Nowhere else humans ever congregated for a single event in such a number; be that religious, sports, war, funeral or festivity. It’s always been the Kumbh mela and this year it’s Maha Kumbh, which is celebrated every 144 years.
Indeed the biggest gathering of humanity on planet earth is the religious gathering of Hindus at this Mahakumbh
It’s pure joy and ecstasy.
There are no animal sacrifices, no bloodshed, and no uniform. There is no violence, no politics, and no conversions. There are no sects, no segregations, no trade, and no business. It’s hinduism.
THE MILLIONS
The world looks with awe at the statistics; 400 million people over 44 days, over 15 million taking the holy dip on the first day. A temporary city across 4,000 hectares, 150,000 tents, 3,000 kitchens, 145,000 restrooms, with 40,000 security personnel, 2,700 AI-enabled cameras, etc. These are mind boggling statistics but is not what makes me wonder.
It’s not about what our eyes can see. It’s not about size or numbers. What amazes me is (what we call ancient) knowledge of the humanity’s connection with the universe.
It amazes me that its rituals are performed by referring to the alignment and positioning of celestial bodies in the heavens. This signifies the human relationship with the cosmos. It also shows its physical and spiritual effect on human destiny and future.
It has no power structure or political polity driving it. It’s indigenous to the faith. This is not about an organised religion. It’s not about a hierarchy.
COSMOS RELATION
This Hindus Dharma’s understanding of humanity’s relationship with the universe is profound. It spans from vegetation under our feet to the stars in the Milky Way. This is evidence of the advanced knowledge in Hinduism, which has extraterrestrial roots and connections.
The meditating Sadhus’ consciousness is able to reach frontiers beyond space and time. It breaks the illusion of duality of me and the universe. Its beyond material science.
I think today’s space travel through rockets is a primitive technology. Our physical bodies are not us. We don’t need to physically travel anywhere. Once we understand that we are souls having a physical experience from localised particles, we become infinite. We become part of the whole, present everywhere, as entangled particles exhibit. Distance and time barriers lose existence. When we become pure consciousness; part of the divine light; timeless and formless.
It’s the awe when sadhus of the Himalayas take a holy dip together with quantum mechanics in the vast ocean of knowledge. It’s not enough to say that Hinduism is aligned with nature. There is no duality; it’s nature itself. Being a Hindu is coming back to your natural state.
NOT JUST RELIGION
At the Mahakumbh it amazed me to gather that hinduism is not only a religion but also a culture;
human, divine and sublime that chisels as sculpture;
Keeps as idol, loves as self, fosters with tender care;
It’s cosmic, personal and social and follows scripture.
India is the only country that truly possesses and amply gives: Sweetness; Fragrance; Light and Delight. These four are the qualities of the most cultured and most civilized. They are also the most refined and most religious. Furthermore, they reflect the most spiritual and most human. That is the real reason that Indians are always proud of their country.
Hinduism is not possessed; instead it possesses ‘All’;
Human, living, non-living beings big or small;
diversities & changes are easily accepted:
Obey dictates of Gods and Rishis to evade fall.
(Dr Naresh Purohit is advisor-National Mental Heath Programme And Principal Investigator- Association Of Studies In Behavioural Science. The views and opinion expressed in this article are those of the author)