Two questions came in the mind of several people about the authenticity of this present Sangam Snan event that is going on in Prayagraj. Is it actually happening as claimed by many that after 144 years and are the pilgrimages actually taking ‘Sangam bath’. Actualy real Sangam bath is only in the middle of Ganga where both Ganga and Jamuna mingles where Saraswati joins invisibly. The water current would be too much and one can reach that place only through boat. There also one can step on a floating platform specially constructed for the purpose to do ‘Sangam Snan’ where both boat man and priests who waiting for you will be there have to help you not to step inside the ‘Sangam’. This being the reality of ‘Sangam’ considering the present scenario of millions comes to take Sangam baht, now the actual ‘Sangam dip’ is possible only to dignitaries like PM, CM and visiting head of states like Bhutan king and not for ordinary mortals, even famous film stars cannot go there. This being the reality, millions of people were forced to take bath inside the barricaded places on both side of Ganga and Jamuna. But the general belief is that taking bath in Ganga during Kumba Mela time is equal to taking bath in Sangam as taking bath on Diwali day in any water—in local river, tank, lake, well or even inside bath room in a bucket of water is considered as ‘Ganga Bath’. I still remember my Aunt [my father’s younger sister] chanting: ‘Ganga, Yamuna, Sindu, Godavari, Narmada, Kaveri’ calling all the river names while taking bath in the well in her house in the village. So million of people took Ganga or Yamuna dip but it is actually a Sangam dip. That’s why when one young couple when meet us and asked as they are not allowed to go to Sangam what is the option left to them. To encourage them I cooked up this story, which is half truth and half untruth: First half-full truth–According to our dharma, a husband cannot do any ritual without his wife, even taking bath in any pilgrimage. That’s why, in case if he is forced to do [like Rama done the Ashvamedha Yajna with the Golden Image of Ma Sita], then he has to keep some cloth of his wife under his arm pit while taking the dip. Now comes the half-untruth–Then I said, ‘as you both as husband and wife take bath, the moment you touch any water together holding your hand with Samkalpa, even in your local river, then it becomes ‘Triveni Sangam’. So don’t be discouraged. Wherever you take bath this day as both husband and wife all the holy rivers will come there to bless you. With a great Namaskara they went happily to take bath in the Ganga the ‘Sangam dip’.
But I had a remarkable experience this day. When we reached Ganga there is barricade and water is not clean as so many people were taking bath. Then Swargananda saw that beyond the barricade in few distance there is enough good place in the flowing water and he requested me to go there and take the bath undisturbed by others. So we six Sannayasis went there, then I asked them to stand facing Sun and chanted Upanishad Mantar and offered water by chanting the mantra. But then turned against the flow of current and took several dip as the water was fresh and flowing very swiftly. Then I closed the Snan with few more mantras and completed. That time the security guards came and requested us to come out quickly as no one is allowed to enter in the flowing water and all should take bath only inside the barricade. Few pilgrimage who came there saw us doing the ritual, took videos and then as we asked them to share they, shared with us. They even took blessings from us. On seeing us when few more pilgrimage started come our side, we asked them not to come and told them to take bath only inside barricade and the security guards also prevented to go there. Sannyasis are an exception, but we were unaware of this rule. Had I known, I would never have agreed to bathe in the flowing river.
So a real great experience, once in life. Whether this is ‘Maha Kumba or not’ as one of the Sannaysis asked about it, I said, ‘whatever the skeptics and agnostic say about any ritual in any religion, what is handed over to people by tradition which was shaped by a collective “Conscience”, people will follow it and never listen to the skeptic or agnostic. In India all rituals and major religious events are based on ‘panchanga’ and regarding ancient Indian Astronomy, Prof. Kane warns that, ‘We know so very little of the ancient astronomical science in ancient India that one must think twice before dogmatising.’ Then he adds, ‘The traditional Indian calendar is called pancaanga, i.e., “that which is consisting of five elements.” The five elements are vaara (days of week), tithi, naksatra, karana, and yoga. The karana is a time of half of tithi, and the (p.387) yoga is based on the “sum” of the longitude of the Sun and the Moon….(pp.387-88) and also points that, ‘…It was only after the transmission of Hellenistic astrology that the order of planets in India was fixed in that of the seven-day week. This order is the outcome of the combination of the Greek cosmological idea of concentric spheres and the Egyptian belief of the planetary gods presiding over the 24 hours (wra mentioned above) (p.383)—P.V. Kane, History of Dharmasaastra, Vol. I, Part. One and Two.
So be it from the pen of a scholar like Kane or words of skeptics, what tradition says is the final authority for Indians—all Indians, including non-Hindus as various non-Hindus also came to take ‘Sangam bath’. Many pilgrims who cannot enter Prayagraj, went to Varanasi with deep conviction as Sangam water alone flows in the Ganga at Varanasi, taking a dip anywhere in Varanasi is the actual Sangam Bath. That’s why there is huge crowd in Varanasi now.
This is not limited only with Hinduism. Take for example of the birth of Jesus Christ. Most of us still think that He born in 1st A.D. whereas His actual birth happened in 4 BCE. Because when Gregarian calander wsas prepared, by mistake the year was calculated wrongly. When they later realized it, it was too late to change the dates of several historical events around the world. So they push back His birth to 4 BCE. Not knowing, even many Christian think that He born exactly 2025 years from now. Actually he born 2029 years before. But this doesn’t change their festival calender though there too are few difference, as Greek Orthodox Church celebrate the advent on January 6th whereas rest of the Church on December 25th. [More on this see Appendix]
Each religion and even country has its own calender. So don’t worry about any kind of dogmaticism about Sangam Bath. If you cannot come to Prayagraj, don’t regret. If possible both husband and wife joining together, remembering their guru and Ishtadevata, chanting their own guru or any mantra, pour water from a backet. Then your faith will force the Sangam to come and bless you. After all in Hinduism, bhakti can force God even do all kinds of bidding demanded by the bhaktas as we see in several stories [Panduranga had to stand on the brick whole night, Narayana in had to collect his serpent bed to walk away as his devotee asked him to do so, Siva has to dance lifting his right leg in Madhurai as one King requested him to do so, Nandi has to move bit away so that Nandanar can have the darshan of Nataraja in Chidembaram, and similar other stories are there]. [For details see Appendix]
In case if you feel shy to take bath in veranda or courtyard or open terrace as couple, then go to the bath room, take some cloth of your wife and keeping in arms pit take the bath. But a wife need not follow this and need to keep any of her husband’s cloth with her while taking Sangam Bath. As she is the very embodiment of DHARMA always recognized as DHARMA PATNIT [note husband is never called ‘dharma pati’] and as all the rivers are women, even if she takes bath alone before February 26th, that would be real Sangam bath.
To end with a lighter note, let guess why a husband alone has to keep his wife cloth in his arm pit, in case if he takes bath in any holy river without his wife. As all the rivers are woman, attracted by him, if one river wants to retain permanently, then his wife cloth will warn him don’t do that adventure and taking the risk of keeping her husband with her as she might end up regretting in doing so later {though some wives might happy if that happens}.
So don’t regret. If you still want to take Sangam bath do at your home with personal faith and conviction. But if you are not believing in any of these traditions and still believe the famous statement: Manchanga hota to katotime Ganga, [if your heart is pure then Ganga will be in your Kamandal {water pot}] then you don’t need to worry about taking Sangam bath or to regret not to go to Prayag or not even both to read this brainstorm, another antoganistic view about ritual versus spiritual.
Dayanand Bharati
Varanasi, 19-2-2025
Birth Year of Jesus Christ
The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, was intended to align the calendar year with the birth of Jesus Christ, marking it as 1 A.D. However, historical evidence suggests that Jesus was likely born several years earlier, between 4 B.C. and 6 B.C. This discrepancy arises from miscalculations by Dionysius Exiguus, a 6th-century monk who devised the Anno Domini (A.D.) system. Dionysius’ calculations did not account for the death of King Herod, which is historically placed around 4 B.C., indicating that Jesus’ birth occurred before this date. Despite this, the established calendar system was not adjusted, leading to the current dating system that does not precisely reflect the actual year of Christ’s birth. citeturn0search0
Differences in Christmas Celebrations
The date of Christmas varies among Christian denominations due to historical and theological reasons. The Western Christian Church, including Roman Catholics and many Protestant denominations, celebrates Christmas on December 25th. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th, which corresponds to December 25th on the Julian calendar still used by some Orthodox communities. Additionally, the Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6th, combining the celebration of Christ’s birth with His baptism, known as the Feast of Theophany or Epiphany. citeturn0search1
These variations in celebration dates stem from differences in liturgical calendars and historical developments within each tradition.
In summary, while the Gregorian calendar designates the birth of Jesus Christ as the starting point of the Anno Domini era, historical evidence suggests He was born several years earlier. Despite this discrepancy, the calendar system remains unchanged, and various Christian denominations continue to celebrate Christmas on different dates based on their unique liturgical traditions.
Vishnu rolling up his serpent bed:
In the Yathothkari Perumal Temple near Kanchipuram, the revered saint Thirumazhisai Azhwar is central to a significant legend. According to tradition, Thirumazhisai Azhwar’s disciple, Kanikannan, was banished from the kingdom by a local king. In solidarity, Thirumazhisai Azhwar decided to leave as well and requested Lord Vishnu to roll up his serpent bed and accompany them. The deity obliged, and the temple and city subsequently lost their prosperity. Recognizing his mistake, the king sought forgiveness and invited them back. Upon their return, the Lord resumed his reclining posture, restoring the city’s well-being. citeturn0search2
Nataraja standing on left leg:
In Madurai, the Meenakshi Amman Temple houses a unique idol of Lord Nataraja dancing with his right leg raised, contrary to the traditional left-leg-raised posture. This distinctive representation is linked to a legend involving a Pandya king, often identified as Rajasekara Pandian. The king, moved by devotion, requested Lord Shiva to change his dance posture, believing the deity might be weary from standing on his right leg for eons. In response, Lord Nataraja lifted his right leg and placed his left leg down, honoring the king’s request. citeturn0search1
These narratives highlight the profound bond between devotees and the divine, illustrating how sincere devotion can inspire deities to manifest in forms that resonate deeply with their followers.
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