Why is Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati River Sangam important

In the Hindu tradition, the three rivers Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna symbolise Knowledge, Dispassion and Devotion, respectively. Sangam at Prayag is their meeting point. Seekers have travelled to this place for millennia to be blessed with knowledge, dispassion and devotion in the presence of wise sages.  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar refers to the Kumbh mela as, ‘the largest and oldest spirituality expo in the world. In fact it is the oldest expo in the world.’ The Kumbh mela takes place every three years at Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. At Prayag, Magh mela takes place every year in the month of January. Seekers come and camp here.

Kumbh Mela at Prayag  January to March 2013

yamuna ganga saraswati prayag

There is white sand for miles around the river beds. The Kumbh Mela in 1894 at Prayag is where Paramhansa Yogananda ji’s guru Yukteshwar Giri ji had met the Adi Guru, Maha Avtar Babji. This is where Bharadwaj Rishi heard the Ramayan from Yagyavalka Rishi after a Kumbh mela.

rivers yamuna ganga saraswati prayag

2013-02-14 08.19.17

Merging of Yamuna Ganga waters

sangam water different colours of yamuna ganga

Ganga and Yamuna water are distinct in colour and character, seen clearly at their meeting point at Sangam. The dark green Yamuna merges with the muddy Ganga. Ganga Gulls flock here in thousands.

rivers yamuna ganga saraswati prayag 

sangam ganga gulls

ganga and ayush sethi ruma goel

Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya ji and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji at Kumbh mela at Prayag, 2013

rambhadracharya ji and sri sri ravi shankar at kumbh mela parayag 2013

Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya ji is Vice Chancellor of his University for the blind in Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh/Madhya Pradesh). Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji is Founder of the global institution, ‘The Art of Living.’

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Swami Swatantratanand ji at Kumbh Mela, Prayag, 2013

sri sri ravi shankar and swami swatantrata ji at kumbh mela 2013

Devotees at Prayag Kumbh Mela

devotees in kumbh mela 2013 prayag

People come to bathe at the rivers’ confluence in lakhs on festivals like Makar sankranti, Basant Panchmi, Maha Shivratri, Mauni Amavasya, eclipses, Purnima, Amavasya, Kartik Purnima and Bhai Dooj. On Bhai Dooj or Yam Dwitiya (25 October 2014), brother and sister take a dip together in the River Yamuna. This is a tradition from Mathura Vrindavan.

Anisha
Views: 57793



blog comments powered by Disqus



Destination Ladakh, Photo journal