Kumbha Mela : History & Religion; Astronomy & Cosmobiology

Description

Kumbha Mela Kumbha Mela is about a unique spectacle of religious fervour-the Hindu bathing festival of a Kumbha, a religious gathering that has no equal in the world in terms of the sheer participation of people. What brings this huge chunk of humanity to the banks of holy rivers at specified times and places? This is a mystery which has multiple points of ingress. The book sets out to trace the myriad linked between the religious, historical, scientific and social aspects defining this festival.

Sets the analytical stage for the correct understanding of the mystic surrounding the Kumbha fair. On the one side explores in detail the origin, antiquity and theoretical underpinnings of the twin facets of Kumbha and juxta-poses “Kumbha on a human scale” the human body itself with the theory and praxis of Kumbha and brings out striking parallels between the two. And on the other side, looks at the Kumbha festival from an entirely new angle. Brings out in vivid detail how the timings, sites and rituals of this fair are governed by considerations of the spatio-temporal bio-effects of cosmic cycle.

This outstanding book will be of great use for laymen as well as teachers, scholars and students of ancient Indian history and culture, religion, philosophy, astronomy, physics and cosmobiology.