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Mahakumbh 2025: Today, from 13th January 2025, the grand event of Mahakumbh has started in Prayagraj from the day of Paush Purnima. Meanwhile, there is talk of Maha Kumbh everywhere. Mahakumbh is a unique confluence of faith. Besides, it is considered to be the world’s largest religious and cultural event. During Mahakumbh, lakhs of saints and devotees from India and abroad gather and take a dip of faith at the holy Triveni Sangam.
Kumbh Mela is considered the biggest pilgrimage of India. In 2017, it was included in the list of intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Also, Kumbh Mahaparva is celebrated during an astronomical conjunction which occurs every 12 years in four holy places, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain. During Kumbh, people take a dip of faith in holy rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Shipra and Godavari.
There are many stories prevalent regarding the organization of Kumbh Mela. Especially organizing Kumbh in these holy rivers is related to the story of Samudra Manthan. But how did the word ‘Kumbh’ originate? Is its description found in our religious texts and Vedas and Puranas? Let us know what is the meaning of Kumbh as explained in Rigveda, one of the four Vedas.
Vedic illustration of Kumbh
The word ‘Kumbh’ appears at many places in the Vedas. It is related to pitcher and water flow. But according to the Vedas, Kumbh is not related to the story of Amrit Manthan or the Kumbh festivals of Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik.
According to Rig Veda (10/89/7),
Jaganam Vritram Swadhitirvanev Ruros Puro Ardatra Sindhun.
विविद्ध गिरं नवमित्र कुम्भमा गा इन्द्रो अक्रुनुत्स्व युगभीः।
What is the meaning of ‘Kumbh’ in Rig Veda?
The word ‘Kumbh’ is found in the 7th mantra of 89 Sukta of the 10th Mandal of Rigveda, which is about Indra. In this, Indra has been described as the destroyer of enemies and the provider of water. In Rigveda, Kumbh means raw pot. But it has nothing to do with Kumbh Mela or bathing. The word ‘Purna Kumbh’ is found for the first time in Arthveda, written 600 years after Rigveda, which is in the 34th Sukta of the fourth Mandal. Purna Kumbh is considered a symbol of time. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are also mentioned in the 75th Sukta of the 10th Mandal of Rigveda, which points towards the confluence. Prayag has also been mentioned in Mahabharata and Puranas. However, there is no clear description of Kumbh as a fair in the Vedas and Puranas.
Also read: Maha Kumbh 2025: Due to whose mistake did Kumbh start?
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