Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 56

 

 

56)OṀ ṪRIVEṆI SANGAMA BHŨMYAI-

                                                         -NAMAH:

      OṀ (AUM) - ṪRI-VEṆI- SAŃ-GA-MA- BHOO- MYAI- NA-- MA- HA

 

 

            (Ṫriveṇisangama: means-'confluence of three rivers')

 

 

 

Visiting places of pilgrimage, especially the important ones; at least once in life-time, has been prescribed as a sacred duty for every Hindu by the dharma śāstrās and the purāṇās. One of the very few pilgrim centers, a visit to which has been considered extremely auspicious, is Triveṇi of Prayāga (the modern Allahābād in Uttar Pradesh). It has been designated as 'Tīrtharāja' (the king of pilgrimage centers) also. Since the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati merge here, the place is called 'Triveṇi'. The actual confluence is known as 'Triveṇisangama' and is 2.4 kms (1.5 miles) from the city.

 

Religious rites strongly recommended to be performed here are: bath at the 'Triveṇisangama', tonsure of the head (sometimes recommended even for women as prāyaśchitta or expiation), performance of śrāddha' to ancestors and dāna (giving gifts). Veṇipradāna (offering two to four inches of their braid of hair into the confluence by married women) is another rite which is popular among the pilgrims even today.

 

A bath in the 'Triveṇi', in the month of Māgha (generally in January), is considered as extremely auspicious. During this period, many pilgrims assemble on the banks of the rivers and camp there, sometimes for three to four weeks. It is again during this month, once in every twelve years, that the famous Kumbhameḷā festival is held here. It is the biggest religious festival in the world, drawing more than thirty million people including thousands of sādhus (religious mendicants and leaders) who all manage a dip in the rivers within the time span of twenty four hours!

 

The Chitrakūta hill of the Ramāyaṇa fame is situated at a distance of about 100 kms (60 miles) from here.

'Tīrtham' means that which is auspicious water. That may the sanctified water offered by a priest in a temple or the river water. Taking bath in sacred water is considered not only to wash away one's sins, but also gain upper tiers after death and this is a firm belief to every Hindu and also prescribed by the Hindu dharma śāstrās and the purāṇās.

 

Hence, our mother land, home of the confluence of three sacred rivers is 'Ṫriveṇi sańgama Bhūmi'.