Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad – the largest gathering of Humanity in the world
In January 2007 Swamiji attended the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. Over 90 million people gathered for the event which happens once in 12 years. We were miraculously granted a prime spot for Dhyanapeetam's tent. Normally organizations that are 4 or 5 decades old do not have their own facility. They end up sharing with other organizations. It was as if this great event was being planned for Swamiji. I could not attend this event since I was traveling to USA and Europe working with the company I am now helping. I have had to juggle a lot of balls these days trying to use times between events to be able to do justice to the role in the outside world I have taken on.
Swamiji arrived at Kumbh Mela amidst a lot of celebration, dance and kirtans. Thousands of people gathered to receive Him. The mood among the devotees of Nithyananda Mission was festive and full of energy. The group was always in bliss and there was always excitement around in this group. The word of this charismatic young Swami spread widely during Kumbh Mela and a lot of crowd started gathering and sought blessings from Swamiji.
The following are excerpts from Swamiji's talk at the first satsang at the Mela:
Let us offer our gratitude to the devotees who have set up this camp in such a wonderful and comfortable fashion for us to stay. This is a grand event, the oldest festival of humanity, the largest gathering of humanity on planet Earth and the greatest spiritual event that can happen! Please note: this largest event happens with no invitation, no advertising, just a single line written in panchika that says: Maha snan (Royal bath) is on this particular date; that's all! And mind you, this event is a gathering of millions of people in a place where there is not even an airport! Even the railway station is a small one.
This event is a solid and unshakeable display of faith and dedication; faith on Existence as the Life Force that is conducting this entire Universe. It is indeed remarkable that the largest gathering of humanity on planet Earth happens not on account of any other occasion but straightaway on the account of God! People gather on their own, attend the Mela and go back and settle so beautifully and seamlessly into their regular lives once again.
What goes on here during this Mela time is beyond your comprehension. Let me try to briefly tell you a few dimensions of this Mela. First, the scientific dimension of it: Dr. Masaru Emoto, the famous scientific researcher who specializes in the study of water released a book 'Messages from water'. In that, he demonstrated through the study of water crystals, the profound influence of human thoughts on the very chemical composition of water. A glass of water that was subjected to positive thoughts and chants relating to peace and harmony, showed up with a diamond like crystal structure under the microscope. Another one that was subjected to negative thoughts came through with a ghost-like structure. Another one which was subjected to chants
from the Dhamma Pada - teachings of Buddha - took on the form of a Buddhist temple! Like this, over 300 times on 10 glasses of water he tried and the results were consistent. Such is the power of energy or thought on water. Now imagine: In this Mela, over 90 million people's faith on Existence is applied to this Triveni Sangam - the confluence of the three rivers: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. This Triveni Sagam, the water here, is simply amrita (nectar)!
The second dimension of this mela is on a mystical plane: There are so many enlightened masters present here now - ones who are in their body in physical form and ones who have left their body as well. From Buddha to Mahavtar Babaji, the whole Shambala (congregation of enlightened beings) is here for this event. The Kumbh Mela is a reminder to them about planet Earth and the need to bless it. Just imagine the energy field here in this place now.
Thirdly, in this Mela, so many spiritual organizations bring their deities and immerse them in the Triveni Sangam. Although their Masters are dead, the deities are the ones energized by their Masters when they were alive. This Triveni Sangam therefore is energized by deities which have been directly energized by great Masters such as Buddha, Guru Govind Singh, Madvacharya and so on.
This Kumbh Ghat is the space where there is the highest possibility of a quantum leap in one's Consciousness. This Mela happens for Sanatana dharma or righteousness. It happens to spread Nithya Ananda - Eternal Bliss. Can any other field such as Science or Cinema think of gathering 90 million people with no advertising whatsoever?! This Mela is our pride! Let me tell you: It is a commitment on the part of Enlightened Masters to be present here at this time.
These types of gatherings are created to help you to dissolve your identity which you and society have created for yourself. If you look deep inside, you will realize that the deepest craving for man is to go to a place where he is completely unknown by anybody. These Melas are an opportunity to fulfill this. For these few days that you are here, just go around in an un-clutched way not bothering to maintain the usual social protocols, not harbouring the usual thought patterns, not protecting your identity. Just celebrate wildly like the Naga Babas (naked wandering mendicants) who are here! In this space, celebration is liberation! Additionally, you have my presence, the presence of an Enlightened Master. My very presence creates a tremendous possibility for you to take a jump into a higher plane of consciousness.
Let me tell you more about the Triveni Sangam. As I said earlier, it is a confluence of the three sacred rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. While the former two are visible, the third flows underground and becomes visible only at the point of merging. Ganga is the river of Lord Shiva and stands for wisdom or gnana. All Shiva temples are on the banks of the river Ganga. Yamuna is the river of Lord Krishna and stands for devotion or bhakti. All Krishna temples, you will find on the banks of the river Yamuna. When Ganga and Yamuna merge, when wisdom and devotion merge, Saraswati (or knowledge) happens! That is the symbolic significance of Triveni Sangam. Unless this merging happens, you cannot see or experience knowledge. That is why Saraswati remains hidden until the point of merging.
One more significance: During this particular Kumbh Mela, it has been observed that the river Ganges has reversed direction and started flowing against the nature, upwards. The clairvoyance is too much here. You are in an intense energy field. A man who has the three things: Moorti (an Enlightened Master), Sthala (a space which is an energy field) and Theertha (a water body that is energized) has everything and is blessed. Here, you have this Kumbh Ghat which is the energized space, the sthala, you have the Triveni Sangam which is the energized water body, the theertha, and you have the moorti, an Enlightened Master! You have all three here just now. Here, all you need to do is celebrate and you will be liberated.
Experience liberation! You will then be able to go back and live life with a total understanding. You will be able to live in a mould that is liberating and not suffocating. You will know how to live untouched by anything. Let you all achieve and radiate THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM, Eternal Bliss! This is a 4000 acre land. spiritual heads are here. Over tents have been spread out. Today alone people have taken bath. By next year, we will have an ashram in this sacred city of Allahabad!
This Kumbh Mela was also a historic event for Nithyananda Mission. Kumbh Mela was first organized years ago by Kapila Muni. Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2007 was the event in recorded history. Ardh Kumbh, is held every 12 years in Allahabad. There are in fact stone carvings in a cave in Northern Bharat that chronicled every Kumbh Mela through stone carvings.
Mahanirvani akkada now responsible for organizing Kumbh Mela, traces its roots back to Kapila Muni. The Mahanirvani akkaada invited Swamiji and honored him by requesting him to be Mahamandaleswar. Swamiji accepted and the Nirvani Peetadhipathi Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Vishwadevanandaji immediately declared Swamiji as Mahamandaleshwar from that moment. All the Mahamandaleshwars present noted that such an honor was previously offered only to Vivekananda Swami. With this proclamation, THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM became the 13th Mahamandaleshwar in Mahanirvani akkaada.
As a result of this proclamation, the mahamandaleshwars requested Swamiji to be the first person to enter the Ganga before the maha snaan (the royal bath). This was indeed a historic moment for Nithyananda Mission.