Maha Kumbh - A Maha experience

Maha Kumbh Snan on Maha Shivaratri at Prayagraj 

Date: 26th February 2025, Maha Shivaratri 

Place: Maha Kumbh mela, Prayagraj, India 

World's oldest, world's biggest spiritual event, Worlds largest peaceful gathering of people in one location. 460 million people come in 45 days. That's over 10 million a day! To put this in perspective, other largest single location peaceful gatherings are Mecca is 19m in one year, Vatican is 20m in a year, Tirupati temple is 25m in a year , Arba'een Pilgrimage of Shia Muslims (to Karbala Iraq) 30m in one year.

Maha Kumbh is one phrase is "A Maha Experience of a life time". 

Its the grandest spectacle I have witnessed ever in my life. Nothing on this scale exists anywhere in the world. 

Crowds, Colors, Confluence and Chaos on the outside. Serenity, Spirituality, Science and Silence on the inside. 

Before I write about kumbh mela, let me explain a miracle which happened in my life, 3 weeks back, on 5th February 2025. You will realize it is Lord Shivas grace, he chose the date and the venue to give his blessings in abundance, to an ordinary devotee like me.

Miracle before Kumbh Mela

Great scientist and deeply spiritual Albert Einstein said "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." 

Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous. Else how could I have maha kumbh snan exactly on Maha Shivaratri? Read on, sorry it's a bit long.

Late at night on 4th February 2025, I decided to travel to Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj which happens once in 144 years. I spoke to a friend (CP) who recently traveled there and took his guidance. My wife who is wary of large crowds politely declined to join me and asked me to carry on. I had to travel abroad later in the month and I'm away from 14th to 24th Feb. So I planned to go on 6th Feb and do snan on 7th and come back by 8th. I booked my air tickets and stay and even booked a taxi to Bangalore airport for the 6th morning. I sent my flight details to my brother Ranga before going to sleep. Next day, early in morning at 7.30 my brother calls me and says there might be a mistake. I had booked for 6th March (instead of 6th Feb) and he said the last date for Maha Kumbh is 26th Feb (Shivaratri). Then I realized my mistake. I knew if I canceled I'd lose money. Also wanted to check if still tickets were available for tomorrow (6th Feb). There were no direct flights. It's 16 hour one-way travel with a layover in two cities. And the ticket price was exorbitant. Also, no stays were available in Prayagraj.

Then miracles below started happening: 

1. I realized I could cancel the ticket with almost zero cancelation fees. And I did.

2. The money was instantly transferred to my MMT wallet within 5 mins. I could immediately purchase another ticket now with the wallet money.

3. I found a direct flight, just 2.5 hours travel one way from Bangalore to Prayagraj on 25th Onward and 27th Feb return. 

4. The price of the flight ticket was also reasonable. Literally one-third of the price for this week.

5. I happened to be there on the most auspicious Shivaratri day for SNAN at Triveni Sangam.

6. I even got my accommodation done with the help of my friend, Venkat another Sathya Sai Baba devotee who was there at Kumbh just on 3rd Feb this week.

All these happened just within one hour 8.30 am to 9.30 am ON 5th February. Just realized when God has willed something for you like the above, even if you make a wrong booking on another date, you will come back to His master plan. Just looking back, I was wondering if making me go to Triveni Sangam during Maha Kumbh mela on one of the holiest days of Shivaratri cannot be a coincidence. I do Shiv Linga Jal Abhisheka every Monday. Maybe Bholenath wanted me to come on that particular day. And he sent a message to change dates through my brother even when I made a wrong booking. Miracles and coincidences are truly God's ways of remaining anonymous. And today on Maha Shivaratri i did take a SNAN at Kumbh Mela with my home idol Shiv linga at Triveni Sangam. See picture.

Origins of the Kumbh mela

The Kumbh Mela originates from the Hindu story of the churning of the ocean, or Samudra Manthan. The story describes how the gods and demons fought over a pot of nectar of immortality, and how drops of the nectar fell at four locations in India. These locations are the sites of the Kumbh Mela, namely Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik.

Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th century philosopher is credited with establishing the Kumbh Mela as a gathering of spiritual leaders and ascetics. He also established monasteries and the 13 akharas, or warrior-saint sects, that are still important parts of the Kumbh Mela. He brought together different sects of Hinduism, including Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism. He promoted regular gatherings of spiritual leaders and ascetics. He created the structure of the Kumbh Mela, which is still followed today. Essentially he spiritually united the Hindus from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Afghanistan to Arunachal. 

Why is Maha Kumbh special at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj?

1. Date: "Maha Kumbh" is a period of just 45 dats, which occurs only once every 144 years at Prayagraj, while a Purna Kumbh happens every 12 years at one of the four sacred sites (Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain).

2. Time: While any one of the 45 days are great, there are 4 days (two Amavasya and two poornimas) which are extra special. One of the most auspicious days is Maha Shivaratri 26th Feb, the last day of the Kumbh mela. It is also a celestial significant day, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are visible together, in northern hemisphere enhancing the spiritual significance. These planetary positions were computed by ancient hindus without any computers, using Vedic mathematics, thousands of years back.

3. City: Pra-Yag means First Yagna. Per Hindu scriptures, Brahmas first yagna after creation of world was done here hence the name. Other names of this city are Prayag, Allahabad, Sangam-Nagri, Kumbh-Nagri etc.

4. Place: Triveni sangam, is the physical confluence of three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. It also has a deeper spiritual meaning. Its the confluence of Ganga (Purity, Selflessness), Yamuna (devotion), and Saraswati (knowledge) representing the unity of body, mind, and spirit.

5. Benefits of SNAN (Ritual Bathing)

A bath at Triveni Sangam is believed to wash away sins and cleanse the soul.

It provides immense spiritual merit, release negative karmas due to planetary misalignment and facilitate spiritual growth. It liberates the soul from the cycle of rebirth. Brings the unity of body, mind, and spirit. Brings unity of Purity (Ganga) with devotion (Yamuna) and wisdom (Saraswati). 

About my experience today.

Before I came here today, a few well meaning friends warned me of huge queues, long walking, lack of food, non acceptance of digital payments, unclean water at Bathing ghats etc. Its good i had low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised that none of it was true for me.

I already narrated the miracle before Kumbh Mela and how I got to be here on Maha Shivaratri. Even my journey to snan was quite smooth. Many of my friends walked for few hours. By Lord Shivas grace my total time from Hotel to back to Hotel was just 4 hours. I hardly walked for 10 mins. Through a known friend I booked a person who took me on a short cut via scooter to the Ghat in 30 mins and arranged a boat. The boat journey one way was an hour. Took holy bath, did linga pooja, changed clothes and back on boat to Ghat. I got down at the wrong Ghat.  The policeman, when I told him I'm.from Bangalore, was kind enough to drive me on hus own motorcycle to the correct Ghat. Then back by scooter to hotel. Left at 10.30am was back by 2.30pm. The water was quite clean at the Sangam area despite massive crowds. That's a miracle itself.

Arrangements by UP & Central Govt

I must compliment  the great work by Uttar Pradesh state government under Yogi Adithyanath and central govt under PM Modi. To handle a crowd of 460m (almost entire Europe) within 45 days without major events or mishaps is indeed a miracle. Imagine the infrastructure set up here.

Permanent structures:

2 Airports (civil military) 11 Railway stations 12km of riverside ghats 17 major roads 12 new flyovers 11 hospitals Multiple sewage treatment plants 9 permanent ghats 

Temporary structures:  

30 temporary ghats for Bathing, 200,000 tents with 150,000 modern toilets, 2000 water ATMS, 2000 acres only for vehicle parking, 400 doctors, 800 nurses, 150,000 free meals served per day, police and traffic management.

The day after

I toured Prayagraj the day after Maha Shivaratri  when there were no crowds. Had some local jelebis and samosas. 

I got good photos of sangam without crowds. Also filled a 5 litre can with Ganga Yamuna Saraswati Jal for home. I also we t to the newly constructed Shivalaya park, where the 12 jyotir Lingam temple models are constructed from Scrap Iron, sending a message of green and recycling. Appreciated the fact better, Bholenath is there from Himalayas to Indian Ocean among all cultures of India. 

Closing spiritual thoughts 

Before I close, I want to reiterate it's a moving spiritual experience.  Here are few things which came to my mind today in no particular order, which left me in a reflective mood. Hope it creates a similar experience for you. Stay blessed.

Nash Narasimhan Tupil 

Maha Shivaratri @ Maha Kumbh

26th February 2025. Prayagraj, India

.........

Adi Shankaracharya quotes:

The entire universe is truly the Self. There exists nothing at all other than the Self.

Who is free from sin? One who chants the name of God.

To whom do the gods pay homage? To the one who is truly compassionate.

I am neither the earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air, nor sky, nor any other properties. I am not the senses and not even the mind. I am Shiva, the undivided essence of consciousness (Shivoham)

Sai Baba quotes:

How is Man different from God? Man gets and forgets, but God gives and forgives.

Love all, serve all. Help ever, hurt never.

My reflections:

What's the best prayer? Don't ask for anything, thank God for everything.

What's best thing about life? Just living. If you breathe air in, it comes out. Dead can't do that. Be happy about that.

Carl Sagan quotes:

Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.

The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.

If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.

Jalaluddin Rumi quotes:

Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation.

The wound is the place where the Light enters you.

You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop.

Hara Hara Mahadev. Om sai ram.

All above images from internet. Copyrights with respective owners.

Below are photos from my phone

Sangam Snan with Shiv Linga on hand 

OM NAMA SHIVAYA.