Prayagraj : An ancient and spiritually significant ‘Akshayavat (banyan tree)’ which was inaccessible for the past 450 years and ‘Saraswati-kup (place where River Saraswati meets River Ganga and River Yamuna)’ were opened for Hindu devotees by the State Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath on 10th January 2019. The program was held in the presence of reporters and Yogi Adityanath made announcement of opening of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’ for devotees.
Significance of ‘Akshayavat’ !
‘Akshayavat’ is the ancient and sacred banyan tree and is situated on the banks of Yamuna in Prayag. The roots of Akshayavat (which is an abode for all Deities) go deep down till Patal (Hell region). The Puranas (The eighteen sacred Holy texts compiled by Sage Vyas) of Vayu, Matsya, Kurma, Padma, Agni and Skanda say that one attains Moksha (Final liberation) by sacrificing the body near the Akshayavat.
‘Akshayavat’ is a very ancient banyan tree which doesn’t get destroyed even after doomsday. ‘MahaVishnu’ in the form of ‘Bal Mukund’ holds ‘Saptarishi’, Deities and seeds of all plants for 6 months when the Universe is getting destroyed. He is lying on the topmost leaves of ‘Akshayavat’ at that time and formation of new Universe begins later, from these things. It is said that by having ‘darshan’ of and circumambulation of such ‘Akshayavat’, such person gets liberated.
This tree was destroyed 23 times by Mughals during their regime but still foliage sprouted every time after destruction. In the beginning of the 17 th Century, under the pretext of building a fort to protect the banks of Yamuna at Prayag, the Mughal emperor Akbar destroyed Akshayavat and the adjoining temples. He built ‘Ranimahal’ where the Akshayavat existed. After some time, the Akshayavat grew again in the fort. Akbar’s son Jahangir tried to burn it many times. He even placed a hot iron plate to destroy the tree from the roots; but the Akshayavat kept sprouting every time and again it acquired the form of a giant tree. The Holy text ‘Khulasat Utvarikha’ of 1693 testifies that Akshayavat sprouted again despite Jahangir chopping it off.Even today, the ancient tree stands with pride in Akbar’s fort on the banks of Yamuna. To prevent Hindus from attaining Moksha, the Mughal emperors banned its darshan. Later, the area was taken over by the British after Mughals where they set up army-camp and stopped Hindus from going there for ‘darshan’.
After Independence, the security of the place was increased since it housed the weapons depot of the Indian army. ‘Saraswati-kup’ is also there. Saraswati River meets Rivers Ganga and Yamuna at this place. The Governments which ruled this place never opened this place for devotees for ‘darshan’ and Hindus were kept deprived of such spiritual treasure for 450 years.
Yogi Adityanath said while giving detailed information in this context during press conference held at ‘Media Centre’ that
1. Opening of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’ for devotees is a very laudable thing and Saints and devotees have welcomed it. Devotees will be able to have ‘darshan’ and have divine spiritual experiences.
2. ‘Kumbh-Mela’ held at Prayagraj has history of thousands of years. Millions of devotees visit this place to see the confluence of three rivers viz. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati; so also invisible Saraswati. ‘Kumbh-Mela’ of Prayagraj received recognition all over the world after thousands of years.
3. Ambassadors of 71 countries have agreed to fly their national flags in ‘Kumbh-Mela’ with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a matter of pride.
4. Mythological places like ‘DwadashMadhav’ and ashram of Sage Bharadwaj are going to be renovated in the background of ‘Kumbh-Mela’.
5. A big pandal has been erected in the river-bed of Ganga for 10,000 devotees where 20,000 devotes will be able to stay.
6. Within the area of 5 kms of ‘Kumbh-Mela’, there is arrangement for 94 parking places and 20 satellite cameras and 1100 cctvs have been fitted to cover the whole area. 40,700 street-lamps have been fitted on the way and 15 flyovers and 264 roads have been constructed. There are 4 ‘’sanskruti’ pandals and 500 eco-friendly wash-rooms built specially for ‘Kumbh-Mela’. Various cultural programs have also been organized for devotees.
7. President Ramnath Kovind will be visiting ‘Kumbh-Mela’ on 17th January and he will inaugurate picture-frame of Sage Bhardwaj.
8. CM Yogi thanked the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for helping in opening of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’ for devotees.
CM Adityanath said, while answering questions asked by reporters, that
1. With the goal of ‘Clean and safe Kumbh’, we are going to make arrangements for the huge ‘Kumbh-Mela’. There is provision of Rs. 26000 crores for cleaning of River Ganga under the scheme of ‘Namami Gange’. Its beginning will be done from Prayagraj. A scheme involving 1-1/2 years has been devised for cleaning of River Ganga.
2. Eco-friendly toilets have been erected at the venue of ‘Kumbh-mela’ so that the sewage water would not be mixed with Rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Earlier governments had not made such arrangements since all sewage water used to be mixed with the sand of river-bed; therefore, water of River Ganga always used to get polluted. Sewage water from gutters is no longer mixed with water of River Ganga at Prayagraj.
3. The administration will promptly provide facilities to ‘aakhaadaas’ in case not provided so far. Nobody will be deprived of any facilities. People’s needs have increased now; but arrangements will be made ‘Kumbh-Mela’ to meet all needs.
4. CM Yogi was asked about payment of electricity bill charged to Saints without providing any facilities; but he evaded the question.
Arrangement for ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’ and Saraswati-kup’
1. Every day, 28000 devotees will have ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’
2. Timings for such ‘darshan’ will be from 5.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
3. There will be break of one hour in the afternoon for cleaning. There will be 400 police, soldiers and State Reserve Police deployed for security of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’. There will also be officers from 3 departments, viz. police, administration and army on duty.
4. Rs. 3 crores have been spent on making arrangements for ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’ and repairs of the fort.
5. Devotees can offer only dry fruits and dry coconut at ‘Akshayavat’ as holy sacrament; but nothing else will be allowed as sacrament.
6. Carrying of cell phone, camera, remote-key, belt, lighter etc has been prohibited while going for ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’.
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
