Arathi
The word ‘Kumbha’ means a pot. The name originates from a story in the Puranas (ancient spiritual literature). The story is about an ‘Amrit Kumbha’ which means a pot filled with nectar. According to Skanda Purana (one of the 18 puranas) for the purpose of obtaining nectar that grants immortality a joint effort was made by the Gods and the demons to churn the ocean. They used Mandarachal mountain as a pillar and Vasuki serpent as a rope for the churning. In the process of churning 14 very precious objects arose. These objects were equally shared by the Gods and the demons. At last Dhanvantari (the God of medicine) came up with the pot of nectar. Seeing the pot Indra (the king of the Gods) gave a sign to his son Jayant to get hold of the pot and run away with it so that the demons are deprived of it. As Jayant began running away with the pot a fight between the Gods and the demons began. The fight lasted for 12 days of the Gods which is equivalent to 12 human years. During the course of the fight the nectar spilled over from the pot and fell at four places Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. To prevent the nectar from falling in the hands of the demons Lord Vishnu took a beautiful female form Mohini (one who enchants) and by Her charm and grace enticed the demons and handed over the pot to the Gods.” From an article wrote by Sri Ved Niketan Ashram
Today is a much more relaxed day because we saw most of the stuff but here the action never ends. So after a quick satsang with Babagi we left to see various camps around our base. We saw some Naga Babas, one of them invited us in their tent and we sat with him. The day before E&L were able to see an Aghori camp, the only one apparently at this Kumbha at least as we could tell. After the short tour we went to sit at Pilot Baba’s camp, a very elaborate production that confirms that spirituality is big business everywhere. Coming to the Haridwar we were surprised to see how many posters with Pilot Baba and Akiko were all over and it was confirmed by the fact the their camps is the largest, full of Russians, where Pilot Baba established and built a temple. They also charge a steep Rs 1300/night in their tents. Pilot Baba’s history is interesting but you always wonder why you move your real spiritual and yoga experience in this commercial way when you never needed the funds.This is disconcerting if you look at the babas industry in India. The number of camps, each with its own sadhu is impressive and all are competing for believers like the sects in USA. The Indians are the core of the business but there are many Europeans to the English speaking swamis like Pilot Baba, Soham Baba, etc, the last getting the niche of global warming, saving the planet, etc. The result is that lots of Europeans are in his retinue, and he was always surrounded by two Germans in black suits and, obviously-because is hard otherwise- white shirts dirty at their collars and ties, looking like security personnel. Beside he had a guy in fatigue with covered face with a machine gun handy. The way he conducted himself was like a manager giving orders and organizing things left and right. I left my friends to rest in Pilot Baba’s camp and after another quick forays to take more pictures of Naga Babas and other swamis I left to the city where the ghats were definitely not so crowded like yesterday and afforded great views. Again I went for lunch to the same place, mostly with the same type of food and walked the city with no other events in site.
After the Internet I took the cable car, that I was earlier assured, “Indian way”, that it was stopped because of the holiday…. and I got up a hill where is located Masadevi temple. The temple is not great but commands great views over the city, over the ghats and the dam. Also is surrounded by black face monkeys that turn to be quite aggressive if you don’t mind your business. Coming back from the temple I was in the bazaar to do some shopping but it was not too much, the city being a major destination for Kumbha Mela, the trade is mainly local oriented. I walked latter to the the puja in Har Ki Pauri temple but I came quite late and the view was definitely not so good like first time. At these events you have to come at least one hour before it starts to get a good view. But the atmosphere was extremely pleasant and walked enchanted back to the camp. When you walk back you have to cross the long Chandevi bridge and all the camps are on the far side of the bridge but right from the beginning you are welcomed by the bajan that penetrate all the noise from the city like a hum. It is great! At the camp the driver came already with the car and slept in one tent and we had a last chat with James and went to sleep because we planned to leave at 8:00 am and everything had to be packed.
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