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When Silicon Valley meets Maha Kumbh Mela
A group from Milpitas California are following in the footsteps of their founder, Srila Prabhupada, who traveled to Prayagraj with American devotees.
A file photo of ISKCON Camp organizer Sanak Sanatana Das drives a bullock cart carrying Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada. / Courtesy Photo
India Heritage Foundation’s Krishna Balram Temple of Milpitas Silicon Valley is taking its devotees to the Maha Kumbh, a Hindu pilgrimage and festival. The yatra starts in Ayodhya on Jan.22, and after a visit to Prayagraj and Chitrakoot it concludes in Varanasi.
“The temple is offering this as a service for its devotees,” said Santana Dasa, who is accompanying the group.
“The Kumbh is a place where spiritual seekers showcase their work and share what they have been doing. They come to learn, experience and enhance their spiritual experience and understanding,” said Santana Dasa.
The group from Milpitas California are following in the footsteps of their founder, Srila Prabhupada who traveled to Prayagraj with American devotees. Writing about Prabhupada’s visit of 1971, Lokanath Swami writes, “None of the Western devotees had ever attended the Kumbh Mela. The many bizarre sights can bewilder and confuse the mind, but Prabhupada reminded the devotees that spiritual life is neither exotic nor bewildering, but simple and practical.”
Don't go to take a dip in water but to dive into knowledge
In a conversation recorded in January 1977 (just before the Kumbh Mela), Prabhupada had said that the real purpose of the Kumbh is to take advantage of the spiritual knowledge presented there. If one thinks that this salila, (the water to take bath in the water) is Kumbh Mela, then he is a go-kharah [a cow or an a**]. But the real idea is "Now there are so many saintly persons assembled. Let me take advantage of their knowledge." Then he is intelligent. People should take advantage,” said Prabhupada.
A family from San Jose heads to Prayagraj
Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir (ISKCON Vrindavan) ISKCON Vrindavan has set up 100 rooms in Swiss luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms at Prayagraj. Each temple has been assigned a set number of quota of rooms to bring their devotees.
The group of 17 from Milpitas plan to meet up in Ayodhya on Jan.22. They will be joined by a spiritual guide who will lead them through the experience. Among the group is a San Jose family with 14 and 9-year-old daughters. The 63, 65 and 69-year-old grandparents from Bengaluru will join them.
“Time spent in the bus will be used to sing Kirtan bhajans, to build consciousness about the place they are about to visit., and play spiritual games and quizzes etc. It will be fun-filled learning and spiritual exchanges for children and grown-ups alike,” said Krishna Sharana Das.
For $1498 a couple and $999 a single person, devotees can visit four holy places. The yatra starts in Ayodhya on Jan.22. After a visit to Ram temple and Hanuman Garhi Temple, the group will spend a night in Ayodhya before heading to Prayagraj in a mini bus.
At the ISKCON Swiss tent in Prayagraj, the group will have a comfortable visit to Prayag and the Sangam. The next two nights will be spent in the midst of a forest reserve in Chitrakoot. Chitrakoot is the place where Bharat, brother of Lord Rama came to visit him and asked him to return to Ayodhya and rule the kingdom. It is believed that the supreme Gods of Hinduism, (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) took incarnations here. The group will halt for two nights at a Kutir or scenic guest house before heading to Varanasi for a night and visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Room, board, transportation between the pilgrim sites, and tours at the pilgrimage sites are included.
“It is not a sightseeing tour,” said Santana Prabhu. “For children born in the US, it is a great immersive experience to keep them engaged in their culture and educated in the spiritual heritage they have a right to.
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