Kumbh is the result of a curse, not a boon… You may not know this story hidden in the Puranas

New Delhi: Prayagraj is all set for Maha Kumbh 2025. Devotees from the country and abroad have started gathering in this religious city of Uttar Pradesh. The tradition of divine bath will begin in Maha Kumbh from the day of Paush Purnima. It is estimated that this time more than 40 crore devotees are going to reach for Kumbh bath. Puranas say that the organization of Maha Kumbh is the result of the search for Amrit, but this story is not just this.

The gods were cursed
Today, we are taking a spiritual dip in the holy Amrit stream. It was not so easy to form its tradition. Actually, what is proving to be a boon for us now, was the result of a curse. Such a curse that the gods got, due to which humanity was in danger at one time, but with time the same curse proved to be a boon for the human community.

The story is recorded in Skanda Purana
Behind this entire tradition is the curse of a sage, which is now in front of us as a boon. This tradition, which originated from Devlok, is not only a boon for the virtue of humanity, but is also the basis for the education of ethics and morality. This story is described in Skanda Purana. According to this, the capital of heaven, Amravati, was full of all kinds of pleasures and due to these pleasures, its name of heaven was justified. The gods had won the Devasur war that had been going on for many years and due to this, they were no longer afraid of their enemies.

A big disaster was about to come in heaven
Overall, a pleasant breeze was blowing in heaven, the fragrance of flowers was mixed in it and there was new music in every direction. The combination of all this was so beautiful that many times the Gandharvas would leave their taans and start listening to their music. The effect of this was that now even the gods gradually left their duties and were engaged in pleasure and enjoyment and their lord Indra was so immersed in the world of love that he did not even know that he had some responsibility towards the world. He used to listen to new ragas from the Gandharvas all the eight hours of the day and remained intoxicated with Somras. At first all these were signs of happiness, but in reality it was the noise of the coming calamity.

When Indradev became arrogant
The reason behind all this was the war between the gods and demons, in which Devraj Indra had won. Although he had got the victory due to the Tridevs (Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh), but the pride of victory became so much that he had now thought that now there would be no attack. Devguru Brihaspati was also worried about the same. He was less worried about the apprehensions of the future, but the current crisis was that Devraj, immersed in the world of love, was not even holding the meetings of the planetary system. Due to this once again the balance of the world had started deteriorating.

Sage Durvasa tried to explain to Indradev
The Saptarishis had expressed concern about this, but due to the war that had just happened, they also did not want to let this peace be disturbed. But after many fortnights had passed, they were now getting worried. If the meeting of the planetary system did not happen, then the entire law of the stars could stop. The balance could be disturbed. To remove this concern, Sage Durvasa, requesting Devraj Indra to call a meeting, proceeded towards Devlok as the representative of the Saptarishis.

Met Narad Muni on the way
Sage Durvasa was aware of Indra’s pride, but still he was thinking that if he explained the crisis, he would definitely understand the situation. When Sage Durvasa went to explain to Devraj, he met Devrishi Narad on the way. Devrishi Narad had a garland of Baijayanti flowers in his hand, whose fragrance spread to all the three worlds and was so divine that it mesmerized the wearer. Narad Muni gifted him a garland, saying that his work was great. Rishi Durvasa kept this garland and thought that he will gift it to Devraj Indra.

Rishi was insulted in heaven
The Rishi thought that even if Indra does not understand what he says, this rare gift will definitely put pressure on him to listen to him. Thinking about these things, the Rishi reached Devlok. On reaching Devlok, Durvasa started suspecting something bad from the very beginning. He understood the pride that had arisen in Indra’s mind. Even after the gatekeeper informed him, he had not yet reached to welcome him and take him to the assembly. The Rishi considered this matter to be very small and shook off such thoughts.

Rishi got angry at Devraj Indra
After this, when he reached the assembly hall after a long time, there was an atmosphere of only fun and frolic all around. Devraj bowed to Durvasa Rishi only as a formality. Still, Rishi raised his hand in blessing and presented him with the garland he had brought. Indra smiled and smelling the flowers of that garland said- did Rishivar find any lack of fragrance here. Saying this, Indra out of pride placed that garland around Airavat’s neck and Airavat took it off his neck and trampled it under his feet. Maharishi Durvasa got very angry seeing the insult of his gift.

Durvasa Rishi cursed the gods
Durvasa, who is known as a very short-tempered Rishi, had been suppressing his anger till now, but Indra’s actions and continuous mistakes made the volcano of his anger erupt. He roared loudly in anger and said that, the victory, prosperity and wealth in whose pride you have forgotten morality, will be taken away from you. This heaven will also be taken away from you and you will be left without Lakshmi.

Due to the curse, the world became Lakshmi-less
Due to the effect of Maharishi Durvasa’s curse, all the wealth of Indra vanished. Goddess Lakshmi disappeared from the world. She vanished into the ocean and terrible poverty and misery spread in all the three worlds. The demons again attacked Lakshmi-less Indra. Indra lost the war to the demon king Bali. Along with this, all the medicines also vanished from the world.

Then the Samudra Manthan took place, which became the reason for organizing the Maha Kumbh
King Bali took control of the three worlds. The desperate gods realized their mistake and approached Shri Hari Vishnu. Then Lord Vishnu suggested them the way of Samudra Manthan and from this churning, Amrit came out, in the scuffle for which it fell on four pilgrimage places of the country. Prayagraj is one of them, where this Maha Kumbh-2025 is being organized.