Arya Samaj in Prayag Raj Kumbh

India is a spiritual country and it is also the source of many popular sects, religions and religious practices in the world. Along with the religious beliefs, many popular saints' vis-a-vis spirituality has also originated from this land. Thereby a lot of festivals and festivities are celebrated here with grandeur and a high religious-spiritual faith. Kumbh Mela is one of such festival wherein a huge segment of people from the country and abroad arrive in large number to live and realize the spiritual spirit of India. This year, in 2019, the Kumbh Mela is being organized in Prayagraj. Ardh Kumbh in Prayagraj has begun from 15 January 2019 and run till March 04, 2019.

Kumbh is one of the greatest occasions, in which, with the fullest reference to the spiritual significance, a million of people from all over the world assemble, thus marking a huge achievement for the Hindu culture in itself. This is an event where millions of pilgrims, saints, Mahatma, and ascetic men participate. In such a massive event on the larger land of the country, how can the Arya Samaj avoid its participation? But the issue larger than the participation is that how can religious benefits of this great event can be trickled down to the society by Arya Samaj. With the same question in mind, hundreds of years before, Swami Dayanand Saraswati hoisted the ‘Pakhand Khandani’ flag and made people aware with the Vedic thought process in the Kumbh Mela to the thousands of people.

Even though the legendries may propagate many other stories behind the origin and organization of the 'Kumbh', the most valid story is that of receiving of Amrit drops by God-demon from the Sea Churning, from Amrit Kumbh. But this is just a popular story. In fact, India was a land of wisdom and the purpose of organizing such a function was that in such an event, the churning of ideas could be done and thus, the gist can be drawn out of them in the form of truth. In this, the intellectuals from across the world used to brainstorm around their beliefs, thoughts, and opinions on various subjects. And, in the end, the truth was recognized and identified as ‘Amrit’ to be implemented in their life.

In tune with time, this great arrangement and the organization were put down because of considering of the mythological stories as the only established truths, many pretenders posed them as the saver of religion and made this arrangement just confined it to black magic, superstition, Ganga bath and doing worship, prayer etc. The real essence of it went lost. Though their personal benefits are not known, with this, the people had started going away from the true nature of Sanatan Vedic religion.

When Swamiji saw all this, his mind became fluid. Went out by promising his Gurus to propagate the right religion, he made his mind that instead of telling five to seven people in small places it is better to address the larger gathering at one place because by discussing with all the religious saints and brainstorming upon the Vedic matters, the truth can be brought out. Later, the findings in the form of ‘Amrit’, the truth will be inhaled by all and this will also help in spreading of Vedic religion across the country at one time. In order to communicate this truth to the society, in 1866, when Swami Ji arrived at ‘Haridwar Kumbh’ and saw the huge conglomeration of the sadhus, his courage started going down. But then his inner conscience ordered him not to break the courage; his mission will be accomplished, and questioned himself that Is the single sun not doing away all the darkness of earth?

On hearing that voice that the divine soul began his mission by writing on a flag-Pakhand Khandani Pataka and put it on the front of his place of residence. Then he began speaking on the blind faiths, ill-beliefs, Shraddha, avatar, etc. and a kind of movement has started in many religious groups. This lead to triggering of logical thinking and many people have started brainstorming about religion or religious practices. It was the effort of Swamiji alone which make the way to winning of true over untrue, and logic over illogical thoughts. After the demise of Swamiji, this work was carried on by the great scholars of the Arya Samaj from time to time and the main idea was again put in process. Pandit Patham Ji, Swami Shraddhananda had done this by putting a pole-pocket-mark-‘Pakhand Khandani Pataka’ on this occasion and keep achieving the mission.

In the present time, we are living in a troubled and confused life due to deviation in the name of God and religion, and also losing money by getting trapped in clutches of godmen or pretenders. Therefore, Kumbh Mela is the right opportunity when we talk about our ancient classical Vedic culture, the message of the Vedic religion and our religious traditions, among the millions at one time. Because even today, due to the lack of knowledge of the truth- darkness, hypocrisy and various kinds of illogical rituals and new Gods are prevailing.

Therefore, once again on this occasion Prayagraj Kumbha, to promote the truth and scientific behavior - Vedic Gurus, intellectuals, ‘Acharya’, along with the students of Gurukul are being invited. With this, in the presence of Arya people from the country and abroad; with Vedic literature and material, a huge stall, beautiful & attractive ‘vedshala’ and knowledgeable programs, the ‘OM’ flag and the ‘Pakhand Khandheni Pataka’ will be again hoisted.