Triveni Sangam is quite a popular name in India. Triveni means ‘three intertwined sacred rivers’ while Sangam implies ‘union’. There are a few Triveni Sangams in India, but the foremost Triveni Sangam is at Prayagraj city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Sangam, as popularly known, is the confluence of the three sacred rivers i.e., Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati.
While Ganga and Yamuna rivers can be observed clearly, the Sarasvati is said to be invisible. Lord Shiva resides at the confluence of these three sacred rivers known by the names Shulatanka and Someshwara. The rivers encircling the city of Prayagraj inspired Lord Brahma to select this tract of land for the first universal sacrifice.
The Ganga River can be observed to be white and greyish while the Yamuna can be observed to be dark blue and black in colour. The Ganga River is four feet deep while the Yamuna River is forty feet deep at the nexus. The Yamuna merges with Ganga here and travels forth until she enters the Ganga Sagara in the Bay of Bengal.
Few drops of nectar fell into Triveni Sangam, when the demigods and demons were fighting over the entire pot of amrita. Thus, the Triveni Sangam acquires more sanctity. It is said to be the most auspicious place in this universe to take a holy bath.
The Trinity of the Triveni Sangam
The Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati form the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj. Each river is sacred in its own unique way. The Ganga River flows from its origin at the Gangotri Glacier, specifically from the point called Gaumukh. Ganga’s journey from Vaikuntha when Lord Vamana pierced the covering of the universe with His lotus toe is a celebrated fact.
She travels a very long distance right from Goloka Vrindavana, the topmost spiritual planet, throughout the universe crossing various planets, levels of planetary systems, etc until she reaches earth beheld by Lord Shiva on his tuft of hair. She remains the lifeline of Bharatvarsha distributing herself directly and through various tributaries. Being brought down to earth by King Bhagiratha to liberate his ancestors, she is also known as Bhagirathi.
The Milky Way appearing in space from earth is said to be the path of the Ganga River throughout the universe. In the Mahabharata and Skanda Purana, her waters have been compared to amrita i.e., nectar of immortality.
The sacred Yamuna also comes down from the spiritual world originating in the Kalindi mountains. She is said to be more sacred than the Ganga owing to her association with the lilas of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. She is also the sister of Yamaraja. Hence, she has been bestowed a boon that any sinful person who takes a bath in her waters with reverence shall not be touched by the agents of Yamaraja.
And yes, the sacred Sarasvati makes her occasional appearances here and there. As per the scriptures, the Sarasvati River was cursed to flow invisible right before she descended from the spiritual world.
If these three rivers individually could bestow liberation on all living entities when one takes a bath in their waters or even sprinkles some water on their head, a dip at the Sangam is hundred times more purifying. Any devotee taking a dip with sincere prayers needn’t ask for anything more.
Triveni Sangam in the Narada Purana
The Narada Purana records an instance of conversation between Sage Vasu and daughter of Lord Brahma. Sage Vasu glorifies the Triveni Sangam in the following words:
“The continuous flow of the braided Ganga and Yamuna is said to be like nectar. When the sun is in the sign of Makara (Capricorn) during the month of Magha, all the tirthas on earth come to take bath at the Triveni where Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati meet. Not only the tirthas, but Lord Vishnu, Mahadeva, Brahma, the Rudras, Adityas, Marutas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Guhyakas, and Siddhas, along with their consorts such as Lakshmi, Parvati, Brahmani, Sachi, Aditi, all the other demigods’ wives, even the celestial damsels come to Prayaga during the month of Magha.
O beautiful lady, there is no holy centre more meritorious in all the three worlds. The potency of this tirthas is superior to all tirthas. Maya Devi, Lord Vishnu’s potency, is impossible to overcome. Even the demigods are controlled by her. But, O daughter of Brahma, in the month of Magha at Prayaga, Maya’s grasp completely slackens. Even Chitragupta, the secretary of Yamaraja, doesn’t adequately know the extent of merit that a person receives from taking bath in the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna during the month of Magha when the sun is in Capricorn.
Bathing at this confluence with great devotion leads to fulfilment of one’s desires. If a devotee desires to achieve a worldly kingdom, heavenly planets, or salvation in the spiritual world, Prayaga tirtha satisfies his desires.
O lady of beautiful eyes, by taking a holy bath at Haridwar, Prayaga, or at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean, a devotee goes to the abodes of Lord Brahma, Mahadeva, and then to the abode of Lord Vishnu.”
Triveni Sangam and the Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is the most popular festival celebrated at the Sangam. The Triveni Sangam cannot be spoken of without mentioning the Kumbh Mela alongside. The Kumbh Mela is the spiritual flavour of the Triveni Sangam just like every tourist site in this world has its own flavour. But this spiritual flavour is so attractive that the inflow of pilgrims is simply unstoppable. It remains a world in itself.
Lakhs of pilgrims converge at the Triveni Sangam during the Kumbh Mela from all over India and the world. A dip here during this time is a thousand times purifying. The Atharva Veda (19.53.3) says the following:
“We, the saintly persons, observe this Kumbh festival at the places where the pot of nectar produced from the churning of the ocean was established. Although this festival appears in the different planetary systems at different times, we consider this festival time to be as pure as the Vaikuntha planets.”
The Kumbh Mela is known to be the world’s largest religious gathering. Pilgrims come here during the Kumbh Mela and stay for the duration of the Mela braving the weather in order to take a chance at attaining liberation. The timing is decided based on the position of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter planet.
The regular Kumbh happens every three years while the Ardh Kumbh (Half-Kumbh) happens every six years. The Purna-Kumbh (Full-Kumbh) happens every 12 years and the Maha-Kumbh (Grand-Kumbh) happens every 144 years i.e., after 12 Purna-Kumbh Melas.
Extremely rarely would someone live that long to witness the Maha-Kumbh. The next Maha-Kumbh Mela would be in the year 2157 CE, the last one being held in the year 2013 CE.
Triveni Sangam: How to reach the sacred waters of liberation
You would understand by now that you can take a dip in the sacred Triveni Sangam only by going to Prayagraj city. Be it a regular pilgrimage or a Kumbh-Mela trip, travelling to Prayagraj is the only way. And yes, a dip in the sacred confluence is no ordinary thing. Whether travelling to Prayagraj or back from Prayagraj, you should carry the finest spiritual memories for a lifetime. Afterall, you’re travelling to Prayagraj the Teertharaj, King of all Teerthas.
The most comfortable way to travel to Prayagraj and take a dip in the Triveni Sangam would be to join the Ayodhya-Kashi Yatra conducted by the expert Yatra Directors of Tirtha Yatra. It’s a guarantee that you would not stop relishing the yatra ever for the rest of your lifetime.
Else you have many options to choose from when deciding the best mode of transportation as per your convenience. You can choose from the modes of transportation below:
- By Air – There are direct flights to Prayagraj from major cities in India. The airport is located at Bamrauli on the outskirts of Prayagraj city.
- By Train – The ‘Prayagraj Junction’ station is well connected by trains from major cities in India and other small cites in Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of North Central railway.
- By Road – National highways and State highways connect the city to other parts of the country. Inter-state bus services are available from the three bus stations of Prayagraj city.
As you take your steps toward the Triveni Sangam and begin your descent into Her pristine waters for a holy dip, don’t forget to offer Her your humble prayers for the blessings of an eternal life. Your sincere devotion is the only price you need to pay. She will never let you down for sure!
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