Open in App
Open in App

January 12, 1971 : Allahabad

Satsvarupa: Kumbha-mela is the greatest congregation of human beings on earth. Every twelve years in Allahabad, sadhus and pilgrims from all over India gather at the Triveni, the confluence of the three holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and Sarasvati. And at an auspicious time that assures the worshiper liberation from the cycle of birth and death. A smaller version, the Magha-mela, takes place annually during the month of Magha (December-January). January of 1971, however, happened to fall halfway through the twelve-year cycle from one Kumbha-mela to the next, and the mela was known as Ardha-kumbha-mela.

When Prabhupada arrived at the ISKCON camp, the devotees were ecstatic. His presence reassured his disciples, reminding them that spiritual life was neither exotic nor bewildering, but simple and practical. In Prabhupada's presence the devotees' attractions to mystic yoga, Vedic rituals, and material blessings and benedictions vanished. They accepted that great spiritual benefit awaited the pilgrims at the mela, but as Prabhupada had said, "To go to a holy place means to find a holy person and hear from him. A place is holy because of the presence of the saintly persons." The devotees understood, therefore, that the greatest spiritual benefit lay in hearing from Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada explained the significance of Ardha-kumbha-mela. For millions of years, he said, this had been among the most sacred places in India. During the appearance of the tortoise avatara, when the demons and demigods had been churning immortal nectar, a drop of that nectar had fallen here. Since then, every six and twelve years certain auspicious planets form a jug, and this jug, filled with immortal nectar, is said to pour that nectar upon the Triveni. Anyone who came and bathed at the auspicious times when the prana was pouring down from the heavens was guaranteed either promotion to the heavenly planets or liberation.


Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 4 - Satsvarupa dasa Goswami