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The
century's first
Simhastha , the
month long world's
largest religious
congregation gets
off with gaiety
and great
religious fervour
with traditional
rituals and
conventions in a
devotion-charged
atmosphere today.
The sadhus and
saints drawn from
every part of
India
would take a holy
dip in the sacred
Kshipra river
after performing
worship of their
Dhvajas , Nishans
and Anis and other
rituals. The
devotees coming
from all over the
country as well as
abroad would
follow suit.
A special
feature of this
Simhastha is that
for the first time
in the history of
Simhastha there
would be three
shahi snans and
two parva snans
during the
festival. The fair
brings together a
mini
India
. The devotees
participating in
the great
religious saga
would enjoy the
company of saints
and perform
all the
rituals and
worships together,
forgetting
all
divisions of
castes, classes
and stations in
life.
Braving the
scorching sun of
April, the
devotees would be
enjoying the event
in their own
different ways
–listening to
religious
discourses,
watching Ramlilas,
visiting
the different
akhadas and
khaslsas.
Four Kumbh
Melas are
organized in
Prayag (
Allahabad
) , Haridwar ,
Nasik
and
Ujjain
. The Kumbha at
Ujjain
is called
Simhastha as the
Sun is in the
Aries and the
Jupiter in the
Leo. The Kumbh in
Haridwar is held
when the Sun is in
the Aries and the
Jupiter in the
Aquarius. The
Kumbh in Prayag is
held when the Sun
is in the
Capricorn and the
Aries in the
Taurus. The
Simhastha at
Ujjain
has special
significance as a
rare configuration
of planets takes
place in 12 years
when the Sun is in
the Aries and the
Jupiter in the
Leo.
There are
many stories
prevalent about
origin of the
Simhastha , the
most famous being
that of the
Samudra Manthan or
Churning of the
Ocean. The story
has it that the
gods and demons
churned the ocean
and found and
Amrit Kund ( urn
containing
nectar). To ensure
that the urn was
not fallen in the
hands of demons,
the gods handed it
over to Brihspati
, the Moon God ,
the Sun God and
the Saturn.The
Jayant , the son
of the Indra , ran
away holding the
urn in his hands,
the demons chased
him. A fierce
battle ensued and
lasted twelve
days.
One
day of the gods is
equivalent to one
year of humans so
in that way the
battle lasted for
twelve years. In
the struggle to
possess the urn ,
some drops of the
nectar fell on
four points of the
earth – Haridwar
, Prayag ,
nasik
and Ujmjain.
Mythology has it
that these drops
developed int four
sacred rivers viz.
the Ganges , the
Yamuna , the
Godavari
and the Kshipra ,
respectively.
Hence the four
Kumbha Mellas at
these four places
as per specific
configuration of
planets.
The
significance of a
bath in the
Kshipra can be
gauged from a
verse of the
Skanda Purana.
According to it "
The holy bath of
the Kumbha equals
in punya to
thousands Kartik
Snans, hundred
Magh snans and
crorees of
Narmada
snans during
Vaishakh month.
The fruits of
Kumbha snan is
equal to the
fruits of
thousands of
Ashvamedh Yajna ,
hendreds Vajpaiyee
Yajna and lakhs of
journeys around
the earth.
Looking to
the importance of
bathing in the
Kshipra
arrangements have
been made to
ensure that the
large number of
devotees have no
inconvenience in
taking holy dips
in the river. The
ghats have been
renovated and
widened for the
convenience of
devotees.
The city of
Mahakal ,
previously known
as Avanti ,
Kushsthali ,
Kanashringa ,
Bhaumvati ,
Padmavati ,
Pratikalpa ,
Amaravati ,
Vishala , Avantika
, Ujjayani ect is
considered to be
holiest of the
holy cities. The
most important
thing about
Ujjain
is that it has the
only south-facing
idol of
Mahakaleshwar,
which has special
significance from
Tantric point of
view.
The Adi
Purana describes
Ujjain
as the most sacred
city on the earth
planet.
According
to Skanda Purana
the city
has 84
Mahadevas, 64
Yoginis , 8
Bhairavas and 6
Vinayakas ( Ganesh).
The city has been
the seat of
learning where all
disciplines of
knowledge
including
philosophy ,
religion,
mathematics ,
astronomy ,
astrology , Vedas,
Ayurveda
flourished since
time immemorial.
Lord Krishna,
along with his
elder brother,
Balram and his
best friend,
Sudama received
early education at
the Ashram of seer
Sandeepani.
Situated
along the banks of
the Kshipra, the
city has been
eulogized by great
poets like Ved
Vyasa and Kalidasa.
Vikramaditya, the
legendary emperor,
ruled the city
with his famous
Navratnas (nine
jewels) including
Kalidasa , Shanku,
Dhanvantari ,
Betalbhatta,
Varruchi,
Varahavihir ,
Kshapdak ,
Ghatkarpar and
Amar Singh-each
one of them the
last word in their
respective field
of knowledge.
Ujjain
has a tremendous
energy field. The
moment one steps
into it with a
little meditative
mind , one finds
to be in an ocean
of b\vibrations of
the energy that
permeates every
particle of the
City Eternal.
Another
significance of
the city is that
it is on the
Tropic of Cancer.
Therefore, the
meridian line of
Ujjain
became the prime
meridian of
India
. The Vikram
Samvatsar
originated in this
ancient capital
city. According to
Nobel laureate
Amartya Sen "
there is something
very striking
about the
consistency of
Ujjain
's dominance in
Indian time
accounting."
The city
was an important
center of
astronomy in the
Gupta period.
Renowned
astronomer,
Varahmihir had
worked here. In
the 18th century,
Sawai Maharaja
Jaisingh of Jaipur
constructed the
famous observatory
at
Ujjain
to encourage
astronomical
studies and to
popularize
astronomy among
people.
Akharas, as
always would be
star attraction of
the Simhastha. In
keeping with the
tradition all the
Akharas would move
out in procession
from their camps
to the ghats for
the ceremonial
holy bath. As many
as 13 main Akharas
will participate
in the Simhastha.
These include Shri
Panchayati
Taponidhi Nirnjani
Akhara,, Shri
Panchayati Anand
Akhara Shri Panch
Dashnami Joona
Akhara , Shri
Panch Dashnami
Avhan Akhara ,
Shri Panch Agni
Akhara , Shri
Panchayati
Mahanirvani Akhara
, Shri Panch Atal
Akhara , Shri
Panchayat Bada
Udasin Akhara ,
Shri Panchayati
Udasin Naya Akhara
,Shri Panchayati
Nirmal Akhara ,
Shri Rananandiya
Nirvani Ani akhara
, Shri Panch
Digamar Ani Akhara
and Shri Panch
Ramanidiya Nirmohi
Ani Akhara.
Besides,
Shankaracharyas ,
saints of
different sects ,
Mandaleshwars ,
Mahamandaleshwars
and scholars
come to the
Simhastha with
their followers
and disciples. The
common devotees
pay respect to
them and take holy
dip after them.
All man
made divisions and
differences would
vanish during the
festival and a
spectacle of
unsurpassable
grandeur and faith
would be created.
The devotees would
be transported to
higher planes of
consciousness
where nothing but
Shiva exists.
Snan
Dates
1-
April 5 , 2004
(Shahi Snan)
2-
April 19,2004
(Parva Snan)
3-
April 22 , 2004
(Shahi Snan)
4-
april 24 , 2004
(Parva Snan)
5-May
5 , 2004
(Shahi Snan)
About
Ujjain
Situated on
the western
boundary of Madhya
Pradesh ,
Ujjain
is 55 kms from
Indore
.
Access
Air
: The nearest
airport is at
Indore
. It is connected
by air to
Bhopal
, Mumbai,
Delhi
and
Gwalior
.
Rail
Ujjain
is an important
reilway station on
western railway
network and
connected with
most of the major
cities in
India
.
Road
Ujjain
is within easy
driving distance
from
Bhopal
( 183 kms) ,
Indore
( 55 kms) and
Mandu ( 158 kms).
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