Published in Ind Samachar
A recent article in The
New York Times lamented about the excellent
arrangements made for the Kumbha Mela at Prayagraj as something
abominable and done with the aim of catching votes! Even the development of
amenities, construction of roads and flyovers and ban on letting out tannery
effluents into the Ganga were commented upon by this newspaper as agenda-driven
to keep the Hindu vote bank in good humour. While this is nothing but an expression
of a sick mind, one accusation needs to be cleared to set the record straight
and also to keep the Hindus informed of how this event was managed in the past.
The report has termed this Kumbha Mela as ‘State
sponsorship’ of the religion of the Hindus. It ‘justifies’ this criticism
by quoting a figure of $600 million as having gone into the making of a number
of bridges, roads, flyovers, trashcans, toilets etc for the visiting
population. While this is nothing but long term investment benefiting the
entire region, what the newspaper had failed to understand is that this event
was not just Paraygraj-centric, but is celebrated all over India wherever there
are temples. And in all those temples, this event was sponsored by the kings
or/ and by the community living around the temple in olden days. Temple
inscriptions stand as evidence for ‘State sponsorship’ of this event in those
temples.
(Source:
Inscriptions Of The Madras Presidency Vol.I by Rangacharya.V.)
An inscription found in the Devanatha Perumal
temple of Tiruvaheendipuram in Cuddalore conveys about the grant of land
and tax exemption for generating money for conducting this festival. The
mention of tax exemption makes it clear that the grant was ‘State- sponsored’.
Maasi Magham, the annual celebration of Kumbha Mela celebrated
even now in the temples of Tamilnadu had been continuing from an undated past
if we look at a verse of Sangam text called ‘Pattinappalai’. This text,
presumably written before the start of the Common Era refers to a temple on the
shore of Pumpukar, known as ‘Magha viṇmeen kottam’ (temple of
Magha star).
By the name of it, this temple was exclusively meant
for Magha festival when Moon becomes full in Magha star in the month of Maasi
(Sun in Aquarius). Today this temple is not there – perhaps lost into the sea
due to successive inundation experienced in Pumpukar in the past. But
the reference to this in southern most part of India makes Kumbha festival a
pan-Indian festival and the oldest one in recorded history, with the Sangam
text testifying its antiquity.
The text continues to mention about two lakes
associated with it and named as ‘material desire of present birth’ and ‘desire
of future birth’ (Ulagiyal immai-k kaamam, Marumai-k kaamam).
These names being self- descriptive, it is obvious that people had taken sacred
bath in these lakes on Maasi Magham for material gains in this birth and future
birth. The entire community – who were all Hindus and none else – have
considered this occasion as sacred and worthy of a dip in the waters.
This concept must have been there in temples of
North India too and supported by the kings of yore. But with temples
becoming the target of the invaders of alien faith that culture had vanished in
north India, and Kumbh Mela revived in later centuries. The Wikipedia
article giving a recent genesis for Kumbha Mela is an evidence of the revival
of this festival by a beleaguered civilization limping back to normalcy. What
is wrong in keeping up this ancient practice in its glory? Is it not the duty
of the State to preserve this culture that has been continuing for more than
2000 years, going by the reference found in the Tamil Sangam text? The mischievous
article in The New York Times is against humanity in having cast aspersions
on the conduction of a heritage practice that a civilised society is expected
to cherish.
Before ending, let us know about the uniqueness the
holy dip at Prayagraj which is considered supreme. The reason, as told in Mahabharata
(13-25) is that ten thousand tirthas and thirty crores of other tirthas are
supposed to come to Prayagraj in the month of Magha. Therefore a dip at
Prayagraj in the month of Magha and on the day of Full moon is supposed to
be equal to taking dips at all the tirthas of Bharat. The one who takes the dip
is cleansed of his sins and attains heaven, says Bhishma to Yudhsithira.
The description in this chapter doesn’t restrict the event to once in 12 years
or 6 years but to every year. Sacredness is attached to the astronomical
combination occurring every year.
The 12 year and the like are related to the movement
of Jupiter reckoned in the calendar of Jupiter Era or Barhaspatya-mana
at the height of Vedic culture. The calendar system was different then with
five years making a yuga and 7 yugas making a 35 year cycle. The location of
Jupiter during different yugas of this cycle was immortalised into Kumbh Mela
years later, when Vedic culture was on the wane. The continuity without losing
the advantage of the astronomical combination of the day makes Kumbha Mela the oldest
continuing practice – something not found in any other part of the world.
Let us celebrate this fact on this sacred month of Kumbh Mela.
