The Maha Kumbh Mela

 As it is the Mauni Amavasya today, it would be the second "snan" today at Prayagraj. Of the three important "muhurtams" for the "amrut snan", this is supposed to be a major one. Though the Sankranti and the Mahashivratri would be more celebratory "snan", the holy dip this day would be more like a penance as, given the "tithi", it would mean the washing away of all sins.

Let us look at the term "mauni". Literally, the Sanskrit word would refer to maintaining silence as a "vrat", as a holy oath. Most probably, while taking the holy dip at the confluence, and, may be, the whole day, the devotees would not speak. Even in normal life, if speech is silver, silence is golden. "Maunam sarvarth sadhanam" as the adage goes!

The Kumbh Mela is indeed interesting. We all know the mythology behind it. The "Amrut Manthan", the churning for ambrosia, is a well-known tale.  Well, as for its immediate relevance, I thought of the COVID days. The "amrut" would be the fast found intravenous anti-viral vaccine. We know who the devils would be, the country whence began the epidemic, and all sorts of super-spreaders. Gods would be the scientists, the doctors, the medical staff, the police, and the government decisions. We all also know the "vaccine diplomacy" to carry the metaphor forward, right?

Adi Shankaracharya, who initiated the four "peethams" for the revival of the "dharma", chose the tithi as per the confluence of the planetary positions. Its scientific implications astronomically must have been much explored.

Astrologically, it is a matter of faith. Each religion, every subsect has its own practices, and every devotee has a full, total, inalienable right to follow these. Why, one of my favourite most poems, "The Canterbury Tales" by Chaucer, the forefather of English Literature, emerges out of a pilgrimage. Believe me, the long poem is extraordinarily contemporary, both content-wise and treatment-wise. 

In other words, each community has its religious rituals. Without any whataboutery, it must be asserted that devoted Hindus can follow each one of theirs, too. That brings me to the organisation of this unique ritual. As per the reports, it is superb. I keep on watching the videos which show its grandeur and its high-tech modernity. Given the sheer size, Uttar Pradesh, once mocked as a "bimaru" state, sure deserves a huge pat on the back for the excellent organisation. The financial returns of the investment would be sumptuous as well. The maha Kumbh Mela is a churn in multiple ways!

Well, I must say, impressive are the "leheri" artists who are floats performing the Shiva-Parvati story to a very catchy folk rhythm. I sure do have an objection to trivialising the occasion through the reporting of some IIT Baba and some Mona Lisa, and the rich and mighty devotees. That is the media for you, and, of course, such are the consumers of information, too, as the media mostly sell what the spectators/readers want. So you would have your regular, typical dose of the detractors and the critics as well. Each to his own! The rivers at the confluence flow forever, and to alter Heraclitus' great quote a little, one never takes a dip in the same water twice!

Pratima@As for the Naga and the Aghori, the Geeta sure does not think highly of any  "tamasi" bhakti, though my ignorance of these sects is huge, limited mostly to the videos and podcasts whom we all know for their sensationalism.

Though we all know equally the Bollywood yen for the Kumbh Mela for the lost-n-found formula,  I would in principle object to the sudden elevation of a starlet in any sect. Sure I do not know the hierarchy of, and within,  all these "akhadas".

 I would not hence know the relevance of the title given to her.  Unfortunately, however, it creates an impression that money matters! Hardly an inkling worth it, right? But who, and how, can stop it? Why do not Trupti Desai types try-n-take it up, right?