Mahāprabhu and Prabhupāda at Kumbha
Melās
§ Mahāprabhu at Melās: around 1502
A.D. (1424 Śakābda cf. CC 2.19.18 P.)
§ Prabhupāda at Melās: 1925, 1928,
1971 and 1977.
· Every year = melā (festival)
· Every 6 years = Ardha (half Kumbha-melā
(kumbha: jug)
· Every 12 years = Kumbha-melā or Mahā
Kumbha-melā (next: 2013)
· Every 144 years = especially
auspicious Kumbha-melā (last: 1977, next: 2121)
Kumbha-melä is the greatest
congregation of human beings on earth. Every twelve years in Allahabad, sädhus
and pilgrims from all over India gather at the Triveëé [...] A smaller version,
the Mägha-melä, takes place annually during the month of Mägha
(December-January). January of 1971, however, happened to fall halfway through
the twelve-year cycle from one Kumbha-melä to the next, and the Melä was known
as Ardha-kumbha-melä. Millions would attend, and Çréla Prabhupäda decided to
take advantage of the opportunity and attend the Melä with his disciples to
preach. (SPL Vedabase 2012.1 vol. 4, chap. 33)
Image: Prabhupāda at
Ardha Kumbha Melā 1971
Sitting in his tent with
his disciples, Prabhupäda explained the significance of Ardha-kumbha-melä. For
millions of years, he said, this had been among the most sacred places in
India. During the appearance of the tortoise avatära, when the demons and
demigods had been churning immortal nectar, a drop of that nectar had fallen
here. Since then, every six and twelve years certain auspicious planets form a
jug, and this jug [kumbha], filled with immortal nectar, is said to pour that
nectar upon the Triveëé. Lord Rämacandra and Hanumän appeared here in
Allahabad, and here Lord Caitanya taught Rüpa Gosvämé the science of devotional
service. Prabhupäda said he had also lived in Allahabad with his wife and
family, and Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté had initiated him at Allahabad's
Rüpa Gosvämé Gaudiya Math in 1932. As for the Meläs [festivals], anyone who came
and bathed at the auspicious times when the präëa was pouring down from the
heavens was guaranteed either promotion to the heavenly planets or liberation.
[…]
Prabhupäda said that
although most of the saints and sädhus present were inauthentic, many were
perfect yogés, some of them three and four hundred years old. These yogés, from
remote parts of India, would come out for the Melä and then return to
seclusion. "I have personally seen," he said, "that they take
bath in the Ganges and come up in the seven sacred rivers. They go down in the
Ganges and come up in the Godävaré River. Then they go down and come up in the
Kåñëä River, and go down, like that." The devotees, therefore, should
respect everyone who attended the Melä. (SPL Vedabase 2012.1 vol. 4, chap. 33)
Prabhupäda began talking
about the importance of sat-saìga, association with devotees, and Dr. Patel
quipped, "Instead of doing sat-saìga, people go to Kumbha-melä!" He
laughed, as if it were a good joke.
But Prabhupäda corrected
him. "No," he said, "Kumbha-melä is sat-saìga. If you go to
Kumbha-melä to find a man of knowledge, then your Kumbha-melä is right.
Otherwise, yat-tértha-buddhiù salile na karhicit, sa eva go-khara. If one
thinks that this salila, the water, that just to take bath in the water is
Kumbha-melä, then he's a go-khara, a cow or an ass. But if he thinks, "Now
there is an assembly of so many saintly persons, let me take advantage of their
knowledge,' then he is intelligent."
Ever since Çréla Prabhupäda
had arrived in Bombay, he had been questioned about the upcoming Kumbha-melä at
Allahabad. The Mägh-melä occurred every year, but according to astrological
calculations, a more auspicious occasion came every twelfth year: Kumbha-melä.
And every twelfth Kumbha-melä (an event that occurred only once in 144 years)
was especially auspicious. This year, 1977, was to be such a Melä, and the
government was predicting an attendance of twelve million at the confluence of
the holy rivers near Allahabad. Çréla Prabhupäda had said he would go.
[…]
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Image: Tents Kumbha Melā
1977 (144 years cycle)
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Image: Prabhupāda at
Kumbha Melā 1977 (144 years cycle)
Dr. Patel's friends also
mentioned the difficulties of extreme weather and crowds at Allahabad during
the Melä. Çréla Prabhupäda, however, was not swayed. He was well acquainted
with Allahabad, having lived there with his family from 1923 to 1936.
"In 1925," said
Prabhupäda, "I went to the Melä[…]
[…]
Prabhupäda mentioned the
1928 Melä, when he was carrying his young child.
[…]
"It is actually a
religious conference," Prabhupäda replied. "All the different groups
gather in that holy place, and they propagate their philosophy there. India is
a country of religion. They know spiritual life is more important than this
material life-that is India. […] (SPL Vedabase 2012.1 vol.6, chap. 51)
Mahāprabhu on Melā at Prayāga and Instruction to Rūpa Gosvāmī
Image: Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructs Rūpa Gosvāmī at
Prayāga
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
then went to Prayäga, where He bathed at the confluence of the Ganges and the
Yamunä. He then visited the temple of Veëé Mädhava and chanted and danced there
in ecstatic love.
PURPORT - The city of Prayäga is situated a few miles from the city of Allahabad.
The name Prayäga is given due to successful sacrifices performed there. It is
said, prakåñöo yägo yäga-phalaà yasmät. If one performs sacrifices at Prayäga,
he certainly gets immediate results without difficulty. Prayäga is also called
Tértharäja, the king of all places of pilgrimage. […] during Kumbha-melä people
come from all over India to live there and bathe in the Ganges and Yamunä.
Whoever goes there immediately feels the place’s spiritual influence. […] Many
saintly people live there, and consequently it is very attractive from the
spiritual point of view. (CC 2.17.149 and Purport Vedabase 2012.1)
[...] at Prayäga He told Rüpa Gosvämé about
transcendental ecstatic love of Kåñëa. The Lord then embraced him very fondly
and bestowed all His mercy upon him. (CC 2.19.120 Vedabase
2012.1)
For
ten days Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu stayed at Prayäga and instructed Rüpa Gosvämé,
empowering him with the necessary potency. (CC 2.19.135 Vedabase
2012.1)
Previously
I empowered your brother Rüpa Gosvämé to understand these mellows. I did this
while instructing him at the Daçäçvamedha-ghäöa in Prayäga. (CC 2.23.102 Vedabase
2012.1)
Although
these rivers were not able to flood Prayäga with water, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
inundated the whole area with waves of ecstatic love for Kåñëa. [...]Caitanya Mahäprabhu was ecstatic to see Lord
Bindu Mädhava. The Lord was loudly chanting the holy name of Hari.
Dancing in ecstatic love and raising His arms, He asked everyone to chant
“Hari! Hari!” Everyone was astounded to see the greatness of Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu. Indeed, I cannot properly describe the pastimes of the Lord at
Prayäga. (CC 2.19.40-3 Vedabase 2012.1)
Imagem: Caitanya Mahāprabhu instrui Rūpa Gosvāmī em
Prayāga
Compilação em português aqui
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