  mela
bath days & astrological timings
Important
kumbha mela bath days are:
January
9, 2001 Pausa Purnima (full moon)
January 14, 2001 Makhara Sankranti
January 24, 2001 Mauni Amavasya (dark moon)
January 29, 2001 Vasant Pancami
February 8, 2001 Magh Purnima
February 21, 2001 Maha Shivratri
The
systems of astronomy and astrology in India date back thousands of years
to the Vedic age, 3,000 B.c. From the Rig Veda, which emerged in
the Vedic age as an authoritative literature on cosmic time cycles, information
is gathered which enables astrologers to calculate the appropriate dates
for observing the Kumbha Mela. According to the calculations made from the
Rig Veda, the sun moves from one of the twelve signs in the zodiac
to another twelve times within a period of 360 days. Thus the sun enters
the sign of Capricorn once in a year. That day is called Makar Shankranti
and is said to be the beginning of an auspicious period for performing ritualistic
and other spiritual activities. Jupiter, however, remains for one full year
in each of the twelve signs of the zodiac before moving on to the next.
Therefore, Jupiter enters a particular sign of the zodiac only once in twelve
years. When Jupiter enters the sign of Aries and the sun simultaneously
enters Capricorn, once in twelve years, the configuration is called Kumbba
snana-yoga, and it sets the time for observing the Kumbha Mela.
Based on astrological calculations from
the Rig Veda, astrologers have scheduled these six important
days for observing a holy bath during the Kumbha Mela. The days considered
most auspicious for bathing are Purnima (full moon); Makhara Shankranti;
Mauni Amavasya (dark moon); Vasant Panchami (fifth day of the new moon);
Magh Purnima (full moon); and Shiva Ratri (appearance day of Shiva). Those
pilgrims who remain for the full forty-one days of the Kumbha Mela and
observe all the important holy baths are given the elite distinction of
being called kalpvasis, residents of the Kumbha Mela.
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