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Thread: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

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    Post Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Know the origin of Kumbh Mela and the importance of having holy bath in the Ram Kunda. Why do sadhus wear Rudraksha and apply ash on their body?

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Namaste Suhita,

    Interesting link, thank you.
    Here is another link in reply to your question regarding wearing Bhasma. It is probably not a complete accounting of all traditions and beliefs on the subject.
    Rudraksha are a powerful natural gem, there are different kinds with different energy properties. They are worn for specific effects and in honor and remembrance of Sri Shiva. The Rudraksha trees and their fruit are said to have originated from His tears. There are some lengthy threads regarding them on the forum, >this one< is excellent for the lovely descriptions given in it by some very wise senior members.

    ~Pranam
    ~~~~~
    What has Learning profited a man, if it has not led him to worship the good feet of Him who is pure knowledge itself?
    They alone dispel the mind's distress, who take refuge at the feet of the incomparable one.
    ~~Tirukural 2, 7

    Anbe Sivamayam, Satyame Parasivam

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Thankyou Anandinii ji.

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Dhanyavad Anandiniiji. Thankyou for explaining on it.

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Kumbh Mela begins in Nasik..!!!
    Many people gather for holy dip.

    Know about the auspicious dates of holy Snan.

    Om

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Namaste,

    Quote Originally Posted by Suhita View Post
    Know the origin of Kumbh Mela and the importance of having holy bath in the Ram Kunda. Why do sadhus wear Rudraksha and apply ash on their body?
    Here are some quotes from the link provided,

    "The devotees believe that taking a bath sacred river liberates them from their past sins or karma and escapes the cycle of birth and defeat. "

    ".......To bathe in the holy river at an auspicious time and thereby achieve moksha, ......."

    To me, stuff like this undermines the importance of our festivals. One holy dip and all your misdeeds are forgiven and you are liberated and you achieve moksha? What would two dips buy me? Perhaps a bright golden halo and a magic wand? Let us be sensible and not make totally illogical claims.

    Pranam.

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Quote Originally Posted by Believer View Post
    Namaste,


    Here are some quotes from the link provided,

    "The devotees believe that taking a bath sacred river liberates them from their past sins or karma and escapes the cycle of birth and defeat. "

    ".......To bathe in the holy river at an auspicious time and thereby achieve moksha, ......."

    To me, stuff like this undermines the importance of our festivals. One holy dip and all your misdeeds are forgiven and you are liberated and you achieve moksha? What would two dips buy me? Perhaps a bright golden halo and a magic wand? Let us be sensible and not make totally illogical claims.

    Pranam.

    Namaste Believer Ji,

    Sins are not washed away by bathing in rivers but these are occasions to invite people to learn more Dharma.I think tomorrow you will declare that Srimad Bhagavadgita is a cock and bull story because it says that we should follow scriptures.

    You never look beneath the surface,just like before passing judgements without bothering to study any scripture at all.A 'modern','rational' Hindu having no beliefs at all,you want only pure observable logic,right?

    When people come for bathing in holy rivers on these occasions,they are taught the origin narrative of the river and significance of the festival.Take Ganga Avatarana,Goddess Ganga was brought to earth due to Bhagiratha tapas.Bhagiratha's ancestors put a false blame on Kapila Muni saying that he stole their Yajna horse.To absolve them from their Papa,Bhagiratha made Ganga devi flow.The story tells us that one must not accuse others without knowing the truth.

    If you read the story of Sri Godavari,you will see that many people were jealous of spiritual attainment and fame of Gautama Rishi.They schemed to defame the noble Rishi and created a Maya cow and made it to fall down.Maharshi Gautama felt bad even though he did no mistake,yet he perfomed great penance and brought the river from the Lord's matted locks to revive the cow.The moral of Godavari story is not to harbour ill feelings like envy.

    I think one member pointed out in the past,it is called Arthavada or 'exaggeration of benefits attained' with purpose to induce people to hear,learn and practice Dharma.

    Please don't have this kind of attitude towards our own scriptures,this is harmful for everybody.

    One should think,what is the story trying to say,what is the moral?What is the purpose of saying sins will get washed away?What is sin actually?How does one sin and how one avoids it?What is opposite of sin?One should reflect rather than jump to conclusions.Upon learning one begins to develop interest towards Dharma,respect for Vedas,Upanishads,Agamas,Puranas and Itihasas and understand the beauty of Hindu life.


    To the question,"What are the Sama Veda and Yajur Veda chants required in Yajnas?What causes a Yajna sacrifice to yeild results and what makes it incomplete?"

    kimĕka.n yagyiya.n sama kimĕka.n yagyiya.n yajuh .
    ka chaisha.n vr^inutĕ yagya.n ka.n yagyŏ nativartatĕ


    Now,the fool thinks that Yajnas are BS and will say also say its results are BS and so on but


    Yudhisthira says in Sriman Mahabharata:

    pranŏ vai yagyiya.n sama manŏ vai yagyiya.n yajuh .
    r^igĕka vr^inutĕ yagya.n ta.n yagyŏ nativartatĕ


    Prana is the important Sama mantra,Manas is the Yajur chant,the Rig completes the Yajna.

    What is Prana?What is Manas?What is this Yajna?Where has it been spoken of in the scriptures?Is is a ritual or is it something else?What is its purpose?Where does it occur?Outside somewhere or inside the mind also?

    The external Yajna isn't being referred to but the internal Yajna called Gnana Yajna is being spoken of.The real,eternal Yajna is to attain Atma Vidya or knowledge/realisation of the inner self.

    Those who understand the purpose of Rig,Sama,Yajur Vedas and Yajna would know why such a question has been asked and why such a reply has been given.How would those who never seen or understood how a Yajna works ever grasp its significane?And for those who have seen,how inspired they would feel when the meaning of a ritual is revealed!

    From the above 1 shloka,a great deal to philosophy can be known.If I were to reproduce what I heard from learned Purana scholars about the hidden meaning of above shloka it would run into pages.

    Similarly,the scripture says

    aatmā nadī saṁyamatoyapūrṇā
    satyahradā shīlataṭā dayormiḥ |
    tatrāvagāhaṁ kuru pāṇduputra
    na vāriṇā shudhyati chāntarātmā ||


    A rough translation of the shloka means,
    The Atman is the real river,Daya(compassion) makes its waves,control of senses is the water,Sheela(character) is the river bank,take bath is this water body,this verily purifies the innerself.

    In the first verse,the ritual is a tool to explain Dharmic philosophy.So too bathing in rivers serves many purposes.One goes gradually from external ritual to internal contemplation but not other way round.

    Every thing,every story,every statement in Hinduism has a purpose,the Rishis knew that all people cannot grasp deep philosophy directly,so they put it in the form of narratives,connected it to festivals and used such occasions to teach Dharma.


    Last edited by Ram11; 18 July 2015 at 12:05 AM. Reason: spelling error corrected
    He dances in the golden hall of Chidambaram, Let us worship His rosy anklet girt Feet.

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Namaste Ram11,

    Hope you have calmed down after letting off a big burst of steam.

    1. I don't accept your insinuation that I have less respect than you do for our scriptures/culture/traditions.

    2. If you were really living our religion instead of merely reading and memorizing it, you would not have reacted the way you did. When followed properly, Hinduism makes you calm even when in the middle of a storm. Please remember that.

    3. Xitians can do all kinds of bad things and then go to a confession and they are absolved of their 'sins'. They come out of confessions and start doing the same wrong things. It is a hyperbole when Hindus say that your sins of the past 5 (or is it 10) births are washed away by taking a bath in one of the holy rivers. Some claim that the sins of five generations of all your ancestors are also washed away. It is all personal, non-scriptural belief. Just think about that for a minute without getting all steamed up.

    4. Whatever you do, don't reply to an email or make a post when you are angry. Wait 24 hours and if you still have the same feelings, by all means say your bit in a calm way.

    5. And in Hinduism we don't scold a person like that if he is of our father's or grandfather's age. Live the religion, not just be a intellectual carrier of it.

    Have a pleasant day.

    - Pranam

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    Re: Story behind the Maha Kumbh Mela

    Namaste Believer Ji,

    I didn't mean to scold you.
    Like me,you also have your own opinions.I have conveyed my opinion already,there is no need to repeat it or discuss anything further.
    He dances in the golden hall of Chidambaram, Let us worship His rosy anklet girt Feet.

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