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Simhastha in Ujjain

The Simhastha Kumbh is an unrivalled celebration in India. The most popular legend regarding the origin of Kumbh Melas is the Samudra Manthan or ‘churning of the ocean’. Gods and demons COMPETED erectly in the churning in search of the divine nectar of immortality. During this epic battle to capture the Urn (Kumbh) containing the nectar, drops of the precious liquid fell on four places – Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Nashik and Ujjain. Hence, river Kshipra became the enhancer of life and to celebrate this event since then the grand festival came in vogue. Kumbh Mela, is held once every 12 and attracts millions of devotees.

Simhastha Ujjain

The Simhastha Kumbh at Ujjain in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is an event, which the devotees wait for 12 years. The month-long congregation brings together millions of people from across India and abroad. Driven by faith and the quest for inner peace, they converge on this holy city to be a part of a unique bathing festival. Braving the scorching sun of April-May the devotees enjoy the company of seers and saints, listen to religious discourses, witness various akharas, watch the grand processions of sadhus and take holy dips in the Holy Kshipra river.

Grand Simhastha, on the glorious ghats of Kshipra

The Ujjain Kumbh is celebrated when Jupiter ascends into sun sign Leo’s quarter or the Simha constellation of zodiac, which is why it is called ‘Simhastha’. The Simhastha is special in Ujjain as it is the seat of divine Mahakal – the Lord of all times. The ritual of bathing in the holy waters of Kshipra begins on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April) and continues on various dates until the full moon shows up in the following month of Vaishakha. The Simhastha at Ujjain has a special significance as a rare configuration of planets takes place in 12 years with the Sun in the Aries and the Jupiter in the Leo.

The Holy Dip in Kshipra

The significance of a bath in the Kshipra can be gauged from a verse in the Skanda Purana. According to it The holy bath of the Kumbh equals in piety to thousands of Kartik snans, hundred Magh snans and crores of Narmada snans during the month of Vaishakh.” The fruits of Kumbha snan are equal to the fruits of thousands of Ashvamedh Yajna and lakhs of journeys around the earth. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the convenience of pilgrims as they take their ritual dip in the holy waters of the Kshipra.

Source:- http://www.yogalife.co.in/simhastha-in-ujjain/