History made by Westerners at the Kumbh Mela 2013

18 March 2013 - for immediate release
PRESS RELEASE
History made by Westerners at the
Kumbh Mela 2013
The Kumbh Mela 2013, the world’s largest human gathering of all times, ended one
week ago. Besides new record numbers, also qualitative historic changes occurred
that went largely unnoticed. They bring a new dimension to the story and history of
the Kumbh Mela: one of religious tolerance and acceptance.
For the very first time in the history of the Kumbh Mela
1.
2.
3.
a western group of men and women - known as the Bhakti Marga Movement –
could bathe with the Naga Babas and Sadhus
a joint chariot and a bath by both a Shaivite and a Vaishnavite group took
place on the major sacred bathing day
the so called “untouchables”, the lowest of the lowest group of society within
the Hindu caste system, were allowed to take a bath in the Holy Rivers
The Kumbh Mela1 which takes place every 12 years in Allahabad, India, ended one week ago. It is an
ancient and grand spiritual festival, full of history and tradition. The Kumbh Mela of 2013 happened
to also be a Maha Kumbh Mela, as it comes around only once every 144 years (12 times 12), and it
is thus considered to be particularly auspicious. As the international press already pointed out, it
turned out to be the world’s largest human gathering of all times.
Besides historically high numbers of pilgrims – 120 million in total and over 30 million on the main
bathing day - there were also unexpected qualitative historic changes that went largely unnoticed.
They merit to be highlighted, as they are significant and bring a new dimension to the story and
history of the Kumbh Mela: a message about religious tolerance and acceptance. They constitute a
very powerful message in a country that historically has shown a lot of religious tolerance towards
others.
Specifically:
1. A group of 50 devotees of Spiritual Master Sri Swami Vishwananda2 – known as the Bhakti Marga
movement - became the first outside Westerners in the known history of the Kumbh Mela to bathe
with the Naga Babas and Sadhus of the so-called Akharas during Mauni Amavasya3, the main and
most auspicious bathing day (snan) on 10th of February 2013 in Allahabad. Over 30 million
devotees and ascetics took the holy dip, probably the largest human gathering on a single day.
The Bhakti Marga group based in Germany, comprised of mostly white westerners, and both men
and women. During major bathing dates, the Akharas always have a separate bathing area from the
general public. For a large group of western non-Akhara initiates, and both white men and women
to be bathing with the sadhus, has never been recorded before.4
The nationalities of the international group include Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Switzerland,
Poland, UK, Latvia, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, Serbia, USA, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius,
Nepal and India
The co-operation and openness of the Niranjani Akhara5 to allow Sri Swami Vishwananda and his
Bhakti Marga devotees to bathe with them on Mauni Amavasya represents a historical moment in
the history of the Kumbh Mela.
2. Sri Swami Vishwanananda’s Bhakti Marga group is a Vaishnavite group. By background their
spiritual lineage is Sri Sampradaya, founded by the 11th Century Saint of Tamil Nadu, Ramunuja
Acharya. During Mauni Amavasya, Bhakti Marga joined the chariot procession of the Niranjani
Akhara, a Shaivite group. The Niranjani Akhara chariot was lead by Mahamandaleshwara6 Swami
Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj. A joint chariot and a bath by both a Shaivite and a Vaishnavite
group on a major bathing day has never taken place before. Historically, each of the 13 Akharas is
appointed a specific and separate procession and bathing time on major bathing days.
Mahamandaleshwara Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj was interviewed by the BBC for a
documentary about the Maha Kumbh Mela soon after Mauni Amavasya. When asked why he had
allowed Sri Swami Vishwananda and Bhakti Marga to join their procession, his response was:
“Sri Swami Vishwananda and our parampara (lineage) are different. He is a Vaishnavite, we are
Shivaite, but there shouldn’t be any difference between the two because we are both walking
towards Paramatma (God). Although there is a difference in his Guru’s teachings and the Kriyas
(yoga techniques), in essence they are all the same.”
Question by the Interviewer: “After 12 years, would they (Sri Swami Vishwananda’s group) be
able to come again?”
“It is up to God – we can’t speak for the future – it depends on God – God decides. But I would like
that all the people in the whole world join together. Our Vedas say there is only one truth and to
get to it there are lots of ways, but the truth is one.
For the sake of human welfare, the more people that join it, it’s a proud moment for us. What we
can do, we will try. People didn’t get upset, they were surprised that such a big group joined our
Akhara from a different parampara.
The Akhara people felt proud that people from a different parampara have joined us with our
way of rituals and our parampara. For this I thank Swamiji (Sri Swami Vishwananda) very much.”
3. Throughout India’s history, for as long as can be recalled, the so called “untouchables”, the lowest
of the lowest group of society within the Hindu caste system lived on the periphery of society. They
handled what were seen as unpleasant or polluting jobs and suffered from social segregation and
restrictions, in addition to being generally poor. They were not allowed to worship in temples with
others, nor draw water from the same wells as others. Persons of other castes would not interact
with them.
For the very first time in the history of the Kumbh Mela the “untouchables”, were allowed to take a
bath in the Holy Rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati.
Sri Swami Vishwananda: “It has never happened before. In India there is a group of people who
clean the sewage with their own hands. They are considered very low caste people, within the
lowest caste they are the lowest. They have never been allowed to participate in the Kumbh
Mela, not even to approach the Ganges, and this year, after thousands and thousands of years,
from the beginning of the Kumbh Mela, this is the first time ever, that they were allowed to take
the bath in the Ganges. So, as you can see, there are lots of profound changes taking place.
Nobody knows why they are happening now. It is a Divine arrangement.”
On the 15th February 2013, the second most auspicious bathing date of the Kumbh Mela of 2013,
on Basant Panchami day, Sri Swami Vishwananda and Bhakti Marga were invited to join the chariot
procession and snan with Sri Maha Mandaleshwar Mahant Santosh Das, from a Vaishnavite Akhara.
The BBC (United Kingdom) is producing a 90 minute documentary about the Kumbh Mela of 2013
and Hinduism for prime time 9 pm airing in May. They interviewed Sri Swami Vishwananda and
Maha Mandaleshwara Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj out in India, about the themes
included in this press release, as well as spirituality and Hinduism in general. They are including this
press release story in their documentary and will show the associated film footage. They also
followed the personal experiences at the Kumbh Mela of two of Sri Swami Vishwananda’s British
devotees, Manish Pankhania (Roshan) and David Johnstone, and have also interviewed them on the
subjects of yoga and Hinduism.
Sri Swami Vishwananda, at the Kumbh Mela 2013
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Sri Swami Vishwananda and his group of Swamis and devotees marching in the
middle of the night towards the designated spot for the historic holy bath on 10
February 2013.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
One of Sri Swami Vishwananda’s western devotees in front of the chariot of the
Niranjani Akhara of Mahamandaleshwara Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj, in
the early morning hours of the historic 10 February 2013.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Mahamandaleshwara Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj (left) and Sri Swami
Vishwananda (middle).
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Sri Swami Vishwananda (fourth from the left) and Mahamandaleshwara Swami
Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj (fifth from the right).
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Devotees of Sri Swami Vishwananda taking the holy bath. In the upper picture on the
left is David Johnstone, whose personal experience is being covered by the BBC
documentary which will appear in May 2013.
In the lower image, devotees in jubilation just after taking the holy bath.
(Images: Bhakti Marga)
Sri Swami Vishwananda (left) on the chariot of Sri Maha Mandaleshwar Mahant
Santosh Das (right) on Basant Panchami day (15th February 2013), one of the most
auspicious bathing dates of the Kumbh Mela of 2013.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Devotees of Sri Swami Vishwananda in a jubilant mood on Basant Panchami day
(15th February 2013), shortly before taking the Holy bath.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Sri Swami Vishwananda on the chariot of Sri Maha Mandaleshwar Mahant Santosh
Das (in front, western devotees).
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
A female devotee of Sri Swami Vishwananda making a tilak on a Sadhu during dinner
time at the camp of the Niranjani Akhara, at the request of Mahamandaleshwara
Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj. It is highly unusual in India for a woman to
touch a Sadhu, let alone to paint a tilak on the forehead. Yet another example of
going beyond the borders of tradition established over millennia.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
The BBC interviewing Sri Swami Vishwananda and Roshan Pankhania for the
documentary about the Kumbh Mela (aired in May 2013).
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
The BBC interviewing Mahamandaleshwara Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj
(left) and Sri Swami Vishwananda (right) for the documentary.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Notes:
1
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe at the confluence
of three holy rivers, the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad. This event is
the world's largest religious gathering, with over a 120 million people attending the event in 2013.
The Kumbh Mela is held every third year at one of the four locations - Haridwar, Allahabad, Nasik
and Ujjain.
2
Sri Swami Vishwananda is a living Master, an embodiment of Bhakti and Love. He originates from
Mauritius and resides at Shree Peetha Nilaya, Bhakti Marga International Center, in Germany near
Frankfurt. His movement is called Bhakti Marga.
3
Mauni Amavasya is a special new moon day which this year happened on the 10th February 2013.
It is estimated that over 30 million devotees and ascetics took a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni
Amavasya, thus making it the largest human gathering on a single day in history.
4
Source: Mahamandaleshwara Swami Chitprakashanand Giriji Maharaj (Niranjani Akhara)
5
Niranjani Akhara is one of the 13 Akharas in India. The Akharas are the different sects of Sadhus
that have bathing privileges during the most important bathing days at the Kumbh Mela.
6
Mahamandaleshwar is a title used by some Hindu monks of the Dashanami order of Swamis
founded by Adi Shankaracharya 1200 years ago. A person called a Mahamandaleshwar has been
elevated to the highest level of traditional, Hindu spiritual guardianship. Today India has 80
Mahamandaleshwars.
Devotees of Sri Swami Vishwananda handing out food to Sadhus at the camp of the
Niranjani Akhara.
(Image: Bhakti Marga)
Contact:
To learn more about Sri Swami Vishwananda and Bhakti Marga and to request film and
photographic footage of the historical moments of the Kumbh Mela 2013, please contact:
Swami Kuru, Bhakti Marga Media Relations
SHREE PEETHA NILAYA Bhakti Marga Centre Springen
Am Geisberg 1-6, 65321 Heidenrod – Springen, Germany
Email:
media.relations@bhaktimarga.org
Phone number: +49 178 320 48 01 (mobile)
+49 6124 605 91 01 (landline)
Photographs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhaktimarga/sets/72157633028521092/
Website:
www.bhaktimarga.org