Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s greatest and largest religious events, is now taking place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. This magnificent event, which occurs once every 12 years, began on January 13, 2025 and will go until February 26, 2025. It attracts millions of devotees, pilgrims and spiritual seekers from India and around the world. Prayagraj is home to the Triveni Sangam, a sacred confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. For Hindus, this site is more than just a confluence of rivers; it is a sacred site which is said to have divine blessings. Bathing in the Sangam during the Kumbh Mela is believed to cleanse one’s sins and aid in the journey to Moksha, or emancipation.
History of Ancient Kumbh
Hindu sage and philosopher Adi Shankara formalised the Kumbh Mela. It was the time when Shankaracharya was making efforts to start Hindu gatherings for the debates on philosophy along the Indian subcontinent. There is enough evidence from the records and Hindu scriptures that there were celebrations of Kumbh Mela, then in other names, at the exact locations where Kumbh Mela is happening today. Historical evidence is there for an annual Magha Mela in Hindu tradition, with larger gatherings every six or 12 years, where pilgrims assembled in great numbers and one of the ceremonies included a sacred dip in a river or holy tank.
Kumbh Mela originated in Hindu Puranic story of the Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the ocean. Ancient scriptures describe how the Devas and Asuras joined together in a cosmic desire for Amrit, the nectar of immortality. As the churning progressed, a Kumbh (pot) loaded with sacred nectar emerged. To protect it from the Asuras, Bhagwan Vishnu, disguised as Mohini, took ownership of the pot and departed. Several drops of nectar fell at four different spots along his journey: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. These locations became venerated as sacred places, with the Kumbh Mela held on a cyclical basis. Prayagraj (Prayag) is mentioned in Rig Veda and Mahabharata as a holy site. Even Buddhist scriptures confirm that Prayag was a holy place where devotees took a dip in the River Ganga to wash away their sins.
Prayag and the bathing pilgrimage were first mentioned in the Rig Veda. In the Mahabharat’s Tirthayatra Parva, before the great war, it has been mentioned that ,“The one who observes firm [ethical] vows, having bathed at Prayaga during Magha, O best of the Bharatas, becomes spotless and reaches heaven.
Mahamaham of Kumbakonam
Similar to Kumbh is Mahamaham which is held in the temple town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. It is a deeply religious and culturally significant festival. This Mahamaham, which takes place once every 12 years, is based on Hindu rituals and mythology. The Mahamaham tank, thought to be a storage tank of waters from sacred rivers throughout Bharat, becomes a hub of activities as devotees seek purification and blessings. The event demonstrates the ongoing power of rituals to connect people to their ancestry and promote a sense of togetherness. There are legends behind every Indian festival. There are also legends related to the Mahamaham festival of Kumbhakonam. The Mahamaham tank is encircled by miniature temple mandapas depicting Vedic and Puranic deities, each having a Shiva linga in its shrine. It also has the large Kashi Vishwanathar temple to its north. At the temple gate, there is an image of Shiva with nine Indian river goddesses: Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Kaveri, and Sarayu. Portions of the Periya Purana are engraved in the Mandapas and temples. The whole legend can be seen on the interior walls of the Kumbheshvara temple, beside the water tank.
Shiva Acts as Saviour
According to this legend, once each cyclic existence ends, there is a Mahapralaya (great flood) in which God Shiva helps save all creation by floating all seeds of creation and amritam (nectar of immortality) in a pot (kumbha). When the flood went away, the pot came to rest on the land, where it was broken by an arrow fired by Shiva in His hunter form. This dumped the contents into a vast pool, which then came to be known as the Mahamaham Tank. Thus, taking a bath on auspicious occasions at this tank is considered holy by the Hindus.
The former name of Kumbakonam, the city where Mahamaham is celebrated, was Kudamukku. The city got the name after the Kumbeswara Temple. The deity at this temple is of Shiva and it is in hunter form. And it is also said that the king Srimara Pandya, who lived in the 9th century, defeated Cholas and Gangas here. The Kumbakonam, also served as the seat of Sankaracharya, was shifted from Kanjipuram in the mid 18th century due to the wars. Later, it was returned back to Kanchipuram in the 19th century. The architectural and epigraphic evidence shows that the Mahamaham festival happened here. An inscription in the Gopuram of Nagalpuram, a village in Chengalpattu district, commemorates Krishnadevaraya’s visit (1509-1529). Krishnadevaraya also attended the Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam. The ceiling of the Gangatirtha Mandapam features a sculpted portrayal of Tulapurushardava. It is reported that Govinda Dikshitar, the 16th-century Nayak era Prime Minister, attended the occasion and gave gold to help build the 16 mandapas.
The festival, which is held once every 12 years, is believed to include waters from Bharat’s holiest rivers, creating a heavenly confluence. Taking a holy dip here during the festival is considered a kind of purification. Devotees while visiting temples surround the tank, particularly the Kumbeswara Temple, to worship and seek blessings. Priests execute unique rituals like reciting mantras and lighting lamps, while pilgrims present flowers and perform arati, resulting in a religious atmosphere of dedication and delight. The celebration elegantly integrates Shaiva with Vaishnava traditions, demonstrating the harmony between Hindu traditions and various philosophical streams.
Mamangam of Tirunavaya
In Kerala, Mamangam was a historical, religious and cultural event. Mamangam began as a religious and trade festival conducted once every 12 years on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River near Tirunavaya Temple. But it has since grown into a symbol of regional pride and valour. During this festival, local rulers exhibited their martial skills and sought to establish their authority. Though Mamangam as it was originally known no longer exists, its legacy lives on in oral tradition and the collective memory of Kerala’s people.
Just like Kumbh Mela and Mahamaham, Mamankam festival of Tirunavaya, Kerala was also an important religious gathering for the Hindus. Though the festival was stopped due to the aftermath of Islamic invasions from Mysore, the recorded history and tales of Mamankam are available. According to the belief of Hindus, Hoddess Ganga entered the River Bharatapuzha during the Mamankam and, via her miraculous appearance, elevated the river to the same level of holiness as the sacred Ganga. The Mamankam festival was also conducted in a cyclical gap of 12 years just like Kumbh Mela.
The festival’s origins, which stretch back at least to the era before the Cheras of Cranganore (c.800-1124 CE) and are shrouded in Hindu beliefs and tradition, are still debated. According to certain historians, the fair experienced terrible alterations following the seizure of Tirunavaya by the chief of Kozhikode from the Vellattiri chief. The Valluvanadu chiefs began sending warriors to assassinate Samuthiri, who was personally present at the fair with his family, in order to reclaim the honor of hosting the event. This resulted in a long-term rivalry and violence between these two kingdoms.
The Mamankam festival played an important role religiously and politically in the landscape of Kerala. Kerala Mahatmya, translated to English from the orginal Sanskrit work by Hermen Gundert, describes the festival. It is described as a national feast, Maha Makam, which is celebrated at Tirunavaya. The former name of Tirunavaya is Navayogipura which comes on the banks of river Bharatapuzha or Perar. It is the place where Brahmans of 64 families, four kings, Kolattiri, king of Travancore, Samuthiri or the ruler of calicut, Perumpadappu of cochin will be assembled with all the aritrocracy with 1400 lords and 1,000 Nayakas with all their vessels. It is believed that Parasurama was crowned there as kings of kings and the feast will repeat every 12 years to elect the new king. It was celebrated last at AD 1743 according to Hermen Gundert and war-like exercises of 18 ayudhabhyasa were also displayed there.
As per the historian KV Krishna Iyer, the last Mamankam festival was held in 1755. The event was stopped due to the invasion of Calicut by the ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali, in the year 1766. The word Mamankam evolved from the Sanskrit word Maha and Malayalam month Magha. William Logan has a different opinion and he says that the word Mamankam means great sacrifice. There is debate on when the last Mamankam happened but it is commonly accepted that the last Mamankam festival happened in 1766 and it was stopped after the Islamic invasion. Kozhikode Granthavari, Mamankam Kilippattu, Kandaru Menon Padappattu, Kerala Mahatmya and Keralopatti are the major native sources which are chronicles that describes the Mamankam festival.
Kerala’s Mamankam was once a popular celebration hosted on the banks of the Bharatapuzha River near Tirunavaya. Efforts are made from history and tradition enthusiasts like Tirur Dinesh to restart the Mamankam at Tirunavaya. According to him, Mamankam is an important festival for Hindus just like Kumbh Mela is to Prayagraj. Historical records says that there were Neerattu and Kulippanthal during the festival. This means that the bathing pilgrimage was an important ritual during the festival. The ritual side of the festival was forgotten as more importance was given to the rivalry between Valluvanad chiefs and Samuthiri by historians. The Oral History Research Foundation, under the leadership of Tirur Dinesh, made efforts and restarted the Mamankam in 2018. Pilgrims believe that taking a holy dip in the river during the festival purifies their soul because Goddess Ganga was believed to be present in the river during the festival. The celebration also featured offerings to the deities as well as magnificent martial arts performances. The former name of the River Bharatapuzha was Prathichi and Perar and it got the name Bharatapuzha because of the belief that whole sacred rivers come to join in the river during the time of Mamankam to make it sacred.
Symbolising Unity in Diversity
Despite differences in location and history, Kumbh Mela, Mahamaham and Mamankam share a core belief that is deeply rooted in Hindu tradition. The idea is that taking a bath in sacred water has the power to cleanse the soul and link us to the divine. Bathing in holy waters is regarded as a means of washing away sins, spiritual renewal and achieving a greater connection to the universe.
Kumbh Mela’s assembly of millions of people at the confluence of sacred rivers reflects a belief in purification and spiritual regeneration, inspired by the concept of the nectar of immortality. Similarly, Mahamaham revolves on the holy Mahamaham Tank, which is thought to contain the waters of numerous sacred rivers, providing the same opportunity for purification. Even Mamankam, which is no longer celebrated, follows this custom, with the Bharatapuzha River believed to be sacred during the event.
Despite their geographical differences, all three festivals emphasise the fundamental idea: that by immersing ourselves in holy water, we can cleanse our spirits, reconnect with the divine, and become a part of a greater, timeless tradition that brings people together all over the world. These rituals symbolise a common portion of Bharat’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
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