Till the end of February, it seems that all roads are leading to Prayagraj. Whether you are religious or not, one cannot help but marvel at the power of faith that is driving people from all walks of life to attend the Maha Kumbh. Apart from being the most Instagrammable event of the year, there is a cosmic calculation behind this massive gathering and the ritual bathing. The planetary alignments are believed to have a profound impact on the hukman body and on earth and water.
To understand the deeper significance of the rituals and the origins of Kumbh Mela, we have with us Bharatiya Sanatan sanskriti Scholar, Shriman Yagnik Ji on buzz by the bay.
Does dipping in the sangam wash away all sins? Do we still have to endure the fruits of our karma? What is the true significance of taking an Amrit snaan? All these questions are answered in this episode.
Excerpts from the interview:
You just returned from Kumbh. What kind of energy and emotions do you feel?
Kumbh reflects the Indian ethos and soul. It is an amazing sight. The emotions you witness and experience at Kumbh in Prayagraj—you can’t feel and see in our big metros. There is simplicity, and there is a desire to be in harmony with everyone. There is a desire to be one with everyone. There was a very sad and unfortunate stampede that killed so many on Mauni Amavasya at Kumbh. And though there is pain on people’s faces, there is also a sense of solace.
What is the planetary alignment that makes this such an important event?
According to Kumbh tradition, when the sun and moon are in Makar Rashi, and Brihaspathi or Jupiter is in Mesh or Vrsha Rashi, and Saturn is along with it—that’s when Maha Kumbh happens in Prayagraj. This time the constellation is extraordinary. All the planets are in one line, or rekha. Its influence is strong on water, land, and the environment in Prayagraj.
Is it necessary to dip only from the Sangam nose? Or is it auspiscious to dip anywhere along the sangam bank? During Mauni Amavasya, the stampede happened because everyone rushed to dip from that one particular spot—the Sangam nose.
The saints and sadahus have said that it’s not necessary to dip in that exact spot. How can 40 crore people dip in one spot? The positive impact of the sangam spreads a minimum of 15 km in each direction. So that’s a total of 60 km that you can dip in to get the spiritual benefits, or punya (virtue), that you will get at the sangam nose.
Coming to this concept of washing away sins. Is it that simple that a dip in the sangam during Kumbh Mela can wash away all our sins? Don’t we still have to endure the consequences of our karma or actions?
Water washes off stains, but stains can reappear. What the sacred dip in the sangam waters does is give you the strength to atone for your sins, not just erase them. It gives you the courage to endure the punishment for your sins. You can then face your karma with a sense of contentment.
So basically, you become reconciled to enduring the consequences of the sins you have committed?
Yes, you become reconciled. You also get a sense of self-realisation that you should not commit the same sins again.
