An important message of the Maha Kumbh is to focus our being on our inner spiritual life.
The Maha Kumbh is a mega event which brings together millions of people from around the world, in a religious gathering of worship, ritual, and scripture study for a period lasting approximately six weeks. This sacred gathering has been held for thousands of years but there has been no more important and significant time for it than now.
So, what relevance does the Maha Kumbh have in the modern world? We live in times of rapid change, happening at breakneck speed, especially with regard to the seemingly unstoppable march of new inventions. Whilst we laud and enjoy the benefits of our toys of technology and curious gadgets appearing on the market every day, we must also remember that the greatest of all technologies in the world is the human mind. It is, after all, the human mind which creates machines. The Maha Kumbh reminds us that we must pay full and undivided attention to taking care of our minds and hearts. We must guard against being consumed by our own arrogance at being able to manipulate matter for the fulfilment of our own desires.
An important message of the Maha Kumbh is to focus our being on our inner spiritual life, to remind us that our link with the Divine Source is the most precious thing that we have, to guide and help us to move in a direction which allows us to use our intelligence and capabilities in a way which brings peace and prosperity for all. To save us from being wrapped up and lost in our own cleverness and losing sight of what is truly the mark of an advanced civilization—where mutual respect and harmony prevail.
If there is one lesson which we can take away from the Maha Kumbh, perhaps it is humility. To replace the dangerous and damaging attitude which says, “I am right and you are wrong”, with, “We both have something to learn from each other”. To be able to say, “Sorry, I was wrong—please can you forgive me?” in place of attempting to justify my actions, no matter how glaringly misplaced they may be.
The ritualistic traditions, challenging as they may be, such as the early morning plunge into the freezing waters of the Ganges, nudge us to pay attention to our common humanity, and to the fact that when we link our minds to the Divine Source, we are able to develop the great abilities that make life meaningful and peaceful for us all, such as understanding, tolerance, patience, and forgiveness. This Maha Kumbh, let us awaken the divinity within us all.
Yogesh Sharda is the National Coordinator of the Brahma Kumaris’ services in Turkey.