Kumbh Mela: The Cosmic Misattribution The Kumbh Mela is a blend of पौराणिक कथा and allegorical stories (रूपक-संबंधी ), historical events, and modern adaptations, reflecting the complex interplay of religious beliefs, colonial encounters, and national aspirations. All religions have placed great emphasis on the sacredness of certain localities and have either enjoined or recommended pilgrimages to them with great insistence. Large rivers, mountains and forests have always been venerated as sacred places. The word Tirtha 1 , occurs frequently in the Rgved and other Vedic Samhitas. Tirtha, therefore, means a locality or spot or expanse of water which gives rise to the accumulation of righteousness (merit) owing to its own peculiar nature without any adventitious circumstance. Puranas 1 and ancient texts do describe the importance of places and rivers, as Tirtha, and bathing in such holy rivers, freed the person from Sins. These places are all over India. They ar...
Hindu Calendars -Era Lakshman Sen Era This era was in use in the Mithila and Tirhut areas (Nepal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Bengal). The Sena (Sen) dynasty ruled areas around Bengal and Mithila from the 11th to the 12th centuries. Originated in the Karnat (Karnataka) region; migrated eastward and established their kingdom in Bengal. The Key rulers of the Sen Dynasty were Hemanta Sena (founder) Vijaya Sena Ballala Sena Lakshman Sena The earliest notice of this era was revealed by the inscriptions from Bodh Gaya, wherein a different date was discovered. The inscription, as translated by Babu Rajendra Lal, reads “After expiration of the reign of auspicious Lakshman Sen deva”. Most of the inscriptions and colophons found mention the date with respect to the reign of Lakshman Sen, of Sen Dynasty. The historians and scholars have divergent views on the beginning of this era’s epoch. The dates vary from 1105 CE to 1109 CE. There are records which men...