Mahakumbh Mela – Astrological Aspect - Travel and luxury camps in India

Mahakumbh Mela - Astrological Aspect

Elemental Meaning of Kumbh - Kumbh represents the confluence of all our cultures. It symbolizes spiritual awakening and the eternal flow of humanity. It embodies the surge of rivers, the expanse and forests and the ancient wisdom of the sages. Kumbh is the flow of life itself, symbolizing the confluence of nature and humanity. It is the source of all energy.

Kumbh makes humankind realize the existence of this world and the other, the nature of sins and blessings, the difference between wisdom and ignorance and the contrast between darkness and light. Holy rivers symbolize the lyrical flow of humanity and represent the life giving water within the human body. In the human body, which is an embodiment of home, nothing is possible without the five elements. These elements – fire, wind, water, earth and sky – symbolize the human body. The great sage-poet Sant Kabir has explained this sublime thought in his unique manner.

The Himalayas are the abode of the soul of the gods. The Holy Ganga embarks upon its journey from there, encompassing forests, mountain sages and the culture of villages. The Yamuna is a co-traveler, putting an end to all sins. Known variously as Tripathga, Shivpuri and other names, the Ganga liberated the children of the Suryavanshi king Sagar. Its holy water is considered nectar itself.

Astrological Aspect

In the story of the Sea Churning, it is explained that the stars are directly related to the Kumbh festival. Jayant took 12 days to carry the nectar kalash to heaven. One day of the gods is equal to one year of humans. This is why, in the sequence of stars, the Kumbh is held at festival places. The significance of this festival is clear through mythological study, which shows that the Kumbh festival and the Ganga are especially related. While the Ganga flows in Prayag, the Godavari of Nasik is also called Ganga, known by the name of Gomti Ganga. Shipra is recognized as the by northern branch of Ganga from Kashi. From that place, Shipra becomes the eastern branch, where it was once merged with Ganga. The phellus named Gangeshwar is worshipped there by Ganga. This fact is explained by the two couplets of Brahm Purana and Skandha Purana:

"विन्ध्यस्य दक्षिणे गंगा गौतमी सा निगद्यते
उत्तरे सापि विन्ध्यस्य भगीरत्यभिधीयते ।"

"एव मुक्त्वा गता गंगा कलया वन संस्थिता
गंगेश्वरं तु यः पश्येत स्नात्वा शिप्राम्भासि प्रिये।"

Astrological Events and Kumbh

The Kumbh festival occurs every 12 years and is influenced by various astrological positions:

When Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries, the Kumbh festival is held at Haridwar.

"पद्मिनी नायके मेषे कुम्भ राशि गते गुरोः।
गंगा द्वारे भवेद योगः कुम्भ नामा तथोत्तमाः।।"

When Jupiter enters Aries and the Sun and Moon enters Capricon on the lunar conjunction day (Amavasya), the Kumbh festival is held at Prayag.

"मेष राशि गते जीवे मकरे चन्द्र भास्करौ।
अमावस्या तदा योगः कुम्भख्यस्तीर्थ नायके।।"

When the Sun enters Capricon and Jupiter enters Taurus, the Kumbh festival is held at Prayag.

"मकरे च दिवा नाथे ह्मजगें च बृहस्पतौ कुम्भ योगोभवेत्तत्र प्रयागे ह्यति दूलर्भ:"

When Jupiter enters Leo, the Kumbh festival is held at Nasik on the bank of the Godavari. When Jupiter enters Leo and the Sun enters Aries, the Kumbh festival is held at Ujjain.

"सिंह राशि गते सूर्ये सिंह राशौ बृहस्पतौ।
गोदावर्या भवेत कुम्भों जायते खलु मुक्तिदः।।"

"मेष राशि गते सूर्ये सिंह राशौ बृहस्पतौ।
उज्जियन्यां भवेत कुम्भः सदामुक्ति प्रदायकः।।"

Further Astrological Calculations

Astrological options, similar to those for Prayag, are available for Nasik and Ujjain:

When Jupiter, Sun and Moon enter Cancer on Amavasya (the last day of the dark half of the month), the Kumbh festival is held on the bank of the Godavari.

"कर्के गुरू स्तथा भानुचन्द्रश्चन्द्रर्क्षगतस्था।
गोदावर्या तदा कुम्भो जयाते Sवनि मण्डले।।"

When Jupiter enters Libra and the Sun and Moon remain together on Kartik Amavasya (the 8^th month of the Hindu year), the Moksha Dayak (liberation giving) Kumbh festival is held at Ujjain.

Mythological References

Mythological texts like the Naaradiya Purana (2/66/44), Shiva Purana (1/12/22-23), Barah Purana (1/71/47/48) and Brahma Purana provide astrological analysis regarding the events of Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh (which occurs every 6 years). The Kumbh festival starts in Haridwar at intervals of every 3 years. After Haridwar, the Kumbh festival is celebrated at Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain. The Kumbh festival at Prayag is held 3 years after Haridwar and there is a 3-year difference between the Kumbh festival at Prayag and Nasik. However, the Kumbh festivals at Nasik and Ujjain are celebrated in the same year, though sometimes the Kumbh festival at Nasik precedes Ujjain.

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