Mahakumbh
Prayag is considered to be the place where Brahma Shastra found its genesis. It is believed that Lord Brahma did the Ashwamedh yagya ten times at Prayag before creating the Brahmanda. Prayag, ‘Pra’ for vishal and ‘yag’ for yagya . Padma Puran states that Prayag darshan itself is capable of giving a person ‘mukti’ and the holy waters have the power to penetrate the three bodies – sthoola, sookshma and karan to absolve one of one’s sins.

The Kumbh at Prayag happens when Brihaspati or Jupiter, the spiritually uplifting planet, the Guru of the Devas, is in Taurus and Atma Karaka Sun and Manas Karaka Moon are in Capricorn or Makar. Jupiter in a sthira rashi and the Sun and Moon in chara rashis. Jupiter signifies the year, Sun the month and Moon the muhurta. With Moon coming in Capricorn – the MahaKumbh begins, with other alignments staying true.

Mahakumbh was an experience like no other. The state of one’s mind decides the quality of the experience. I have heard a lot of people say – what is there in the Kumbh, you have all sorts of people coming, it is nothing but a large crowd, why go there. Remember, a pilgrimage doesn’t happen without divine grace. If your ‘buddhi’ or intellect is satwick your experience of the Kumbh will be high order. Else there are many who come here as tourists, take pictures and go away – the Kumbh does’nt touch them. Immersing in the experience with the intellect purified will open the doors of destiny. You will be able to meet enlightened saints in that same Kumbh. That same Kumbh will operate at different levels for different people.

A revered saint of the Mahanirvani Akhada, Vishwadevanad ji, an upasaka of Kali, my Guru, he gave me the mantra of Ma Kali. It was under his guidance that I took up certain practices, staring from the Kumbh of 2013. He took Mahasamadhi in May 2014. My pranaams to him.