After visiting the Kumbh Mela of 1895, Mark Twain wrote:
“It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites. Irrespective of all worldly barriers of caste, creed, region, the Kumbh Mela has wielded a mesmeric influence over the minds and the imagination of millions…”
**************
“The tale is great, one may say enormous. Every twelfth year is held to be a year of peculiar grace; a greatly augmented volume of pilgrims results then. The twelfth year has held this distinction since the remotest of times, it is said.”
Tolerance of Hardship
Irrespective“At the Kumbh Mela, I was struck by the enormous tolerance of the Indian people,” Tully said. “This is something which has consistently struck me ever since I have lived in this country. The tolerance of hardship of the pilgrims who went there, many of them walking barefoot, carrying their luggage on their heads, having nowhere to sleep at night, except on straw out in the open. But it is not just their tolerance of harsh conditions, it is also their tolerance of each other, because at the Kumbh Mela there are heaven knows how many different forms of Hinduism being preached.”
Mark Tully
1989: Guinness Book of World Records proclaims the crowd of 15-million crowd at the February 6 Allahabad mela "the largest-ever gathering of human beings for a single purpose."
"Kailaasarana Shiva Chandramouli Phaneendra Maathaa Mukutee Zalaalee Kaarunya Sindhu Bhava Dukha Haaree Thujaveena Shambho Maja Kona Taaree"
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
My Tryst With Hope And Hindutva - Maha Kumbh
Naga Sadhus And Yoga
Naked yoga (Sanskrit nagna yoga) is the practice of yoga without clothes. While many practice naked yoga at home and in nature, there are a growing number of participants, including children, in group classes. The practice is gaining popularity, notably in western societies that have more familiarity with social nudity. It is becoming popular in Europe and United States.[1]
Naked yoga should be considered in relation to the dress code at yoga courses, varying from different times and yoga directions.
Naked yoga have probably an Indian history since ancient times. One of the Indian sects called Naga Sadhus made nudity a part of their spiritual practice, but naga have been misunderstood as "nagna".
Naga means "who represents Power". The word Naga had came from NAG (snake) which signifies power in Hindu philosophy. And the word sadhu had came from Sadhan (Spiritual Practice). Members of the sect considered nudity a way of rejecting the material side of life. Celibacy and disregard of the harsh outside conditions were among the key ideas of their philosophy. They practiced naked yoga to tame their desires, identify with their physical bodies and to break the attachment with everything physical, sensual and material.
The word "gymnosophists" (naked philosophers), is used in ancient Greek writings as the designation of wise men (yogis) in India, maybe the naga sadhus.
Modern naked yoga has some roots in Germany and Switzerland through a movement called Lebensreform. The movement had since the end of the 19th century highlighted yoga and nudity.[2] In the early 20th century, the term gymnosophy was appropriated by several groups who practiced nudity, asceticism and meditation.
The Maha Kumbh
you need
more than
you camera
your vision
your camera
eye ..a moment
full of centuries
that refuses to die
a moment holding
your feet in the
waters of the ganges
confluence of 3 rivers
ganga yamuna saraswathi
as they meet ..you cry
brahma vishnu mahadev
bam bam bholenath
chants that wreak havoc
in the soul of the sky
a river that holds in its
open palms ,,, the spirit
of humanity ,,,on a high
you soar you fly...
har har mahadev
har har mahadev
har har mahadev
god replies ,,,