Meditations: Drink the nectar

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Om Amritshwariye Namah and Peace to All the devotees,

 

Here is good article some of you may already have seen it!

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Meditations: Drink the nectar

By Swami Chidanand Saraswati

The Hindustan Times

The Mahakumbh is one of the most ancient, yet still living, festivals

in Indian tradition. Even in the Ved, it is described as a tradition

that is well established. Its occurrence is marked by the gathering

of millions of people at one of the four holy places, the auspicious

event occurring at each location once every 12 years. Kumbh literally

means a pitcher. The reference is to the pot filled with the nectar

of immortality that emerged after the Gods and demons churned the

milky ocean. However, the symbolism inherent when we speak of

the 'Kumbh Mela' far transcends the literal translation.

 

A kumbh indicates the beginning of an auspicious and holy event. A

Mahakumbh, occurring every 12 years, also signifies knowledge,

happiness and bliss. Our scriptures tell us that the trinity of Gods -

- Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Sustainer) and Shiv (the

Destroyer) -- plus all Goddesses, Mother Earth with her seven

islands, and all knowledge in the form of Rgved, Yajur-Ved, Sama-Ved

and Atharv-Ved exist in the Kumbh. Thus, Kumbh is the symbol of all

that is, and all that exists.

 

The Kumbh Mela is a celebration of all knowledge and all life. While

the 'Kumbh' refers to an overflowing pot, it also refers to a body

filled with knowledge. So, the nectar of the Kumbh Mela also

manifests in the form of enlightenment which liberates us while we

are still living. The nectar -- or knowledge of divinity -- lies

within this Kumbh (of our body); it must only be churned to the

surface. So, it is due to the faith of the people and the

thoughtfulness of our seers that this holy occasion is named 'Kumbh

Mela'. The origin of Kumbh Mela lies in the beautiful story when the

Gods and demons churned the ocean in search of the nectar of

immortality. The churning began with the hope of divine nectar

filling the minds of the Gods. However, after a great effort, what

emerged was not nectar, but poison! The Gods and demons knew someone

had to drink the poison and thereby help the historic churning to

continue. No one would agree to sacrifice himself, until Lord Shiv

offered to do so. The sacrifice Lord Shiv made is an example of why

he is called Mahadev and all the other Gods are simply devas.

 

However, Indra -- the king of the Gods -- knew that the demons were

planning to abscond with the nectar of immortality. So, he got his

son, Jayant, to grab the pot of nectar and run away. The demons

pursued him relentlessly. The long chase lasted 12 days, which was

the equivalent of 12 years on earth. During this chase -- which

traversed the realms of the earth, the heavens and the moons --

Jayant rested only four times. While he rested, he placed the Kumbh

on the

 

ground and a few drops of the holy nectar spilled at each place.

These four places have now become the four centres of pilgrimage for

the Kumbh Mela. Indian festivals are not only filled with gaiety and

joy, but they invariably have scientific and historical foundations,

which lead to physical rejuvenation, psychological healing and

spiritual uplift. It is according to scientific methods that the

place and date of each Kumbh Mela is determined. When the planets,

the sun and the moon line up in a particular way, there is an

incredible positive charge in the atmosphere of one of the Kumbh

locations. This positive charge affects the water, the air and the

entire atmosphere, such that simply being at that special place, and

taking a bath in the Ganga, is exceptionally conducive to spiritual

growth, and a person's physical and emotional well-being. The nectar

that the Mahakumbh must disseminate today is a renewed respect for

our earth and her creatures, a rededication to the laws of our

scriptures, and a rekindled fire of spiritual yearning in our souls.

 

Tuesday, January 23, 2001

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Om Shanti

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