Kumbh is fulfilment and to experience that we must do sadhana. Kumbh is a yatra, from apurnata to Purnata, from mrityu to Amrit. Its not just travel & sight-seeing. For a successful yatra, we must prepare ourselves adequately – physically, mentally, intellectually & spiritually before going to Kumbh to benefit maximum from it. I am sharing a few insights from the scriptures and sadhus that could be helpful.
These can be done from now till the time you complete your Kumbha Yatra. You can continue some of these even afterwards if you like.
Physical Preparation:
1. Eat Sattvik food. No onion and garlic.
2. Live in Brahmacharya. Conserve vital energies. Maximum energies are required for sadhana, dhyana, japa etc.
3. Sit still, without any movements for atleast 15-20minutes.
4. Upavas one day before you reach Prayag & before snan, if possible.
5. Take your sadhana-samagri like Shiva-linga, Shaligrama, Pooja items, japa-mala, asan etc. to do Sadhana there. It will bless you with infinite merit.
6. Prepare well for Cold. Take enough warm clothes, especially to cover ears, head and the feet.
7. Take only bare essentials. Avoid very valuable ornaments, equipment etc.
8. Cold water bath daily
Mental Preparation:
1. Do Ishta Mantra Japa – Minimum 1 mala daily. If you don’t have an ishta devata, choose one. If not, chant Hari om.
2. Go to Kumbh as a Sadhak, not as a tourist.
3. Identify one negativity that you will drop at Kumbh when you do Snan(Bath) there.
Verbal Preparation:
1. Control your speech. Do not gossip or use abusive words etc. Especially when you are in Kumbh.
2. Learn Triveni Stotram, Prayag Ashtakam. Chant it before & after Snan. You can download them from here
3. Learn some vedic mantras if you can, with intonations.
Intellectual Preparation:
1. Know the significance & glory of Prayagraj, Triveni, Kumbh etc.
2. Set your intentions clearly. Kumbh will bless you with what you seek.
Spiritual Preparation:
1. Before one embarks on the Teertha Yatra or Kumbh Yatra, one must worship Ganeshji, Pitrs and Gurus etc.
2. Meditate on the Self.
3. Pray that you may meet Mahatmas who are enlightened & who can help to awaken us.
4. Take sufficient money to do some charity/dana there as per your devotion & capacity. You can donate money, fruits, clothes, food, dry fruits etc.
May your Kumbh yatra be auspicious & blissful. Har Har Mahadev!
