Importance of Kumbh Snan in Garuda Purana

Story related to Kumbh (Samudra Manthan and Amrit Kalash)

According to Garuda Purana, when the Samudra Manthan took place between the Gods and the Asuras to obtain Amrit, Lord Dhanvantari appeared with an Amrit Kalash (Kumbh).

Major events of Samudra Manthan:

1. Struggle for Amrit:·

When the Amrit Kalash came out, both the Gods and Asuras became eager to get it.

· The Asuras tried to take possession of the Amrit Kalash, which led to a struggle over the distribution of Amrit.

2. Kumbh falling at four places to protect Amrit:

· When Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini to save the Amrit Kalash, he started taking it towards the Gods.

· During this time, Indra's son Jayant ran away with the Amrit Kalash and kept flying on the earth for 12 days (equal to 12 years of the Gods).

· During this time, drops of nectar fell at four places, which are known as the four major Kumbh sites today:

· Prayagraj (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati)

· Haridwar (on the banks of the Ganga River)

· Ujjain (on the banks of the Shipra River)

· Nashik (on the banks of the Godavari River)

प्रयागो मध्यमावेदिः पूर्वावेदिः गयाशिरः । विरजा दक्षिणा वेदिरनन्तफलदायिनी ।। प्रतीची पुष्करा वेदिस्त्रिभिः कुण्डैरलंकृता | समन्त पंचका प्रोक्ता वेदिरेवोत्तराव्यया ।।

वामन पुराण

3. Astrological significance of Kumbh:

Garuda Purana describes that Kumbh Mela is organized when Jupiter (Guru Graha) and Sun are located in a particular zodiac sign.

This special astrological coincidence is considered extremely auspicious for obtaining nectar and purification of the soul.

Spiritual significance of Kumbh described in Garuda Purana

According to Garuda Purana, Kumbh is not just a religious ritual, but a festival of purification of the soul. It has three important elements:

1. Snan (purity and purification) – Bathing in Kumbh removes the impurities of the soul.

2. Daan (merit earning) – Donating in Kumbh increases the virtuous fruit manifold.

3. Sankirtan and Japa (devotion and enlightenment) – Chanting mantras and singing bhajans during Kumbh opens the door to salvation.

Importance of Garuda Purana

· It is considered auspicious to recite Garuda Purana for the peace of the soul after death.

· Listening to it at the time of funeral and Shraddha gives salvation to the soul.

· It is a guiding text to understand the principle of sin and virtue, and karma and its effect.

· It inspires us to adopt virtue and stay away from sins.

बहुरि राम जानकिहिं देखाई। जमुना कलिमल हरनि सोहाई।। पुनि देखी सुरसरी पुनीता। राम कहा प्रनाम करु सीता ।।

रामचरित मानस

Importance of Kumbh Snan in Garuda Purana

According to Garuda Purana, bathing in holy rivers in Kumbh frees a person from all sins and gives him the path to attain salvation.

1. Punya Benefits:

• By bathing in rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Shipra and Godavari in Kumbh, the sins of a person's seven births are destroyed.

• This virtue is considered equal to hundred yagyas.

2. For the salvation of dead souls:

• It is said in Garuda Purana that the person who takes Kumbh bath for the liberation of his ancestors, his dead souls attain salvation.

3. Protection from the messengers of Yamraj:

• According to Garuda Purana, the person who takes bath, donates, chants and does penance during Kumbh, gets free from the influence of the messengers of Yamraj and goes to Vishnu Lok.

The story related to Kumbh described in Garuda Purana teaches us that Kumbh Mela is not only a confluence of sages and devotees, but it is a festival of reviving the soul. The person who takes bath in Kumbh and follows truth, charity, chanting and penance, not only gets free from the sins of this birth, but also gets the path to attain salvation.

Therefore, Kumbh bath has been described as highly auspicious and mandatory in Garuda Purana.

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Kumbh Snan in Garuda Purana

Purana mainly provides knowledge related to death, afterlife, karma, reincarnation and salvation.