Triveni Sangam

For other uses, see Triveni (disambiguation).

The Triveni Sangam, the intersection of Yamuna River and Ganges River

In Hindu tradition Triveni Sangam is the "confluence" of three rivers. Sangama is the Sanskrit word for confluence. The point of confluence is a sacred place for Hindus. A bath here is said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.

Triveni Sangam at Allahabad

Pilgrims at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers in Allahabad.

One such Triveni Sangam, in Prayag (Allahabad) has two physical rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and the invisible or mythic Saraswati River. The site is in Prayag, India. A place of religious importance and the site for historic Kumbh Mela held every 12 years, over the years it has also been the site of immersion of ashes of several national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi in 1948

maintain their identity and are visibly different as they merge. While the Yamuna is deep but calm and greenish in colour, the Ganga is shallow, but forceful and clear. The Saraswati remains hidden, but the faithful believe that she makes her presence felt underwater. During the monsoon, when the rivers are in full flow, the confluence of the rivers is seen clearly due to the force of the water, but the same force makes having a dip at the confluence difficult. While the Ganges is only 4 feet deep, the Yamuna is 40 feet deep near the point of their nexus. The river Yamuna merges into the Ganges at this point and the Ganges continues on until it meets the sea at the Bay of Bengal. At the confluence of these two great Indian rivers, where the invisible Saraswati conjoins them, many tirtha yatris take boats to bathe from platforms erected in the Sangam. This, together with the migratory birds give a picturesque look to the river during the Kumbha Mela, in the month of January. It is believed that all the gods come in human form to take a dip at the sangam and expiate their sins.

Notable People

This was the river where an earlier Prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi used to come for a holy dip. On the bank of the Ganges at Daraganj, just before the confluence of ganga and Yamuna, the well known statistician Ravindra Khattree spent his early years when he attended Ewing Christian College, situated on the bank of Yamuna few miles before the confluence and the famous writer "Surya Kant Tripathi 'Nirala'" also spent his whole life at the same place (Daraganj). On the other bank of the river Ganges at Arail is located the Maharshi Institute of Management, named for Maharshi Mahesh Yogi who was a student at the University of Allahabad. The Harish Chandra Research Institute, named after the famous mathematician Harish Chandra from Allahabad, is also located on the same side - in the town of Jhusi.

Religious significance

The Triveni Sangam is believed to be the same place where drops of Nectar fell from the pitcher, from the hands of the Gods. So it is believed that a bath in the Sangam will wash away all one's sins and will clear the way to heaven. Devout Hindus from all over India come to this sacred pilgrimage point to offer prayers and take a dip in the holy waters. The sacred Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years on the banks of Ganga, Yamuna and Sarsvati at Sangam. According to Hindu tradition, the Prakrista Yajna was performed here by Lord Brahma. That is why Allahabad was known as Prayag in ancient times. Allahabad (Prayag) is also called Tirtha-Raja (Prayag Raj), king of all holy places. It is said that Lord Rama visited Prayag Raj/Allahabad when he was in exile.

Other Triveni Sangams

Bhagamandala

Main article: Bhagamandala

Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu district of Karnataka. It is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches. At this place, the Kaveri is joined by two tributaries, the Kannike and the mythical Sujyoti river. It is considered sacred as a river confluence (kudala or triveni sangama, in Kannada and Sanskrit respectively).

Erode

Main article: Kooduthurai

The Triveni Sangam in Erode is a confluence of 3 rivers, the Cauvery, Bhavani and Amudha. Of these three, the river Amudha is invisible and is said to flow underground and join the other two rivers from below. It is also called as Kooduthurai, where the famous Sangameswarar Temple is located. It is the well-known Tiriveni Sangama of South India.

Tirumakudalu Narasipura

Main article: Tirumakudalu Narasipura

Tirumakudalu Narasipura, commonly known as T. Narasipura, is a panchayat town in Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The first name refers to the land at the confluence, (trimakuta in Sanskrit) at the confluence of the Kaveri, Kabini and Spatika Sarovara (a mythical lake or spring, also named Gupta Gamini). This is the place in South India where local Kumbhamela is held every three years.

Moovattupuzha

Main article: Moovattupuzha

Kaliyar,Thodupuzha river and Kothamangalam Puzha are joined and becomes Moovattupuzha river in Kerala.

Indrakund

Main article: IndraKund, Nashik

At Indrakunda Nashik, 2 Mythical rivers Aruna & Varuna meet Godavari making it a Triveni Sangam.

Kaleswaram

Main article: kaleswaram, Karimnagar

Kaleswaram is one of the places of the three Shiva temples mentioned in Trilinga Desham (Land of Three Lingams), another name for Telugu speaking region, the Andhra Pradesh, the other two being Draksharamam and Srishailam. This place is also called Dakshina Triveni Sangamam, as two rivers meet here along with third illusionary flow of Antarvaahini. It is said that a long time back one Vaishya has performed abhisheka to Kaleswara Mukteswara with hundreds of milk pots and the milk evolved at the sangamam of Godavari and Pranahita. Hence the name Dakshina Gangotri (other being Allahabad, or Prayaga).

See also

• Uppinangadi
• Pachnada
• Bhavani