Kumbh Mela--the world's most massive act of faith

Arial shot of Kumbh Mela camp

Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu Pilgrimage made by devotees, sadhus and monks, to bathe in sacred rivers believed to free one's self from past sins and thus be eligible for liberation from the cycle of life and death. It is held every third year at each of these four places: the Ganga at Haridwar, the Godawari at Nasik, the Shipra at Ujjain and the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati (Triveni Sangam) at Prayag, Allahabad. These four places hold a special place in Hindu scripture.

Hindu Mythology tells the tale of the 'Churning of the Ocean of Milk.' The Devas (gods,)  always under siege from their brothers, the Asuras (demons,) desired immortality. They sought advice from Lord Vishnu who told them Amirt, the nectar of immortality, could only be produced by Churning the Ocean of Milk. The Gods realizing they didn't have enough power to complete this task alone, made a truce with the Demons to work together proposing an equal split of the nectar upon completion. Vishnu, aware of the agreement, assured the Gods he would see to it they alone would receive the nectar.

As the story goes, the Mondara Mountain was used as the churning rod, the Serpent King Vasuki as the rope and Kurma, a giant Turtle, as the support beneath the mountain.  Demigods and demons pulled back and forth on the snake causing the mountain to rotate and churn the ocean. This went on for a century during which time many things were produced: poison from the serpent's mouth (which Shiva himself drank to save the universe) goddess Lakshmi, Kamadhenu the wish-granting cow, jewels and many other treasures. And finally, the Amrit Kumbh, the pot of the nectar of immortality.

Immediately, fierce fighting began. In an attempt to protect the nectar from the demons, Garunda, the King of Birds, took the pot and flew away from the battle scene.  Legend has it during  Garunda's flee, lasting 12 days-equivalent to 12 years on Earth, four drops of nectar spilled to earth;  at Haridwar, Godwari, Ujjain and Allahabad...hence the four centers of pilgrimage for the Kumbh Mela.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years in Allahabad, is considered the holiest and most auspicious of the four locations. Not only is it believed that Brahma, after creating the world, offered his first sacrifice here, but it holds a significant position in Hindu scriptures for possessing  the Triveni Sangam; the meeting of the three holy rivers where one of the drops fell.

 

This year, between January 27-February 25th, over 80 million people will travel from over the world, from all walks of life, to take part in religious discussions, devotional singing and bathe in this most auspicious place. Several of us, friends and family of the Bal Ashram, were blessed to take part in this spiritual tradition...one where people come together irrespective of caste, color, creed, or religion. It was an experience of a lifetime.

Joyti and myself dipping in the Sangam

 “It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon mulittudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining.  It is done in love, or it is done in fear;  I do not know which it is.  No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people…”

Mark Twain 1895

To view more amazing pictures, please click the link below

Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela 2013
(Slide show photos courtesy of Maria R.)

Namaste,
Caspian
Bal Ashram

                         

Namaste from the Bal Ashram

 
 

 
 Namaste from the Bal Ashram! It's been a year since my last visit and it's wonderful to be back with the children...each and every one looks bigger, happy and busy!

There is always something going on here...a new project, a new lesson, new activities....

Here's a quick peek at the latest:

The Ashram's Organic Store, which sells items grown and produced at the EcoPark, is more popular then ever. Every day, people from the village come to buy fresh milk, honey and vegetables. A recent addition on the menu: fresh mushrooms! The 'mushroom center," located adjacent to the store, houses several growing pods; grass layered with spores and shaped in to spheres, then kept in the dark and moist room...a perfect growing environment

 

Mackenzie 'Mira' Dooner is a regular face around the Ashram. Mira, who graduated from high school in Carmel California, was accepted to Princeton University. Instead of starting college right away, she opted to take part in their Gap Year Program. She is spending over seven months in Varanasi and comes to the Bal Ashram daily to work with the children. Mira carries on the important work of her predecessors by maintaining the grey wager filtration system that was installed last year. She teaches the children how the filter works and the importance of water preservation and conservation. You can read more about the filter in the December 2012 newsletter

 

 

The holding tank containing the water processed by the grey water filter sits on one of the terraced steps and often has a small runoff. The benefit? A perfect area to grow rows and rows of spinach and beets!

 

 

School work finished?

Seva completed for the day?

It's time for Cricket!
 

The boys...both young and old...even the teachers...are all avid cricket players. Most every evening, in the open field across from the Ashram gates, there is a lively and competitive game to watch. Only darkness or the ball going in to the Ganges can end the fun!





 

 

 

New Arrivals! The Amirt Sagar Environmental  Center has been blessed with four new calves in the past few months....three of which are girls! They are all happy and healthy and are a welcome addition to the organic dairy which is so vital in helping the Ashram move towards self sustainability.

 

 

 

 

I'll leave you with the sun rising over Ma Ganges...... 



 

 

Om Shanti,

Caspian

January 28, 2013

Bal Ashram