- First ‘Amrut (Shahi) Snan [holy bath]’ of Simhastha Parva at Ujjain
- None of the Shankaracharyas comes for holy bath !
- Devotees have bath before Saints !
महाकाल सरिक्षिप्रा गतिस्कवा सुनिर्मला ।
उज्जैनियम विशालाक्षी वसाह कस्या नरोचते ॥ – स्कंदपुराण
Meaning: There is Mahakal Devasthan and River Kshipra at this place and attaining liberation is certain. Why wouldn’t dear, big-eyed wife like to stay here ? – Skanda Purana
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) : Brahmarshi Sage Vasishtha says to his wife Arundhati that attaining liberation is certain where there is Shri Mahakaleshwar and River Kshipra, as per a verse of ‘Skanda Purana’. At such liberating place like Ujjain, millions of devotees from all over the world and Saints- Mahants had first ‘Amrut/ Shahi Snan’ on 22nd April on the occasion of Simhastha Parva and they were absolutely satisfied, enjoying holy bath. River Kshipra also was sanctified with the presence of Saints. Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) humbly welcomed all Mahants, Mahamandaleshwars, Saints, Sadhus, Naga Sadhus and devotees from various akharas, khalsas, sects and spiritual organizations who have come from different parts of the country.
Severe heat leads to dwindling number of devotees !
There is severe heat at Ujjain in this Simhastha-Parva which has reduced the number of sadhus- Saints and devotees as was expected to attend, informed police on duty. Had the heat been not so severe, the number of devotees would have been very high. Compared to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh Government has made very good arrangements for Simhastha Parva and from senior officers to other staff, everyone is taking care of people; all facilities are extended to Sadhus- Saints.
Devotees have bath before Saints breaking all customs and traditions
Devotees coming from far off places to have holy bath had crowded the bank of River Kshipra even before 12.00 at night; therefore, it became difficult for police to handle them. Ramghat, Nrusimha ghat and other ghats cover 1-1/2 kms area; therefore, all crowds did not gather at one place. Everyone could have bath; but during Simhastha Parva, after Saints from different akharas have bath at ‘Brahma-muhurta’, other devotees have bath after 2.00 p.m. This tradition was broken by devotees by having bath before Saints. Madhya Pradesh Government did not effectively hold up devotees till Saints had bath like Maharashtra; therefore, devotees were sent to other ghats, barring Ramghat, with the help of army men.
None of the Shankaracharyas came !
Simhastha Parva, held at Ujjain after every 12 years, was not attended by any of the Shankaracharyas. Jagatguru Shankaracharya Shri. Swarupanand Saraswati of Sharada and Dwaraka Peetha was present during the whole Simhastha Parva, held in Maharashtra and Guardian Minister of Nashik, Shri. Girish Mahajan had personally looked into all facilities provided at that time.
Amrut-snan by Shaiva and Vaishnava akharas
At 5.15 a.m. Sadhus from Shri Panch Dashanam Juna Akhara (Datta Akhara) of Shaiva akharas got the honour of having first holy bath at Ramghat; followed with Shri Panchayati Avahan Akhara, Shri Panchayati Agni Akhara, Shri Taponidhi Niranjani Akhara, Shri Panchayati Anand Akhara, Shri Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara, Shri Panch Atal Akhara, Shri Panchayati Bada Udaseen Akhara and Shri Panchayati Naya Udaseen Akhara had holy bath till 11.30 a.m. at Ramghat; after them, out of Vaishnava Akharas, Shri Nirmohi Akhara, Shri Digambar Akhara and Shri Nirvani Akhara had bath till 12 noon and Shri Nirmal Akhara had holy bath in the end at 12.45 p.m. All akharas did ritualistic worship of respective Deities, Deity of weapons etc. before having Amrut-snan. Later, Mahants, Mahamandaleshwars and Sadhus, Naga Sadhus had bath along with their weapons.
MP police, para-military force, rapid action force, civil security force and members of RSS etc. were present to save people from drowning in water.
Welcome by Sanatan Sanstha and HJS !
Sanatan seekers and activists of HJS welcomed Sadhus- Saints of various akharas coming in procession for Amrut-snan at dawn as they were standing on the route displaying banners. On 21st April, seekers and HJS activists reached Kumbh-kshetra at 2.00 a.m.; but they faced problem due to non-cooperation by police. With the grace of Shri Mahakaleshwar, they could welcome Saints and devotees, who were going for ‘Amrut-snan’ in the morning, once the processions started.
Wrong things happening in Simhastha Parva due to lack of Dharmashikshan
1. Naga Sadhus, who had come for the first ‘Amrut-snan’, were wearing sun-glasses; asking foreigners to click their photos while smoking cannabis; standing nude in front of devotees, asking them for money and doing other perverted things.
2. One Mahamandaleshwar was wearing lot of gold ornaments. When he came for bath in the morning, he was dancing to the tune of a Hindi song which meant he was a golden baba who was devotee of Shiva. People were laughing at him.
3. One person was attired as Bhagavan Shiva.
Highlights :
1. Devotees crowded ghats as they were going for holy bath. Police had to push and shove them to make way for processions of Sadhus and Saints going to ghat for ‘Amrut-snan’. At some places, police from para-military force were not allowing devotees to go to roads leading to ghat.
2. At 5.00 a.m. Mahants and Mahamandaleshwars from different akharas were going in various types of chariots for ‘Amrut-snan’ towards ghats along with their devotees.
3. Naga Sadhus came to ghat for holy bath in the morning when police pulled out women-devotees having bath in the river.
4. Police on duty at ghats also had holy bath while on duty.
5. Many foreigners joined the akhara of Paramhans Nityanand Swami.
6. Mahants, Mahamandaleshwars and Naga Sadhus were going for bath and every time, devotees were spontaneously raising slogans of ‘Har Har Mahadev’.
7. There were banners of ‘Jai Gurudev’ written on them which were displayed on both the sides of ghat.
8. Few Naga Sadhus were showing demonstrations of using swords and other games to devotees.
9. There was Shiva-pinda on one side of the platform at the ghat which was touched by feet of many devotees. A seeker of Sanatan observed this and he brought it to the notice of devotees. (Sanatan’s such seekers are true strength of Hindu Dharma. – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)
Sanatan seekers and HJS activists were going towards ghat but one policeman stopped them. Seekers requested him to let them go but he did not budge. Seekers then waited on one side. Police told seekers that rendering service at Simhastha Parva becomes possible only with the grace of Mahakaleshwar. He remarked that seekers looked ‘sattvik’ and it was seen on their faces. After some time, many citizens started going towards ghat without listening to police; therefore, police allowed even seekers to go towards ghat.
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
