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The journey to Kumbh Mela is packed with all the surprises. Rooted back to ancient times, there are many practices and rituals celebrated in Kumbh Mela that are deeply associated with devotion and self-transformation. People come over here considering the purity and sacredness the festive brings. As a brimming spot of spirituality, there is nothing better than Kumbh Mela to purify and awaken the soul.
Picture this: waking before dawn, sitting at the banks of Triveni Sangam, calming down and practising meditation while feeling the breeze. Imagine the amount of peace and solace it can bring to your life! Well, that is the beauty of rituals celebrated at Kumbh Mela. That it brings out the soul to enlighten it. One such ritual is Kalpvas which we will be discussing in the following sections. This blog explores the significance, history and benefits of Kalpvas in a person's life.
What is Kalpvas?
The word ‘kalp’ means tree, and ‘vas’ means reside. It is a Sanskrit word which literally means living near the tree. People practising Kalpvas spend their days near sacred rivers like the Ganga, believing that its transformative power can influence the person. In Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, people sit near Triveni Sangam which is the confluence of three rivers i.e. Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna.
Origin of Kalpvas
The practice of Kalpvas is mentioned in Matsya Purana. It is one of the eighteenth purans, which is well preserved and has great significance in Hinduism. In Indian mythology, it is said that Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman spent an entire month near the banks of the Ganga and practised salvation. However, this is a mystical history that needs more actual evidence. But this appears as the commencement of Kalpvas where people got inspired and started living an austere life like Lord Ram.
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When does it start?
It starts with the 11th day of Paush, which continues till the 14th day of Magh. This practice has adhered to the Hindu calendar. Some people start practising it from the day of Makar Sankranti. It must be followed continuously for 12 years to achieve the results of it ideally. Or the pledge for a minimum period of one night, three nights, three months, six months or six years must be taken.
Why do people practise Kalpvas? Benefits of Kalpvas
People tend to practise Kalpvas as a way to change their lives. The history of Kalpvas holds a rich narrative where there is evidence of it having a positive impact on people’s lives. Pilgrims come from different parts of the world to pledge for the transformation. Here are the following benefits as observed:
Escape from materialism: People who have practised Kalpvas agreed that it helped in making a way out of materialism and made them feel grounded.
Simplicity in life: Those following Kalpvas lead an elementary life, which gradually changes the lifestyle of people for something good.
Enhances focus and increases productivity: Days of meditating at the banks of river Sangam have a lot of physical and mental benefits. A few of those benefits include increased focus and productivity.
Reduces stress: With the above benefits mentioned, this also leads to the reduction of stress. On top of it, it helps those suffering with anxiety and depression.
Cleansing of the soul: The mythology believes that Kalpvas is practised to liberate the soul from all kinds of sins it committed. A dip into the water of Sangam is supposed to take away all the pain and get rid of negativity.
How to practise Kalpvas?
The path to practise Kalpvas is a strict path to follow. There are specific rules and regulations a person must be aware of before starting Kalpvas. During the period of Kalpvas, wearing white, yellow or orange clothes is compulsory. The practice begins with worshipping the Tulsi plant. There are 21 rules that must be followed when practising Kalpvas:
To speak only the truth.
Follow ahimsa or non-violence.
Have empathy for all living beings.
Wake up 1 hr 36 minutes before sunrise, known as Brahm Muhrat.
Follow Brahmacharya and not to maintain any kind of sexual relationship.
Not to indulge in a materialistic world.
Control of all senses and believe in reasoning everything.
Having a religious bath three times a day.
Offering Trikal sandhya, i.e. chanting the Gayathri mantra. The mantra must be chanted three times- before sunrise, noon and before sunset.
Serving people and indulging in charity and donations.
Not to step outside the Kalpvas mela.
To selflessly serve sadhus and saints.
Eat only one time a day.
Pray tribute to forefathers by practising ‘pind daan.’
Sleep on the ground.
Chanting and reciting mantras louder the whole day.
To worship the lord daily without any other thought.
Sit near the bonfire and practise Agni seva.
Staying away from criticism and appreciating people.
Participating in satsangs and following the path of the truth.
Doing Antarmukhi Jaap to bring change inwardly.
Renunciation of bad habits and addiction.
Not to turn angry or have jealousy in mind.
The highlighted ones are considered to be the supreme ones that need to be practised without failure. In fact, they are the rules which are supposed to bring peace and alleviate stress from one’s life.
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To sum up,
The journey to practise Kalpvas is by no means easy. It brings extreme physical challenges to practise it on Paush Purnima, which is also supposed to be the month of the cold. However, the number of people who still follow it owing to the arduous challenges highlights the powerful transformation it brings. Kalpvas is the path to self-discovery, salvation, spiritual awakening and enlightenment. This austere life strikes a balance between heart and mind and infuses harmony among them. Visiting Kumbh Mela for Kalpvas is the most powerful change you can bring to your life. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience and book your accommodation at Kumbh Mela today!At Era Camps, we ensure your well-being
While practising Kalpvas is a difficult journey to acknowledge, however, we at Era Camps ensure to provide you with most facilities while you choose to live a minimalistic lifestyle. From having accommodation just near the bank of the river to conducting engagement programmes like meditation, we got you covered with all. Get an early bird discount today and enjoy living with the scenic view of Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj.
