m →top: link
|
m link
|
||
Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
=== Origins === |
=== Origins === |
||
According to [[Hindu mythology]], [[Vishnu]] dropped drops of [[amrita]] (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting it in a ''[[kumbha]]'' (pot). These four places, including Nashik, are identified as the present-day sites of the Kumbh Mela. The age of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha is uncertain, but its association with the ''kumbha'' myth is relatively recent, dating back to the 20th century. The ''Nasik District Gazetteer'' published during the 19th century does not mention the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe the local Simhastha fair.<ref name="Kama_2008"/>{{rp|89}} The earliest extant texts that contain the name "Kumbha Mela" are '' |
According to [[Hindu mythology]], [[Vishnu]] dropped drops of [[amrita]] (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting it in a ''[[kumbha]]'' (pot). These four places, including Nashik, are identified as the present-day sites of the Kumbh Mela. The age of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha is uncertain, but its association with the ''kumbha'' myth is relatively recent, dating back to the 20th century. The ''Nasik District Gazetteer'' published during the 19th century does not mention the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe the local Simhastha fair.<ref name="Kama_2008"/>{{rp|89}} The earliest extant texts that contain the name "Kumbha Mela" are ''[[Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh]]'' (1695 CE) and ''Chahar Gulshan'' (1789 CE). Both these texts use the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe only the [[Haridwar Kumbh Mela]], although they mention the Simhastha fair at Nashik.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WT2odZ7_d7MC&pg=PA32 |title=South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora |editor=Knut A. Jacobsen |chapter=The Kumbh Mela Festival Processions |author=James G. Lochtefeld |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |page=70 }}</ref> It appears that the Nashik Simhastha adapted the ''kumbh myth'' and the 12-year cycle from the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.<ref name="Kama_ET_2010">{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-10/news/37008284_1_kumbh-mela-prayag-haridwar |title=Kumbh mela dates back to mid-19th century, shows research |date=2013-02-10 |newspaper=Economic Times |author=Vikram Doctor }}</ref> The [[Ujjain Simhastha]], in turn, is an adaptation of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha: it began in the 18th century, when the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha]] ruler [[Ranoji Shinde]] invited ascetics from Nashik to [[Ujjain]] for a local festival.<ref name="KAJ_2008">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WT2odZ7_d7MC&pg=PA32 |title=South Asian Religions on Display: Religious Processions in South Asia and in the Diaspora |author=Knut A. Jacobsen |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |pages=32-34 }}</ref> |
||
=== Maratha era === |
=== Maratha era === |
Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha
नाशिक-त्र्यंबकेश्वर सिंहस्थ कुंभमेळा
| |
---|---|
![]()
1989 Kumbh Mela at Nashik
| |
Status | active |
Genre | Fair |
Frequency | Every 12 years |
Venue | Banks of Godavari river |
Location(s) | Trimbak and Nashik |
Country | India |
Previous event | 2015 |
Next event | 2027 |
Participants | Akharas, pilgrims |
Website | kumbhmela2015 |
Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is a Hindu religious mela held every 12 years in the Nashik districtofMaharashtra, India. The name of the festival is also transliterated as SinhasthaorSinghastha. It is one of the four fairs traditionally recognized as Kumbha Melas, and is also known as Nashik-Trimbak Kumbha MelaorNashik Kumbha Mela.
The fair involves ritual bathing on the banks of Godavari river, at the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple (inTrimbak) and the Ram Kund in Nashik. Until 1789, the fair was held only at Trimbak, but after a clash between Vaishnavites and Saivites, the Maratha Peshwa segregated the Vaishnavites to the Nashik city.
According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu dropped drops of amrita (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting it in a kumbha (pot). These four places, including Nashik, are identified as the present-day sites of the Kumbh Mela. The age of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha is uncertain, but its association with the kumbha myth is relatively recent, dating back to the 20th century. The Nasik District Gazetteer published during the 19th century does not mention the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe the local Simhastha fair.[1]: 89 The earliest extant texts that contain the name "Kumbha Mela" are Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh (1695 CE) and Chahar Gulshan (1789 CE). Both these texts use the term "Kumbh Mela" to describe only the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, although they mention the Simhastha fair at Nashik.[2] It appears that the Nashik Simhastha adapted the kumbh myth and the 12-year cycle from the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.[3] The Ujjain Simhastha, in turn, is an adaptation of the Nashik-Trimbak Simhastha: it began in the 18th century, when the Maratha ruler Ranoji Shinde invited ascetics from Nashik to Ujjain for a local festival.[4]
Until 1789, the fair was originally held at Trimbak, a town near the Nashik city. That year, a clash happened between Saivites sanyasis and Vaishnavites bairagis over precedence of bathing, which indicated the status of the akharas. A copperplate inscription of the Maratha Peshwa claims that 12,000 ascetics died in this clash.[5] As a result, the Peshwa shifted the Vaishnavites' bathing place to Ramkund in the Nashik city.[4] The Shaivites continue to regard Trimbak as the proper location of the fair.[6]
In 1861 and 1872, fights erupted at Trimbak, when some Nirmala sadhus attempted to walk naked in a procession, in imitation of a rival sect. Their rivals, as well as the British managers who wanted to keep peace, opposed them. The British administration proposed banning public nudity at the next Simhastha, but the proposed ban was opposed by the Naga sadhus and ultimately rejected by the British authorities.[1]: 128–129
The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha is held once in 12 years. The exact datees are determined according to a combination of zodiac positions: the mela ay be held when Jupiter is in Leo (SimhainHindu astrology); or when Jupiter, Sun and Moon are in Cancer on lunar conjunction (Amavasya).[7]
The last fair was held in 2015; the next one will be held in 2027.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)