Devalok
Festival story · 1 telling · North India

The twelve days of the pot (the Kumbh legend)

Jayanta snatches the pot of nectar from the churned ocean and runs from the demons for twelve days of the gods, guarded by Brihaspati, Surya, Chandra and Shani. Where he sets it down, drops fall into four rivers: at Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Every twelve years the Kumbh Mela gathers at each.

Who is in it

Places: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar), Nashik

The story, beat by beat

  1. Dhanvantari rises from the churned ocean with the pot of nectar.
  2. Jayanta snatches it and runs; Shukra's demons chase him.
  3. Brihaspati sets Surya, Chandra and Shani to guard the pot.
  4. Four times on earth Jayanta sets it down and drops fall into the rivers.
  5. Mohini ends the quarrel; every twelve years the nectar wakes in each river.

immortality pilgrimage time festival

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Temple tradition

The Kumbh tradition of the four towns

North India · hi All traditions 🪔 Kumbh Mela

When Dhanvantari rises from the churned ocean with the kalasha of amrita, Indra's son Jayanta snatches it and flees; Shukra sends the demons after him. Brihaspati, with Surya, Chandra and Shani, guards the pot, from breaking, spilling and capture. The chase lasts twelve days of the gods; four times on earth the pot is set down and drops fall, at Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik-Trimbak. Since a divine day is a human year, the Kumbh returns to each place every twelve years when the sun, moon and Jupiter stand as they did then.

The Kumbh legend (District Nashik, Government of Maharashtra; District Haridwar, Government of Uttarakhand; Drik Panchang)

Sources: The Kumbh legend (District Nashik, Government of Maharashtra; District Haridwar, Government of Uttarakhand; Drik Panchang)

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