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Maha Kumbh Mela Mythology, History, Astrology: It is cold in Prayagraj, foggy with a chance of rain. Yet, on Monday (January 13), tens of thousands are expected to arrive in the city, to camp on the banks of the Ganga. They will stay in tents and bathe in the river, the most devout taking a dip at dawn while stars are still twinkling.

Prayagraj is hosting the Maha Kumbh this time, or the Poorna Kumbh, held every 12 years. Many myths are prevalent around the Kumbh Mela, many theories about its exact origin. Some believe the festival finds mention in the Vedas and Puranas. Some say it is far more recent, going back barely two centuries. What is known for certain is that today, it is one of the largest gatherings of devotees witnessed anywhere on earth.

What is the Kumbh Mela, and why is it held in four cities periodically? What is Ardh Kumbh and Maha Kumbh? What is the origin of this festival, and why do millions attend it?

The answers, as in many questions about Hinduism, lie in a mixture of myths, history, and the enduring faith of an ancient people, trusting as much in the munificence of invisible deities as in tangible life-givers like rivers.

The mythological origins of the Kumbh Mela
The Sanskrit word kumbh means pitcher, or pot. The story goes that when Devas (gods) and Asuras (loosely translated as demons) churned the ocean, Dhanvantri emerged carrying a pitcher of amrita, or the elixir of immortality. To make sure the Asuras don’t get it, Indra’s son, Jayant, ran off with the pot. The Sun, his son Shani, Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter), and the Moon went along to protect him and the pot.

As Jayant ran, the amrita spilt at four spots: Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar. He ran for 12 days, and as one day of the Devas is equal to one year of humans, Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these locations every 12 years, based on the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter.

Prayagraj and Haridwar also hold the Ardh-Kumbh (ardh means half), every six years. The festival held after 12 years is called the Poorna Kumbh, or the Maha Kumbh.

All four places are located on the banks of rivers — Haridwar has the Ganga, Prayagraj is the sangam or meeting point of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, Ujjain has the Kshipra, and Nashik-Trimbakeshwar the Godavari.

It is believed that taking a dip in these rivers during Kumbh, amid the specific alignment of the heavenly bodies, washes away one’s sins and accrues punya (spiritual merit).

Kumbh Melas are also the venue where Sadhus and other holy men gather — the sadhu akhadaas attracting a lot of curiosity — and regular people can meet them and learn from them.