Maha Kumbh is one of the biggest festivals in India. Held every 12 years, it is a beacon of spiritual and rich cultural heritage. The festival is taking place at Prayagraj in 2025. It will attract millions of pilgrims and sadhus ecstatic about the shahi snan and other activities. Today, we will present some facts about the significance of the royal bath or Sangam Snan that you should know.
Shahi Snan: Know the importance of this royal bathing at Maha Kumbha
When discussing Kumbh Mela, the bathing ritual at Sangam holds a spiritual significance. The term Sangam indicates the meeting of three sacred rivers—Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Prayagraj is among the four holy places, Ujjain, Haridwar, and Nashik, where this colossal event occurs.
Returning to Shahi Snan, this bathing ritual holds religious significance among pilgrims. It is said that taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam will cleanse your sins and let you attain spiritual liberation or ‘Moksha’. Let us know more about it via the below-mentioned factors.
Reference to Hindu scriptures
Hindu scriptures reference the holy practice of Shahi Snan at Kumbh. According to Puranas, it is associated with the epic tale of Samudra Manthan, a battle between gods and demons to attain the nectar of immortality. Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini, a beautiful damsel carrying the elixir pot, who wanted the elixir to drop into Devas’ favour. During the struggle, the drops of the nectar fell to four places: Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain, and Haridwar.
Liberation from bad karmic debts
Elaborating more on the theory of Shahi Snan at Maha Kumbh, it cleanses the person’s bad karma that they have committed. This is better achieved when bathing in the auspicious period. According to mythological belief, even though the soul is permanent, it is clamped with bad karmas, resulting in rebirth to samsara. Because of this, it stops the soul from attaining moksha. Hence, bathing in the holy rivers is considered auspicious as it will purify one’s soul and free one from the cycle of life and death.
Connecting with the divine force
The soul must be physically and metaphysically purified to connect with the divine force. Bathing in sacred rivers indicates surrendering to the almighty force because they are a medium to reach the divine, as it washes away the ego, desires, and impurities. In Hinduism, water is a symbol of purification and sustenance.
Astrology
Astrology plays a pivotal role when it comes to bathing at auspicious dates. Experts with knowledge of the stars can better guide you on the best time for bathing. Plunging into the sacred waters of the rivers on the prescribed astrological date strengthens the spiritual value of the ritual bathing at Kumbh. Hence, riverbanks are thronged with devotees from different places during this auspicious festive occasion.
Naga Sadhus
Maha Kumbh is not just an event for pilgrims but is also special for Naga Sadhus, who also partake in this colossal event. They are, in fact, one of the major attractions here. These naked ascetics stand as the living embodiments of spiritual ideals, performing a great role as spiritual masters and guides. Held in high esteem, they are approached with respect, blessings, and teachings.
Dealing with water pollution
With the growing concern about environmental pollution, measures have been adopted to make the rivers’ waters safe for bathing during Maha Kumbh. During the festival, organisers will conduct awareness campaigns to help people understand the significance of rivers.
Dates for Royal Shahi Snan
Check the dates below for Shahi Snan at Maha Kumbh 2025:
- Paush Purnima – 13th Jan 2025
- Makar Sakaranti – 14th Jan 2025
- Mauni Amavasya – 29th Jan 2025
- Basant Panchami – 2nd and 3rd Feb 2025
- Achala Saptami – 4th Feb 2025
- Maghi Purnima – 12th Feb 2025
- Maha Shivratri – 26th Feb 2025
Dates for Shahi Snan
These are the dates for non-shahi snan:
- 20 Dec – 10 Jan
- 15 Jan – 26 Jan
- 30 Jan – 2 Feb
- 5 Feb – 10 Feb
- 13 Feb – 24 Feb
- 27 Feb – 15 Mar
Luxury stay at Maha Kumbh 2025
Expecting a massive influx of people, there are tented accommodations with all basic facilities. jüSTa Shivir is a lavish stay at Maha Kumbh with luxury rooms equipped with necessary needs. You get near access to the Maha Kumbh event and a way to Shahi Snan at the pious rivers.
Conclusion
So, this was our blog on the importance of Shahi Snan at Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025. Through this blog, we have presented the facts related to this ritual bathing. But beyond just a holy activity, it remarks the purification of the soul. Holding mythological significance, the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati are considered sacred. Bathing in their holy waters fills up divine energy, marking the pathway to cosmic power.
