Madhya-lilaChapter 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Visit to Sri Vrindavana

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 18.145

magha-masa lagila, ebe yadi yaiye

makare prayaga-snana kata dina paiye

SYNONYMS

magha-masa lagila -- the month of Magha has begun; ebe -- now; yadi -- if; yaiye -- we go; makare -- during the Makara-sankranti; prayaga-snana -- bathing at Prayaga; kata dina -- for a few days; paiye -- we shall get.

TRANSLATION

"It is now the beginning of the month of Magha. If we go to Prayaga at this time, we shall have an opportunity to bathe for a few days during Makara-sankranti."

PURPORT

Bathing during the month of Magha at the Magha-mela still takes place. This is a very old mela (assembly), dating from time immemorial. It is said that ever since the Lord in the form of Mohini took a bucket of nectar and kept it at Prayaga, holy men have gathered there every year and observed the Magha-mela. Every twelfth year there is a Kumbha-mela, a great festival, and all the holy men from all over India assemble there. The brahmana wanted to take advantage of the Magha-mela and bathe there.

Bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna, near the fort at Allahabad (Prayaga), is mentioned in the revealed scriptures:

maghe masi gamishyanti ganga-yamuna-sangamam

gavam sata-sahasrasya samyag dattam ca yat-phalam

prayage magha-mase vai try-aham snatasya tat-phalam

"If one goes to Prayaga and bathes at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna in the month of Magha, he attains the result of giving hundreds and thousands of cows in charity. Simply by bathing for three days there, he attains the results of such a pious activity." Because of this, the Sanodiya brahmana was very eager to go to Prayaga and bathe. Generally karmis (fruitive laborers) take advantage of bathing there during the month of Magha, thinking that they will be rewarded in the future. Those who are situated in devotional service do not very strictly follow this karma-kandiya process.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness