SIMHASTHA KUMBHA :Ujjain ONE OF THE LARGEST HUMAN GATHERING ON EARTH (23rd April)

The Ujjain Kumbh is celebrated when Jupiter ascends into sun sign Leo's quarter or the Simha constellation of zodiac, which is why it is called 'Simhastha'.
  In the Holy Scriptures too there is a mention of ‘Kumbh Mela’. In ‘Narada-Puranas’, ‘Kumbha-Mela’ has been referred to be very good. According to few scholars, this fair started in 3464 BC i.e. it is a tradition existing 1000 years prior to Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro culture.In 2382 BC, Vishwamitra (second) stated importance of having holy bath on ‘Magh Pournima’. In 1302 BC, Maharshi Jyotish impressed upon people the importance of holy bath on ‘Magh Pournima’.
In order to define the actual kumbh Mela history, It is difficult to say when the Kumbh mela exactly started. It is believed that when the churning of the ocean of milk took place in Krutayug, the Kumbha Mela began. The Gods and demons came together to acquire the pot of Amrut (Divine nectar) and decided to churn the ocean of milk. The king of serpents, Vasuki, was requested to serve as a rope around the mountain Meru to churn the ocean. Accordingly Vasuki became the rope and was tied around the mountain Meru. The ocean was churned with the Gods holding the tail of the serpent and the demons, the mouth.

       During the churning, fourteen unique items emerged from the ocean – Poison, Kāmadhēnu (A wish-fulfilling cow), Uchhaih-ashrava (A white horse), Airavat (An elephant with four tusks), Koustubha mani (A diamond), Parijat Kalpavruksha (A wish-fulfilling tree), Devanganas (Celestial maidens) such as Rambha etc., Shri Lakshmidevi (Consort of Shrivishṇu), Sura (Alcohol), Som (Moon), Haridhanu (A  Divine bow), a conch, Dhanwantari and Amrutkalash or Amrutkumbh (Pot of Amrut).

        When Deity Dhanwantari emerged from the ocean holding the Amrutkumbh, the Gods thought that if the demons became immortal upon drinking Amrut, they will create havoc in the world. They signalled Indra’s son, Jayant, who instantly took the Amrutkumbh from Deity Dhanwantari and ran in the direction of Heaven. To get hold of the Amrutkumbh, Gods and demons fought each other for 12 days and 12 nights, which are 12 years for the human. During the battle, the Amrutkumbh was kept down 12 times. Deity Sun protected it and the moon took care that the Amrut does not evaporate. The planet Jupiter (Guru) fought the demons and protected the pot. The 12 places where the drops of Amrut fell from the pot are considered to be the Kumbh Mela places as per the special position of the above mentioned planets. Of these 12 places 8 are in other lokas (Regions) and 4 on earth – Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar (Haridwar), Ujjain and Tryambakeshwar-Nashik. At these places, the Kumbh Mela is held when the position of the planets and the tithi on which the Amrut drops fell on earth is the same. The Amrutkalash is also remembered during the Kumbh Mela.