Kumbhaka - Pot, Elephant’s prominence, base of a column, suspend breathing
kumbhaka
(H2) | kumbhaka [p= 293,2] [L=52579]
m. |
ifc. a pot Katha1s.
[L=52580] |
a measure (of grain , |
&c ) Jyot.
[L=52581] |
the prominence on the upper part of an elephant's forehead |
MBh. xii , 4280
(H2B) | kumbhaka [L=52582]
mn. |
stopping the breath by shutting the mouth and closing the nostrils with the fingers of the right hand (a religious exercise) BhP. Veda7ntas. Sarvad. &c
(H2B) | kumbhaka [L=52583]
m. |
the base of a column Buddh.
(H2B) | kumbhaka [L=52584]
m. |
N. of an attendant of skanda MBh. ix , 2577
also
kumbha
(H1) | kumbhá [p= 293,1] [L=52479]
m. |
a jar , pitcher , water-pot , ewer , small water-jar [often ifc. (f(ā).) e.g. chidra-k° , a perforated pitcher R. ; āma-k° , a jar of unbaked clay Pan5cat. ; hema-k° , a golden ewer Ragh. ii , 36 Amar. ; jala-k° , a water-pot Pan5cat. ] RV. AV. &c
[L=52480] |
an urn in which the bones of a dead person are collected |
A1s3vGr2. Ka1tyS3r. S3a1n3khS3r.
[L=52481] |
the sign of the zodiac Aquarius |
Jyot. VarBr2S. &c
[L=52482] |
a measure of grain (equal to twenty |
droṇas , a little more than three bushels and three gallons ; commonly called a comb ; some make it two droṇas or sixty-four Seers) Mn. viii , 320 Hcat.
[L=52483] |
the frontal globe or prominence on the upper part of the forehead of an elephant (there are two of these prominences which swell in the rutting season) |
MBh. Bhartr2. &c
[L=52484] |
a particular part of a bed |
VarBr2S.
[L=52485] |
N. |
of a plant (and also of its fruit) BhP. x , 18 , 14
[L=52486] |
the root of a plant used in medicine
|
[L=52487] |
a religious exercise , viz. closing the nostrils and mouth so as to suspend breathing |
L.
[L=52488] |
the paramour of a harlot , bully , flash or fancy man |
L.
[L=52489] |
N. |
of a mantra (pronounced over a weapon) R. i
[L=52490] |
N. |
of a dānava (a son of prahlāda and brother of nikumbha) MBh. i , 2527 Hariv.
[L=52491] |
of a |
rākṣasa (son of kumbhakarṇa) R. BhP.
[L=52492] |
of the father of the nineteenth |
arhat of the present avasarpiṇī Jain.
[L=52493] |
of a monkey |
R. iv , 33 , 14
[L=52494] |
one of the thirty-four |
jātakas or former births of śākya-muni L.
[L=52495] |
N. |
of wk. Sa1h.
(H1B) | kumbhá [L=52508]
n. |
the plant Ipomoea Turpethum L.
(H1B) | kumbhá [L=52509]
n. |
a fragrant resin (gúggulu) , or the plant which bears it L.
(H1B) | kumbhá [L=52510]
n. |
gold Gal.
(H1B) | kumbhá [L=52511]
n. |
([cf. Gk. κύμβη ; Lat. cymba.])
(H2) | kumbha [p= 1325,1] [L=328300]
(in |
comp.)
kumba
(H1) kúmba [p= 292,3] [L=52472]
mn. (ifc. f. ā) a kind of head-dress for women AV. vi , 138 , 3
[L=52473]
the thick end (of a bone or of a club) TS.
[L=52475]
an enclosure round a place of sacrifice L.
From an article on the Kumbha Mela:
“Our scriptures tell us that the trinity of gods—Brahma (creator), Vishnu (whose name literally means the divine light that pervades everything, protector) and Shiva (destroyer), and all goddesses, including Mother Earth with her seven islands, and all knowledge in the form of the four Vedas—Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva—are present in the kumbha. So kumbha is symbolic of all that is and all that exists. In essence, the kumbha mela is a celebration of all knowledge and all life.
Though kumbha refers to an overflowing pot, it also refers to a body filled with knowledge. The nectar, or divine knowledge, lies within this kumbha, which is nothing but our body and we simply have to churn it to bring this knowledge out.
If we look into the origins of the kumbha mela, we find that this pitcher symbolises sharing and not hoarding. In Vishnu Purana a beautiful story is told of the war between the rakshasas (demons) and thedevatas (gods). According to this, the demons were always fighting with their peace-loving brothers, the devatas. One day, the gods went to Brahma and asked for help: "If we continuously lose our brothers and sisters in the never-ending war with the demons, we will all perish." Brahma advised them to ask Vishnu for help. Vishnu responded: "If you churn the great milky ocean, you will find a golden pot of nectar. And a drop of nectar will make you immortal. Since you are not strong enough to churn the ocean yourselves, you must take the demons' help." Now, the gods were more distressed. They voiced their fear: "If the demons know that the reward is immortality, they will forcibly take the nectar and create more trouble. And if we don't tell them the reason, they will not agree to the churning." But Vishnu assuaged them and the perplexed gods convinced the demons to help them.
It was no mean task to churn the vast milky ocean. Serpent Vasuki, Vishnu's seat, offered to be the rope and Vishnu incarnated as a turtle on whose back rested the mountain Meru. And so began the fantastic churning.
After much hard work, a vicious smoke emerged, which filled the skies. This was not nectar, but deadly poison! With people choking to death, this poison could not be ignored. Who would save them? Then the lord of the netherworld, Shiva, came forward and drank the poison. Today, after this sacrifice, Shiva is worshipped as the savior from death.
The churning resumed and shortly came out the golden pot of nectar. As soon as the pot came out, Indra, the lord of heavens, signaled Dhanwantari, the primordial physician, who leapt forward, grabbed the pot of nectar and ran away. The demons, quicker than him, pursued him relentlessly. Indra sought aid from Jupiter (the dev guru), Surya (the sun), Moon and Saturn to protect Dhanwantari and preserve the kumbha. This long chase lasted 12 days, which was the equivalent of 12 years on earth. During this chase, which traversed all realms of the universe, Dhanwantari rested only four times, placing the kumbha on the ground. And each time a few drops of the holy nectar spilled onto the earth in that place. These four places—Nasik, Ujjain, Hardwar and Allahabad in India—are today the centers of the kumbha mela.
Rituals - The ultimate dip, by Ambica Gulatiby Ambica Gulati
“The Kumbha Mela is unique for its sheer size, and for being a meeting both of ascetics and lay people. Some of the ascetics are naga sadhus, naked monks who practice the severest austerities and leave the mountains and jungles only for the mela. Just the sight of them--and there are thousands--is a blessing to the lay pilgrims.
Within the several-month period of the mela are set auspicious bathing days, usually coinciding with festivals of the period. Most important are the days for the shahisnan, "royal bath," in which the saints, the naga sadhus first, go in procession to the river.
Asked the origin of the event, nearly every pilgrim will narrate the ancient story from the Puranas of the time when the devas (gods or angels) and the asuras (their rivals) cooperated to "churn the Ocean of Milk"--an act which promised to yield countless treasures. With Mount Meru as the post and the serpent Shesha as the churning rope, they set about their task. They agreed to share the most coveted result--the pot (kumbha) of nectar (amrit), by consuming which anyone would become immortal. As they churned mightily, the first substances to be released were deadly fumes and gases. These Lord Siva took upon Himself to consume and neutralize, thus saving the world's inhabitants from certain death. These poisons turned His throat blue and resulted in His name, Nilakantha. After many aeons of churning, the ocean yielded a series of treasures, the last of which was Dhanvantari, the great healer, who held in his hands the desired chalice of ambrosia.
The asuras immediately demanded their share of the prize, but the devas reneged on their agreement, knowing that if their rivals were to drink the nectar they would be eternally unbeatable, and too great a power to keep in check. The asuras, sensing their position, snatched the kumbha and fled. With the asuras momentarily distracted by Lord Vishnu, the devas retrieved the pot and fled. In their haste they let one drop of nectar fall at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik.”
Kumbha Mela - Magazine Archives > September 1998 - Publications - Hinduism Today Magazinekumbhasambhava
(H3) | kumbhá--sambhava [p= 293,2] [L=52563]
m. |
(= -yoni) , N. of agastya R. vii , 80 , 1 BhP.
[p= | 293,2] [L=52564]
of |
nārāyaṇa Hariv. 11426.
kumbhikā
(H2) | kumbhaka [p= 293,2] [L=52579]
m. |
ifc. a pot Katha1s.
[p= | 293,2] [L=52580]
a measure (of grain , |
&c ) Jyot.
[p= | 293,2] [L=52581]
the prominence on the upper part of an elephant's forehead |
MBh. xii , 4280
(H2B) | kumbhaka [p= 293,2] [L=52582]
mn. |
stopping the breath by shutting the mouth and closing the nostrils with the fingers of the right hand (a religious exercise) BhP. Veda7ntas. Sarvad. &c
(H2B) | kumbhaka [p= 293,2] [L=52583]
m. |
the base of a column Buddh.
(H2B) | kumbhaka [p= 293,2] [L=52584]
m. |
N. of an attendant of skanda MBh. ix , 2577
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52585]
f. |
a small pot or pitcher Katha1s. vi , 41
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52586]
f. |
the plant Myrica sapida Bhpr.
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52587]
f. |
the plant Pistia Stratiotes L.
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52588]
f. |
Bignonia suaveolens L.
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52589]
f. |
a small shrub (= droṇapuṣpī) L.
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52590]
f. |
a disease of the eyes (= kumbhīkā)
(H2B) | kumbhikā [p= 293,2] [L=52591]
f. |
N. of one of the mothers in skanda's retinue MBh. ix , 2633.