“Be it any sector of the world or any discipline, it is only through practical experience that one finds the path to success. Then why should spirituality be an exception? Spirituality is the science of sciences, the source of all knowledge. The perfection of spiritual knowledge is possible only when we practically experience God within the laboratory of our own body, under the divine guidance of the adept instructor—the Satguru (the Perfect Spiritual Master of the time).”
- Divya Guru Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji
For thousands of years, Kumbh Mela has been the carrier of Bharat's timeless cultural and spiritual heritage. This is the largest spiritual gathering organised every three years, in rotation at four key locations of Bharat - Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.
The name ‘Kumbh’ holds profound wisdom and divine significance. The sanskrit word कुंभ, meaning ‘a pitcher’ and it symbolises the human body. The mega festival is a clarion call for humanity to immerse their pitcher [Human Body] in the nectar of spiritual wisdom. Over centuries, Perfect Spiritual Masters, have graced this gathering, guiding countless souls toward a life of higher purpose and divine realisation. They have led the humanity from darkness of ignorance to light of knowledge, revealing the true essence of karma yoga, purity and love for all!
Kumbh Mela: A Journey of Inner Transformation
At Kumbh Mela, people from across the globe engage in various spiritual activities and rituals. These include Shahi Snan (ritual bath), yajnas (fire sacrifices), acts of charity & donations and listening to scriptural discourses and katha (narratives of Lord), among other practices. Each of these practices hold profound spiritual significance and carry deep symbolic meaning. They have a purpose—a divine mission i.e. to steer the seekers on the inner spiritual journey. They have been shaped with an intent to deepen feelings of bhakti, elevate love for the Divine, and instill in seekers a character radiating purity and compassion for all.
Take for example, the ritual of Shahi Snan i.e. holy dip taken in the sacred triveni sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers, with a belief of getting cleansed of all the sins. The ritualistic practice is indeed physically cleansing and mentally uplifting. But, it also is indicative of the secret knowledge of bathing in the inner triveni sangam, which truly liberates one of all sins and karmic burden. According to scriptures, the outer Triveni Sangam i.e. confluence of holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati at Prayagraj is indicative of Inner Triveni Sangam located at the Agya chakra. The three holy rivers, represent the three major energy channels in our subtle body namely, Ida, Pingala and Sushumna respectively. Ida & Pingala are actively engaged in exchange of energy by way of the breathing process, however Sushumna, the central channel remains inactive.
Only when the Perfect Spiritual Master of the time initiates a spiritual aspirant into Brahmgyan [The Eternal Science of God Realisation], the central channel Sushumna is activated and the divine energy lying dormant at the Muladhara steers upwards through it. As a result, the energy confluence of Ida, Pingala and Sushumna is established at the Agya Chakra and the seeker witnesses Divine light within. Further, bathing in this confluence regularly through Brahmgyan based Meditation, one is redeemed of all sins and steered clear on the path of liberation. Similarly, the true intent of various rituals is truly understood and realised through the grace of a Perfect Spiritual Master, who bestows upon a seeker Brahmgyan [The Eternal Science of God Realisation] which is a gateway for transformation of all theories into personalised practical experience.
Swami Vivekananda Ji said, “Experience is the only teacher we have. We may talk and reason all our lives, but we shall not understand a word of truth, until we experience it ourselves.”
A spiritual aspirant is just like a chemistry student. A chemistry student initially studies the theoretical concepts of chemistry like periodic table, chemical principles, molecular interactions, etc., later he engages in practical experimentations and analysis of the learned theory in the laboratory. It is only after experimentation that he learns the true meaning and application of the subject. Similarly, spirituality is also a subject in which one may memorise a library of spiritual information by reading scriptures, but true learning dawns only after the practical experience of core of spirituality i.e. direct perception of the God within. Divya Guru Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji says, “All the scriptures have only one purpose, Aatm Darshanam i.e. God Realisation!” The aspirant has to practically experience the theoretical concepts to understand the true nature of the subject. For this the seeker has to seek the refuge of the Perfect Spiritual Master of the time, who has seen God and holds the authority to show it to ardent spiritual seekers. Clarion Call: God Can Be Seen!
Swami Vivekananda Ji said, "If there is a God we must see Him, if there is a soul we must perceive it; otherwise it is better not to believe. It is better to be an outspoken atheist than a hypocrite."
Since its commencement, Kumbh Mela has always been a clarion call for the masses to head from theory to practical experience, from outer rituals to inner realisation. Being the true embodiment of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Bharat, it has been reinstating and urging the seekers to realise the true essence of Bharat. The word Bharat means, ‘भारत’ = ‘भा’ (light) + ‘रत’ (being immersed in) i.e. being immersed in the Divine light of God. This is possible only upon practical realisation of God within by the grace of Perfect Spiritual Master.
Hence Kumbh Mela is an opportunity for spiritual aspirants to search for such a Perfect Spiritual Master and realise the true essence of spirituality.
P.S. Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan is world’s only Spiritual organisation that not only discusses God but confers scripturally proven DIRECT PERCEPTION of God! With the grace of Divya Guru Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, millions have been initiated into Brahmgyan and have witnessed God within right at the time of initiation.