ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Akshaya Vat (that means in Hindi the tree which never dies).
Yes this tree is inside the Akbar’s Fort near the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna along with the so called Saraswathi river which no body has seen but it is believed to be flowing beneath Ganga and Yamuna.
Akshay Vat
Believed to be the oldest standing tree on earth, Akshay Vat is a banyan tree that has been mentioned in many religious texts.
Legend has it that Goddess Sita once blessed the Akshay Vat (tree) to be immortal and never ever shed a leaf in any season.
Another story says that Lord Narayan once flooded the earth to display his powers to sage Markandeya, and the only thing that was not submerged was this tree.
In the epic Ramayana, this tree has been said to be the resting place of Lord Rama.
Jain scriptures also declare that a tirthankara, Rishabha, once meditated extensively under this tree.
Thus, it is considered sacred by the Jains.
Akshay Vat lies in close proximity to the Vishnupad Temple.
On the Importance of Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya
Hinduism divides the cosmic play of life into four yugas or periods of time: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga and Kali Yuga.
We are presently in the Kali Yuga – first phase.
When the time period changed from Satya Yuga to Treta Yuga – the period when Sri Rama was born –the first day of the Treta Yuga was Akshaya Tritiya.
This day marks the beginning of a new era and of good times to come.
This is the third day or Tritiya of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Vaishakh.
Great importance is given to this day as this is the day when Lord Hayagriv, Lord Narayan and Lord Parashuram descended on earth.
The Hindu Calender has three and half days of great auspicious times in a year – the Gudi Padwa, the Akshaya Tritiya , Dassera and half a day of Balipratipada.
The effect of the cosmic transition and its blessings lasts for the entire period of twenty four hours on these days (half day for Balipratipada) and the whole day is considered auspicious.
Any good work, business work, spiritual practices, material work, donations, marriages, housewarming ceremonies etc can be performed on these days at any time of the day without checking for good time or good muhurtha.
We buy gold and silver, cars and sign papers for purchase of land and property.
Sri Krishna explains to Yudhisthira, the importance of this day – Akshaya Tritiya, in one of his talks of advice to him.
The Lord says: Oh King! Donation or sacrificial fire done on this day never goes waste.
Thus our great sages have called this day ‘Akshaya Tritiya.’
The rituals performed on this day, for pleasing God and helping ancestors in going to higher planes, always prove to be fruitful.
We have accumulated a lot of negative karma from our past lives and by offering donations to the needy on this day, we accumulate a lot of punya or goodness which offsets the past karmas.
Many people offer donations with the specific intent of acquiring punya or goodness to reach heaven after death.
We must remember that once the accumulated punya is over, it is back to earth for the soul.
Many who are wise and have love for God, offer donations without seeking any merit or punya.
They offer donations for good work or to worthy people just for sake of love of God.
Such people go beyond the realms of heaven to higher realms and with the accumulated merit attain salvation.
On this day, offerings of black til or sesame seeds and water are done to the ancestors.
We owe duty to our ancestors as we come from their lineage and have the gifts of their qualities, potentials and also physical qualities.
When such offering is done with sincerity, we receive their blessings from the different plane that they exist in and many of our karmic blocks are removed and we are able to progress in material and spiritual life.
The Akshaya Tritiya falls at the start of the monsoon season in India.
On this day, worship is offered to Mother Earth for plentiful crops and good seeds.
The fields are ploughed on the day of Gudi Padwa and the fields are made ready for sowing seeds.
Tree planting is also done on this day with the faith that the trees yield abundant fruits.
Ayurvedic plants and herbs are also planted on this day so that the plants and herbs yield plentiful crops and the plants live for long periods of time.
This ensures that there is no shortage of herbs and medicines for the people.
On this day, worship is offered to Goddess VaibhavLakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Abundance along with Her Consort – Lord Vishnu.
Worship is offered to Her so that Her Grace remains with us in plentiful throughout our lives.
On this auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, let us resolve to increase our love and devotion to God and follow the spiritual practices which will keep us connected to Him.
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej is a very propitious and holy day for the Hindu and Jain communities.
Since it is considered the most favorable day, all the activities like spirituality undertaken that day bring the desired results.
According to Vedic literature, any suitable day must be used to cultivate spiritual forces.
This is done by reading scripture, special pujas, worship of a family deity (Ishta Dev),and charitable works. honoring his ancestors, associated with devotees, feeding the Brahmins, planting and watering the trees, feeding the poor, sponsoring education, etc.
When these activities are completed on that day, spiritual forces are gained to carry out their prescribed karmas.
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most important days in the Hindu calendar.
It is observed on Shukla Paksha Tritiya i.e. the third day during the bright half of Vaishakha lunar month in the Hindu calendar.
According to Hindu scriptures and Purana(s), Satya Yuga ended and Treta Yuga began on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
Hence, Akshaya Tritiya is Yugadi Tithi and the day has great religious significance for most Hindu families.
Lord Vishnu, being the preserver of the whole creation, is worshipped on Akshaya Tritiya which is a Yugadi Tithi.
As Lord Vishnu has blessed the day, the day is considered very significant to worship and please Lakshminarayana form of Lord Vishnu.
Lakshminarayana is the manifestation of Lord Vishnu in which Lord Vishnu is worshipped along with His consort Goddess Lakshmi.
Devotees of Lord Vishnu observe a day-long fast on the significant day of Akshaya Tritiya.
As per Vratraj, on the day of Akshaya Tritiya Lord Vishnu along with Goddess Lakshmi should be worshipped ritualistically with all necessary Puja steps including flowers, Dhoop, and More Pooja Products Like Lakshmi Kubera Coin.
The day of Akshaya Tritiya is also given special significance in Vedic Astrology.
It is believed that the day doesn’t need any Sambrathayam to start any auspicious work.
Much Mangalika work e.g. marriage ceremony, house warming ceremony, purchasing of new clothes and jewelry, purchasing property, buying a new vehicle and motorbike, etc. are performed on Akshaya Tritiya day.
History of Akshaya Tritiya
According to mythology and ancient history, this day marks a lot of important incidents
1. Lord Ganesha and Ved Vyasa started writing the epic Mahabharata on this day.
2. This day is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
3. On this day, Goddess Annapurna was born.
4. On this day, Lord Krishna bestowed wealth and monetary gains on his poor friend Sudama who had come to his rescue for help.
5. According to the Mahabharata, on this day Lord Krishna presented the ‘Akshaya Patra’s to the Pandavas while in their exile. He blessed them with this bowl that would continue to produce an unlimited amount of food that would never leave them hungry.
6. On this day, the River Ganges descended from heaven on earth.
7. on this day, Kubera worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and thus was assigned the job of being the treasurer of Gods.
AKSHAYA TRITIYA SIGNIFICANCE:
Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious festivals as it is the day of multiple blessings.
It marks the frame for Treta Yuga among the other three Yugas (Satya, Dwarpa, and Kali).
Any good work done that day will certainly invoke many divine results.
Buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya is supposedly inviting infinite fortune into a person’s life.
‘Endless wealth’ signifies the favorable presence of Lakshmi.
Reasons to buy gold:
When it comes to buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya, there are a number of reasons.
The most common reason is that this is the most convenient time to buy wealth, particularly gold for Akshaya means endless.
who buys wealth on that day sees an increase in affluence.
However, a great reason to buy gold at this festival is the month of Shravana (July-August).
The period between these months is conducive to engagement and marriage.
Families from Hindu society purchase gold and ornaments on Akshaya Tritiya two months before Shravana.
It makes sense to purchase gold and decorations beforehand.
Even the wedding ceremony on Akshaya Tritiya is regarded as very favorable and provides stability and harmony.
Akshay Tritiya Vrat (Fast)
After taking an early morning bath, preferably on a river, mix a bit of Gangajal with your bathing water.
Clear your bedroom and the Puja altar and place the idols of Lord Vishnu, Maa Laxmi, and Lord Kuber.
Perform Lord Vishnu Abhishekham and Lakshmi with a blend of cow’s milk, honey, curd, ghee, sugar, and water.
Tulsi leaves dipped in water are offered to the gods.
Give Akshat, sandalwood paste to Lord Vishnu, and Kumkum to the goddess Lakshmi.
Offer Barley, Wheat, Sesame Seeds, Chana Dal, Milk-based Sweets, Kheer, and other homemade veggie foods like Naivedyam.
Lightweight Kapur, Ghee Diya, incense.
The lotus and other flowers should be offered to the Divine and prayed with a pure heart.
With the Akshaya Tritiya pooja, continue to sing Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Kuber Mantras.
Collect all family members and run Aarti.
Gold coins and jewelry purchased on Akshaya Tritiya must be placed before the deities on the altar of Puja to collect the divine blessings.
Method of Observing Akshay Tritiya Vrat
This fast is observed on the Tritiya of the bright half of Vaishakh.
One should worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi on this day.
In the morning after having a bath one should start worshipping God by offering basil leaves (tulsi plant) with sugar candy.
Donate your favorite articles with oblation among the devotees.
Donate barley on this day which is considered the king of grains.
After that read Akshay Tritiya Vrata Katha.
Chant following mantra 108 times on a Tulsi rosary.
Mantra
”Om Hreem Hreem Shreem Shreem Laxminarayanabhayam Namah”
Aarti
Aarti Shri Lakshmi Ji
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata |
Tumako Nishidin Sevat, Hari Vishnu Vidhata ||
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata ||
Uma Rama Brahmani, Tum Hi Jag-Mata।
Surya-Chandrama Dhyavat Naarad Rishi Gata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Durga Roop Niranjani, Sukh Sampatti Data।
Jo Koi Tumako Dhyavat, Riddhi-Siddhi Dhan Pata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Tum Patal-Nivasini, Tum Hi Shubhdata।
Karma-Prabhav-Prakashini, Bhavanidhi Ki Trata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Jis Ghar Mein Tum Rahti, Sab Sadgun Aata।
Sab Sambhav Ho Jata, Man Nahi Ghabrata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Tum Bin Yagya Na Hote, Vastra Na Koi Pata।
Khan-Pan Ka Vaibhav, Sab Tumase Aata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Shubh-Gun Mandir Sundar, Kshirodadhi-Jata।
Ratna Chaturdash Tum Bin, Koi Nahi Pata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Mahalakshmi Ji Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Jan Gata।
Ur Anand Samata, Paap Utar Jata॥
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata॥
Akshayavat
Akshayavat or Akshay Vat (“the indestructible banyan tree”) is a sacred fig tree mentioned in the Hindu mythology.
According to a legend, once the sage Markandeya asked Lord Narayana to show him a specimen of the divine power.
Narayana flooded the entire world for a moment, during which only the Akshayavat could be seen above the water level
Prayagraj
A tree in Prayagraj has been described as Akshayavat in the Prayag Mahatmya of the Matsya Purana.
In The Encyclopaedia Asiatica (1976), Edward Balfour identifies a banyan tree mentioned in Ramayana with the tree at Prayag.
Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are said to have rested beneath this tree.
The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang mentions a tree (a stump with few branches) which was said to be the home of a man-eating demon.
As part of a custom, some pilgrims would offer themselves at the nearby temple.
Xuanzang mentions that the tree was surrounded with the human bones .
Cunningham identified this tree with the Akshayavat at Prayag Rishabha (Jain tirthankar) is also said to have practised tapasya beneath the historical Akshayavat at Prayag.
Currently, a sacred fig tree located within the Patalpuri Temple at the Allahabad Fort is worshipped as the Akshayavat described in ancient texts.
As of 2011, a permission from the Commandant of Allahabad Fort’s Ordnance Depot is needed to visit this tree.
On one day during the Kumbh Mela, the site is open to all the pilgrims.
However, a popular opinion is that the Patalpuri Temple tree is not the authentic Akshayavat: the real Akshayavat is in another underground temple inside the Fort.
When the British gained control of the Allahabad Fort after the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765, they did not want general public to access the sensitive parts of the fort.
So, the shrine was moved to fringes of the fort compound, that is, the present-day Patalpuri Temple According to the Welsh travel writer Fanny Parkes, who visited both the tree sites in 1831,
when the original Akshayavat chamber was closed, the local Brahmins set up the stump of a ber tree in Patalpuri.
They claimed that it was a branch of the original Akshayavat that had penetrated through the walls.
Parkes states that the local Hindus of Prayag knew about this and did not worship the false Akshayavat.
An 18th century map of the Fort from the British Library confirms this: the location of the original temple is shown in the center of the fort; while the present-day Patalpuri Temple is on the outskirts of the Fort.
In the 1950s, Shiva Nath Katju also claimed that the “tree” placed in the Patalpuri Temple was only a log that was replaced by the priests every 4–5 years.
The commander of the fort acknowledged his claim as true.
Akshaya Vat Tree
This is a banayan tree, and one of the most revered trees of the Hindu religion.
Said to be the only living survivor of a momentary flood Lord Narayana used to prove his divine power, the tree was the only thing able to withstand the waters in the whole wide world.
Tourists wishing to visit the tree need to seek permission first, as the fort which the tree and palace is houses, is still a working military complex.
Trees associated with Holy Places:
Many holy places are associated with trees which form part of their cultural tradition:
Akshaya Vat: Akshaya Vat of Prayaga.
Akshayavat Temple in Prayag raj India
Allahabad (UP) There is a gathering of Kalpavasis and devotees during the Magh month on the Sangam coast.
According to the mythology, after bathing in Prayag, there is no benefit as long as Akshaya Vat is not worshiped and visited.
Akshaya Vat is said to be the oldest temple located in the Patalpuri temple built inside the fort of Mughal emperor Akbar.
Bharat Darsan2:0 is going to tell about Akshaya Vat and the myths and beliefs related to it.
Akshaya Vat is located in the Patalpuri temple built inside the fort of Akbar
- The priest here tells Atri Muni Goswami, “According to mythology, when a sage asked Lord Narayana to show divine power. Then they submerged the whole world for a moment. Then this water had also disappeared. During this time, when all the things were absorbed into the water, the upper part of the Akshaya Vat (Banyan tree) was visible. Today, this fort is being used by the Indian Army. This temple built below ground has famous Akshaya Vat.
- A Saraswati well is also built in this fort. It is said that from here, Saraswati river used to meet in Ganga-Yamuna.
- It is said that the Mughals burned it. Because earlier locals used to come to the fort to worship it.
- It is believed that whatever wish was expressed under this tree was fulfilled. People used to jump to attain salvation
- The priest here says Arvind Nath, “Akshaya Vat tree had a pond named Kamakup. People used to come here to attain salvation and climbed the tree and jumped into the pond.
- “Chinese traveler Xuanzang came here in 644 BC. Then I was sad to see human hell in Kamakup Pond. ”
- He also mentioned it in his book. It was only after he left that Mughal emperor Akbar built a fort here.
- “During this time, he came to know about the Kamkut pond and Akshayavat. Then he locked the tree inside the fort and the pond.
- “Akbar and his subordinates tried to destroy the Akshaya Vat tree by burning and cutting it many times, but did not succeed.”
- “However, it is also said that Akbar did this so that he could save people’s lives.” Raman-Sita stayed here for 3 nights
- Prayag Nath Goswami, the priest says, “Lord Rama and Sita lived under this vat tree for three nights while going to the forest.”
- “In the Patalpuri temple located inside the fort of Akbar, there are 43 statues of gods and goddesses installed besides Akshaya Vat.” The invisible Saraswati river from under the renewable tree
- It also has the Shul Tankeshwar Shivling established by Brahma ji, on which Jodha Bai Jalabhishek, wife of Mughal Emperor Akbar used to do.
- The water of Jalabhishek goes directly to the root of the Akshaya Vat tree in the Shul Tankeshwar temple. From there, it meets directly inside the land at the confluence.
- It is believed that the invisible Saraswati river also flows from below the Akshaya Vat tree. After the confluence bath, the philosophy and worship of Akshaya Vat is completed here, from descent to the completion of wealth and wealth. This is the recognition behind the name Prayag raj
According to the priest Arvind Nath, “Brahma Ji performed the first yagna under the Vatavriksha. In this, 33 crore deities were called. - After the completion of the yajna, this city was named Prayag, in which ‘Pra’ means first and ‘sacrifice’ means Yajna. Sita gave this blessing to Akshay Vat
- It is said, “When the process of mass donation came after the death of King Dasharatha, Lord Rama went to collect the goods.” At that time, Goddess Sita was sitting alone, when Dasharatha appeared and said that she is hungry, hurry to pinddaan. ”
- “Sita did not think anything. He made sandwiches under the Akshaya Vat and donated it to King Dasharatha. During that time, he donated donations related to Pindadan to Brahmins, Tulsi, Gau, Phalguni River and Akshaya Vat. ”
- “When Ram ji arrived, Sita said that the body was donated.” In the greed to get Dakshina again, the river lied that no body was donated. ”
- “But Akshay Vat did not lie and showed Dakshina in the form of Ramchandra’s currency. On this, Sita ji pleased and blessed Akshay Vat. ”
- “It is said that after bathing the Sangam, whoever will worship and visit the Akshaya Vat. Only he will get the fruits of Sangam bath, otherwise the Sangam bath will become fruitless. ” Patalpuri temple has 43 idols of deities
- Akshayavat, Dharmaraja, Annapurna Vishnu Bhagwan, Lakshmi ji, Shri Ganesh Gauri, Shankar Mahadev, Durvasa Rishi Balmiki, Prayagraj, Baidyanath, Karthik Swami, Sati Anusuiya, Varun Dev, Dand Pandey Mahadev Kaal Bhairav Lalita Devi, Ganga ji inside Patalpuri Temple , Jamuna ji, Saraswati Devi, Narasimha Bhagwan, Suryanarayana, Jamwant, Guru Dattatreya, Banganga, Satyanarayana, Shani Dev, Markandeya Rishi, Gupta Daan, Shool Tankeshwar Maha God, Goddess Parvati, Veni Madhav, Kuber Bhandari, Arsnath
Akshayavat Prayagraj
Lord Brahma had carried out a huge yajna in Prayagraj to save the Earth.
In this yajna, he himself became a priest, Lord Vishnu as a host (Yajaman) and Lord Shiva as the presiding deity of the sacrifice.
In the last leg of the yajna, the Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiv) – created a ‘tree’ to lighten the burden of sins on the earth with its strength.
It was a banyan tree known today as Akshayavat.
It still exists today within the ramparts of Allahabad Fort.
It is believed that the invisible River Saraswati flows under the Akshayavat, immortal bayan tree.
Lord Rama and Sita lived for three nights under this vat tree while going on ‘vanvaas’.
In Ramayana, Akshayvat is mentioned as Neelvat (नील वट) or Shyamvat (श्यामवट).
The devotees and pilgrims, after taking holy dip in Triveni Sangam, come to see and worship Akshayavat, believing that it will result in fulfillment of their wishes.
The Jains and Buddhists also consider it sacred.
It is said that Buddha sowed a seed of the Akshayavat of Prayagraj near Mount Kailash. The Jain people believe that Tirthankara Rishabhdev did penance under the Akshayavat.
Akshayvat is considered immortal.
The Mughal rulers tried hard to end the existence of the Akshayavat.
To hurt the religious belief and sentiment of Hindus, Akshayavat was cut and burnt 23 times but the Muslims failed to destroy it.
After repeated cutting and burning, the tree used to return to its old form again.
This led to the decision to close the Akshayavat for the Hindu pilgrims by building a huge enclosure.
No one was allowed to get into it.
Since then Akshayvat was imprisoned.
Aurangzeb made a lot of efforts to destroy this tree.
It was dug, burnt and even acid was poured into its roots.
But the blessed Akshayvat stands still flourishing and blooming.
Even today the signs of the destructive measures of intolerant Mughal Aurangzeb like burning can be spotted here.
Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, impressed by its weirdness, has mentioned it in his memoir.
The ancient tree of Akshayavat is imprisoned in Allahabad Fort on the banks of Yamuna.
Akbar laid the foundation of the fort in 1574 AD.
It took 42 years to build the fort.
After the foundation was laid, the process of worship of Akshayavat was stopped.
The fort was constructed by stopping the movement of devotees there.
This ban on Hindu devotees continued throughout the Mughal rule.
Later, the British made the fort their camp to manufacture weapons.
The colonial rulers not only continued the ban on visit to Akshayvat but also prohibited to pass in River Yamuna in a boat from near the fort.
Post independence, the army got stationed in the fort and the Akshayvat remained inaccessible to the pilgrims.
In 2019, during Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Akshayavat had been opened for the sight of common devotees.
Hindu devotees allowed worshiping ancient ‘Akshayavat’ at Prayagraj after 450 years !
Prayagraj : An ancient and spiritually significant ‘Akshayavat (banyan tree)’ which was inaccessible for the past 450 years and ‘Saraswati-kup (place where River Saraswati meets River Ganga and River Yamuna)’ were opened for Hindu devotees by the State Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath on 10th January 2019.
The program was held in the presence of reporters and Yogi Adityanath made announcement of opening of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’ for devotees.
Significance of ‘Akshayavat’ !
‘Akshayavat’ is the ancient and sacred banyan tree and is situated on the banks of Yamuna in Prayag.
The roots of Akshayavat (which is an abode for all Deities) go deep down till Patal (Hell region).
The Puranas (The eighteen sacred Holy texts compiled by Sage Vyas) of Vayu, Matsya, Kurma, Padma, Agni and Skanda say that one attains Moksha (Final liberation) by sacrificing the body near the Akshayavat.
‘Akshayavat’ is a very ancient banyan tree which doesn’t get destroyed even after doomsday.
‘MahaVishnu’ in the form of ‘Bal Mukund’ holds ‘Saptarishi’, Deities and seeds of all plants for 6 months when the Universe is getting destroyed.
He is lying on the topmost leaves of ‘Akshayavat’ at that time and formation of new Universe begins later, from these things.
It is said that by having ‘darshan’ of and circumambulation of such ‘Akshayavat’, such person gets liberated.
This tree was destroyed 23 times by Mughals during their regime but still foliage sprouted every time after destruction.
In the beginning of the 17 th Century, under the pretext of building a fort to protect the banks of Yamuna at Prayag, the Mughal emperor Akbar destroyed Akshayavat and the adjoining temples.
He built ‘Ranimahal’ where the Akshayavat existed.
After some time, the Akshayavat grew again in the fort.
Akbar’s son Jahangir tried to burn it many times.
He even placed a hot iron plate to destroy the tree from the roots; but the Akshayavat kept sprouting every time and again it acquired the form of a giant tree.
The Holy text ‘Khulasat Utvarikha’ of 1693 testifies that Akshayavat sprouted again despite Jahangir chopping it off.
Even today, the ancient tree stands with pride in Akbar’s fort on the banks of Yamuna.
To prevent Hindus from attaining Moksha, the Mughal emperors banned its darshan.
Later, the area was taken over by the British after Mughals where they set up army-camp and stopped Hindus from going there for ‘darshan’.
After Independence, the security of the place was increased since it housed the weapons depot of the Indian army. ‘Saraswati-kup’ is also there.
Saraswati River meets Rivers Ganga and Yamuna at this place.
The Governments which ruled this place never opened this place for devotees for ‘darshan’ and Hindus were kept deprived of such spiritual treasure for 450 years.
Yogi Adityanath said while giving detailed information in this context during press conference held at ‘Media Centre’ that
1. Opening of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’ for devotees is a very laudable thing and Saints and devotees have welcomed it.
Devotees will be able to have ‘darshan’ and have divine spiritual experiences.
2. ‘Kumbh-Mela’ held at Prayagraj has history of thousands of years. Millions of devotees visit this place to see the confluence of three rivers viz. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati; so also invisible Saraswati. ‘Kumbh-Mela’ of Prayagraj received recognition all over the world after thousands of years.
3. Ambassadors of 71 countries have agreed to fly their national flags in ‘Kumbh-Mela’ with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a matter of pride.
4. Mythological places like ‘DwadashMadhav’ and ashram of Sage Bharadwaj are going to be renovated in the background of ‘Kumbh-Mela’.
5. A big pandal has been erected in the river-bed of Ganga for 10,000 devotees where 20,000 devotes will be able to stay.
6. Within the area of 5 kms of ‘Kumbh-Mela’, there is arrangement for 94 parking places and 20 satellite cameras and 1100 cctvs have been fitted to cover the whole area. 40,700 street-lamps have been fitted on the way and 15 flyovers and 264 roads have been constructed. There are 4 ‘’sanskruti’ pandals and 500 eco-friendly wash-rooms built specially for ‘Kumbh-Mela’. Various cultural programs have also been organized for devotees.
7. President Ramnath Kovind will be visiting ‘Kumbh-Mela’ on 17th January and he will inaugurate picture-frame of Sage Bhardwaj.
8. CM Yogi thanked the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for helping in opening of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’ for devotees.
CM Adityanath said, while answering questions asked by reporters, that
1. With the goal of ‘Clean and safe Kumbh’, we are going to make arrangements for the huge ‘Kumbh-Mela’. There is provision of Rs. 26000 crores for cleaning of River Ganga under the scheme of ‘Namami Gange’. Its beginning will be done from Prayagraj. A scheme involving 1-1/2 years has been devised for cleaning of River Ganga.
2. Eco-friendly toilets have been erected at the venue of ‘Kumbh-mela’ so that the sewage water would not be mixed with Rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Earlier governments had not made such arrangements since all sewage water used to be mixed with the sand of river-bed; therefore, water of River Ganga always used to get polluted. Sewage water from gutters is no longer mixed with water of River Ganga at Prayagraj.
3. The administration will promptly provide facilities to ‘aakhaadaas’ in case not provided so far. Nobody will be deprived of any facilities. People’s needs have increased now; but arrangements will be made ‘Kumbh-Mela’ to meet all needs.
4. CM Yogi was asked about payment of electricity bill charged to Saints without providing any facilities; but he evaded the question.
Arrangement for ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’ and Saraswati-kup’
1. Every day, 28000 devotees will have ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’
2. Timings for such ‘darshan’ will be from 5.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
3. There will be break of one hour in the afternoon for cleaning. There will be 400 police, soldiers and State Reserve Police deployed for security of ‘Akshayavat’ and ‘Saraswati-kup’. There will also be officers from 3 departments, viz. police, administration and army on duty.
4. Rs. 3 crores have been spent on making arrangements for ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’ and repairs of the fort.
5. Devotees can offer only dry fruits and dry coconut at ‘Akshayavat’ as holy sacrament; but nothing else will be allowed as sacrament.
6. Carrying of cell phone, camera, remote-key, belt, lighter etc has been prohibited while going for ‘darshan’ of ‘Akshayavat’.
Akshay Vat
Located inside the Agra fort on the banks of Yamuna this is an eternal truth that remains not destroyable as claimed by Legends.
It is believed that one who shreds his life at the base of this tree receives freedom from worldly affairs and does not have to take re birth again.
Though the boundary of the Fort remains at a distance of 15 feet from the tree its branches reaches the Yamuna river.
In the year 1992, the base of the tree was bounded by marbles and in the year 1999 a simple temple was built of Ram Laxman and Sita.
The Akshaya Vat is an eternal tree and many come here to worship before the temple.
This place is also much believed by the Jains.
However, special permission from Army is required to visit the place.
Address: Baand Marg, Allahabad fort, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh 211005
Best time to visit: Anytime throughout the year