THE GNOSTIC CHRISTIAN HOLY TRINITY: TRIVENI SANGAM

Location: Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
Significance: Confluence Of Three Holy Rivers (MALE & FEMALE JOINED
TOGETHER AS ONE SINGLE BIOPLASMA - "MACROMATING". THE "BORN AGAIN"
INNER "CHILD" OF SHUSHUMNA NADI, THE CENTRAL RIVER.
PADMASAMBHAVA'S "YOGA OF THE 3 PSYCHIC NERVES". AMRITANUBHAVA
OR "BORN OF THE NECTAR OF THE GODS". "TWICE-BORN BRAHMINS". THE
GNOSTIC CHRISTIAN HOLY TRINITY. GENETIC REJUVENATION. ETERNAL
YOUTH.) - Sw. Tantrasangha)
Attraction: Maha Kumbha Mela, Ganges River, Yamuna River
Also Known As: Prayag

Sangam, the confluence of three of the holiest rivers of the Hindu
mythology, the holy Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati is the
most sacred spot in Allahabad. Devout Hindus from all over India come
to this sacred pilgrimage point to offer prayers and take a dip in
the holy waters. It is believed that a holy dip taken at the Sangam
washes away all sins.

Allahabad, sacrost to the mind-boggling number of Kumbh pilgrims who
visit this endearing city every 12 years. According to Hindu
mythology for the 'Prakrishta Yagna' Lord Brahma chose a piece of
land on the earth on the confluence of the three rivers - the Ganga,
the Yamuna, and the mytical Sarswati. would merge into a confluence.
The land being surrounded by these 3 rivers would serve as the prime
and central altar and came to be known as 'Prayag' today known as
Allahabad.

The most sacred spot in Allahabad is Triveni Sangam, the confluence
of three of the holiest rivers of the Hindu mythology, the holy
Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. Devout Hindus from all over
India come to this sacred pilgrimage point to offer prayers and take
a dip in the holy waters. It is believed that a holy dip taken at the
Sangam washes away all sins.

The Prakrista Yajna was performed here by Lord Brahma. That is how it
received its ancient name, Prayag. Allahabad is also called Tirtha-
Raja, king of all holy places. It is said that Lord Rama visited
Allahabad when He was in exile.

Location Allahabad is one of the oldest cities in India. It is
located 135 km west of Varanasi, at the confluence of India's two
most important rivers-the Yamuna and Ganges. It is 585 km southeast
of Delhi and 160 km south of Ayodhya. The main spiritual reason for
coming here is to take bath in the Sangam, to confluence (where
rivers meet), of the Yamuna, Ganges, and the underground Saraswati
Rivers. It is one of the major pilgrimage sites in all of India.

Unique Pilgriamage Attraction of Allahabad

Kumbha-Mela

Kumbha -mela is held here every 12 years. It also takes place in
three other holy places in India every 12 years-Haridwar, Ujjain and
Nasik. The Kumbha-mela in Prayag (Allahabad) is considered especially
auspicious. It draws about 15 million people and is the largest
attended event in the world. This is a very interesting event.There
are several especially auspicious bathing days. A huge temporary city
is created for the millions of pilgrims that arrive for the most
auspicious bathing days.

Every 6 years there is an Ardha-mela (half mela), which draws about 7
million people. Each year there is a regular Mela during the month of
Magha, January-February, which draws one or two million people. The
next Kumbha-mela is January, 2001. One of the most auspicious bathing
days is Amavasya, the new moon day.

Kumbha-mela is like a "Yogi Convention", where yogis, sadhus(saints),
holy people, and pilgrims come from all over India. Many sadhus come
from various holy places, the most remote forests, and mountain caves
in the Himalayas. The most famous are the Naga Babas, Siva worshipers
who are completely naked. They cover their bodies only with ash and
wear their hair in dreadlocks.

On the most auspicious bathing days there is a big parade, and the
bathing order is very strictly observed. Not only are there
especially auspicious days, but there are especially auspicious times
of the day to bathe, and people are willing to die to bathe at the
most auspicious time. The first to enter the water are the Naga
Babas, who arrive dancing with enthusiasm. Then each different
religious group enters the water in a prearranged order.

Pilgrimage Attractions

Holy Ganga The holiest of all the rivers, Ganga or the Ganges is a
perennial river, which is held in high regard by the Hindus. The
Ganga river has an exalted position in the Hindu ethos.

The Gangotri Glacier, a vast expanse of ice five miles by fifteen, at
the foothills of the Himalayas (14000 ft) in north Uttar Pradesh is
the source of Bhagirathi, which joins with Alaknanda (origins
nearby), to form Ganga at the craggy, canyon-carved town of Devprayag.

Sangam Bath This is where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati meet. This
place is considered to be the most important holy bathing place in
India. The muddy-colored Ganges in shallower and more rapid. The
Yamuna is bluer and deeper. The most auspicious time to bathe in the
Sangam is during Kumbha -mela. It is also especially auspicious to
bathe here during the month Magh (January-February).

Hanuman Temple Hanuman is in a reclining posture, a few feet below
the ground, instead of his usual standing posture. It is said that
every year the Ganges floods until it touches the sleeping Hanuman's
feet and then it starts receding.

This temple is located by the Sangam side of the Fort and is busy
small temple open to non-Hindus. There are nice carvings on the
nearby Sri Adhi Shankara Temple, which has a Sri Tirupati Balaji
Deity.

Patalpuri Temple (Undying Tree) It is located through a small
doorway, in the wall of the fort, on the way to the boats that go to
the Sangam. It is an underground temple with many different deities
carved in stone. The Akshayavata Tree is said to never die, even when
the entire world is destroyed. It is located in the underground
temple. The tree is on a deep niche, above an underground hole that
is said to lead to the Triveni.

Bharadwaja Ashram This ashram is mentioned in the Ramayana. Allahabad
University now occupies the place where the ashram of Bharadwaja
Rishi and his 10,000 disciples is said to have been located. There
are the temples of Bharadwajeswara Mahadeva, Rishi Bharadwaja, and
Kali here. It is said that Lord Rama and Sita visited this place when
they began Their 14-year exile.

Sri Rupa Gaudiya Math There is a Gaudiya Math temple, the Sri Rupa
Gaudiya Math, on South Mallaca Street, in the Madhavapur area. This
temple is by the Ganges River on the way to the Sangam from downtown.
Srila Prabhupada took initiation here from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati Maharaja.

Nearby Places At Ramchaura-Shringverpur(40 km.), on the bank of the
Ganges, there is a platform called Ram Chabutara, which marks the
spot where Lord Rama is supposed to have stayed before going to the
forest in exile. It is said that before Lord Rama corssed the Ganges
here, the boatman washed His feet. There are also temples dedicated
to Panchmukhi (five-faced) Hanuman and Shring Rishi. Lakshagriha
(45km) is said to be the place where the house of lac of the Pandavas
was located. A big mound marks this spot.

Festivals

Kumbh Mela One of the largest congregations of devout Hindus from all
over the world, the Kumbh Mela is held once every 12 years, on the
banks of the Sangam. A holy dip in the sacred waters, and offerings
to the Sun-God, are believed to cleanse the soul.