Poorna Kumbha Mela Celebrated at Santhigiri with Devotional Fervour

Pothencode(Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala) : Poorna Kumbha Mela was celebrated today at Santhigiri Ashram with great devotional fervor. The rituals began with the special floral offering in the morning at 5 a.m. at Lotus Parnashala led by the group of Sannyasins and other appointed persons, followed by a flag hoisting ceremony and worship. Ashram President Swami Chaithanya Jnana Thapaswi and General Secretary Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi led the rituals. Thousands of devotees offered flowers in the Lotus Parnashala. After that. there was Guru Darshan and various dedications to the Guru by devotees.

The Kumbha Mela procession started at 6 p.m. Kumbhams (earthen pots) are filled with theertham (Holywater) and medicinal preparations in the yajna shala specially set up in the ashram complex. The Kumbhams are then wrapped with yellow cloth, and ornamented with the leaves of pipal, mango tree, and betel. Coconuts are inserted in the kumbhams and then decorated with flower garlands. Hundreds of devotees circumambulated the ashram complex in a procession carrying Kumbhams on their heads. They were accompanied by hundreds of others carrying deepams (diyas) and colorful parasols. The atmosphere reverberated with spiritual fervor while the long line of devotees, clad in pure white, chanted the Guru mantra. Traditional music like panchavadyam, nadaswaram and chenda (drums) added fervor to the Kumbhamela procession.

At the end of the ritual, the processionists offered the Kumbhams and deepams at the feet of the Guru with prayers and sankalpam. Poorna Kumbh Mela is a ceremony commemorating the spiritual fulfillment of Navajyothi Sri Karunakara Guru, the founder Guru, in 1973 (M.E. Kanni 4). The devotees observe 11 days of fasting to take Kumbham. This ritual removes ailments, and family curses, and brings salvation to pitrus (ancestral souls). Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country participated in the Kumbha Mela, making Santhigiri Ashram literally a large confluence of pilgrims.