. One product was the lethal poison known as Halahala. (In some versions of the story, this poison escaped from the mouth of the Mount Mandara used for churning
serpent king as the demons and gods churned.) This terrified the gods and demons
because
the
poison
was
so
powerful that it can destroy all of creation. Then the gods approached Shiva for protection. Shiva consumed the poison in an act to protect the universe, and his wife Parvati pressed her hand on Shiva's throat to save the universe. As a result, The color of Shiva's neck turned blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelakanta (the blue-throated one; "neela" = "blue", "kantha"
Shiva drinks the poison, Halahala
= "throat" in Sanskrit).
All kinds of herbs were cast into the ocean and fourteen Ratnas (gems or treasures) were produced from the ocean and were divided between asuras and gods. Though usually the Ratnas are enumerated as 14, the list in the scriptures ranges from 9 to 14
Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune
Ratnas. Most lists include: According to the quality of the treasures produced, they were accepted by Vishnu, the devas, and the asuras.
There were three categories of Goddesses which emerged from the ocean; • Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune and Wealth - who accepted Vishnu as Her eternal consort. • Apsaras, various divine nymphs like Rambha, Menaka, Punjisthala etc. - chose the demigods as their companions
Kamadhenu, the devine cow
• Varuni or Sura, goddess and creator of alcohol - taken - somewhat reluctantly (she appeared dishevelled and argumentative) - accepted the demons.
Likewise, three types of supernatural animals appeared; • Kamadhenu or Surabhi (Sanskrit: kāmadhuk), the wish-granting divine cow - taken by Vishnu, and given to sages so ghee from her milk could be used in sacrifices. • Airavata, and several other elephants, taken by Indra, leader of the devas.
Airavata, the elephant of Indra
• Uchhaishravas, the divine 7-headed horse - given to the demons.
There were three valuables; • Kaustubha, the most valuable jewel in the world, worn by lord Vishnu. • Parijat, the divine flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt - taken to Indraloka by the devas. • Sharanga, A powerful bow - symbolic of the demon's belligerence.
Sharanga, a powerfull bow
Additionally produced were; • Chandra, the moon which adorned Shiva's head • Dhanvantari, the doctor of the gods with Amrita the nectar of immortality. (At times, considered as two different Ratnas) • Halahala, the poison swallowed by Shiva The battlefield to gain the nectar
THE NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY
Finally, Dhanvantari, the heavenly physician, emerged with a pot containing Amrita, the heavenly nectar of immortality. Fierce fighting ensued between Devas and Asuras for the nectar. To protect the nectar from Asuras, the divine Garuda took the pot, and flew away from the battle-scene. While Garuda was in his flight over planet Earth, it is believed that four drops of nectar fell at four places - Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Fight between the Devas and Asuras
Ujjain and Nasik. This legend is the basis for the belief that these places acquired a certain mystical power and spirituality. A Kumbh Mela is celebrated at the four places every twelve years for this reason. People believe that after bathing there during the Kumbha mela, one can get the primeval heaven and moksha (Sanskrit: mokṣha). devas (demigods) appealed to Vishnu, who then took the form of Mohini and as a beautiful and enchanting damsel, Mohini distracted the asuras, took the amrita, and distributed it among the Devas, who drank it. Asura RahuKetu, disguised himself as a
Garuda, flying away with the nectar
deva and drank some nectar. Due to their luminous nature, the sun god Surya and the moon god Chandra noticed the switching of sides. They informed Mohini. But before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohini cut off his head with her divine discus, the Sudarshana Chakra. But as the nectar had gone down his throat he did not die. From that day, his head was called Rahu and body was called Ketu. Later Rahu and Ketu became planets. The story ends with the rejuvenated Devas defeating the asuras.
RahuKetu beheaded by Mohini
“India is not, as people keep calling it, an underdeveloped country, but rather, in the context of its history and cultural heritage, a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay.�
Shashi Tharoor
Special thanks to my dear friend Skarrie for joy and support on this fascinating trip! See you at Kumbh Mela 2025!
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