Silent Night Holy Night

The Night Under The Stars

This was sheer poetry in the making

Needle in a Haystack

Beneath The Godavari Bridge

Revellers

Holy Bath Godavri

Drip Dry Spirituality

Public Place Private Moments

Spiritual Timelessness/ Inherent Hate

One of the reasons I am posting these pictures, is to tell you behind the capture of these images is a memory of a undiluted pain given me by the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Information, inspite of having a valid press card the honcho who was handling all this at Nasik , made me wait hours for a pass, that would give me access to shoot the Shai Snan.He tortured me simply because I had a Muslim surname.He is one person, very Devanand like walk , red jacket slung over his shoulders I will never forget .He only gave access to foreigners, we Indian photo enthusiasts were treated worse than lepers, this is the irony of being a Indian but also being reminded that I am a Muslim, there is an inherent bureaucratic Hate that comes with the territory of the spirtiuality you shoot , my pictures of the Kumbh are pictures of pain.The Trimbakeshwar Shai Snan this gent kept me waiting for 5 hours finally refused to give me a pass.This is hate for my ethnicity , nothing else, I hardly looked like a Taliban in 2003 , I was dressed in normal clothes at Trimbakeshwar.

Singing Minstrel of Pandharpur

The Holy Bath Gdavari

The United Colors of India

The Chillin the Waters Holy Dip

LAXMAN REKHA HOLY DIP

Scriptured Silence

Nasik Kumbh Mela 2003

Over 2 million take holy dip in Godavari

Nashik, August 17Over two million pilgrims and 70,000 sadhus today took holy dip in Ramkund on the banks of Godavari river on the occasion of the “shaahi snan”.
Sadhus of the Vaishnav sect participate in the ‘Shahi Snan’ in the Godavari at Ramkund in Nasik at the ongoing Kumbh Mela on Sunday.

courtesy

Ramkund Nasik

NASIK- VENUE FOR KUMBH MELA

Nashik is well known as an important centre of Pilgrimage in India. It is because the holy river Godavari, coming down from Trimbakeshwar, flows through Nashik. Godavari is regarded as Deccan Ganga of Maharashtra. The sacred river Godavari going down from the Ahilyadevi-Bridge takes a right angular turn to thesouth from the pious kund called Ramkund.

Ramkund is one of the most holy places in India. The part of the town of Nasik, situated on the right bank of the Godavari, is well known as'· Shri Kshetra Panchavati". Panchavati is a part of ancient forest area called "Dandakaranya". Lord Ram, Laxman and Seeta completed their "VANVAS" of twelve years. Many pilgrims come from distant places to perform religious rituals at Ramkund and as such, a crowd is seen there round the year. It is a pride of Nashik that the sacred Kumbh-Mela is held at Ramkund, Nashik after every twelve years. Kumbha-Mela is the most important religious function of Hindu Community. It is unique to witness, about two lakhs Sadhus from various parts of India gather-together on the pious occasion of Parvani to take royal bath in the pious Ramkund. Residential arrangement for Sadhus is made in Tapobhumi called Tapovan on left bank of Godavari river.

Similarly, about twenty takhs pilgrims, including a thousand or more from abroad also enjoy a sacred bath in the holy river Godavari, 5. specially in Ramkund.

The river Godavari flows through the city.

Over 2000 temples and ghats on the banks of Godavari have made Nashik one of the holiest places for Hindus all over the World.Trimbakeshwar, one of the holy places of not only Maharashtra but the whole of India is near Nashik. Trimbakeshwar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. About 38 kms away from Nashik Road Railway Station, it is connected by bus and taxi service.

Cop In Spirtual Custody

Waiting for Lord Shiva at Trimbakeshwar

The Pujaris of Trimbakeshwar Temple

The toughest job is of the Pujaris handling hordes of human waves wanting to be blessed and to touch Shivas Spirtuality, the serpentine queques , people collapsing with the long unending wait, strict security, one of the pujaris recognized me allowed me to come inside and shoot...

Here the pujaris got a much wanted rest due to the downpour so they were showing me the Kumbh News in the local Marathi paper.

Maratha hospitabilty is very genuine, humanly endearing, he who touches a Maratha touches Shiva too.

Spirtual Moment in Silence

Naga Sadhu , Mahashivratri

wikipedia

Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivaratri (Night of Shiva) is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month Maagha (as per Shalivahana) or Phalguna(as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar. The most significant practices on this day are offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, fasting and all night long vigil.

During the samudra manthan by the Gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a poison came out of the ocean. It was so toxic, that its effect would have wiped out the entire creation. At this juncture, as per the advice of Vishnu, the gods approached Mahadev and prayed to him to protect their lives by consuming this poison. Pleased with their prayers, out of compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank this poison and held it in his throat by binding it with a snake. The throat became blue due to the poison (Thus Lord Shiva is also know as Neelakantha) and Shiva remained unharmed. This shows that shiva is also the protector. In another story, it is said that the whole world was once facing destruction and the Goddess Parvati worshiped her husband Shiva to save it. She prayed for the Jivas (living souls) remaining in space like particles of gold dust in a lump of wax during that long period of pralaya (deluge) night, should, upon becaming active again and in the enjoy­ment of their short day and night, have his blessings, but only if they worshiped him just as she did then. Her prayer was accordingly granted. Parvati named the night for the worship of Iswara by mortals Maha-Sivaratri, or the great night of Siva, since pralaya is brought about by him. This period is really his night from the great night or pralaya which was the cause for the origin of this Sivaratri [1]

Assurance
After creation was complete, Parvati asked Shiva of which rituals pleased him the most. The Lord replied that the 14th night of the new moon, during the month of Maagha, is my most favourite day. It is known as Shivaratri. Parvati repeated these words to her friends, from whom the word spread over all creation.

[edit] The Hunter
Once upon a time, a hunter worshipped Lord Shiva unknowingly on Shivaratri. He did this by dropping bael leaves on a shiva linga at the base of a bael tree from its branches where he was hiding and fasting all night. For this he was forgiven of all his sins. This forms the basis behind the offerings of bael to the Lord on Shivaratri.

[edit] The Story Of King Chitrabhanu
In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows -
Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.
The sage asked the king the purpose of his observing the fast. King Chitrabhanu explained that he had a gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth.
The king said to the sage that in his previous he was a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His only livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day while roaming through forests in search of animals he was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return home, he climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. He had seen a deer that day but let it live, after seeing the deer's sad family. As hunger and thirst tormented him, he was kept awake throughout the night. His canteen leaked water as he thought of his poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously waiting for his return. To pass away the time that night he engaged himself in plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.
The next day he returned home and bought some food for himself and his family. The moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He served the food first to stranger and then had his own.
At the time of his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The messengers told him that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves he dropped fell on the Lingam. His canteen, which leaked water, washed the Lingam and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he unconsciously worshiped the Lord.
As the conclusion of the tale the King said that he lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages and now he has reborn as Chitrabhanu.

[edit] Jyotirlingas
Main article: Jyotirlinga
Jyotirlinga symbolises the shrine of Lord Shiv. There are twelve of them " DWADASA JYOTIRLINGAS" at twelve places that are sacred to the Hindus. It is believed that all these twelve Jyotirlingas are "Swayambhus" meaning that they sprung up by themselves at these places and temples were built upon them.
The twelve Jyotirlingas are:-
1. Somnath (Kathiawar, Gujarat)
7. Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)
2. Shri-Shailya-Mallikarjuna (Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh)
8. Nageshwar/Naganath (Dwarka, Gujarat)
3. Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh)
9. Grishneshwar (Ellora, Maharashtra)
4. Omkareshwar/Omkarnath (Madhya Pradesh)
10. Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
5. Parali Vaijanath/Vaidyanath (Deoghar, Jharkhand)
11. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)
6. Bhimashanker (near Pune, Maharashtra)
12. Trimbakeshwar (Nasik, Maharashtra)

The Naga Sadhu

My Naga Sadhu Guru is Sri Vijay Giri Maharaj of Junagadh Akhada , he lives oon a hillock at Film City, it was he who inspired me by his cultural charm, to write about the Naga Sadhus.
He is a former school teacher who gave up worldly goods, renounced it all for the Supreme Soma of Lord Siva.
He knows the Holy Koran, the Bible , accepts everyone with an overall human tag. He is the one who calls me Swami Firoze Shakir Bharti.He discovered me or I discovered him is a strange story . I was going for the Shahi Snan to Trimbakeshwar, but I was going to halt for the night at the Numismatic Museum of my mentor and photo guru Mr K G Maheshwari, on Trimbak road , 9 km s before the temple.I fell asleep and found myself at the Trimbakeshwar temple bus stop.
I took this as a good omen, I saw Sri Vijay Giri Maharaj, I was about to enquire about the Sevagram where the Sadhus stayed, when he surprised me by saying arent you Govinda actors Bollywood designer, that was the beginning of a strange relationship, turned out that Sr Vijay Giri Maharj who lives at Film City has a following among the filmstars, he had seen me on a film set .
We are friends till date , I think he is an excellent well educated, human loving Naga Sadhu, not a con that you meet in Bazars who just want to rip you with their mumbo jumbo..
At the Kumbh about 15% are imposters dressed in saffron, wanting to make a fast buck.
Even hard core criminal , thieves dress up as Sadhu to rob foreigners of their camera equipment and baggage. I met French photographers from the Ardh Kumbh , who were cursing our country , its patchy security arrangements law and order at its lowest ebb .This hurts terribly as I too am an amateur photographer .
Being robbed of your equipment , is one thing being robbed of the stock that you painfully shot as an assignment destroys your inner state of mind.But Nagas are what the foreigners want to shoot, its nothing but shots of their dicks..
And the Ministry that handles this all debars us from shooting the Sadhus, we Photo Bloggers who promote the culture of our country Free are treated as lepers, you have to be a Raghu Rai to get front seats to shoot the Naga Sadhus.. Yes it sucks, photography of the Kumbh is about big bucks nothing else..Photo Blogging is an undiscovered word in the lexicon of Indian bureaucracy.. you have a Times of India Press Card you are in the esoteric Main Stream Media circle even if you shoot shit, as pedestrian images day after day week after week..
I was too go for the Ardh Kumbh, my tickets were booked , Sri Vijay Giri Maharaj was waiting for mein Allahabad but at the last moment I cancelled it to shoot Ashura Moharam in Lucknow.


Sadhu Wikipedia
In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives) and even dharma (duty). The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God. Although the term Sadhu has its roots in Hinduism it is also used for followers of other religions, if they live a Sadhu life. Jainism is a very ascetic religion, and although Sikhism discourages asceticism, there are Sikh Sadhus as well. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.
In Theravada Buddhism, the term is used from the ancient Pali root language to denote agreement with something which was said, or after a discourse of the Buddha was recited. It is repeated two or three times — "Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!" — with the intended effect of "Well said, well put, we agree".[1]
[edit] Etymology
The Sanskrit terms sādhu ("good man") and sādhvī ("good woman") refer to renouncers who have chosen to live a life apart from or on the edges of society in order to focus on their own spiritual practice.[2]
The words come from the Sanskrit root sādh, which means "reach one's goal", "make straight", or "gain power over".[3] The same root is used in the word sādhana, which means "spiritual practice".

[edit] Sadhus in Indian society
Sadhus are often sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India.
A sadhu is usually referred to as baba by common people. The word 'baba' means father, or uncle, in most Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix 'ji' may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciant.
There are 4 or 5 million sadhus in India today and they are still widely respected, revered and even feared, especially for their curses. It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus help to burn off their karma and that of the community at large. Thus seen as benefiting society, sadhus are supported by donations from many people. However, reverence of sadhus is by no means universal in India. Historically and contemporarily, sadhus have often been viewed with a certain degree of suspicion, particularly amongst the urban populations of India. Today, especially in popular pilgrimage cities, posing as a 'sadhu' can be a means of acquiring income for beggars who could hardly be considered 'devout.'

[edit] Sadhu sects

A sadhu and his disciple
Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice extreme asceticism while others mainly focus on praying, chanting or meditating.
There are two primary sectarian divisions within the sadhu community: Shaiva sadhus, ascetics devoted to the god Shiva, and Vaishnava sadhus, renouncers devoted to the god Vishnu and/or his incarnations, which include Ram and Krishna. Less numerous are Shakta sadhus, who are devoted to the Goddess - or Shakti, the divine energy - in one form or another. Within these general divisions are numerous sects and subsects, reflecting different lineages and philosophical schools and traditions (often referred to as "sampradayas").
The largest Shaiva sampradaya is called the Dashnami - or Ten Names; sadhus in the sect take one of the ten names as an appellation upon initiation. The sect is said to have been formed by the philosopher and renunciant Shankara, believed to have lived in the 8th century CE, though the full history of the sect's formation is not clear. The Vaishnava sect with the greatest number of members - and indeed the largest sadhu sect in contemporary India - is the Ramanandi sect, said to have been founded by a medieval teacher of bhakti, or devotion, named Ramananda.[citation needed]
Shaiva sadhus are known as "samnyasis," those who have renounced, or laid down, while Vaishnavas call themselves "vairagis," or dispassionate ones. The terms reflect the different worldviews of the two groups: the philosophy of Shaiva asceticism and renunciation is, in many ways, more austere and radical than that of the Vaishnavas. The Shaiva ascetic worldview emphasizes a radical separation from the mainstream social world and complete commitment to liberation from "samsara," the world of birth and death, coming and going, while Vaishnavas emphasize remaining engaged in the non-sadhu social world through compassionate service.[citation needed]
While sadhus ostensibly leave behind caste at initiation, the caste backgrounds of initiates does influence the sects into which they are admitted; certain ascetic groups, such as the Dandis within the Dashnami sampradaya, are composed only of men of brahmin birth, while other groups admit people from a wide variety of caste backgrounds.[citation needed]
The Naga (Digambar, or "sky-clad") sadhus with thick dreadlocks, or Jata, who carry swords. Aghora sadhus may keep company with ghosts, or live in cemeteries as part of their holy path (See: Aghori). Indian culture tends to emphasize an infinite number of paths to God, such that sadhus, and the varieties that sadhus come in, all have their place.[citation needed]
There are female sadhus - known as sadhvis - in many sects. In many cases, the women that take to the life of renunciation are widows, and these types of sadhvis often live secluded lives in ascetic compounds. Sadhvis are often regarded as manifestations or forms of the Goddess, or Devi, and are honored as such. There have been a number of charismatic sadhvis that have risen to fame as religious teachers in contemporary India.[citation needed]

[edit] Becoming a sadhu
Becoming a sadhu is a path followed by few. It is supposed to be the fourth phase of a male Hindu’s life, after studies, being a father and a pilgrim, but for most it’s not a practical option.
Becoming a sadhu is a difficult lifestyle. Sadhus are considered to be dead unto themselves, and legally dead to the country of India. They may be required ritually to attend their own funeral before following a guru for many years, serving him by doing menial tasks until acquiring the necessary experience to leave his leadership.
While the life of renunciation is described as the fourth stage of life in the classical Sanskrit literature of the Hindu tradition, and the members of certain sects—particularly those dominated by initiates of brahmin background—have typically lived as householders and raised families before becoming sadhus, many sects are composed of men that have renounced early in life - often in their late teens or early 20s. In many cases, those who choose the sadhu life are fleeing from family or financial situations which they have found to be untenable.
The processes and rituals of becoming a sadhu vary with sect; in almost all sects, a sadhu is initiated by a guru, who bestows upon the initiate a new name, as well as a mantra, or sacred sound or phrase, which is generally known only to the sadhu and the guru and may be repeated by the initiate as part of meditative practice. The guru is an important figure in all ascetic traditions, often being equated with the Deity, and service of the guru, even in the most menial of forms, is considered an important form of spiritual practice.

[edit] Lifestyle

A sadhu performing namaste in Madurai, India.
The ruggedness of the sadhu life deters many from following the sadhu path. Such practices as the obligatory early morning bath in the cold mountains require a detachment from common luxuries. After the bath, sadhus gather around the dhuni, or holy fireplace, and begin with their prayers and meditation for the day.
Some sadhus dispense cures to the local community, remove evil eyes or bless a marriage. They are a walking reminder to the average Hindu of Divinity. They are generally allowed free passage on the trains and are a closely-knit organization. Some were even militant in the old days, and even now, the Naga babas carry their swords with them.[citation needed]
Many sadhus have entered the Guinness World Records for feats of marathon endurance including standing for 17 years, staying in the same place for more than two decades, crawling 1400 km and other similar efforts, in their quest to attain liberation.
Kumbh Mela, a mass gathering of sadhus from all parts of India, takes place every six years at one of four points along sacred rivers in India, including the holy River Ganges. Sadhus of all sects join in this reunion. Millions of non-sadhu pilgrims also attend the festivals, and the Kumbh Mela is said to be the largest gathering of human beings for a single purpose on the planet.[citation needed]
The lives of sadhus in contemporary India vary tremendously. Sadhus live in ashrams and temples in the midst of major urban centers, in huts on the edges of villages, in caves in the remote mountains. Others live lives of perpetual pilgrimage, moving without ceasing from one town, one holy place, to another. Some gurus live with one or two disciples; some ascetics are solitary, while others live in large, communal institutions. For some, the bonds of sadhu identity, the brotherhood or sisterhood of other ascetics, is very important; for others it is not.
The rigor of the spiritual practices in which contemporary sadhus engage also varies a great deal. Apart from the very few that engage in the most dramatic, striking austerities - standing on one leg for years on end, remaining silent for a dozen years, most sadhus engage in some form of religious practice: devotional worship, hatha yoga, fasting, etc. For many sadhus, the consumption of Cannabis is accorded a religious significance.[citation needed]
Sadhus occupy a unique and important place in Hindu society, particularly in villages and small towns more closely tied to tradition. In addition to bestowing religious instruction and blessings to lay people, sadhus are often called upon to adjudicate disputes between individuals or to intervene in conflicts within families. Sadhus are also living embodiments of the divine, images of what human life, in the Hindu view, is truly about - religious illumination and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Though some ascetic sects possess properties that generate revenue to sustain members, most sadhus rely on the donations of lay people; poverty and hunger are ever-present realities for many sadhus.

[edit]

Spiritual Cleanliness

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The village Trimbak, 36 kms from Nashik, is famous for the Trimbakeshwar Temple. It enshrines one of the 12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered to be the main jyotirlinga. It s famous for the major Poojas Narayan Nagbali, Tripindi and Kalsarpa done only at Trimbakeshwar in India.

The temple is in the Indo Aryan style and the temple structure with excellent adornments of idols and sculptures, is surrounded by a massive stonewall. There is a huge bull in front of the temple and another marble Nandi is seen on the inside. The sculptural adornments continue even to the garbagriha with human, animals and yakshas carved. From the Jyotirlingam at the centre of the garbagriha, trickles the Ganges continuously throughout the year. Triyambak is the place of "jyotirlinga" - Trimbakeshwar. It is an important place where Kumbh mela takes place every twelve years, like Nashik. Triyambak kumbhamela takes place for Shaivas, i.e. people worshipping Lord Shiva. The extraordinary feature of this Jyotirlinga is that it has three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh (Shiva). All other Jyotirlingas have Shiva as the main deity. The temple is known for its appealing architecture and sculpture and is at the foothills of a mountain called Brahmagiri. Godavari River originates on Bramhagiri Mountain. Nearby there is the 'Gangasagar bathing tank' into which the Godavari River dribbles in, from its source. A bath in these waters is supposed to wash away sins. From this tiny start the Godavari eventually flows down to the Bay of Bengal, clear across India. 960 steps from near the tank lead up to the source of the river. The temple has beautiful carvings. Anyone visiting this temple is believed to attain salvation. It is considered to be the holiest place to perform Shraddha ceremony as mentioned in 'Nirnaya Sindhu' - a religious book of Hindus. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple but one can get a clear view from outside. The Trimbakeshwar (Tri meaning three and Ambak meaning eyes) Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Baji Rao Peshwa built the temple in 1730. There is an impressive Maratha Fort about 550 meters above the city.

The village Trimbak, 36 kms from Nashik, is famous for the Trimbakeshwar Temple. It enshrines one of the 12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered to be the main jyotirlinga. It s famous for the major Poojas Narayan Nagbali, Tripindi and Kalsarpa done only at Trimbakeshwar in India.

article courtesy

Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple

Wikipedia

Triyambakeshwar is an ancient Hindu temple in the town of Trimbak, in the Nashik District of Maharashtra, India, 28 km from the city of Nashik. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingaas. It is located at the source of the Godavari River, the longest river in peninsular India. The Godavari River, which is considered sacred within Hinduism, originates from Bramhagiri mountain and meets the sea near Rajahmudry.
Triyambakeshwar is a religious center having one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is that it has three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra(Shiva). All other Jyotirlingas have Shiva as the main deity. The entire black stone temple is known for its appealing architecture and sculpture and is at the foothills of a mountain called Brahmagiri. This place is famous for lots of religious rituals(vidhis). Narayan-Nagbali, Kalsarpa Shanti, Tripindi vidhi are done here. Narayan-Nagbalipuja is performed at Triyambakeshwar only. This puja is performed in three days. This puja is performed on special dates. Some days are not suitable to perform this puja. This puja is performed for many reasons like to cure an illness, going through bad times, killing a Cobra (Nag), childless couples, financial crisis or you want to perform some religious puja to have everything. Triambakeshwar town has a large number of Brahmin households and is also a centre for Vedic Gurukuls (kind of boarding school). It also has Ashrams & Muths devoted to Ashtanga Yoga - the Hindu art of Living. The place is known for its scenic beauty in rainy/ monsoon season and is surrounded by lush green hills untouched by pollution. Anjaneri mountain, the birth place of Lord Hanuman is 7 Km. from Triambakeshwar.
Shri Nilambika/Dattatreya Temple
This temple is on top of the Neel mountain. All goddesses ('Matamba','Renuka','Mananmba') came here to see 'Parashuram' when he was performing penance (tapas).After his penance he requested all goddesses to stay there and the temple was formed for these goddesses. There's a myth that God Dattatrya too was born here.
Coordinates: 17°40′N, 75°20′E

[edit] External links
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling - Google Earth Community
Trimbakeshwar.com
Read Useful Details about Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga

Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nasik

Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nasik

Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple is located at a distance of about 30-km from Nasik in Maharashtra near the mountain named Brahmagiri from which the river Godavari flows. Trimbakeshwar Temple is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and as the source of the river Godavari. Just as Ganga is known as Bhagirathi and is one of the most important river in North India, in the same way, Godavari is also known as Gautami Ganga and is the most sacred river in South India.According to Shiv Purana, it is because of the earnest request of Godavari, Gautam Rishi and other gods that Lord Shiva agreed to reside here and assumed the famous name Trimbakeshwar. Interestingly, locals refer to the river here as Ganga and not as Godavari. All the heavenly Gods promised to come down to Nasik, once in twelve years, when Jupiter resides in the zodiac sign of Leo. On this a grand fair is organized at this place. Devotees take a holy bath in the Gautami Ganga and then seek the blessings of Trimbakeshwar.

Legend Behind Trimbakeshwar Temple

Legend goes that a sage name Gautam Muni resided on the Brahmagiri hill with his wife Ahilya. By virtue of his devotion, the sage received from Varuna, a bottomless pit from which he received an inexhaustible supply of grains and food. The other rishis, jealous of his fortune, arranged for a cow to enter his granary and caused it to die as Gowtam Rishi attempted to ward it off with a bunch of Darbha grass. Gautam Rishi, therefore, worshipped Lord Shiva to bring the Ganga down to his hermitage to purify the premises. Pleased with devotion, Shiva requested Ganga to flow down and make Sage Gautam pure. After that Ganga flowed down. Lord Shiva told Ganga to stay there eternally for the good of everyone. All the Gods started singing the praises of Gautam Rishi, Ganga and Lord Shiva. On the request of all the Gods, Lord Shiva resided by the river Gautami by the name Trimbakeshwar (one of the Jyotirlingas). Hindus believe that Trimbak Jyotirlinga is one, which fulfills everyone’s desires. It emancipates all from their sins and miseries. Another popular legend behind Trimbakeshwar Temple is the legend of Lingodbhava manifestation of Shiva. It says once Brahma and Vishnu searched in vain to discover the origin of Shiva who manifested himself as a cosmic column of fire. Brahma lied that he had seen the top of the column of fire and was hence cursed that he would not be worshipped on earth. In turn Brahma cursed Shiva that he would be pushed underground. Accordingly, Shiva came down under the Brahmagiri hill in the form of Tryambakeshwar. Trimbakeshwar Temple is the only place where Shivlinga is not out but it’s inside the floor. Some scholars say that Goddess Parvati also came down along Lord Shiva and Ganga. The place is therefore called Tryambakeshwa (three lords). Others believe that the place is so called because of the presence of three Shivlinga of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The Shivlinga of Lord Mahesh has always-flowing water among the three Shivlingas.

Structure of Trimbakeshwar Temple

Trimbakeshwar Temple is an ancient shrine, however the current structure is a result of the reconstruction efforts undertaken by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in mid 18th century. The temple is built of black stone in the Nagara style of architecture and is enclosed in a spacious courtyard. The sanctum internally a square and externally a stellar structure houses a small Shivalingam - Tryambaka. The sanctum is crowned with a graceful tower, embellished with a giant Amalaka and a golden kalasha. In front of the garbagriha and the antarala is a mandap with doors on all four sides. Three of these doorways are covered with porches and the openings of these porches are ornamented with pillars and arches. Curvilinear slabs rising in steps form roof of the mandapam. The entire structure is ornamented with sculptural work featuring running scrolls, floral designs, and figures of gods, yakshas, humans and animals. The Shivalingam is seen in a depression on the floor of the sanctum. Water constantly oozes out from the top of the Shivalingam. Usually, the Shivalingam is covered with a silver mask but on festive occasions a golden mask with five faces, each with a golden crown covers it.

Hindus Symbols Symbolisms

Hindu Symbols and Symbolisms
- Omkar, Swastika, the Saffron Colour and Purna-kumbha

Courtesy
By Sudheer Birodhkar

India is a land of innumerable beliefs, rituals and religious symbols. These beliefs and symbols are highly respected and revered.
The origin of the syllable OM is lost in the misty past. Its not being specific to any one country or civilization is indicative of its being an universally perceptible sound for the human race. This reason for this universal perceptibility possibly lies in the fact that AAAH is the most natural sound that issues from the human larynx. This is evident when a man cries out naturally in extreme pain, anger or fear. When emotions reach an extreme pitch the articulate sounds evolved by man are not the ones that are heard, but the syllable natural to man which is AAAH.
As a devout people we normally do not go into the meaning and interpretation of our many beliefs. It is sufficient for most of us to know that they are part of the heritage handed down to us by our ancestors and in deference to tradition it becomes our duty to scrupulously and meticulously adhere to them. But by doing things without knowing the meaning behind them do we not deprive ourselves of an insight into our heritage?
Culture can be well appreciated and adapted to changing times if the meaning behind its different constituents is well understood. To develop this understanding one has to look upon all human actions as having originated in human society. While answers to all questions cannot be obtained, the acceptance of this approach at least opens the door to inquiry into the circumstances which gave rise to our revered traditions.
An attempt to interpret our religious beliefs and symbols is a challenging task. Many of these issues defy analysis and call for a judicious combination of the study of the social environment, etymology, aesthetics and philosophy. As far as aesthetics and philosophy go there exists a good deal of subjectivism and value judgement. While talking about etymology and the social environment we are on relatively firmer ground. In this chapter we have taken a set of symbols, beliefs and rituals and have attempted to examine the possible meaning behind them and the reasons which could lie behind their origin. The first religious symbol we take up is that of Om or Omkar.
OM or Omkar
The syllable OM is quite familiar to a Hindu. It occurs in every prayer. Invocation to most gods begin with this syllable. For instance we have Om Namaha Shivaya, Hari Om, Om Shanti etc. OM is also pronounced as AUM.
Is OM present in Christianity as 'Amen' and in Islam as 'Amin'?
This term occurs in various ancient and modern civilizations. It exists Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.
In Arabic the first alphabet is pronounced as aliph. In Greek it is alpha, in the Roman script it is A. Thus in many languages the first letter in the alphabet has the syllable A, with which the word AUM or OM begins. In the Greek alphabet the last letter is Omega which comes very close to OM. Thus the significance of the syllable OM as the beginning and end finds a parallel in many of the scripts associated with ancient languages.
The different ways in which Omkar is depicted. The syllable OM is not specific to Indian culture. It has religious significance in other religions also. The word Amen used among Christians at the end of a prayer is also said to be derived from the the syllable OM. Although OM is not given any specific definition and is considered to be a cosmic sound, a primordial sound, the totality of all sounds etc., Amen is said to mean 'May it be so'.
In Arabic a similar term 'Amin' has a religious significance.
This indicates some link between the various symbols and perhaps a common origin. Even in the English language the syllable °m occurs in words having a similar meaning. for instance; Omniscience means infinite knowledge, Omnipotent means having infinite powers Omnivorous means eating or reading every thing. This syllable also occurs in words such as Omen which means a sign of something that is to occur in future, Ombudsman means a person having authority to pronounce a verdict. Thus Om is also used to signify divinity and authority.
The syllable OM is not specific to Indian culture. It has religious significance in other religions also. The word Amen used among Christians at the end of a prayer is also said to be derived from the the syllable OM. Although OM is not given any specific definition and is considered to be a cosmic sound, a primordial sound, the totality of all sounds etc., Amen is said to mean 'May it be so'.
In Arabic a similar term 'Amin' has a religious significance.
This is believed to be the original depiction of the syllable OM. We can see how similar it is to the Englisg (Latin) letter 'M' as also to the greek letter 'Omega'.
Thus the origin of the syllable OM is lost in the misty past. Its not being specific to any one country or civilization is indicative of its being an universally perceptible sound for the human race. This reason for this universal perceptibility possibly lies in the fact that AAAH is the most natural sound that issues from the human larynx. This is evident when a man cries out naturally in extreme pain, anger or fear. When emotions reach an extreme pitch the articulate sounds evolved by man are not the ones that are heard, but the syllable natural to man which is AAAH.
This sound it can be said would have been associated with man, in absence of articulate speech, as are the various sounds of barking, meowing, bellowing that we associate with different animals. This perhaps is the reason why the syllable beginning with the letter 'A' is the first one in most alphabets. And this perhaps is also the reason for the Deification of the syllable AUM or OM.
Swastika
The next religious symbol which is also revered by Hindu and ranks second only to OM is the Swastika. Today, the Swastika is know the world over not as a religious symbolism of the Hindus but as the Nazi emblem. Hitler's use of the Swastika on the flag of National-socialist Germany has besmirched the Swastika. But the Swastika continues to hold a religious significance for the Hindus. Like OM, the origins of Swastika are lost in the misty realms of the past and they can only be guessed by piecing together of the surviving clues.
Unlike OM, the Swastika is not a syllable or a letter. It appears to be decorative charecter which could have originated in a hieroglyphic (pictorial) script.
The various ways in which the Swatika is depicted. is also revered by Hindu and ranks second only to OM is the Swastika. Today, the Swastika is know the world over not as a religious symbolism of the Hindus but as the Nazi emblem. Hitler's use of the Swastika on the flag of National-socialist Germany has besmirched the Swastika. But the Swastika continues to hold a religious significance for the Hindus. Like OM, the origins of Swastika are lost in the misty realms of the past and they can only be guessed by piecing together of the surviving clues.
The word Swastika is normally believed to be an amalgam of the words Su and Asati. Su means 'good' and Asati meant 'to exist'.
As per Sanskrit grammer the words Su and Asati when amalgamated into one word become Swasti (as in the case of Su and Aaatam becoming Swagatam meaning welcome). If this derivation of the word Swastika is true, then the literal meaning of the term Swastika would be 'let good-prevail'.
There exist many types of signs which stand for the Swastika. Even the standard version has two forms the one facing the right also called the symbol of- the right hand path and the one facing the left called the symbol of the lefthand path. These two Swastikas are also considered to represent the male and female. There is also a Swastika which is an amalgam of these two types.
Did the Swastika originate as blueprint for a fort called Su Vastu?
In the conventional type of a fort, the fall of one of the gates to the attacking army would lead to the Enemy's pouring into the fort and lead to massacre or capture of all or most of its inhabitants. But under the Swastika grids fall of one of the four gates could still keep, at least three-fourths of the fort safe. The understanding of the Swastika as a blueprint for a fort can also be etymologically corroborated. In Sanskrit, Vasa means to inhabit and Vastu means habitation. While Su means good. The word Swastika might be an amalgam of the terms 'Su' and 'Vastu' pronounced as as 'Swastu') meaning 'a good habitation'.
All these forms present the Swastika to us as if it were only a symbol. But it is quite possible that Swastika was an object which played an important role in the real lives of people. Some scholars have said that in ancient times forst were builtin the shape of a grid resembling the Swastika, for defensive purposes. Under such an arrangement it was difficult for an enemy to storm into all parts of the fort simultaneously.
Did the Swastika originate as blueprint for a fort called Su Vastu?
In the conventional type of a fort, the fall of one of the gates to the attacking army would lead to the Enemy's pouring into the fort and lead to massacre or capture of all or most of its inhabitants. But under the Swastika grids fall of one of the four gates could still keep, at least three-fourths of the fort safe.
The understanding of the Swastika as a blueprint for a fort can also be etymologically corroborated. In Sanskrit, Vasa means to inhabit and Vastu means habitation. While Su means good. The word Swastika might be an amalgam of the terms 'Su' and 'Vastu' pronounced as as 'Swastu') meaning 'a good habitation'.
Incidentally in Sanskrit the term Swasta means calm or peaceful. Thus the term and concept of Swastika might as well be a derivation of the name of a defensive structure which due to its impregnable character was looked upon as a good habitation.
That this form of a defensive arrangement was a fact is also corroborated by the military practice of Chakra-vyuha used during ancient times. In the Chakra-vyuha, the army was arranged in the form of a circular grid which an enemy army was supposed to break. This was one of the techniques used during the Mahabharata war in which Arjuna's son Abhimanyu was killed. That the Chakra-vyuha was an effective form of defense and it was very diffciult to break it is corroborated by the episode of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharata. Briefly, this episode is as follows:
The clue that the Grid like the Swastika as a defensive arrangement was a fact is also corroborated by the military practice of Chakra-vyuha used during ancient times. In the Chakra-vyuha, the army was arranged in the form of a circular grid which an enemy army was supposed to break. This was one of the techniques used during the Mahabharata war in which Arjuna's son Abhimanyu was killed. That the Chakra-vyuha was an effective form of defense and it was very diffciult to break it is corroborated by the episode of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharata.
When Abhimanyu was on the family way, Sri Krishna used to take Subhadra (Abhimanyu's mother) on excursions. To humour her, Krishna used to relate many of his adventures to the pregnant Subhadra. On one such excursion Krishna was narrating his experience with the technique of Chakra-vyuha and how step by step the various circles could be penerated. It seems that Subhadra did not find this topic interesting enough for she soon went into a slumber. But someone else was interested in Sri Krishna's narration and that was the yet to be born Abhimanyu.
While Subhadra dozed off, Abhimanyu continued to carefully follow Srl Krishna's narrative of the Chakra-vyuha. But after talking for sometime and not receiving any response from Subhadra, Sri Krishna turned back and saw that Subhadra was savouring a sweet nap. Sri Krishna who had at that time come upto the seventh step of the Chakra-vyuha, gave up his narration and returned with Subhadra to the palace.
The unfortunate Abimanyu could never obtain the technique of breaking all the circles in the chakra-vyuha, but whatever he had heard Sri Krishna say, he carefully preserved in his memory. He grew up to be a brave handsome young man. Many years later when during the Mahabharata war the Kavravas set up a Chakar-vyuha and challenged the Pandavas to come forward and break it, none of the Pandavas knew the technique of doing so. At that Juncture to save the honour of the Pandavas, Abhimanyu came forward and offerred his services for the task of breaking the chakra-vyuha. Despite his incomplete knowledge of the technique he entered tne grid and overcame one circle after another till he come to the seventh one for the breaking of which he had no knowledge. Brave and ambitious es he was he fought valiantly in the unequal struggle but in vain. His strength and bravery proved no match against the skillfully laid out maze on warriors fighting whom, he met his end.
Similarly the Swastika could also have originated as a defensive structure which due to its vast practical utility was considered powerful and was sanctified.
Saffron - the auspicous colour for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains
The saffron colour is considered auspicious by Hindus. This colour also has a special significance to the Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. Among the Sikhs it is considered to be a militant colour signifying a fight against injustice. Hindus and Sikhs have a saffron coloured triangular flag as their religious standard. This flag is seen flying atop Hindus temples and Gurudwaras.
This colour also has a special significance to the Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. Among the Sikhs it is considered to be a militant colour signifying a fight against injustice. Hindus and Sikhs have a saffron coloured triangular flag as their religious standard.
Buddhist bhikkus (monks living upon alms) always where saffron coloured robes. But among the Hindus this colour is most prominently visible in their flag, robes, the Tilaka (mark applied on the forehead), statues of Hindu Gods are daubed with saffron paste. In the diverse and multifaceted Hindu religion, the saffron colour is one of the few elements that commands a universal acceptance among Hindus. The fact that this colour is regarded as sacred even by the offspring Buddhist and Sikh religions indicates that this colour must have obtained a religious significance before they came into being.
Jain Munis
Jain Munis and Buddhist Bhikkus (monks living upon alms) always where saffron coloured robes. But among the Hindus this colour is most prominently visible in their flag, robes, the Tilaka (mark applied on the forehead), statues of Hindu Gods are daubed with saffron paste. In the diverse and multifaceted Hindu religion, the saffron colour is one of the few elements that commands a universal acceptance among Hindus. The fact that this colour is regarded as sacred even by the offspring Jain, Buddhist and Sikh religions indicates that this colour must have obtained a religious significance before they came into being.
Thus, Hinduism is the birthplace of the idea that the saffron colour is an auspicious one. The origin of this attitude lies in the hazy past when pigments were few and were highly prized. Plants and minerals have generally been the source for deriving pigments. The saffron pigment is traditionally derived from the saffron plant (Autumn crocus) which is called Keshar from which the saffron colour derives one of its names - Keshari. This plant is grown in the sub-Himalayan regions and is very rare. This rarity could have been a reason for this particular colour to be highly valued and this along with its golden hue raised it to the status of being a holy colour. That the golden colour of the precious yellow metal had a special status apart from the high monetary value attached to it is evident from the term Suvarna that is used to describe it. Suvarna means the good colour (Su=good, varna=colour). This word was normally used to refer to gold rather than the other word Hiranya (derived possibly as an adjective of Harina which means a deer - an animal having a golden-brown sheen). Among other words used to describe the saffron colour are Bhagva and Naranga. The term Bhagva could have been derived from the word Bhagvan (meaning God) to identify this colour as the one associated with God. Incidentally in Sanskrit the term for good fortune is Bhagya which also is indicative of the auspicious significance attached to this colour.
The "Sacred Colour" concept in Different Cultures
The sanctification of a particular colour is not peculiar to Hinduism. In other religions also this attitude is prevalent. For instance Muslims look upon Green colour as their religious standard.. Among present day Christians (originally among the Romans), the purple colour was regarded as a colour of divinity and royalty.
Green Colour in Islam
It would be interesting to recall how the green colour acquired a special significance among the Muslims.
A Mosque with the ubiquitous Green Colour.
Green as the colour of special significance must antedate the birth of Islam. Its special significance originated from the critical role which an oasis played in the lives of the Arabs. Hence the colour which stood for an oasis must have been immortalized in their consciousness. For the desert nomads, a green peck of an oasis in the vast water-starved desert must have been synonymous with hope, survival and pleasure. Islam which became the religion of Arabs in the 6th century derives almost everything from their culture. Islamic folklore and beliefs are largely born out of the culture of the Arabs. Hence the significance of the green colour to the peoples whom the Arabs engulfed in their great Jehad
The Arabs whose homeland is the birthplace of Islam is a vast desert-land. For these desert nomads the appearance of a green patch on the horizon meant an oasis and springs (sources of water) which is the life-blood for human settlement. Green as the colour of special significance must antedate the birth of Islam. Its special significance originated from the critical role of oasis played in the lives of the Arabs that the colour which stood for it must have been immortalized in their consciousness.
For the desert nomads, a green peck of an oasis in the vast water-starved desert must have been synonymous with hope, survival and pleasure. Islam which became the religion of Arabs in the 6th century derives almost everything from their culture. Islamic folklore and beliefs are largely born out of the culture of the Arabs. Hence the significance of the green colour to the peoples whom the Arabs engulfed in their great Jehad.
Purnakumbha
Purnakumbha literally means a "full pitcher" (Purna = full, Kumbha = pitcher). The Purnakumbha is a pitcher full of water, with fresh leaves of the mango tree and a coconut (Sriphala) placed on the top. The Purnakumbha is an object symbolizing God and is regularly used during different religious rites. One instance of the Purnakumbha itself used as an object of worship is the Satyanarayana Puja or the worship of Lord Satyanarayana. The water in the jar is said to be the divine essence. Water has been an object of worship since a very early age among the Hindus.
Purnakumbha literally means a "full pitcher" (Purna = full, Kumbha = pitcher). The Purnakumbha is a pitcher full of water, with fresh leaves of the mango tree and a coconut (Sriphala) placed on the top. The Purnakumbha is an object symbolizing God and is regularly used during different religious rites. One instance of the Purnakumbha itself used as an object of worship is the Satyanarayana Puja or the worship of Lord Satyanarayana.
The five forces of nature - Pancha-Mahabhoota
The five forces of nature Pancha-Mahabhoota which were the first to be worshipped included water. Graphically, water is depicted by a circle in the Pancha-Mahabhootas. This circle seems to be a symbolism for fullness. Water plays an important role even today in Hindu religious rites. During all purificatory rites, water is sprinkled on the object to be purified. Before starting his meal a Hindu sprinkles water around the the banana leaf from which a meal is traditionally eaten. In ancient times before coronation a king was sprinkled with water so as to ensure an auspicious beginning to his reign. A Kumbha called the Ghata was used during solemn occasions especially during marriages to fix the auspicious time for performing the ceremony. ritual a smaller vessel with a small hole at its bottom was floated in a larger vessel full of water. The smaller vessel was gradually filled up with water flowing in through the hole and after it was full to the brim the smaller vessel would sink into the larger one. The auspicious moment decided in this manner with a Ghata was called Ghataka.
The Pancha-mahabhootas (five forces of nature) included (depicted graphically from below) earth, water, fire, air and ether (sky).
The Kumbha Mela
The Kumbha-Mela ceremony that is observed at selected places seems to be having a link with the concept of Purnakumbha. The Kumbha-Mela ceremony is a public religious event which occurs after a lapse of few years. A notable feature of the Kumbha-Mela is that it cannot be observed everywhere even at the selected time. It can be observed only at the few select places. And these select places which are on the banks of rivers like Hardwar and Prayag (Allahabad) on the banks of the Ganga, Ujjain at the banks of the Kshipra, or Nashik on the banks of the Godavari are places where the Kumbh Mela is held periodically.
The Kumbha-Mela ceremony that is observed at selected places seems to be having a link with the concept of Purnakumbha. The Kumbha-Mela ceremony is a public religious event which occurs after a lapse of few years. A notable feature of the Kumbha-Mela is that it cannot be observed everywhere even at the selected time. It can be observed only at the few select places. And these select places which are on the banks of rivers like Hardwar and Prayag (Allahabad) on the banks of the Ganga, Ujjain at the banks of the Kshipra, or Nashik on the banks of the Godavari are places where the Kumbh Mela is held periodically.
The Purna Kumbha Mela and the Ardha Kumbha Mela
The Kumbha-Mela is also of two types, one on the occasion of Purna-Kumbha (the full pitcher) and the other on the occasion of Ardha Kumbha (the half pitcher).
The Sri-Phala - Coconut
The coconut (Sriphala) which is used in the making of a Purna-Kumbha is also an independent object of worship. A coconut alone is also used to symbolize 'God' While worshipping any deity, A coconut is normally an item to be offered along with flowers and incense sticks, etc. But the coconut has a special significance as is evident from the word Sriphala meaning God's fruit. Other similar objects which also are used to symbolize divinity are the betel leaf and the areca-nut (Supari) also called betel nut as it is chewed along with the betel leaf. These items which are the objects of worship have one common element, all of them have a quality of mild intoxication. Juice tapped from a coconut tree and the coconut milk is popularly used in the making of fermented (mildily alcoholic) beverages like Neera.
Some objects which also are used to symbolize divinity are the betel leaf and the areca-nut (Supari) also called betel nut as it is chewed along with the betel leaf. These items which are the objects of worship have one common element, all of them have a quality of mild intoxication.
While this inference may sound incredible, an incidental fact that should be noted is the high value attached to alcoholic drinks like Soma and Sura by Aryans which can be seen in the references to these drinks in Vedic literature. For the hardy war-like Aryans of the Vedic period who lived a nomadic life in the wintry northern regions, such intoxicating drinks had a special significance. It may not be purely accidental that the items which later became objects of worship included those that had a quality of mild intoxication.
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Now we move on to read about the social origins of the Hindu Etiquette of Namaskar and Tilaka.
Sudheer Birodkar

The Story Behind the Kumbh Mela

The Churning of the Ocean - The Story Behind Kumbha Mela

Courtesy

Kumbh' in sanskrit refers to 'pot or pitcher' and 'mela' is 'festival'. Kumbha Mela, thus finds a meaning as a festival of the pot. The historic origin of the Kumbh Mela dates back to the vedic times.

The Real Story: It is believed that once the gods(devtas) were cursed by Rishi Durvasa. This made them lose their powers, thus weakening their body and mind. To regain their old strength and vigour, the devtas planned to churn the primal ocean to extract the 'elixir of immortality', the 'amrit' or 'the water of life'. They approached demons (daityas) and persuaded them to perform 'Samudra Manthan' (churning of the ocean) to bring out the nectar. One who would drink the nectar would become immortal and therefore, most powerful and indestructible. Thus, gods and demons agreed to share the nectar once it was brought up from the depths of the ocean.

The Huge Tug Of War:

Finally, the churning of the ocean began with the Mandar mountain being used as the churning stone and the giant serpent to become the coiled rope for turning. There was a dispute as to who would take which side - the head or the tail - of the serpent. Finally the churning began with the gods catching hold of serpent's tail and the demons, its head. Then started the huge tug of war.As the churning progressed, the ocean began to yield its treasures. A deadly poison was produced and Lord Shiva came forth to swallow the poison to save the creation. The universe was gifted with a celestial horse, a divine cow, a valuable gem, a magic moon, a musical instrument, apsaras or beautiful dancing girls, Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune), Vishvakarma (the divine architect and constructor) and then came the divine medicine man, Dhanvantri, with the coveted pot of amrit.

The Last Spell:

Seeing Dhanvantari with the pot of nectar, the gods and demons became anxious. The demons who were physically stronger than the gods forcibly seized the pot. The demons and the Gods fought over the pot for twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years). Finally, Lord Vishnu, disguising himself as an enchantress, took the pot of nectar from the demons and passed to Jayant, Lord Indra's son, who assumed the form of a large bird, flew off with the jar. Some drops of the nectar fell on his way at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Trimbakeshwar and Ujjain. Each of these places became the holy pilgrimage sites for Kumbh Mela.

Kumbh Mela
» Prayag near Allahabad» Trimbakeshwar near Nasik» Ujjain» Haridwar near Rishikesh
» Maha Kumbh Mela» Purna Kumbh Mela» Ardh Kumbh» Magh Mela