Last Updated on 20 July 2024 IST | The world-renowned Hindu Kanwar Yatra festival will be undertaken by the devotees of Lord Shiva, also known as Kanwariyas, this year from 22nd July 2024. This pilgrimage is performed in the Hindu month of Shravan as it is believed to be a month favored by Lord Shiva. What is important to infer is whether our foundational scriptures have delineated any information about this annual practice undertaken by Shiv devotees. This article examines the Kanwar Yatra in the light of the sacred directives of our revered ancient scriptures and explores whether this is indeed the way to please Lord Shiva or not. And further discovers the identity of Supreme Almighty as mentioned in our ancient Holy Scriptures.

Kanwar Yatra News 2024: Highlights

• The Kanwar yatra 2024 will begin on 22nd July 2024 and end on 19th August 2024 .
• ‘Kanwar Yatra is an arbitrary practice that can not please Lord Shiva
• Special instructions have been issued by the Uttar Pradesh police to the shop owners in the route of Kanwar Yatra to display the names of their real owners in order to avoid any confusion that may give rise to a law and order situation.
• All Kanwariyas are expected to follow a set of strict rules during this period.
• None of our sacred scriptures support the practice of Kanwar Yatra, in fact this practice is against the directives of the holy Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. 
• Learn about the identity of the Saint who can actually lead us to salvation and grant the authentic worship outlined in our revered scriptures. 

Kanwar Yatra 2024 Date

The 2024 Kanwar Yatra will begin on 22nd July 2024 and end on 19th August 2024. This almost month-long yatra is a much sought-after pilgrimage for the devotees of Lord Shiva. It is an erroneously-propelled belief that Lord Shankar is pleased by performing Kanwar Yatra in the Hindu month Sawan. Lakhs of devotees undertake Kanwar Yatra in a bid to please Lord Shiva and acquire his blessings. Devotees perform this challenging journey, falling prey to the belief that Lord Shiva fulfills the wishes of the devotee who fulfills this tough pilgrimage. 

What is Kanwar?

Kanwar or kavad (kāvad) is actually a bamboo pole with two equal weights (pots of water) tied and suspended from each terminal of the pole. Devotees undertaking this pilgrimage, also known as Kanwariyas, balance this pole on their shoulders and both the pots are filled with water, typically from the Ganga river. Throughout the Kanwar Yatra, the Kanwariyas carry these kanwars filled with Gangajal on their shoulders and reach a Shiva temple at specific pilgrimage sites to offer the Gangajal as Jal Abhishek.

How did Kanwar Yatra Start?

It is believed that Lord Parashurama was the ultimate devotee of Lord Shankar. It is believed that he first went to Pura Mahadev Temple near Baghpat district with a Kanwar. He performed the Jal Abhishek of Bholenath by taking water from the Ganga river from Garhmukteshwar. At that time it was the month of Sawan. Following this tradition, devotees started taking out Kanwar Yatra in the month of Sawan.

■ Read in Hindi | कांवड़ यात्रा (Kanwar Yatra): कांवड़ यात्रा की वह सच्चाई जिससे आप अभी तक अनजान है!

According to another belief, while churning of the ocean (Sagar Manthan), a poison came out in 14 gems. Lord Shiva protected the world by drinking the poison. But soon after, his throat turned blue due to the poison and he also came to be known as Neelkanth. It is said that the Jal Abhishek of Lord Shiva was done to end the effect of the poison. The tradition of Kanwar Yatra is believed to have started from there. According to yet another belief, in order to eliminate the effect of the poison, gods had offered Gangajal to Shiva in the month of Shravan and that was believed to be the beginning of the Kanwar Yatra.

Why do people go to Kanwar Yatra every year?

It is an ingrained belief that in order to please Lord Shiva and get his blessings, one must perform the Kanwar Yatra. On offering the holy water of Ganga on a Shivling, it is said that Lord Shiva fulfills every wish of his devotees. 

However, this tradition finds neither mention nor validation in any of the foundational scriptures. It is, therefore, a practice contrary to the true directives of worship outlined in our revered ancient scriptures. Such arbitrary practices, against the directives of our scriptures, are forbidden in the Holy Geeta ji.

Why do people carry kanwar?

The reason is the wide divide between devotees and the unawareness of true knowledge of our revered ancient scriptures. With the rise and presence of so many spiritual leaders today, why should there be such a wide gap in the understanding of our sacred scriptures? It is because only a Tatvdarshi Sant (Complete Saint) can truly decipher the profound significance of our sacrosanct texts.

The genuine reason why devotees immerse themselves in practices not validated by our holy texts is because they are not under the refuge of a Tatvdarshi Sant. Let us read further to know the truth embedded in our Holy Scriptures and the identity of that Tatvdarshi Sant.

Eateries on the way are directed to display Owner’s name by UP Police

• Owing to previous incidents of unrest between Hindu and Muslims, the Uttar Pradesh police has issued special instructions to all shop owners to display the real name of the shop owner outside their shop. 

• This mandate attempts to avoid any confusion that may lead to disputes between the two communities. The UP police has issued this order especially for the shops in Muzaffarnagar district which falls in the route of the Yatra.

• The Senior Superintendent of Police of Muzaffarnagar, Abhishek Singh stated in an interview that about “240 km” of the Kanwar route falls in the Muzaffarnagar district and therefore the instructions have been issued to all eateries along the stretch.

• The Kanwar route crosses Muzaffarnagar en route to Haridwar, if a Kanwariya begins this journey from Delhi, also crossing villages like Bhuraheri, Bhangela, Budhna, Fugana and Titana.

• This order has caused an uproar in the Muslim community who claim this is social discrimination.

• Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi labelled this as a “social crime”, claiming it violates Article 17 of the Constitution of India.

• Following the widespread criticism by the Muslim community, the UP police has issued a fresh order clarifying that the move is not intended to hurt any religious sentiments nor with an aim to discriminate. Shop owners have been advised to display their names on a “voluntary” basis, not out of compulsion. 

• The police did, however, maintain that incidents from previous Kanwar Yatras have prompted them to issue these directives to avoid a potential “law and order situation”

What are the rules of Kanwar Yatra?

According to the rules, the devotees have to walk on foot during the entire journey. Travellers cannot consume meat and liquor during the Kanwar Yatra, they have to eat vegetarian food. Also, Kanwar should not be kept on the ground during the entire journey. Eating meat and consuming liquor during your entire life is a heinous sin, it should not be limited to Kanwar Yatra, it should be banned for lifetime.

It is a belief among Shiv devotees that the wishes of all those devotees will be fulfilled by Lord Shiva who will follow all the rules of the Kanwar Yatra. However, this is a myth because as per Holy Geeta ji chapter 7 verse 12-15 that the one who worships Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are called as demons in the form of humans. A wise man can effortlessly conclude from these holy verses whether the Kanwar Yatra is truly sacred or not.

What are the benefits of Kanwar Yatra 2024?

The spiritual benefits of Kanwar Yatra are debatable and it is imperative for a devotee to be aware of its drawbacks. Both of them are discussed in the following points to understand it with more clarity:

• First of all, Kanwar Yatra is nowhere mentioned in our Holy Scriptures. And as per Holy Geeta ji chapter 16 verse 23, performing any religious activity which is not in accordance with our Holy Scriptures is useless and gives no benefit to the devotee. 
• Secondly, Kanwar Yatra is performed to attain Lord Shiva and take benefits from him whereas the reality is something different. Lord Shiva is not capable of giving us anything more than our destiny as he is not the supreme power, then how can we attain benefits from him? Shiv ji has himself acknowledged in Holy Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran from Geeta Press Gorakhpur Page 123, 3rd Skand and Adhyay 5th that He along with Brahma and Vishnu are into the cycle of birth and death,  and are under the powers of Goddess Durga by every means. (This also doesn’t mean that Goddess Durga is the Supreme Power, she also worships Supreme God Kabir at the time of any hardship)
• Thirdly, most of the pilgrims (Kanwariyas) going on Kanwar Yatra are seen consuming intoxicants on the way in spite of its strict rules of not doing it. Pilgrims, mostly youth, are being misled in the name of God. Religious activities like these whose motive is not to attain God but to misguide youth, is not a good sign for society.
• Lastly, kanwar yatra is carried out during the rainy season and various microorganisms tend to come out amidst this season. Pilgrims of Kanwar Yatra unknowingly kill various microorganisms coming in their way which may or may not be visible to their naked eye. Killing microorganisms for a religious practice which is not in accordance with our Holy Scriptures – how justified is this? And we can imagine how much benefit we can attain from these sins – nothing. 

Let us tell you that there is no instruction of the Lord in any scripture to undertake the Kanwar Yatra every year in the month of Sawan. 

In this regard, Kabir Sahib has said:- 

Kabir, Paapi Mann Foolan Phirein Mein Karta Hoon Re Dharm |

Koti Paapkarm Seer Le Chala Chet Na Chinha Brahm ||

Who is the Supreme God?

As said in the previous paragraphs that in Holy Devi Bhagwat Puran 3rd Skand, 5th Adhyay Page 123 published from Geeta Press Gorakhpur that Tamogun Shiva accepts that he along with Brahma and Vishnu are also stuck in the cycle of birth and death, and perform their respective duties under Goddess Durga by every means. It means one who is also stuck in the endless cycle of  birth and death can certainly not be the Supreme Power, as the Supreme God is indestructible and immortal. Now, let us know whom does Goddess Durga worship: 

• In Holy Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran 7th Skand, Adhyay 36, page 562-563, Goddess Durga is telling Himalaya Raja to reject her worship and go into the refuge of Brahm and chant mantra ‘Om’ as according to her Brahm is the Supreme Power. This Brahm is also known as Satan or Kaal Brahm and is the orator of Holy Geeta ji as well. It means that Goddess Durga has directed Himalaya Raja to the worship of Satan (Kaal Brahm), who is superior to her. This Satan (Kaal Brahm) is also the orator of Holy Geeta ji as well.
• Afterwards, in the Holy Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta ji chapter 8 verse 13, the narrator of Holy Geeta ji, Satan (Kaal Brahm) himself reveals that the mantra to attain benefits from him is ‘Om’.
• Furthermore, the narrator Kaal Brahm, in Holy Geeta ji chapter 18 verse 62 and 66, directs Arjun to go into the refuge of some other Supreme Almighty God other than him (to attain supreme peace and that everlasting abode called Satlok), whose identity has been revealed in Holy Geeta ji chapter 8 verse 3 and verse 8-10 as Param Akshar Brahm or Kabir Saheb.
• The Supreme Power revealed in these verses in Kabir Saheb. He is explicitly mentioned as our Creator in Holy Vedas as well. In the Holy RigVeda, Mandal no 9: Sukt 20 Mantra 1, Sukt 82 Mantra 1-2, Sukt 86 Mantra 26-27, Sukt 94 Mantra 1, Sukt 96 Mantra 16-20 and in Holy YajurVeda in Chapter 29 Verse 25 and in various other verses, Lord Kabir is mentioned as Kavir Dev.

For the first-time readers, please note that the narrator of Holy Geeta ji is not Shri Krishna as the knowledge of it is being given by Satan (Kaal Brahm) by entering forcefully into the body of Shri Krishna. The proof is revealed in Holy Geeta ji chapter 11 verse 32 and 47. Sant Garibdasji from Haryana has stated in His holy verses that: 

Teeno Devta Kaal Hai, Brahma Vishnu or Mahesh |

Bhule Chuke Samjhio, Sab Kahu Aadesh ||

How to attain Supreme God Kabir?

Supreme God Kabir can only be attained solely under the refuge of a Tatvdarshi Sant as mentioned in Holy Geeta ji chapter 4 verse 34. After securing the refuge of a Tatvdarshi Sant, one can attain all those benefits as given by God like curing the deadliest diseases, raising the dead and even the extension of life is not impossible for Supreme God Kabir. This can be attained and is possible by doing true devotion as given by a Tatvdarshi Sant in accordance with our Holy Scriptures like Holy Geeta ji and Holy Vedas. 

Now the question arises: Who is the Tatvdarshi Sant? The answer is Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj from Haryana, India is the only Tatvdarshi Sant Who is giving us the method of worship as given in Holy Geeta ji. This can be seen through His devotees who are experiencing all benefits as stated earlier, from Supreme God Kabir through His Tatvdarshi Sant. Moreover, He has also explained the entire Creation of Nature explaining all its parts as like an upside down tree as mentioned in the Holy Geeta ji chapter 15 verse 1-4. This evidence is enough to explain that He is the Tatvdarshi Sant as mentioned in the Holy Geeta ji. 

To know more visit His website www.jagatgururampalji.org or you can visit His youtube channel ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’

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