Nirmalas - Kumbh Mela

[Guest Javanmard]

Vâhigurûjîkâkhâlsâ Vâhigurûjîkîfateh

On the issue of the Nirmala sampradaya taking part in the Kumbha Mela I would like to add the following remarks if you allow me:

1. There is a misconception that the Kumbha Mela is a "Hindu festival". This presupposes that the idea of "Hinduism" is actually a pre-colonial reality. In fact the notion of "Hinduism" only appeared in Indian religious literature in 1823. It is rather a Western Christian construct, an inappropriate term to qualify the heterogeneity of India's religious landscape. Before that the word Hindu was mainly ethno-geographical in nature even though during the Mughal period it received a slight religious conotation but then again not as a self-defining term used by those qualified by it. (It is a little bit like the derogatory term "Paki" used by white English racists against all South Asians: even they are being called "Paki" the fact remains that Panjabis, Gujaratis, Sindhis, Bengalis and Tamils are distinctive linguistic and cultural groups).In fact in many areas that were not or less affected by the Mughals such as Southern India people had no concept of there being a religion called "Hinduism". They in fact perceived themselves as being part of different religions: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Smartism, Islam and Christianity. The adoption of the idea of "Hinduism" by the Indian masses is a product of colonial education. See Richard King "Orientalism and Religion".

2. This being the Kumbha Mela is in fact an Indic inter-religious gathering. The earliest accounts of the Kumbha Mela in the Harsha-charita clearly describe Shaivas, Vaishnavas, Buddhists and Jains coming to the Kumbha Mela. The text does NOT mention any underlying religious unity between any of these groups. In fact the Kumha Mela has been often the occasion for huge battles between martial orders of the Vaishnavas and Smarta-Shaivas. In fact even today scholars of different religions go there to debate philosophical questions as members of separate religions.

3. So different religions go there for different reasons. Nirmalas and other Sikhs go there for two main reasons:

a. Bring Sikhi to millions in such a rare opportunity. A gathering where 12 million people are assembled in one place is a unique opportunity to introduce them to Sikhi. It is also an opportunity to participate in debates.

b. Meet saints from other traditions with whom we Sikhs share things. It's a good opportunity to meet Kabirpanthis, Ramanandis and Bauls. There is no monopoly on holiness.

I hope this helps.

[akaali]

hes back baby

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