Showing posts with label Maha Kumbha Mela. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maha Kumbha Mela. Show all posts
Come January and the uneven banks of the Ganga-Yamuna will yet again play host to a jamboree of religiosity, culture, beliefs and plenty of frolic. An estimated 100 million people — s adhus , pilgrims, merchants, crooks, curious foreigners and revellers — will swarm the ghats of the s angam for 55 days.
The Sangam: Thousands swarm these ghats during the Kumbh Mela
Some hope to wash their sins into the Ganga, while others get dragged by tradition and faith. And there are those who cannot resist but be part of an unmatched human congregation called the Maha Kumbh Mela. Journalists will vie for exclusive shots of ash smeared s adhus bathing in icy waters, while anecdote after anecdote will be shelled at public memory.
However, some tales will remain unsaid and some pictures will never be framed. These stories are of the few hundred people, who break bread, gather water and make their living by the ghats and areas nearby. They occupy these lands illegally but with nowhere else to go, this is home.
“It’s uncertain. Sometimes I sell enough but sometimes I sell nothing at all,” says Janki. She feeds her two children by selling ‘puja items’, while her husband rows the boat for tourists.
Like her, many men, women and children here use their thatch-roofed bamboo huts or wooden trolleys to sell anything from oily snacks, beverages, coconuts and prasadam to necklaces, bangles, photos, idols, tikas and saffron cloths. Those who have nothing to sell need the ghats for shelter. But, with the water level rising rapidly, these ‘ghatwallahs’ will soon need to relocate to higher ground, where only those who already own ‘stalls’ will be allocated space. But beyond the ghats they will also have to reckon with congestion and competing vendors. And once the grand mela begins, the big merchants will set up shop.
For the many homeless who beg for survival, there is no respite. They will have to find new hunting grounds till the mela is over. They are usually banned from the premises but many still manage to sneak in. “Beggars have been traditionally known to be sent to forests till the mela got over. These days they leave on their own before the authorities come and chase them out,” says 62-year-old Ramesh Mishra, a Hindu priest from a village by the Ganga.
The rag tents, tied to trees, poles and signboards, and supported by the odd bricks, will be dismantled once the Army starts clearing the 500 acre mela ground. “Last time, I managed to save whatever clothes I could from the water. My husband can't work as he has tuberculosis. What shall we do? Save our children or our grains?” asks Munni, who traces her roots to Madhya Pradesh.
In the 46 villages of the three neighbouring tehsils , however, residents harbour a mixed feeling for the mela . While they revere the legend and sanctity of the Maha Kumbh, they also lament the disruption of normal life caused every year. With ever-increasing footfall, the number of villages allotted for the mela has increased since 2001, when 26 villages were allotted. This time, the mela will spread over an area of 20 km. Mela authorities have begun acquiring the allotted 5,522 bigha village lands for the next six months.
Though the villagers have been promised “a fair compensation”, some of them are not convinced. “Only those with ‘setting’ get proper compensation. Nothing is done for the poor ones. Nobody cares whether we live or die,” says Kishen Lal, a farmer.
“We are at peace for 11 months. But once the melas start, we are thrown away from our own areas for outsiders to enjoy and bathe in the waters we live on,” says Mama, a frail old man.
Not much change for the boatmen either. They continue to ferry people for holy dips at the sangam , where the yellowish waters of the Yamuna delicately merge with the muddy Ganga.
Meanwhile, on the lush fields toward the city, hordes of metal pontoon bridges are being built. Preparations at the ghats, however, can only start once the rivers settle down after flooding.
Akbar's Fort, built in 1583, still stands daunting over the north bank of the Yamuna. Its high red walls partially shrouded by overgrowth of bushes and flags fluttering over the boats beneath, make it irresistible for the outsider.
The people who live under it, though, do not seem to care much about history.
As the ghats are readied for Allahabad’s Maha Kumbh in January, people who have made their homes on the banks of the Ganga-Yamuna await another season of eviction
Breaking bread on icy waters
Kumbh Mela +
kumbh mela 2013 +
Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 +
Maha Kumbha Mela
Come January and the uneven banks of the Ganga-Yamuna will yet again play host to a jamboree of religiosity, culture, beliefs and plenty of frolic. An estimated 100 million people — s adhus , pilgrims, merchants, crooks, curious foreigners and revellers — will swarm the ghats of the s angam for 55 days.
|
| The Sangam: Thousands swarm these ghats during the Kumbh Mela |
Some hope to wash their sins into the Ganga, while others get dragged by tradition and faith. And there are those who cannot resist but be part of an unmatched human congregation called the Maha Kumbh Mela. Journalists will vie for exclusive shots of ash smeared s adhus bathing in icy waters, while anecdote after anecdote will be shelled at public memory.
However, some tales will remain unsaid and some pictures will never be framed. These stories are of the few hundred people, who break bread, gather water and make their living by the ghats and areas nearby. They occupy these lands illegally but with nowhere else to go, this is home.
“It’s uncertain. Sometimes I sell enough but sometimes I sell nothing at all,” says Janki. She feeds her two children by selling ‘puja items’, while her husband rows the boat for tourists.
Like her, many men, women and children here use their thatch-roofed bamboo huts or wooden trolleys to sell anything from oily snacks, beverages, coconuts and prasadam to necklaces, bangles, photos, idols, tikas and saffron cloths. Those who have nothing to sell need the ghats for shelter. But, with the water level rising rapidly, these ‘ghatwallahs’ will soon need to relocate to higher ground, where only those who already own ‘stalls’ will be allocated space. But beyond the ghats they will also have to reckon with congestion and competing vendors. And once the grand mela begins, the big merchants will set up shop.
For the many homeless who beg for survival, there is no respite. They will have to find new hunting grounds till the mela is over. They are usually banned from the premises but many still manage to sneak in. “Beggars have been traditionally known to be sent to forests till the mela got over. These days they leave on their own before the authorities come and chase them out,” says 62-year-old Ramesh Mishra, a Hindu priest from a village by the Ganga.
The rag tents, tied to trees, poles and signboards, and supported by the odd bricks, will be dismantled once the Army starts clearing the 500 acre mela ground. “Last time, I managed to save whatever clothes I could from the water. My husband can't work as he has tuberculosis. What shall we do? Save our children or our grains?” asks Munni, who traces her roots to Madhya Pradesh.
In the 46 villages of the three neighbouring tehsils , however, residents harbour a mixed feeling for the mela . While they revere the legend and sanctity of the Maha Kumbh, they also lament the disruption of normal life caused every year. With ever-increasing footfall, the number of villages allotted for the mela has increased since 2001, when 26 villages were allotted. This time, the mela will spread over an area of 20 km. Mela authorities have begun acquiring the allotted 5,522 bigha village lands for the next six months.
Though the villagers have been promised “a fair compensation”, some of them are not convinced. “Only those with ‘setting’ get proper compensation. Nothing is done for the poor ones. Nobody cares whether we live or die,” says Kishen Lal, a farmer.
“We are at peace for 11 months. But once the melas start, we are thrown away from our own areas for outsiders to enjoy and bathe in the waters we live on,” says Mama, a frail old man.
Not much change for the boatmen either. They continue to ferry people for holy dips at the sangam , where the yellowish waters of the Yamuna delicately merge with the muddy Ganga.
Meanwhile, on the lush fields toward the city, hordes of metal pontoon bridges are being built. Preparations at the ghats, however, can only start once the rivers settle down after flooding.
Akbar's Fort, built in 1583, still stands daunting over the north bank of the Yamuna. Its high red walls partially shrouded by overgrowth of bushes and flags fluttering over the boats beneath, make it irresistible for the outsider.
The people who live under it, though, do not seem to care much about history.
As the ghats are readied for Allahabad’s Maha Kumbh in January, people who have made their homes on the banks of the Ganga-Yamuna await another season of eviction
Saint Maha Mandaleshwar Anandmayee Radhe Maa has been stripped of the coveted Maha Mandaleshwar title till the 11-member saint committee submits its final investigative report in this matter.
Radhe Maa has also been suspended from the Juna Akhada, which is the biggest akhada of saints.
Shri Panch Das Nam Juna Akhada, which bestowed the title on Radhe Maa in a secret ritual on Tuesday night in Haridwar, has decided to seize the title from her till she comes out clean in the investigative committee report.
This means Maa Radhe will have to wait for a minimum two weeks to three months. The investigation committe will also tour the areas of the home state of Radhe Maa, Punjab, to know her past and certify the spiritual and religious works.
The main charge of Radhe maa mention below.
Charges At Radhe Maa
Kumbh Mela +
kumbh mela 2013 +
Maha Kumbh 2013 +
Maha Kumbha Mela
Saint Maha Mandaleshwar Anandmayee Radhe Maa has been stripped of the coveted Maha Mandaleshwar title till the 11-member saint committee submits its final investigative report in this matter.
Radhe Maa has also been suspended from the Juna Akhada, which is the biggest akhada of saints.
Shri Panch Das Nam Juna Akhada, which bestowed the title on Radhe Maa in a secret ritual on Tuesday night in Haridwar, has decided to seize the title from her till she comes out clean in the investigative committee report.
This means Maa Radhe will have to wait for a minimum two weeks to three months. The investigation committe will also tour the areas of the home state of Radhe Maa, Punjab, to know her past and certify the spiritual and religious works.
Radhe Maa has also been suspended from the Juna Akhada, which is the biggest akhada of saints.
Shri Panch Das Nam Juna Akhada, which bestowed the title on Radhe Maa in a secret ritual on Tuesday night in Haridwar, has decided to seize the title from her till she comes out clean in the investigative committee report.
This means Maa Radhe will have to wait for a minimum two weeks to three months. The investigation committe will also tour the areas of the home state of Radhe Maa, Punjab, to know her past and certify the spiritual and religious works.
The main charge of Radhe maa mention below.
Adi Shankara (Sanskrit: आदि शङ्करः (788 - 820), also known as Sankara Bhagavatpadacarya and Adi Sankaracarya was an Indian philosopher from Kaladi in present day Eranakulam district, Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the atman and brahman non-dual brahman, in which brahman is viewed as nirguna brahman, brahman without attributes.
Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers. He is reputed to have founded four mathas ("monasteries"), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta of which he is known as the greatest revivalist. Adi Shankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship.
His works in Sanskrit concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of advaita (nondualism). He also established the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, in a time when the Mimamsa school established strict ritualism and ridiculed monasticism. Shankara represented his works as elaborating on ideas found in the Upanishads, and he wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic canon (Brahma Sutra, principal upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) in support of his thesis. The main opponent in his work is the Mimamsa school of thought, though he also offers arguments against the views of some other schools like Samkhya and certain schools of Buddhism.
Below:PHOTOS OF PRESENT JAGADGURU SHANKARACHARYAS
1) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati ji Maharaj of Dwarka Sharada and Badri Jyotish Peetham (at present holding two peethams)
2) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati ji Maharaj of Puri Shri Govardhan Peetham.
3) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Bharati Teertha ji Maharaj of Sringeri Shri Sharada Peetham.
Source:
http://www.sringeri.net/
http://www.shrimata.com/
http://trueeventindia.com
Maha Kumbha : About Adi Shankarachayrya
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Kumbha +
Kumbha 2013 +
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Maha Kumbha 2013 +
Maha Kumbha Mela
Adi Shankara (Sanskrit: आदि शङ्करः (788 - 820), also known as Sankara Bhagavatpadacarya and Adi Sankaracarya was an Indian philosopher from Kaladi in present day Eranakulam district, Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the atman and brahman non-dual brahman, in which brahman is viewed as nirguna brahman, brahman without attributes.
Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers. He is reputed to have founded four mathas ("monasteries"), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta of which he is known as the greatest revivalist. Adi Shankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship.
His works in Sanskrit concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of advaita (nondualism). He also established the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, in a time when the Mimamsa school established strict ritualism and ridiculed monasticism. Shankara represented his works as elaborating on ideas found in the Upanishads, and he wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic canon (Brahma Sutra, principal upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) in support of his thesis. The main opponent in his work is the Mimamsa school of thought, though he also offers arguments against the views of some other schools like Samkhya and certain schools of Buddhism.
Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers. He is reputed to have founded four mathas ("monasteries"), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta of which he is known as the greatest revivalist. Adi Shankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship.
His works in Sanskrit concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of advaita (nondualism). He also established the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, in a time when the Mimamsa school established strict ritualism and ridiculed monasticism. Shankara represented his works as elaborating on ideas found in the Upanishads, and he wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic canon (Brahma Sutra, principal upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) in support of his thesis. The main opponent in his work is the Mimamsa school of thought, though he also offers arguments against the views of some other schools like Samkhya and certain schools of Buddhism.
Below:PHOTOS OF PRESENT JAGADGURU SHANKARACHARYAS
1) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati ji Maharaj of Dwarka Sharada and Badri Jyotish Peetham (at present holding two peethams)
2) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati ji Maharaj of Puri Shri Govardhan Peetham.
3) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Swami Bharati Teertha ji Maharaj of Sringeri Shri Sharada Peetham.
Source:
http://www.sringeri.net/http://www.shrimata.com/
http://trueeventindia.com
The monastic structure of Sanatana Dharma is complex and organic, most monks belong to a parampara (lineage) or a monastic order. The Akhara vary in theology as well as size and influence; most are Smarta in practice, but three are considered Vaishnavite and a few are Saivite. There is plenty of respectful acceptances for different points of view among the groups and no dominance exists. Other large exist outside the Akharas, such as the Swaminarayan fellowship, the RamaKrishna Order and the Nathas of South India. Within each Akhara, most sannyasins are also associated with one of the dashanami lineages. Adi Shankara, who originated the dashanami system and did much to revitalize and improve the system of monastic orders.
Sadhus are in two broad categories, those who love in monastic communities and those who wander or live in solitude. The socially engaged Juna Akhara (The Juna Akhara is the largest of the thirteen akharas consisting of over 500,000 sadhus and five million sanyassis) consists of both types and is host to thousands of naga sadhus and maunis who strive to uplift the world by their silent existence, anonymously blessing society from secluded caves. Their lack of involvement maintains certain fluidity in the monastic order; these outlying branches of the family prevent the Acharya from becoming too central to the structure. During the monumental Kumbha Melas, the mountain dwelling Sadhus join their brothers of the same Akhara in a surprisingly harmonious weave, populating vast areas under colorful tents and new sannyasins are initiated by the Acharaya Mahamandaleshwar, usually by the thousands in a powerful event.
Literally, "Mahamandaleshwar" means "Superior of great and/or numerous monasteries" or "Superior of a religious district or province" (maha = great, mandala = district, ishwara = head, sovereign). There are two systems of organization in the dashanami order. Each of the ten names (dasha = ten, nami = name), which is appended to a monk's given name at initiation, is assigned to one of the four cardinal monastic seats founded by Shankaracharya and presided over by his direct successors at Joshimath in North India, Dwarka in the West, Shringeri in the South and Puri in the East.
The other system is the akhara system of which the Mahamandaleshwaras are a part. Their origin dates from the early days of Islamic invasions into India (around or just prior to 1000 CE) when many monks became the targets of murderous attacks. In order to protect themselves, they formed "regiments" of monk-warriors who, to this day, preserve the traditional martial arts of India in addition to their spiritual practices. So in addition to being a way to organize the orders at a local level they have historically also served as paramilitary regiments with the Mahamandaleshwaras as generals, as it were, of these regiments.
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kumaranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj
Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Yugpurush Swami Paramanand Ji Maharaj
Barbara Marx Hubbard
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityananda
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishnu Devananda Giri Maharaj
Mahamandaleshwar H H SriSwami Satyamitranandaji Maharaj
Mahamandaleshwar Shaktiananda Ma Lattin America
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Swarupananda Western Church of Sanatana Dharma founded in 2008
Michael Murphy
Rothko Chapel
Maha Kumbha 2013 : About Mahamandelshwar
Kumbh 2013 +
Kumbha +
Kumbha 2013 +
kumbha mela +
Maha Kumbha 2013 +
Maha Kumbha Mela
The monastic structure of Sanatana Dharma is complex and organic, most monks belong to a parampara (lineage) or a monastic order. The Akhara vary in theology as well as size and influence; most are Smarta in practice, but three are considered Vaishnavite and a few are Saivite. There is plenty of respectful acceptances for different points of view among the groups and no dominance exists. Other large exist outside the Akharas, such as the Swaminarayan fellowship, the RamaKrishna Order and the Nathas of South India. Within each Akhara, most sannyasins are also associated with one of the dashanami lineages. Adi Shankara, who originated the dashanami system and did much to revitalize and improve the system of monastic orders.
Sadhus are in two broad categories, those who love in monastic communities and those who wander or live in solitude. The socially engaged Juna Akhara (The Juna Akhara is the largest of the thirteen akharas consisting of over 500,000 sadhus and five million sanyassis) consists of both types and is host to thousands of naga sadhus and maunis who strive to uplift the world by their silent existence, anonymously blessing society from secluded caves. Their lack of involvement maintains certain fluidity in the monastic order; these outlying branches of the family prevent the Acharya from becoming too central to the structure. During the monumental Kumbha Melas, the mountain dwelling Sadhus join their brothers of the same Akhara in a surprisingly harmonious weave, populating vast areas under colorful tents and new sannyasins are initiated by the Acharaya Mahamandaleshwar, usually by the thousands in a powerful event.
Sadhus are in two broad categories, those who love in monastic communities and those who wander or live in solitude. The socially engaged Juna Akhara (The Juna Akhara is the largest of the thirteen akharas consisting of over 500,000 sadhus and five million sanyassis) consists of both types and is host to thousands of naga sadhus and maunis who strive to uplift the world by their silent existence, anonymously blessing society from secluded caves. Their lack of involvement maintains certain fluidity in the monastic order; these outlying branches of the family prevent the Acharya from becoming too central to the structure. During the monumental Kumbha Melas, the mountain dwelling Sadhus join their brothers of the same Akhara in a surprisingly harmonious weave, populating vast areas under colorful tents and new sannyasins are initiated by the Acharaya Mahamandaleshwar, usually by the thousands in a powerful event.
Literally, "Mahamandaleshwar" means "Superior of great and/or numerous monasteries" or "Superior of a religious district or province" (maha = great, mandala = district, ishwara = head, sovereign). There are two systems of organization in the dashanami order. Each of the ten names (dasha = ten, nami = name), which is appended to a monk's given name at initiation, is assigned to one of the four cardinal monastic seats founded by Shankaracharya and presided over by his direct successors at Joshimath in North India, Dwarka in the West, Shringeri in the South and Puri in the East.
The other system is the akhara system of which the Mahamandaleshwaras are a part. Their origin dates from the early days of Islamic invasions into India (around or just prior to 1000 CE) when many monks became the targets of murderous attacks. In order to protect themselves, they formed "regiments" of monk-warriors who, to this day, preserve the traditional martial arts of India in addition to their spiritual practices. So in addition to being a way to organize the orders at a local level they have historically also served as paramilitary regiments with the Mahamandaleshwaras as generals, as it were, of these regiments.
The other system is the akhara system of which the Mahamandaleshwaras are a part. Their origin dates from the early days of Islamic invasions into India (around or just prior to 1000 CE) when many monks became the targets of murderous attacks. In order to protect themselves, they formed "regiments" of monk-warriors who, to this day, preserve the traditional martial arts of India in addition to their spiritual practices. So in addition to being a way to organize the orders at a local level they have historically also served as paramilitary regiments with the Mahamandaleshwaras as generals, as it were, of these regiments.
|
| Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kumaranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj |
|
| Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Yugpurush Swami Paramanand Ji Maharaj |
|
| Barbara Marx Hubbard |
|
| Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityananda |
|
| Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishnu Devananda Giri Maharaj |
|
| Mahamandaleshwar H H SriSwami Satyamitranandaji Maharaj |
|
| Mahamandaleshwar Shaktiananda Ma Lattin America |
|
| Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda |
|
| Mahamandaleshwar Swami Swarupananda Western Church of Sanatana Dharma founded in 2008 |
|
| Michael Murphy |
|
| Rothko Chapel |
