Kumbh: Churning of mind to escape cyclic hopes and despairs || (2019)

Questioner: What does Kumbh Mela stand for?

Acharya Prashant: So, the demigods and the demons, vigorous and adventurous as they were, thought of adding to their bounties. And got together, uncharacteristically, for a joint exploration mission. Together they churned the great sea using the great mountain as the churner and the great python as the rope.

One of the first things to show up was the great fuming poison. Shiva protected the three worlds by consuming the poison. And then emerged the nectar of immortality. The mission had succeeded. The ambrosia had been churned out from the depths of the great ocean and was now available to be gulped down some ambitious throats. Both parties looked lustfully at their biggest exploit: the pot — Kumbh — of nectar that would put an end to death and make them invincible.

But death is so overwhelming a threat that the prospect of deathlessness can make anyone do strange things.