Krishna Prema’s Food for Thought 2025 #1 Kumbh Mela - A one-time bath or a life of devotion?

Around 400 million people are expected! The Kumbh Mela is considered the largest gathering of people in the world. This gigantic religious festival, which fascinates people all over the world, lasts 45 days. In the last few days, we have seen impressive pictures of this mega event in the news and on social media.

The most striking are certainly the Naga Babas, the naked ascetics! Their bodies are rubbed with ash, and they wear rudraksha necklaces around their necks. With matted long hair, a walking stick and a begging vessel in their hands, they often have an impressive appearance—some of them also look terrifying. Some wear skulls around their necks or are armed with swords. They are often seen in large groups, on foot or riding camels, horses, or even elephants. Conch shell horns sound, mantras are recited, and drums are beaten.

No less impressive and just as important are the many sadhus and saints of the various spiritual traditions. Clad in orange robes and adorned with various forms of tilaka, they are carried on palanquins or driven in decorated carriages, surrounded by thousands of disciples and onlookers.

Mingling with all the yogis, ascetics and saints are millions of devout Hindus who have traveled here with their entire families. Big and small, old and young - many come from far and wide to be part of the biggest and most important religious event. They all have something in common: they want to purify themselves, free themselves from sins and attain moksha, liberation.

But what is behind this great event and what does the Bhakti tradition have to say about it? The word Kumbh or Kumbha means “jar”, “vessel” and Mela refers to “gathering” or “festival”. The Kumbh Mela has its origin in the story of the “Samudra Manthan” (stirring of the ocean of milk) which is described in the Srimad Bhavatam, in the eighth canto.

In this tale, devas (demigods) and asuras (demons) fought over the nectar of immortality hidden in the ocean. When the nectar finally appeared, a fight broke out over who should receive it. During the fight, four drops of the nectar fell to earth and landed in the places that are now the Kumbh Mela sites: Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. These places are therefore considered particularly sacred. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 12 years, and the events are based on a special astrological constellation (1). This year's Maha Kumbh Mela is particularly special, as the stars are only positioned in this way every 144 years. In Prayag, the holy bath is particularly auspicious, as three rivers come together here at Triveni: the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati.

Srila Prabhupada himself visited the Kumbh Mela in Prayag several times and emphasized what is the most important aspect of this festival from the perspective of the bhakti tradition: “Kumbh Mela means sadhu-sanga. If you go to the Kumbh Mela to get sadhu-sanga, that is, to meet a learned saint, then your visit to the Kumbh Mela is right. Otherwise: yat-tīrtha-buddhiḥ salile. If someone thinks that bathing alone is the purpose of the Kumbha Mela, then sa eva go-kharaḥ - he is no better than a cow or a donkey. The real meaning of the Kumbha Mela is: 'Holy persons gather here, so let me use their knowledge and company'. Then you are intelligent. The Kumbh Mela is a gathering of truly educated saintly personalities, and one should use this opportunity wisely.” (2)

This view is also shared by Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914) in his song collection Kalyana Kalpataru:

“My dear mind, you keep traveling to holy pilgrimage sites in the hope of freeing yourself from material suffering. But these visits do not strengthen the resolve of your heart. All your wanderings therefore remain empty effort without tangible benefit. The true blessing and ripe fruit of any place of pilgrimage lies in association with pure devotees. In fact, every place in the world becomes a holy pilgrimage site when devotees live there. Therefore you should immediately go to where such devotees can be found and establish yourself in Krishna consciousness by constantly staying in their inspiring company.” (3)

From these teachings we can understand that true purification of the heart takes place in association with pure souls.

But doesn't bathing in the Ganges also have its value? After all, all scriptures glorify the power of her waters! Mother Ganga is undoubtedly considered to be infinitely merciful and her glories are limitless. For example, the Kasi Mahatmya states:

“As a disease is destroyed by healing medicine, good character by greed, the heat of summer by bathing in a lake, and as a mountain of absorbent cotton is instantly destroyed by a small spark of fire, so all sins are destroyed by the mere touch of the waters of Ganga.” (4)

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatar, also took a daily dip in the Ganga in his Navadvipa lilas and said:

“O Ganga Devi, your water is the nectar of pure love for God. Just by uttering your name, devotional service to the Supreme Lord is awakened. By your mercy, living beings acquire a taste for chanting Krishna's holy name.” (5)

Then why is the bathing in the Ganga at the Kumbha Mela questioned? It is not to minimize the glory of the Ganga, but rather to highlight the importance of sadhu-sanga and the power of bhakti. In the 6th canto of the Bhagavatam, we find more answers to these questions in the conversation between Pariksit and Sukadeva.

Pariksit, filled with compassion for the conditioned souls, wondered how they could be freed from sin. (6)  Sukadeva replied that people should take upon themselves penance (prayaschitta). However, Parikshit, as an observant disciple, realized that his teacher was testing him and argued: What good is penance if the same acts are committed again later?

Pariksit likened this to bathing an elephant: “Sometimes even someone who is very vigilant not to commit sin becomes a victim of sinful life again. Therefore, I think this process of repeated sinning and repentance is useless. It is like bathing an elephant. An elephant takes a full bath, but as soon as it comes back to land, it throws dust over its head and body, immediately soiling itself again.”

In other words, what good is it if people take a bath in the Ganges and are freed from all sins if they commit sins again the next moment? The problem is that while the reactions to sinful actions are destroyed, the tendency to act in this way remains in the heart. Finally, Sukadeva explains that it is the path of bhakti that has the power not only to destroy the sinful reactions but also to transform the heart. These sins are like the withered leaves of creepers under a bamboo tree, which may be burned by fire, but whose roots remain to grow again at the first opportunity.

Only a rare person who has accepted perfect and unalloyed devotional service to Kṛṣṇa can uproot the weeds of sinful activities without their revival. He can do this simply by rendering devotional service, just as the sun immediately disperses the fog by its rays. (7)

From this we can draw the following conclusion: The Kumbha Mela is undoubtedly a unique occasion - an extremely powerful event, a gathering of sadhus, and an enormously auspicious and purifying festival for all mankind. Those who are able to attend are favored by good fortune.

From the bhakti point of view, however, it is not mandatory to attend, as the purification of the heart is primarily achieved through the association of devotees and the chanting of the holy name.

Of course, attending the Kumbha Mela can also be an expression of devotion. For example, ISKCON devotees distribute over 10,000 plates of prasadam, food offered to Krishna, every day at the mela. Many other spiritual institutions also dedicate themselves to the service of pilgrims and consider their participation as seva and devotion.

However, from the perspective of Bhagavat Purana, it is not necessary to wait for auspicious astrological moments to take a dip in a holy place. Rather, the same result of liberation and, moreover, love of God can be achieved through the diligent practice of bhakti-yoga. Transformation of the heart does not happen through a one-time bath, but through a life of devotion. Although a holy bath can certainly do no harm!

1 - In addition, there is the Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela, which takes place every 6 years. So every three years there is a smaller or

     places a smaller or bigger Mela.

2 - Giriraja Swami in “I`ll build you a Temple - The Juhu Story”, p. 424, BBT, 2020

3 - Bhaktivionda Thakur, “mana tumi tirthe sada rata”, Upadesh Song 14, Kalyana Kalpataru

4 - Kashi Mahatmya, verses 61-62

5 - Quoted in the book “Our Merciful Mother Ganga”, Jaya Vijaya Dasa

7 - The term sin is called “Pāpa” in Sanskrit, which literally means “the bad” or “the wrong”. It denotes the reaction to vikarma, actions that are considered unethical, unjust or against the principles of dharma (cosmic order and justice).

6 - Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 6, verses 1-19